ANA Discussion Forum

General Category => Hearing Issues => Topic started by: jaylogs on January 10, 2011, 08:59:31 am

Title: BAHA surgery scheduled for Feb 25th....
Post by: jaylogs on January 10, 2011, 08:59:31 am
Well, I am taking the plunge and getting my BAHA done on Feb 25th.  My insurance is all approved so I am getting the Ponto Pro.  Wish me luck, I know this will be a piece of cake compared the my AN surgery!! :)
Jay
Title: Re: BAHA surgery scheduled for Feb 25th....
Post by: Tod on January 10, 2011, 09:13:55 am
Very cool, Jay! Congrats!

I'm scheduled for January 25 and am also going with the Ponto Pro. What were your reasons for choosing the Ponto?

personally, I liked the controls and learning options a bit more than the BP100. I also liked the way it fit the abutment better.

-Tod
Title: Re: BAHA surgery scheduled for Feb 25th....
Post by: Goldie on January 16, 2011, 05:02:06 pm
Good news for you both!  Only 48 hours with my Ponto Pro, but it's going great, better than I expected.  Anxious to hear what you think down the road too.

Denise
Title: Re: BAHA surgery scheduled for Feb 25th....
Post by: Jim Scott on January 16, 2011, 05:04:48 pm
Jay/Tod ~

Congratulations to you, both.  I wish you great success with your respective BAHAs. 

Jim
Title: Re: BAHA surgery scheduled for Feb 25th....
Post by: Kaybo on January 16, 2011, 05:27:37 pm
WOO-HOO!!!

K   ;D
Title: Re: BAHA surgery scheduled for Feb 25th....
Post by: newmommyLA on January 18, 2011, 11:16:52 am
Jay,

Why are you getting a Baha?  I thought your hearing was preserved after surgery?  Are you going back to House for this?
Title: Re: BAHA surgery scheduled for Feb 25th....
Post by: leapyrtwins on January 18, 2011, 09:37:13 pm
Congrats, Jay.  A very wise decision, in my humble opinion.

Send me a PM with your mailing address so I can gift you with one of Lori & my Official BAHA Recovery Kits.

Best,

Jan
Title: Re: BAHA surgery scheduled for Feb 25th....
Post by: Kencutus on January 19, 2011, 02:53:14 pm
Congrats Jay and Tod.  Good luck on the surgery.  Do let us know how it went. ;)
Title: Re: BAHA surgery scheduled for Feb 25th....
Post by: jaylogs on January 20, 2011, 10:48:45 pm
Thank you all for the well wishes...I am looking forward to being able to understand everyone again!  At least I didn't have a problem with directionality as you do when you are SSD, but like I said, understanding people is a priority! Oh, while I am thinking about it, I have read some of the posts in the past, but it sounds like I'll be going under for this...I think I've heard people getting just a local.  I don't care one way or another...just curious.  Thanks for the feedback Goldie...I am excited to get my Ponto! Take care everyone and have a great weekend!!
Jay
Title: Re: BAHA surgery scheduled for Feb 25th....
Post by: moe on January 21, 2011, 10:31:38 am
Congrats Jay and Tod on your upcoming BAHA :)

I've had mine since November, and love it (ponto).

I had to have it in the OR setting with IV sedation (love my versed) so the hospital could be reimbursed for the product (Madigan Army Med Ctr). I'll be interested to hear if they really put you "under" or just use IV sedation. I don't remember/fee  a thing, except when if wore off, and they were just about done anyway.

It could easily have been done in the clinic, they said.
Good luck to both of you!
Maureen
Title: Re: BAHA surgery scheduled for Feb 25th....
Post by: Goldie on January 21, 2011, 07:24:57 pm
I was given the option and decided to go with a local only.   Some of the sounds and sensations were a little unnerving, but it was over quickly (I was in the OR less than an hour) and it wasn't too traumatic.  If I had to do it over again, I probably would want a mild sedative, but everyone's different.   ;)

Denise
Title: Re: BAHA surgery scheduled for Feb 25th....
Post by: leapyrtwins on January 21, 2011, 08:10:44 pm
I had local - lidocaine injected into my head - and absolutely no sedation.  I was wide awake and had no issues.  I'd do it that way again in a heartbeat.

And I'm not especially heroic or tough. 

It was a little surreal hearing the drill, but I didn't feel a thing (except for some slight pressure) so it was like it was all happening to someone else.

My doc and I talked during a lot of the procedure which was kind of nice and the best part was not having to "come out" of anesthesia.  I hate that "fog"  :P

Jan
Title: Re: BAHA surgery scheduled for Feb 25th....
Post by: Denise S on February 10, 2011, 01:24:04 am
Hey there Jay, I'm with Amy and am wondering why you are even getting one.  I think being you we all had our surgeries around the same time we kind of "follow" each other closer.   Plus your signature says your hearing was preserved..????   You aslo mention you don't have a problem with direction or the SSD.   I assume you do have enough sever hearing loss that a bone conduction hearing device is your only option?   

Sorry, hope not to sound blunt.  Not at all trying to be rude, just really confused.    Wishing you the best.    I have went so many rounds with my insurance company and had Cochlears support and Michigan Ear Institute helping me try to get my insurance to cover to get a BAHA, but just get denial.   Such a pain!!!   Way too expensive that I just can't afford it, grrrr.

Once again.....Hope all goes well on the surgery and the healing goes fast!!!!   :)

Denise (in MI)
Title: Re: BAHA surgery scheduled for Feb 25th....
Post by: newmommyLA on February 10, 2011, 06:34:29 pm
Hey Denise!  Jay explained to me that the BAHA was recommended over the other hearing aids by his doctor.  I was so surprised by this b/c people like you and I are soooooooo jealous of the lucky ones that have hearing "preserved" after surgery.  Like you, I don't believe it's 70% of surgery patients that retain "useful" hearing.  That's the number we were quoted and I was counting on the odds in my favor! 

Denise, sorry to hear about your struggles with insurance.  Don't give up.  I'm going in for a Baha demo Feb 24th.  Curious to know what it's like.  We'll all stay in touch for years about all this stuff as we're going through the same aftermath now.

Good luck with your Baha Jay!  Tell us more once you've had surgery.

Amy
Title: Re: BAHA surgery scheduled for Feb 25th....
Post by: CarolineO on February 12, 2011, 10:47:36 pm
Congratulations!  My 14 yr old had the BAHA implant on Friday (2/11/11).
Surgery lasted about 2 hours 45 minutes.  She left hospital same day and
was playing XBox all day.
Today (Saturday) she went to watch a friend play football and out to dinner
this evening!  (Wow, youth!)

I hope you surgery is as successful and pain free as her surgery!

Keep us posted!
Title: Re: BAHA surgery scheduled for Feb 25th....
Post by: leapyrtwins on February 13, 2011, 09:33:26 am
Caroline -

glad to hear that your daughter's surgery went smoothly and that she was back to her normal routine quickly  ;D

I was 46 1/2 when I had my implant and I was back to my normal routine immediately after surgery also.  Once I left the hospital (surgery was outpatient) I went to lunch with my sister and then attended my son's volleyball game at the local junior high school.

Jay -

I'm deep in the process of packing and moving - UGH - so Lori will be sending out your kit.  Hope you enjoy it.

Best,

Jan