ANA Discussion Forum
General Category => Hearing Issues => Topic started by: wendysig on September 05, 2008, 02:50:29 pm
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Hi all,
Today during my visit with my doctor I tried the BAHA demo! I can't express enough how amazing it was! Although it was not quite what I expected, just feeling like I was hearing on the right side was truly amazing - I can't stop saying amazing! He had wanted to to see the audiiologist for the demo but she left early today, so I was very surprised and very happy when he walked in with it. He had me close my eyes and walked around the room,stopping every now and then, talking to me and snapping his fingers to see how I heard him from different parts of the room. I could hear him every time he spoke or snapped his fingers! I really have to get one of these things as soon as I can! Unfortunately because of my leaking incision, he says it will be at least January before he would consider doing the surgery. He wants the leak to be completely stopped for two months before he will even schedule it. I'm going to have to have a very long talk with my incision!
Wendy
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Hey Wendy,
That sounds so exciting! I hope the problem with the incision is soon history!
And January will be here before you know it. :)
Nancy
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Great news Wendy! It is amazing!
Now you go tell that leaky incision of yours who's boss! >:(
Lori
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Hi Nancy and Lori,
I know January is not that far off, and in a way his telling me this makes the rest of the year a little easier. I was hoping to have the surgrey in November and was wondering how this would effect Thanksgiving and Christmas. I guess these are non-issues now but I would have had the surgery then no matter what if I could have. When I put it in writing, it sounds kind of selfish but I am really looking forward to getting a BAHA (can you tell?) and now that I have a good idea of what it will be like, I can hardly wait! It will be worth waiting for in the end though.
Wendy
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It is definitely not selfish to want to be able to hear! Now, if you wanted a diamond tiara for Christmas, that might be selfish. :D
I had my BAHA implant done November 9 of last year. I was out and about the next day with no problem at all. It didn't interfere with the holidays or our usual Christmas pilgrimage to New Jersey. And I was definitely the center of attention with the cool screw in my head!
Don't worry - it will be worth the wait. Kind of a belated Christmas present.
Lori
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Wendy -
I'm SO glad you liked the demo! ;D I've used the words BAHA and amazing together so many times, it's nice to see someone else reinforce my opinion :D
As Lori said, the surgery usually doesn't hold you back from your regular routine; I attended my daughter's volleyball game a few hours post op (even though she and her brother didn't appreciate my lovely "hat"). Yes, sometimes I live to torture my children ;) LOL
As for me, I'm hoping for that diamond tiara for Christmas since I already have a BAHA. ;D
Jan
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Hi Lori and Jan,
A diamond tiara sounds nice -- how do you think it would look with that lovelly bandage? Do you think it would be too much? I guess if I look at the BAHA surgery as a late Christmas present, that makes me feel better. The best part is I'll already know what it is and am sure it will be my favorite present! I don't mean to wish my life away but I hope January comes quickly! This time I'm actually looking forward to having surgery --in a way that sounds kind of strange even if it is for a good reason.
Wendy
P.S. Lori - I'm sure you were the hot topic of the holiday with that screw sticking out of your head!
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Yes, Wendy, you're right - especially since my nephew bought me a little cell phone antenna to hook up to it so I could get better radio reception. Or talk to aliens. I'm not sure which!
I may not have any other marketable skills, but at least I can be the source of entertainment for many! :D
Lori
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I may not have any other marketable skills, but at least I can be the source of entertainment for many! :D
Actually being the source of entertainment for many is a great marketable skill. Need a manager? ;)
Jan
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Hi Lori,
Did the cell phone antenna give you better reception or have you been talking to ET?
Jan - I've told Lori I think she would be a great stand-up comedian! You could either be her straight man or manager -- you'd be great at both or either!
Wendy
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Well, who do you think ET comes to when he needs to phone home? ;D
Lori
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Great comeback, Lori. :D
Wendy was right.
I'll agree to act as both your straight man - er, woman - AND your manager, but I'm going to have to charge you twice as much ;)
Jan
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Ok, I'll pay you half of what I make. Let's see... I'm not good at math... but I think half of nothing is.....mmmm....nothing. Okay. It's settled. ;)
Lori
p.s. If you do a really good job, I'll throw in a hearing aid battery or two for you.
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p.s. If you do a really good job, I'll throw in a hearing aid battery or two for you.
You're soooo good to me :'( :'( :'( :D
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Wendy-
So glad you were impressed with the demo! I am thrilled for you - and January will be here before you can say "merry Christmas." What a terrific way to ring in 2009!
Debbi
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Hi Debbi -
Wow another positive spin on what started out as something I wasn't totally happy about (I mean having to wait). I had gotten an information package regarding BAHA from Cochlear a while ago but misplaced it before I could watch the DVD and found it today. Of course, I watched the DVD without delay and it was really good. It was really just an advertisement -- testimonials from people who have BAHA and their family and friends. Most of the folks on the DVD who had BAHA had ANs but not all. It was comforting but weird to see and hear them talke briefly about their AN experiences and how BAHA changed their lives for the better. I could totally relate to them. It reinforced all the reasons I want BAHA. It really is worth waiting for!
Wendy - Patiently waiting for January and my BAHA surgery
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Hey Jan~
We could do our OWN BAHA DVD and you could be the star!!! I know that you could do a whole DVD because you love your BAHA so much!! Sound like a plan?
K *Lori isn't the only one who can think up ways to make $$$$*
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I didn't even know there was a BAHA DVD :P Some BAHA spokeswoman I'm turning out to be ;)
Where do I sign up, K?
Jan
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K,
You know what -- you are right Jan would make a perfect spokesperson for BAHA! Just about everyone here who has a BAHA loves it but Jan is definitely the most vocal. I can just see her now... it's another $1,000,000 idea!
Wendy
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Jan,
Upon request,Cochlear will send an information packet that includes a testimonial DVD. I had gotten mine a while ago but never looked at the DVD until today. It shows people who are SSD and one who was born without external ears. The accounts they gave of their BAHA experiences reminded me of you in a way. Two of the people on the DVD had surgery for their ANs and really struck a chord with me. You would have been (or would be) a natural.
Wendy
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You would have been (or would be) a natural.
So, Wendy, when are you and Kaybo going to nominate me ??? ;D
I've been to the Cochlear website numerous times, but never requested the info packet so I didn't realize it came with a DVD. I did read some testimonials on the site and also on a few brochures my neurotologist gave me.
The day I received my BAHA processor I also got what I refer to as a "nifty gift pack" from Cochlear with lots of BAHA goodies (carrying case, toothbrush, cap, etc. - I gave all the details in one of my prior posts) and it contained a survey-like questionnaire that you could fill out and mail to Cochlear. It asked about your experience, etc. I filled it out, but so far no one from Cochlear is knocking at my door :'( I consider it their loss, though. :D
Seriously, I'd love to be an official spokesperson or write a testimonial about my BAHA. Guess I'll just have to continue to give my testimonials on the forum ;)
Pretty soon you'll be giving your own testimonials ;D January will be here before you know it.
Jan
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Hi Jan,
I know your are right on all counts, but it is hard to have to wait. Since I have no other choice I will though. I don't mean to wish my life away but I hope the rest of this year passes quickly.
Wendy
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Wendy -
it IS hard to have to wait - and I'm about as impatient as they come ::)
About 24 hours after my AN surgery when my neurotologist and I were able to have a fairly lucid conversation (without me nodding off or seeing two of him, that is ;) ) I asked him about options for my newly created SSD. He told me about the BAHA. I wanted to discuss it in detail right then and there, but he reigned me in and told me we had time to discuss it later and that my more immediate job was to heal from the AN surgery.
My surgery was 5/31 and I saw my doc again in mid-September to try the BAHA demo. As you know, I was totally enarmored with it and wanted to have the implant surgery ASAP. But the first step was finding out if my insurance company would cover it. I was told it normally takes 4-6 weeks to get a "ruling" but in my case I was jerked around for much longer, which meant I didn't have the surgery until March. It felt like the longest 6 months of my life - no exaggeration.
But the great news is that anything worth having is worth waiting for and the BAHA is no exception. The surgery won't be the only waiting you'll have to do either. I don't know your doc's protocol, but I couldn't wear my processor for 3 months and I couldn't even cheat since my doc very wisely doesn't give you the processor until then. Guess he's wise to patients like me who'd try to ignore that 3 month waiting period :D
January will be here before you know it. If you need something to keep you busy, Steve most likely needs help knitting all of those hats. The symposium is fast approaching and he's got lots of orders - including mine ;D
Jan