ANA Discussion Forum
General Category => Hearing Issues => Topic started by: robinstwo on March 06, 2009, 09:01:36 pm
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I had the screw implanted on Dec 16, 2008 and wanted to know if anyone has had problems with the skin trying to swell up and over the the abutment. Is there any way to keep this from happening without steroid injections? Thhis just started 2 weeks ago.
Also is mild pain around the screw a common problem? The doc says there is no infection and doesn't know why the pain. I get to hear the rest of what I'm missing on March 27th if we can keep the skin around the screw under control.
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Well, it seems like you and I are the rare few that have problems with our abuttments!
I have a problem with the skin growing up around the abuttment too - I've had mine for about a year and a half now. I have a steroid cream called clobetasol that works great. If I notice it swelling, I put it on at night and usually by the next morning, it's back to normal. I guess some of us have skin that just wants to heal over what it thinks is a wound. Apparently, our skin has no idea how much we paid for that "wound" or how much we want it there!
Ask your doctor about that cream, it works great - as long as there's no infection, then he'd probably suggest bacitracin or bactroban.
Good luck and happy BAHA day!
Lori
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I'm sorry to hear that you are having problems with your skin trying to overgrow the abutment and I know the fact that this is unusual, especially for a woman (my doc told me this tend to happen more often in large men because their scalps are thicker) is no comfort to you. Lori's steroid cream sounds like a better solution than steroid injections, if it works for you. I am just at the two month post-op mark too and am watching my BAHA site very carefullly for any sign of things going wrong. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that your doc will think the clobetasol will work for you.
Best wishes,
Wendy
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Thanks Lori! My docotor is supposed to call me Monday. I'll ask him about the cream.
Is the swelling/skin growth a constant problem? Is there anything else I should be concerned about? My doc said there was nothing to worry about and did not provide any care instructions other than wash with finger tips and not nails. I knew I had thick skin but not on my scalp! Wendy, may your screw continue to cause no problems.
Robin
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Robin -
sorry to hear about your BAHA problems. IMO what you are experiencing is more the exception than the norm.
I had my implant surgery 1 year and 4 days ago. The site healed without any issues and I've never experienced any infections or irritations. I haven't experienced any swelling or skin growth either.
I hope the doctor has a good solution for you on Monday.
Keep us posted.
Jan
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Robin,
I really think that there are a rare few (me) that just have to deal with the skin growing around the abuttment. I don't often hear of other people having this problem. I even checked on the BAHA wearer forum and read through all the old posts there to see if there was any mention, and only found one person who had this problem and she was told by her doctor to wear the healing cap at night to keep the skin under control. Sounds like a good idea to me....now if I could only remember where I put that healing cap my doctor told me to hang onto.... ???
It's not like this is a constant problem for me - maybe once every few months or so. I haven't quite figured out the trigger and it hasn't made me want my BAHA any less. It is frustrating, but once you get it under control and figure out how to deal with the occasional flare-ups, it's not really any problem.
Lori
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Hi Guys,
Sorry for the late reply. I went back to work this week (7 months from surgery date) and by the time I get home I'm totally pooped. The doctor said I would be tired and he wasn't kidding. It's nice to be back at work but, what a challenge routine things have become. Hoping next week will get easier as my body adjusts to real work again.
My doctor called monday or should I say the doctor's nurse did and said I need to be seen by someone where I'm living. Unfortunately I live in the middle of nowhere, FL and the nearest BAHA doctor is 4 hours away, my doctor is 7 hours from here, and since I just started back to work..... Anyway, the swelling has gone down on its own and I immediately started back wearing the plastic snap on cap to keep the skin at bay. It hurt for a day while the skin asjusted but it seems to be working. My hair is really short, would be nice if the cap came in some color other than white. ;D
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Robin -
when you get your processor (Divino or Intenso) the cap that comes with it won't be white. It will be whatever color the processor is (in my case brown).
So if it's any consolation, at some point you should get a cap that isn't white and won't show through your hair.
Jan
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I think Robin was referring to the healing cap... at least that's what I thought. But Jan is right, the one that comes with the processor will match whatever color you chose.
Does anyone wear that little plastic thing that come with the processor? I wore it when I was at the shore over the summer, just to keep sand out of the abuttment, but that was the only time I used it. That little tiny thing is hard to put on when you can't see what you're doing!
Lori
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Does anyone wear that little plastic thing that come with the processor?
I've never worn that little plastic thing, but I've very carefully stored it next to the little clip thing with the string!
Something I've noticed just within the last few weeks --- all the numbness around my BAHA implant has disappeared! My head really feels absolutely normal again. I realized it first when I went for my most recent haircut/highlight session. I had gotten so used to the numbness (it never particularly bothered me) that I didn't even think about it. Has this happened to anyone else? I should add that the titanium abutment was "installed" in January 2008.
Catherine (JerseyGirl 2)
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I had my implant 10-24-08 my head is still very numb. I wish it would go back to normal. Also I wear the two different caps only when I get my hair colored. It helps keeping that color out of it and so the girl can locate the area when she is cutting.
Karen
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Lori -
you are right. I wasn't thinking healing cap - as in the semi-large white one they put on post op. Sadly, I don't have my healing cap :'( The day my neurotologist removed it for good it shot across the exam room and end up under a chair. He picked it up and tossed it in the trash. So much for surgical mementos ::) LOL
I haven't worn my Divino cap at all; wasn't sure on what occasion I would want to. The audiologist suggested maybe putting it on when I styled my hair if I used gel, mousse, or spray to keep the "gunk" out. But she also said I could just gunk up the hair without the cap and then clean the abutment off before attaching the Divino. Never thought to use it when going for a haircut - great idea, Karen.
Catherine -
I can't believe you haven't worn that little clip thing with the fishing line! I am aghast!! :o (Actually I haven't worn mine either - can't believe it would really do anything to keep me from "losing" my processor)
Strangely enough, now that you mention it, my BAHA site is no longer numb now either (my surgery was 3/4/08). Wonder when that happened??
Jan
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Nice to know that I get another cap. Don't know if I can handle one that is smaller than the white one. Can hardly get that one on. Guess I need more practice :P That'll come very soon, starting 3/27. I'm glad to hear the device comes with a leash. I can see me knocking it off. I do dumb things like walk into tree limbs or bump my head on the frig. You'd think after 50+ years you'd learn. Nice to know that the numbness around the abutment eventually goes away. I was wondering if it would become permanent like my non-working face.
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Robin -
the cap that comes with the processor is about 1/3 the size of the white healing cap. Not easy for large fingers to grip :(
As for knocking the processor off your head, you'll get used to it. When I first got mine I knocked it off a couple of times, but then I got past that.
I also originally thought I'd never get the hang of putting it on the abutment. I started off using both hands - one to hold the processor and one to feel my head to "see" where the abutment was. But thankfully with time, I got much better at attaching it - you will too. You have to kind of "rock" it onto the abutment - not snap it on directly. Taking it off is much easier - you just "pop" it off with your thumb or forefinger.
Good luck on the 27th. My BAHA gotcha day (Lori's phrase) was one of the best days of my post-AN life ;D
Enjoy!
Jan
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I also originally thought I'd never get the hang of putting it on the abutment. I started off using both hands - one to hold the processor and one to feel my head to "see" where the abutment was. But thankfully with time, I got much better at attaching it - you will too
I totally agree with Jan -- it takes a few times to feel comfortable attaching and detaching the processor. I felt as though I were playing "Pin the Tail on the Donkey," but you'll get the hang of it before long. I like to compare it to my contact lenses. When I first began wearing them years and years ago, I didn't think I'd ever learn to stick something in my eye, but it soon becomes second nature and you don't even give it a second thought -- same with the BAHA. You do need to treat it carefully though -- handle it gently and always store it in the "jar of beads" which accompanies it.
Hope you'll enjoy it!
Catherine (JerseyGirl 2)
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Jan,
You can put on your processor with one hand? Wow, you're good. I need one hand just to get my hair out of the way.
Robin, I think we've all knocked our processor off at least once. I have a tendency to hit my head on things too (good thing I'm not tall!), so I've knocked mine off saving a Barbie from under the end table, getting the kids into the car and once when I fell asleep on a long car trip (I wasn't driving..) - woke up and couldn't find the thing anywhere. I was in a panic, until I opened the car door and heard it hit the pavement. :o Now I know to take it off before I drift off...Why must I learn everything the hard way??
Lori
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Interesting that you'd mention "the jar of beads" Catherine.
I have never used mine - and in fact totally forgot about them until I came across them the other day (almost one year after I got them).
I store my processor in the little black oval box that it came in. I had it on my desk one day at work and a colleague thought it was the cutest box she's ever seen. She excitedly asked me what was in it - when I told her she was a little disappointed :D
And, yes, Lori, I have mastered putting the processor on with one hand - never thought I could say that when I first got it ::)
From reading your last post all I can say is it's a good thing you got that BAHA insurance :D I still haven't looked into it; but I probably should. Replacing it wouldn't be cheap :P
Jan
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Jan, tsk..tsk..you're supposed to use the magic beads every night - it helps to draw any moisture out of the processor. What kind of example are you setting for the new BAHA-ers??
Yes, insurance is a good idea for me - I'm like a bull in a china shop. And I didn't even remind you of the time the top of the chest freezer fell, hit me in the head and knocked my processor into the deep, dark recesses of said freezer. James came walking into the garage to see my feet sticking up out of the freezer as I tried to fish the BAHA out of the very bottom (I'm not very tall..). I was less worried about being frozen to death than having to replace my beloved BAHA!
Lori
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Interesting that you'd mention "the jar of beads" Catherine.
I have never used mine - and in fact totally forgot about them until I came across them the other day (almost one year after I got them).
Jan,
Lori's right -- you should definitely be using those magic beads! I know that Chicago gets humid in the summer -- and you don't want your BAHA to mildew! So start using it tonight so you'll get in the habit! I keep my battery in the black oval box overnight.
Catherine
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Seriously, you guys ??? I bet you both floss nightly too, right? ;)
I thought the beads were just for those "unusual" humid situations - you know, like a trip to the rain forest, an adventure in a dense forest or jungle, etc. You know, basically the life I don't lead.
I didn't wear my BAHA outside on really hot or humid days this past summer. And I didn't wear it on sweaty occasions (like cutting the grass) either. Isn't that enough to prevent mildew?
I'm very protective of it if it rains - don't want water damage - and I ALWAYS feel my head before I go into the shower - even if I'm 99.9% certain it's not attached to my skull.
Guess I'll dig out the beads for you, though.
Lori - I totally forgot about the Freezer Incident. Thanks for reminding me - I needed a good laugh today. I keep picturing your legs sticking out of the freezer :D
Jan
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Seriously, you guys ??? I bet you both floss nightly too, right? ;)Oh, yes. And I told my dental hygienist that I took dental floss to the hospital and dragged my IV pole into the bathroom every day I was in the hospital to floss my teeth. She has since told me that she has told that story to lots of her patients to make them feel guilty for not flossing.
I didn't wear my BAHA outside on really hot or humid days this past summer. And I didn't wear it on sweaty occasions (like cutting the grass) either. Isn't that enough to prevent mildew? NO!
I'm very protective of it if it rains - don't want water damage - and I ALWAYS feel my head before I go into the shower - even if I'm 99.9% certain it's not attached to my skull. Good practice -- I always do that, too.
Guess I'll dig out the beads for you, though Thank you!
Catherine
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No way, Catherine (gasp)!!! Are you serious about the hospital flossing??
Even on a good day I'm not a flosser - we were never told to do it as children (yes, I'm old) and I never picked up the habit as a grownup. I'm finding it especially hard to get on my kids' backs about flossing despite a recent lecture from their dentist ::) Yes, I AM a bad example at times :P
I'll try to remember to use the beads though :-[
Jan
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No way, Catherine (gasp)!!! Are you serious about the hospital flossing??Yes, I really did floss every day. But remember, I was feeling (relatively) fine while I was in the hospital. I'm sure if I had been dizzy or throwing up every 10 minutes I would not have thought about flossing my teeth!
Yes, I AM a bad example at times :PJan, I'm sure the good more than outweighs the bad.
Catherine
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Well, Jan, yes, I do floss nightly - only because with the facial nerve issues, I always feel like there's something stuck in my teeth on my bad side - although I can't chew on that side so I'm not sure how anything would get stuck there. It just feels like it. Besides, I have so many dental problems to begin with, I figure if I can make my dentist happy about one thing I might as well do it! But you're right - I was never told as a kid to floss. Then again, I didn't wear a bike helmet or sit in a car seat, so it's a wonder I survived at all.
And when I'm not busy flossing, I frequently travel through the rain forest! Maybe the high humidity is causing the BAHA implant issues...
Lori
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OK - I don't have a BAHA (or BAHA envy) but I am reading this thread?? Of course, I have to comment about the flossing issue. Jan, you are not the only one - I don't floss either and it is VERY hard to remind the girlies! I feel like the hygienist is always thinking I am a horrible parent!! :o
K
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Well, Jan, yes, I do floss nightly - only because with the facial nerve issues, I always feel like there's something stuck in my teeth on my bad side - although I can't chew on that side so I'm not sure how anything would get stuck there. It just feels like it.
Lori -
ever considered an electric toothbrush? It might help.
We better stop this hijack real soon - before Phyl discovers it :P
Jan
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Jan, Lori, Catherine
You guys are great! I learned a good deal from you. It's nice to know I not the only short klutz around.
I did not know about the moisture wicking beads and that the processer needs to be dehumidified daily which I will probably do since I live in FL on the water where it is really humid. I will need to find out more about the BAHA insurance that was mentioned. I think that leash will come in handy in the beginning. Now I have two things to do before snoozing, the eye and the BAHA. No it doesn't include flossing ;D
Robin
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Robin, glad to hear you're with Kaybo and me on the flossing issue ;)
Also glad we could all help you with our BAHA input. Please don't ever hesitate to ask when you have questions. I gained so much from this forum prior to my implant - and I still continue to gain so much today.
Jan
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Robin,
In Florida on the water, huh? Well, if you need help attaching your processor, you just let me know - I think I can endure being in the Sunshine State on the water for a few days to help you out! ;D
If you look under Hearing Issues on the home page and then look in there, there are a few threads on BAHA insurance. You'll get the one year warranty from the company but after that you either have to extend that (for a cost, of course) or you can add a personal articles rider onto your Homeowners or Renters insurance policy. For me, it worked out cheaper to go through my Homeowners insurance, but that might not be the case for everyone. Either way, you'll have a year to think about it.
Lori
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Lori,
Thanks for the input on the BAHA insurance. I'll check with my insurance company to see what they say. Come on down, beaches are great especially around Panama City and Destin.
Robin
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Robin,
Those are beautiful beaches! I was in Pensacola about 5 weeks after my Translab. Walking in sand is definitely a good way to challenge your balance - and at least it wouldn't have hurt much if I fell!
Lori
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Ive had my BAHA for about 3 years now. I still continue to have skin growth, swelling and bleeding. I get about a week a month without any problems. Any advice. My dr always said its normal. Thanks.
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Hi Hollanjf,,
You replied to an older post so I thought I would reply,,,,
I also have a BAHA. I don't have many issues with it until I don't clean the post well. And if I let my hair get "dirty" it seems to cause excess oils to accumulate around it.
I was given a very soft toothbrush to clean the post. As long as I do that ( or often ask my husband to do it and look at it) ,, I don't have any problems. My ENT looked at it once and said there were " small crystals " I think, that the area would push out by itself,, I guess it's a bit of seepage or something,,, I can feel it sometimes with my finger,,, that's all I usually get though.
I have been told "it's normal" too,, I don't get bad infections or anything,, some tenderness occasionally but not bad.
I hope this will improve for you!!
Jane
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prosessor is hard to snap on.
Use Vaseline around male protrusion for easier work.
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upper skin is growing next to abutment!
Dr said as long abutment is open to accept oscillator (Vibrator ) is fine.!
Howeever I get music often into me system.
Funny,from where ?
Cochlear audiologist claims to be sick with flu,and has not been able to accomote me at present Al
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Swelling and bleeding aren't normal - especially for someone who has had a BAHA for so long. Swelling and bleeding can be normal during the initial healing, but shouldn't happen this far after your implant procedure.
As for skin growth, some who have it find a longer abutment does the trick.
Are you using hydrogen peroxide on your site? If so, stop. It will cause skin growth.
Another possibility for your "issues" may be that you're being too aggressive in "cleaning" your BAHA site. Since a lot of us have no feeling in that area because of our AN surgery, you may be over-doing it. You could be causing it "aggravation" which leads to problems.
Go gentle on the site. I typically just let mine get clean when I wash my hair daily; I don't do anything "special". And pat the area dry with a towel; don't rub it.
If you feel a need to clean the site, use plain water (or distilled water if you want) and shampoo with baby shampoo - it's milder and has less chemicals, dyes, perfumes, etc., than "regular" shampoo.
Jan