BAHA surgery scheduled for Feb 25th....

[jaylogs]

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

[Tod]

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

[Goldie]

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

[Jim Scott]

Jay/Tod ~

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

Jim

[Kaybo]

WOO-HOO!!!

K   

[newmommyLA]

Jay,

Why are you getting a Baha?  I thought your hearing was preserved after surgery?  Are you going back to House for this?

[leapyrtwins]

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

[Kencutus]

Congrats Jay and Tod.  Good luck on the surgery.  Do let us know how it went.

[jaylogs]

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

[moe]

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

[Goldie]

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

[leapyrtwins]

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" 

Jan

[Denise S]

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)

[newmommyLA]

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

[CarolineO]

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!