Re: ATTN: Lynn

[Guest guest]

hi Lynn,

I wrote this message. Purr_30, is my real name.

> > > Quoting Connie and Hank Schwedes <conniedcj@y...>:

> > >

> > > > I have such mixed emotions. After being hard of hearing all my

> life,

> > > > I had reconstruction on my left ear at age 20 (21 years ago).

> I was

> > > > so excited at the time. The surgery worked -- for about a

> month.

> > > > Then the prosthesis came out. I was crushed. I remember

> crying after

> > > > hearing music for the first time post surgery. And then it was

> gone.

> > > > I had to do a lot of readjustment in my thinking -- pull

> myself up by

> > > > my boot straps -- and be thankful that with a hearing aid, I

> could

> > hear.

> > > >

> > > > The thing is that I didn't know if I wanted to go through that

> again.

> > > > While I appreciate the fact that the doc wants help me to hear

> > > > better, I was really surprised, shocked after surgery. It's my

> fault

> > > > that I didn't say anything to the doc about my feelings. I

> figured it

> > > > was a non-issue for 6 more months.

> > > >

> > > > Anyway, my husband and mom are really excited for and I just

> can't

> > > > bring myself to feel anything. I felt a little angry at myself

> that I

> > > > didn't verbalize my feelings before. Believe it or not, now I

> feel

> > > > " stuck with it. " I'm afraid that it won't work.

> > > >

> > > > So, I'm wondering about the experiences of the folks in this

> group.

> > > > Has reconstruction worked? Did anyone have a failed attempt,

> which

> > > > later worked? Have things really changed in the last 20 years

> on the

> > > > reconstruction front?

> > > >

> > > > Thanks for listening.

> > > > Connie

> > >

> > > Connie,

> > >

> > > [WARNING: Might be a little graphic. Stop reading now if you're

> > squinchy.]

> > >

> > > I'm almost in the same boat right now. My prosthesis is in the

> > process of

> > > coming out. It's hanging on, but a large part of it is sticking

> out

> > through

> > > my ear drum. Ugh. I feel like I'm harboring the Alien. It's

> still

> > > working for the most part, I have about 30% hearing in that ear.

> When

> > > yours came out, did it hurt? Was there a lot of bleeding? Any

> > infection?

> > > I guess I'm trying to figure out what to expect. My otologist

> seems to

> > > think that it could hold on for a long time. Although in the

> last six

> > > months, it's gone from just pressing against the TM to having

the

> head

> > > totally exposed. Actually, it was kind of cool to see it on the

> video

> > > screen.

> > >

> > > I just don't know if I want to go through another

reconstruction.

> > My first

> > > one was engulfed with a recurrence of cholesteatoma and had to

be

> > replaced

> > > 18 months after it was implanted. This one has been hanging on

> for

> > nearly

> > > four years. I'm like you, I just don't know if I want to go

> through

> > this

> > > again. My health insurance will pay for reconstruction after

> > > reconstruction, but won't cover a single lousy hearing aid. It's

> not

> > > right. I don't know if I can deal with another surgery -- if I

> have a

> > > choice, anyway.

> > >

> > > Anyone out there have experience with this? Have you had a

> hearing aid

> > > then later had reconstruction? How is the sound quality with an

> aid

> > vs. an

> > > implant? How often do you have to buy aid batteries and how

> > expensive are

> > > they?

> > >

> > > --

> > > Diane Brunet

> > > http://www.sassysuds.com

>

>

>