Re: Today's CI surgery (and yesterday's root canal therapy!)

[Guest guest]

It's a good feeling isn't it Chris? I'm happy you have it behind you but I bet

you are feeling happier than me. Sounds like things went very well and I

really don't think you'll have an recovery problems. Just take it easy and be

kind to youself for a few days. Before you know it, you'll hardly even know you

had surgery.

Now, about that root canal. Do you know how many times I've said I'd rather

have CI surgerty than a root canal? I can't believe you did both of them in the

same week. Which one was worse?

Thanks for the great report. Rest!

Alice

[Guest guest]

Haha -- well since I know all about root canal therapy and doing them

all the time, I was very comfortable with it. I really didn't have

any awful pain beforehands with the toothache. Most people wait,

wait, wait -- " hopefully it will go away " -- and I didn't. Just one

day's wait.

The cochlear implant, on the other hand, was a relatively unknown

experience. A longer waiting period.

I don't think, truthfully, I would pick one or the other. I consider

doing either one, making yourself better. I'd hate the alternatives:

a tooth extraction and a hearing aid.

What's worse is the longer waiting period for the CI!

HA! Good question, Alice. Thank you for your support and kind

messages all along!

prelingual profound L+R, 10/20 R N24G, sutures off 10/26

On Thu, 21 Oct 2004 04:48:13 +0000, alice <alice@...> wrote:

>

> It's a good feeling isn't it Chris? I'm happy you have it behind you but I

bet you are feeling happier than me. Sounds like things went very well and I

really don't think you'll have an recovery problems. Just take it easy and be

kind to youself for a few days. Before you know it, you'll hardly even know you

had surgery.

>

> Now, about that root canal. Do you know how many times I've said I'd rather

have CI surgerty than a root canal? I can't believe you did both of them in the

same week. Which one was worse?

>

> Thanks for the great report. Rest!

>

> Alice

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi

Glad you made it through your surgery just fine. As for complications, I just

had an occasional tinnitus which sounded different than before. This time it

was more of a humming than a ringing. I didn't experience any difference in my

taste although I don't have much taste to begin with. The biggest thing for me

was the soreness of the incision. I went back to work after four days but

realized I wasn't ready so took off work until after my post-op appointment.

Regards,

Sam

[Guest guest]

Really enjoyed reading about your surgery experience. The worst the behind

you.

Today's CI surgery (and yesterday's root canal therapy!)

>

> Hi guys!

>

> Newsflash just in!

>

> I had my CI surgery today. Came in at 7.30 a.m., having fasted since

> midnight (no water, no food!); was greeted by all the pre-op nurses

> who went over my paperwork, asked the usual questions (I think at

> least five people asked me the same questions: your name? any

> allergies? what are you in for? which ear? to be sure that they

> were not operating on the wrong person, hacking off the wrong limb or

> appendage, or implanting the wrong person, or doing the wrong ear!?);

> changed into that awful gown, laid in that gurney for about 90

> minutes, chatting away with my friend, . at my side. Cold room

> -- you be sure you ask for two warm blankets to keep you warm!

>

> They asked me if I threw up after general anesthesia -- I remembered

> that I had done several years ago after an hernia repair, so the

> anesthesiologist took note of that and gave me an anti-emetic

> medication, so I was perfectly fine afterwards! (You pre-implantees,

> ask for that medication!)

>

> Dr. Wayman, my ENT, came and greeted me, introduced himself and a

> surgical resident to and me; he was so warm and smiling that I

> always felt at ease.

>

> Surgery started at around 9.30. Finished around 1. Recovered in the

> post-op room for the rest of the afternoon, napping, sipping cold

> water, getting another warm blanket, the nurses checking on my BP, my

> vitals, taking out all the wires, tubes, and needles.

>

> picked up Chinese take-out and the prescriptions for Vicodin

> and Keflex on our way home. Was kinda feeling very, very tired;

> whoozy (effects of the general anesthesia). I was warned " not to

> move so quickly " , just walked around slowly and thanks to your advice:

> no bending over, slip-on shoes, comfortable clothes, head rest on bed

> so I could nap sitting up, etc. Had some won-top soup and plain rice

> for dinner tonight (Chinese take out), very delicious.

>

> Dr. Wayman told me afterwards in the recovery room that the surgery

> went well, without any difficulties. I have no tinnitus, no

> dizziness, no facial paralysis, no side-effects apart from the

> occasional twinge of pain at the scalp where the sutures are (which

> I'm managing with the Vicodin PRN.) And you can see that already I

> have no altered taste sensations! Oh, I have a huge white bandage

> (looking like an humunguous tennis forehead sweat band) on my head,

> with an 'ear muff' over my right ear -- and a pretty little bow on its

> side. Now I'm looking for my blue wool French beret to cover it when

> I go out!

>

> Gosh, you'll never believe this -- I'm a dentist. Monday night at 4

> a.m. I woke up with a severe toothache in my lower left first molar.

> I recognized the symptoms for what they were, so I immediately called

> my endodontist (who I regulary refer my patients to!) myself right

> away, and got root canal therapy done (and finished in an hour, tops!)

> immediately during my lunch hour at work yesterday Tuesday. Can you

> imagine doing both root canal work and cochlear implantation on

> successive days?! I didn't want to deal with a toothache during my

> recovery... so I'm patting myself on the back, " good boy Chris! " No

> pain there, either!

>

> My question:

>

> Complications after surgery -- do they usually occur right away? Like

> I said I don't have any side effects (knock wood!) -- would these such

> as tinnitus or loss of taste sensation occur right away or just appear

> weeks later?

>

> implanted today, Nucleus24C, very happy!

>

> (I go back for the bandages to be removed next Tuesday 10/26)

>

>

>

>