Guest guest Posted October 29, 2004 Report Share Posted October 29, 2004 In a message dated 10/29/2004 7:56:52 PM Alaskan Daylight Time, dearness2@... writes: > Thanks again to everyone for their advice and support. It’s been an > amazing journey and experience to date – and I haven’t even been > switched on yet! I am looking forward to what my CI will bring me. > Thanks for your well written and informative account of your experience, .. Very good to hear from you. I hope things continue to be as smooth as it has been so far. Pam (in Anchorage Alaska) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 29, 2004 Report Share Posted October 29, 2004 , Congratulations! What fun about your ear-shaped sweets! Gives one a new meaning to " chew on your ear " -- heh! You'll be hooked up before I do! We have our Thanksgiving holiday on the 25th of November so that threw a wrench into the scheduling works. I look forward to hearing your " hook up " impressions... I'm already impatient! implanted 10/20, activation 12/8 On Sat, 30 Oct 2004 13:17:02 +1000, & Dearness <dearness2@...> wrote: > > Hello Everyone, > > Well…I'm implanted!! My cochlear implantation surgery went ahead as > planned on Thursday, 28 October, and I am recovering well. > > I arrived at hospital at 11.00 a.m. for admission. Had a 30 minute wait > before quickly filling out the admission paperwork, then was taken up to > a waiting room area on Level 6. I waited here with my wife, , > for about an hour and received a surprise visit from one of my surgeon's > prior CI patients, Ray. I'd spoken to Ray on the phone about his CI > experience, but not met him as he lives in Tamworth (about 5 hours drive > from my coastal abode in Sydney). At short notice he'd been required to > fly to Sydney for a business meeting. Knowing that I was due to have > surgery whilst he was in Sydney, he took a punt and tracked me down in > the waiting room where we had a nice reassuring ½ hour chat. What a nice > guy thinking of me like that! > > About 1.00 p.m. a nurse got me to change into hospital gown / stockings > and answer a series of pre-operative questions. At this time I met my > anaesthetist, , who discussed the surgery and anaesthetic > procedures with me. It was a surprise to learn that she lived in Bronte > just a stone's throw away from me. I'll probably see her at the beach > soon! > > I was scheduled as Dr Chang's last patient for the day. There was a bit > of a delay, so they moved me from the waiting room to my own suite on > Level 10 where I could be more comfortable until moving on to surgery. > At 3.40 p.m. I was wheeled down to the " pre-op " area where I said > " goodbye " to and was prepared for surgery. Dr Chang came in to > check on me. I was nervous, but he reassured me that all would go well > and I would be alright. So…my surgery commenced between 4 and 5 p.m. and > lasted just 1.5 hours. I spent a drowsy time in " post-op " and was > returned to my suite (and relieved wife) at 8 p.m. I was well enough to > tuck into some food and drink …I was starving…some vegetable soup, some > stir fired chicken, and rice pudding. And water! My wife stayed with me > until about 10 p.m. before returning home for a well-earned rest. I am > so grateful for her presence with me on the day. She kept me calm. Dr > Chang visited me in " post-op " and said that the surgery went " very, very > well " . What a relief! He then visited in my suite and gave her > the good news! Dr Chang confirmed that he had achieved full insertion of > the electrode array, and had done so without any significant damage to > the cochlear – " it went straight down the middle " he told . > > I slept OK overnight. Dr Chang visited me about 9.00 a.m. the next > morning to check on the incision. The bandage came off at this time (and > will stay off), all was well and I went home at 10.30 a.m. after having > a quick shower. I have an 11cm (i.e. 4.3 inch) incision with dissolvable > sutures, and am " waterproof " . No dressings for my wife to regularly > change – just a single piece of tape that will fall way one day soon. > Yay! I am allowed to get my whole head wet in the shower, and to shampoo > all of my hair. I've done this twice now. Very little hair was shaved > for the operation – just a few millimetres alongside the length of the > incision. I have not experienced any side-effects: no facial nerve > problems, no change in taste; no balance problems. My head has a dull > ache as one would expect after such an operation. I am taking Di-Gesic > pain medication for this - two tablets each six hours - but don't feel > too bad, so may not need to take the full course. I'll see how I go – > Di-Gesic makes me drowsy. Other than the head aches, I've got a mildly > stiff neck, but this will disappear soon. > > I purchased a second-hand recliner to rest in – only $90 AUD. It is a > good idea. It's very comfortable to sit in. I took note of people's > suggestions on and made sure I took a buttoned shirt and slip ons > with me to hospital. Good suggestions! I also took some sweets to suck > on – soft pink sugar-coated " ear-shaped " candy. Dr Chang thought they > were cool! I made sure I shared some with him and the hospital staff who > looked after me very well. > > Now I am home and have some time off work. I'll probably go back to work > soon after my post-operative consultation with Dr Chang on 9 November. > Then, I'll get ready for my hook-up on November 23. I'm looking forward > to this – it'll be a special day! > > Well, that's my CI journal entry for today. took some pictures > of my experience and we'll load these up to shortly. > > Thanks again to everyone for their advice and support. It's been an > amazing journey and experience to date – and I haven't even been > switched on yet! I am looking forward to what my CI will bring me. > > Best wishes to you all. > > Dearness > N24C 28 October 2004 > > I > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 30, 2004 Report Share Posted October 30, 2004 Hi ! Congratulations on getting the implant surgery behind you! Thanks for sharing your surgical day with all of us. I enjoyed reading it. That was so neat that a fellow CIer came to see you...WOW! When I read that you had a bit of a delay, it brought back memories for me as I was delayed on my original surgery day and eventually ended up being postponed after waiting all day and coming within 20 minutes 3 times of being taken into the OR. Whew, what a day that was! I'm glad it all worked out for you and you got taken that day. I had to wait another week but was whisked right in the moment I arrived. Glad it's over for you and hook up is next. What a day that will be for you and your family! Best wishes for a continued smoooth recovery and a happy hook up day! Patti Surgery Day 11/25/02 (What A Day!) Hook Up Day BWP 1/2/03 (A Happy Day!) 3G 1/31/03 (An Even Happier Day!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 1, 2004 Report Share Posted November 1, 2004 In a message dated 11/1/2004 7:52:52 PM Alaskan Standard Time, tinabir@... writes: > Hi for people who've had stapes surgery, it doesn't sound like it lasts > long and I'm planning on it next year. Is the length of it's success just > desendent on your problem and why you got > it to begin with? what kind of deafness does the stapes operation treat? Pam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 1, 2004 Report Share Posted November 1, 2004 Hi for people who've had stapes surgery, it doesn't sound like it lasts long and I'm planning on it next year. Is the length of it's success just desendent on your problem and why you got it to begin with? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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