- Getting there

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Best of luck with a speedy approval and surgery date! I can understand

your fear and nervousness, but rest assured that CI surgery is very

safe (as surgery goes) and the success rate is very high with few

complications, the CI surgeons have been doing this surgery for over

20 years now so they know all the tricks ;-) The shot(s) are just a

precaution as any surgery in the inner ear increases risk of

Meningitis, although the risk is very small the shot takes care of

that risk. I am curious why your surgeon has decided on the implant

brand for you, most allow the patient to make this choice themselves?

Is there a particular reason for the choice?

I can relate to your problem with professionals not trying to help you

understand what they are saying, I had the experience my self. When I

was first diagnosed with Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease I was sent to a

specialist who did not communicate to me very well at all. I was

scheduled for several IV therapies in the local hospital and I knew

the first was a massive dose of a steroid, but when I showed up for

the second round a nurse told me it was Chemo Therapy - YIKES! You can

imagine what I was thinking, I had no idea that chemo was used for

anything other than cancer treatment, the Doc did not tell me any of

that, so I was a real mess. I went to see my family Doctor after the

treatment and he explained things very well that yes Chemo is used for

several things besides cancer and can be quite effective in stopping

progression of Autoimmune disease so you can imagine my relief, the

only thing I can say is make sure that if you have to deal with folks

like this you have someone with you to help and remind these

" Professionals " they do need to make a bit more effort when addressing

those of us with hearing loss.

Good Luck and please keep us posted on your surgery.

Regards

Mike " Ears Hopin " P

Implanted June 3rd, 2005

Activated July 6th, 2005

Nucleus Freedom

Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2005 11:17:41 -0000

From: " nnjl97 " <nnjl97@...>

Subject: Getting there

Well it has been a while since I posted. Monday I finally met with the

surgeon and he confirmed that I am a CI Implant candidate. With that

and a 1 hour talk thru he will send my application to the hospital

board who will give the final approval or rejection. Now I have to

concerns of which why are they so concerned that I understand that I

could NEVER have an MRI??? And why do I have to get a pneumonia? shot

before I have surgery. I and the doctor have decided that I will go

with Bionics.He will call next week to let me know if the surgery

will go and when. The BEST knews is that he agreed that I could get

the CI in the ear that I prefer. As if it should not work then I will

not be completely deaf as I have very limited hearing in my other

ear. Yes I am scared, nervous and very anxious to get this

happening,as at my meeting I was talked to by a few other doctors

and nurses who knew that I was there to get the final meeting to have

a CI. Of course I would not be there if I could HEAR but no one spoke

or talked to me directly so that I could read their lips or understand

them. Thankfully my husband was there to tell them and insists that

they either speak up por look at me so I could also understand what

was happening.. Scarey to think what would have happened if he was

not there.. Why is it so hard to understand that if people cannot

hear then others have to try to help them in other ways. These are

professionals here..

Well thanks for letting me sound off and will keep in touch.

PS.. I found someone thru my daughter who is a teacher also , she is

having the CI done on Friday.. Hoping hers works out as great as all

that I have read here..

Thanks

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