Re: How to make a decision on what surgeon to use?

March 2, 2006

If it were me, I would go with the doctor that said he had done about 200

surgeries. The other seemed to be trying to convince you that he could do the

job without having to tell you how many he had done. Seems he hasn't done that

many. Bottom line though, you have to go with your gut. Can you speak with

any of either surgeon's past patients? That might help you.

March 3, 2006

This list was incredible help when I was making a decision on what CI

surgeon to use. I was underway with a surgeon who has a known history

of facial nerve damage when someone spoke up and said...this is the

facts on that surgeon. I asked the next two surgeons I saw (and this

is legal and they have to inform you) how many cases of permanant

facial nerve damage they have had performing CI surgeries. I made up

my mind instantly to use Vanderbilt Hosp in Nashville, TN, where there

has never been a case of nerve damage in the history of CI surgeries.

Ask the surgeons for the information you need. I have to agree with

, if you have a surgeon who is beating around the bush, time to

shop around or choose another surgeon you are confident with.

Good luck!

Dixie

March 4, 2006

>

> I am hoping some of you can give me some advice. I have met with 2

surgeons and audies that work with them. I live close enough to 2

centers that do CIs: one at USC (that's University of SC) and one in

Charlotte at the Charlotte Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Center.

Hello ,

Something happened to my first reply, and it did not get posted -

only your original post got posted (which is strange because I

deleted almost all of your post from my reply text). Lets try again

(sigh).

I am getting implanted on 3/22/2006, and also had ot choose between

2 clinics in my area - one has done about 400 and one a lot less. I

personally know patients with great success from both clinics, but

for me experience trumped all else, and I went with the more

experienced clinic.

If I understand your situation, you also have the choice of 2

clinics close to home, but are also considering yet another LARGER

clinic that is much further away from home.

If that is the case, your choice is then between the clinic that has

done 200 implants and is close to home vs the LARGE one far away.

(Notice I did not even discuss the 3rd option - DUMP the evasive guy

who has done about 10.)

Any surgeon who has done 200 implants is very experienced, and

should do you just fine. Be sure that he has a lot of recent

experience as well (how many in the last year), and the Audie also

has a lot of recent experience with the newest devices.

Assuming that you are able to receive the device you want, I would

go with the " nearby " clinic with 200 implants experience, because

you will be doing a LOT of travelling to the clinic after surgery

during the mappings.

Good luck to you !

Jim S.

Nashotah, WI

Implant date 3-22-2006

March 4, 2006

Jim,

Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts. I found out yesterday that

the surgeon in NC has done about 75-100 and he misunderstood what we were asking

on Wed. He has done them all within the past 7 or 8 years. And is an excellent

surgeon with lots of mastoid surgery experience. But a person in one of the

listserves I'm on has some info to tell me about that center and I'm waiting on

pins and needles to find out what it is. She lives nearby and went to Raleigh

instead of using them. Yikes!

I go to the 2nd center this coming week for 2 days of testing and then the

next week to see the surgeon there again. I'm leaning towards this center now bc

of the experience and the shorter, easier drive. Driving to/from the NC center

is essentially 4 hrs of driving in a day. And is on a very busy highway with

tons of trucks and frequent accidents. So that is a huge negative for that

center.

in SC

March 5, 2006

Dixie,

Thanks for the suggestion to ask about the facial nerve damage. And the surgeon

that was " beating around the bush " wasn't. He has done about 100. I know that is

not many compared to surgeons that work in the bigger cities. I meet with the

other surgeon again in a week. I'm ready to just make a decision as the driving

and such is tiring me out.

But I may look into Richmond, VA as that is where I grew up and my family is

there. I could fly up for the surgery and stay with my Mom. It won't be the

easiest thing to do (staying with her and also it will be tough on my husband

and daughter to not be there with me) but I'd get a far more experienced surgeon

and then I could work with the audies closer to home. There is a speech

therapist that specializes in working with kids with CIs so I am hoping I can

get therapy from her as she is lives near me.

But the other part of me is just so exhausted. I want to get the CI now esp

since the audie told me on Friday that it will take at least 6 months to a year

for it to be a good thing for me due to the severity of my hearing loss and the

fact that I've been severely HI since I was young. I was mildly HI at one point

but I don't remember that at all. It got progressively worse until it stabilized

when I was 13 yrs old. I'm now 45. I'm willing to work my tail off. She said I

could surprise everyone and I really hope to do that. But I'm nervous about

hearing all the noise and how I'll deal with it. Everything is so peacefully

quiet these days.

in SC

March 5, 2006

--- In , Sprest2427@... wrote

:

>

> But the other part of me is just so exhausted. I want to get the

CI now esp since the audie told me on Friday that it will take at

least 6 months to a year for it to be a good thing for me due to the

severity of my hearing loss and the fact that I've been severely HI

since I was young. I was mildly HI at one point but I don't remember

that at all. It got progressively worse until it stabilized when I

was 13 yrs old. I'm now 45. I'm willing to work my tail off. She

said I could surprise everyone and I really hope to do that. But I'm

nervous about hearing all the noise and how I'll deal with it.

Everything is so peacefully quiet these days.

>

> in SC

>

March 5, 2006

Hi ,

This post got a way from me.

Believe in yourself and the good that is about to happen to you.

Believe that you will be able to comprehend and understand with the

CI much sooner then the 6 months the audie mentioned. Do not let

anyone rain on your parade.

Roxie

>

> --- In , Sprest2427@ wrote

> :

> >

> > But the other part of me is just so exhausted. I want to get the

> CI now esp since the audie told me on Friday that it will take at

> least 6 months to a year for it to be a good thing for me due to

the

> severity of my hearing loss and the fact that I've been severely

HI

> since I was young. I was mildly HI at one point but I don't

remember

> that at all. It got progressively worse until it stabilized when I

> was 13 yrs old. I'm now 45. I'm willing to work my tail off. She

> said I could surprise everyone and I really hope to do that. But

I'm

> nervous about hearing all the noise and how I'll deal with it.

> Everything is so peacefully quiet these days.

> >

> > in SC

> >

March 5, 2006

Hi ,

This post got a way from me.

Believe in yourself and the good that is about to happen to you.

Believe that you will be able to comprehend and understand with the

CI much sooner then the 6 months the audie mentioned. Do not let

anyone rain on your parade.

Roxie

>

> --- In , Sprest2427@ wrote

> :

> >

> > But the other part of me is just so exhausted. I want to get the

> CI now esp since the audie told me on Friday that it will take at

> least 6 months to a year for it to be a good thing for me due to

the

> severity of my hearing loss and the fact that I've been severely

HI

> since I was young. I was mildly HI at one point but I don't

remember

> that at all. It got progressively worse until it stabilized when I

> was 13 yrs old. I'm now 45. I'm willing to work my tail off. She

> said I could surprise everyone and I really hope to do that. But

I'm

> nervous about hearing all the noise and how I'll deal with it.

> Everything is so peacefully quiet these days.

> >

> > in SC

> >

March 5, 2006

Hi ,

I don't think no doctors want us to have false expectation about the CI.They

know the CI will help us with getting back some hearing but don't think they

actually know

how well we will do with it. Some of us have to use different techniques in

learning to hear again and other may get hearing things right away.

Patients and practice is what we must have and do.

I wish you success.

Hugs Louise NJ

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roxdiann