Re: Modified activity after surgery

June 3, 2008

Hi,

I was told no pushing, pulling or lifting. That pretty much covers any

kind of straining you'd be doing. Got the same deal when I just got out

of the hospital with chest pains, that turned out to be from too much

lifting. Was housecleaning, and thought I was having the Big One. Woke

up from a sound sleep with stabbing chest pains.

I now have proof positive that housework is hazardous to my health.

____________________________________________________________

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May 30, 2009

It's not forever by any means. My surgery was on Monday(5/11), I was

working from home on Wednesday. I was back in the office the following

Monday. The only reason I didn't go in sooner was I had mild vertigo in the

morning and didn't feel up to driving. Many don't have this problem and are

back to work/driving withing a few days. I was given Tylenol w/codeine for

pain as needed. I took it once/day for 2 days after surgery. After that, I

took regular Tylenol before bed.

The surgery & recovery are not really a big deal. Tough part for me is

waiting for activation...June 12 can't come soon enough.

Larry

_____

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of

Gerald Gollinger

Sent: Saturday, May 30, 2009 8:17 PM

Subject: Modified activity after surgery

Hi All,

My work is not heavy lifting. Actually, bringing back groceries is heavier.

But what is the usual amount of recovery time. If I hear " forever " the

cochlear implant process is OFF.

Gerald

May 30, 2009

Why would it be forever??? I went back to work in two weeks. Doctor

said it could be one week if I felt like it but I went ahead and took

two. It all depends on the individual.

Kat

On Sat, May 30, 2009 at 8:17 PM, Gerald Gollinger <gerald3nyc@...> wrote:

>

> Hi All,

>

> My work is not heavy lifting. Actually, bringing back groceries is

> heavier. But what is the usual amount of recovery time. If I hear

> " forever " the cochlear implant process is OFF.

>

> Gerald

>

May 30, 2009

Hi Gerald,

Your question is one you should ask of your surgeon but for the most part - a

week to ten days is a good length of time for recovery from this surgery. Some

are less and some are more but it's not a difficult surgery so it depends on

your own health and how quickly you bounce back. The first three or four days

are the hardes for most and you are normally on some type of pain medication.

Finding a comfortable way to sleep is a key to recovery.

Alice

http://www..com

May 30, 2009

Gerald,

You said " If I hear " forever " the cochlear implant process is OFF. "

You do not give the group members credit. If you want to bail out, you

do not need us to assist you. Please do not try to put the responsibility

on us by making such statements. We are here to offer support and you

certainly have been given more than your fair share of it.

*---* *---* *---* *---* *---*

If you come to a fork in the road, take it.

--Yogi Berra

& Dreamer Doll ke7nwn

E-mail-

rclark0276@...

Home Page-

http://webpages.charter.net/dog_guide/

May 30, 2009

Gerald-

I was oiut of work for a month after each CI surgery only because I work in a

nursing home and I was not allowed to lift more than 10 pounds. If I had worked

in a different field it would have been 2 weeks. It depends on what you do for a

living and the restrictions that your surgeon give out. Patience is the key

here and working with your CI team is important in your journey back to hearing.

Snoopy- BICIer since 2003 first implant in 2002

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

May 30, 2009

Thanks all for your quick response. I did not intend to be brash but I am not

retired yet and a prolonged absence from work means lost pay. As I said

carrying groceries is more than ten pounds. Of course, I cannot go into the

subway if I am still bleeding (I am in New York City) but to sit around the

office or sit around at home - what is the difference? And to have someone take

care of me is not an affordable expense. If so, I would prefer a nursing home

for the interim.

BTW I still have hearing in both ears and adequate vision. I can hear normal

conversation at work but I fail the audiology exams. And while the responses

that I received here is somewhat encouraging before I see the doctor I can speak

to the audiologist who will be doing the psychological component about my

financial health. She has more say than the surgeon on whether surgery should be

performed.

Gerald

May 30, 2009

Gerald- New York is one of the few states that offer Temporary Disability

Insurance to those that are out of work due to illness, or surgery, I think. You

can check with your employer on this. I took advantage of this in my state and

it helped me out while I was unable to work. I dont know what the guidelines are

in NY but it is something that you can look into. There are only a handful of

states that have temporary disability programs.

Snoopy

May 30, 2009

If you have the residual you say you do then contact Med El and Cochlear to find

out if you qualify for the EAS/Hybrid studies they are running.

It is the next great leap in technology for CI's.

>

> Thanks all for your quick response.ï¿½ I didï¿½ not intend to be brash but I

am not retired yet and a prolonged absence from work means lost pay.ï¿½ As I

said carrying groceries is more than ten pounds.ï¿½ Of course,ï¿½ I cannotï¿½ go

into the subway if I am still bleeding (I am in New York City) but to sit around

the office or sit around at home - what is the difference?ï¿½ And to have

someone take care of me is not an affordable expense.ï¿½If so, I would prefer a

nursing home for the interim.ï¿½ï¿½

> ï¿½

> BTWï¿½ I still have hearing in both ears and adequate vision.ï¿½ I can hear

normal conversation at work but I fail the audiology exams.ï¿½ And while the

responses that I received here is somewhat encouraging before I see the doctor I

can speak to the audiologist who will be doing ï¿½the psychological component

about my financial health. She has more say than the surgeon on whether surgery

should be performed.

> ï¿½

> Gerald

> ï¿½

>

May 30, 2009

Hi Gerald,

My doc said no heavy lifting for two weeks after surgery.

Jim

>

> Hi All,

>

> My work is not heavy lifting. Actually, bringing back groceries is heavier.

But what is the usual amount of recovery time. If I hear " forever " the cochlear

implant process is OFF.

>

> Gerald

>

May 30, 2009

,

Thank you for the information. I work for the State of New York and we all

accrue one or two disability days a year but with 28 years put in that should

cover me for awhile even at half pay. I almost forgot that I bought

disability insurance from my union. I am not sure if there is a waiting period

but since this is not a pre existing condition I may ultimately get the same

pay as if working. I have to check that too on Monday.

We already discussed web captel and that too will be useful since I can speak

for myself but get a transcript.

I panicked but your post leads me to believe that the recuperation is viable.

Gerald

From: Munson <bicisnoopy@...>

Subject: Re: Modified activity after surgery

Date: Saturday, May 30, 2009, 11:12 PM

Gerald- New York is one of the few states that offer Temporary Disability

Insurance to those that are out of work due to illness, or surgery, I think. You

can check with your employer on this. I took advantage of this in my state and

it helped me out while I was unable to work. I dont know what the guidelines are

in NY but it is something that you can look into. There are only a handful of

states that have temporary disability programs.

Snoopy

May 30, 2009

Hi Jim,

I can always stock up on groceries and eat in fast food restaurants. I just do

not want to be idle at home for month(s).

Gerald

From: jimak38 <j1meaves@...>

Subject: Re: Modified activity after surgery

Date: Saturday, May 30, 2009, 11:13 PM

Hi Gerald,

My doc said no heavy lifting for two weeks after surgery.

Jim

>

> Hi All,

>

> My work is not heavy lifting. Actually, bringing back groceries is heavier.

But what is the usual amount of recovery time. If I hear " forever " the cochlear

implant process is OFF.

>

> Gerald

>

May 30, 2009

Bruce,

These studies are experimental, and I do not think FDA approved. But I can

speak to the audiologist on Friday about this too. I do email with the surgeon

but we do not plan to meet until I am approved for surgery.

Gerald

From: Bruce <bachip@...>

Subject: Re: Modified activity after surgery

Date: Saturday, May 30, 2009, 11:13 PM

If you have the residual you say you do then contact Med El and Cochlear to find

out if you qualify for the EAS/Hybrid studies they are running.

It is the next great leap in technology for CI's.

>

> Thanks all for your quick response.ï¿½ I didï¿½ not intend to be brash but I

am not retired yet and a prolonged absence from work means lost pay.ï¿½ As I

said carrying groceries is more than ten pounds.ï¿½ Of course,ï¿½ I cannotï¿½ go

into the subway if I am still bleeding (I am in New York City) but to sit around

the office or sit around at home - what is the difference?ï¿½ And to have

someone take care of me is not an affordable expense.ï¿½If so, I would prefer a

nursing home for the interim.ï¿½ï¿½

> ï¿½

> BTWï¿½ I still have hearing in both ears and adequate vision.ï¿½ I can hear

normal conversation at work but I fail the audiology exams.ï¿½ And while the

responses that I received here is somewhat encouraging before I see the doctor I

can speak to the audiologist who will be doing ï¿½the psychological component

about my financial health. She has more say than the surgeon on whether surgery

should be performed.

> ï¿½

> Gerald

> ï¿½

>

May 30, 2009

Gerald, just to let you know ... I am not young - in my later 50s --

and I work full-time. I also have another disability which put me in

a wheelchair long before I had my bilateral surgeries and I live

alone. If I can do it, so can you. I did not require any nursing,

nor did I require anyone to help me carry stuff. I made sure I'd done

all the necessary shopping before each surgery and stocked up as much

as I could. I don't live in a large city but I was able to have a few

groceries delivered to my place - it was a one-time thing and I

considered it money well-spent.

I now have 95% speech recognition so I think it was all very much

worth it. It wasn't easy but then nothing worthwhile in life is, in

my opinion.

Kat

On Sat, May 30, 2009 at 10:45 PM, Gerald Gollinger <gerald3nyc@...> wrote:

>

> Thanks all for your quick response. I did not intend to be brash but I am

> not retired yet and a prolonged absence from work means lost pay. As I said

> carrying groceries is more than ten pounds. Of course, I cannot go into

> the subway if I am still bleeding (I am in New York City) but to sit around

> the office or sit around at home - what is the difference? And to have

> someone take care of me is not an affordable expense. If so, I would prefer

> a nursing home for the interim.

>

> BTW I still have hearing in both ears and adequate vision. I can hear

> normal conversation at work but I fail the audiology exams. And while the

> responses that I received here is somewhat encouraging before I see the

> doctor I can speak to the audiologist who will be doing the psychological

> component about my financial health. She has more say than the surgeon on

> whether surgery should be performed.

>

> Gerald

>

May 30, 2009

Kat,

Thank you for another positive response. is slow in delivering email now

and I previously responded to others.

My late wife had home health attendants who were either ineffectual or

domineering. I am fortunate that there may be a means of delivery of restaurant

food and groceries. I have to look at the website and see what is available.

Meanwhile, I have my CI evaluation this Friday. At that time I will know

whether to implement the disability insurance that I have. This is all payroll

deductions so there was no default in a missed premium payment.

I rather hear what people who went through this say since the surgeon wants a

fee and may gloss over any negatives.

Gerald

>

> Thanks all for your quick response. I did not intend to be brash but I am

> not retired yet and a prolonged absence from work means lost pay. As I said

> carrying groceries is more than ten pounds. Of course, I cannot go into

> the subway if I am still bleeding (I am in New York City) but to sit around

> the office or sit around at home - what is the difference? And to have

> someone take care of me is not an affordable expense. If so, I would prefer

> a nursing home for the interim.

>

> BTW I still have hearing in both ears and adequate vision. I can hear

> normal conversation at work but I fail the audiology exams. And while the

> responses that I received here is somewhat encouraging before I see the

> doctor I can speak to the audiologist who will be doing the psychological

> component about my financial health. She has more say than the surgeon on

> whether surgery should be performed.

>

> Gerald

>

May 31, 2009

Hi Gerald, I lived alone at the time of my first surgery, had to be off

longer as my job at the time required heavy lifting. I didn't need any

care, and after the first week felt like I was on vacation from work as I

felt fine.

My second surgery was after I was married, but I didn't require any special

care from my husband. I felt like I was recovering from a cut on the head,

nothing more. My head was numb around the incision site, it felt like a

paper cut the first few days. There was nothing open or bleeding. The

second time (they have minimized the size of the incision) no one could even

see that I had had surgery. After the pressure bandage was removed at the

hospital before I went home (both times), I didn't even have the incision

covered. I know because the surgery is now outpatient, some people go home

with the pressure bandage (a tight wrap of gauze around your head, with a

bulk of gauze covering the incision size tightly), and take it off in a day

or two per instructions from their surgeon. Like Alice said, this is

something you need to discuss with your surgeon. Ruth

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of

Gerald Gollinger

Sent: Saturday, May 30, 2009 11:53 PM

Subject: Re: Modified activity after surgery

Kat,

Thank you for another positive response. is slow in delivering email

now and I previously responded to others.

My late wife had home health attendants who were either ineffectual or

domineering. I am fortunate that there may be a means of delivery of

restaurant food and groceries. I have to look at the website and see what

is available.

Meanwhile, I have my CI evaluation this Friday. At that time I will know

whether to implement the disability insurance that I have. This is all

payroll deductions so there was no default in a missed premium payment.

I rather hear what people who went through this say since the surgeon wants

a fee and may gloss over any negatives.

Gerald

>

> Thanks all for your quick response. I did not intend to be brash but I

am

> not retired yet and a prolonged absence from work means lost pay. As I

said

> carrying groceries is more than ten pounds. Of course, I cannot go into

> the subway if I am still bleeding (I am in New York City) but to sit

around

> the office or sit around at home - what is the difference? And to have

> someone take care of me is not an affordable expense. If so, I would

prefer

> a nursing home for the interim.

>

> BTW I still have hearing in both ears and adequate vision. I can hear

> normal conversation at work but I fail the audiology exams. And while the

> responses that I received here is somewhat encouraging before I see the

> doctor I can speak to the audiologist who will be doing the psychological

> component about my financial health. She has more say than the surgeon on

> whether surgery should be performed.

>

> Gerald

>

May 31, 2009

Gerald,

I took one week off from work. My surgery was on a Monday, and I went back

to work on the following Monday. I felt I was about 85% recovered after one

week (i.e., recovered well enough for a fast-paced desk job), and definitely

100% recovered by two weeks. I had heard the same timeframe from several

other implantees, too. It was not a difficult or painful recovery for me.

My head felt numb from the incision, that was it. I didn't sleep on the

incision side for a couple weeks, and it was fine after that. The

stitches itched. My hospital keeps you overnight, which was nice, since I

was super dizzy right after the surgery but that settled down by that same

evening. Looking at a computer at home made me a little woozy for a few

days after surgery, but I found just lying down and staying still was very

comfortable. I did not have anyone stay to take care of me, although

other friends did for the first few days. I didn't drive right after

surgery. I think I started driving again the following Saturday. I did

my grocery shopping before the surgery and did not have anything delivered,

except I asked a friend to pick up some popsicles for me because I had a

really sore throat from the breathing tube used during surgery. Ironically,

the sore throat was the most pain I experienced and it wasn't even the

implant location! My doctor told me no heavy lifting, as well, but that

means no straining. Sometimes they will also give you stool softener

medication to take, too, for the same reason. It's like when you do an

abdominal crunch, you are straining and that creates pressure in your skull.

So just take it easy in that regard, use a cart or something for awhile,

rather than carrying heavy things.

The hardest thing is probably just coping during the time period after the

surgery, before activation, if you use the residual hearing in the implanted

ear today. Some helpful suggestions I had been given were to ask people to

write things down for me and to not apologize for it. People are generally

very understanding. I am having a bilateral implant in July, and I'm doing

the same thing -- taking one week off from work, doing my grocery shopping

ahead of time.

You mentioned the psychologist... I worried a LOT about the psychologist's

evaluation and didn't realize it's just a checkpoint to make sure someone

else was not pressuring me into having the implant, like a family member

(apparently, this happens), and that my expectations were reasonable, that I

wasn't expecting the implant to change anything and everything that might be

wrong in my life. I actually had kept very low expectations for my own

sanity -- I simply wanted to get back the tiny bit of residual hearing I had

before the surgery and then have my hearing remain stable thereafter. I got

back SO MUCH more -- this is better than I've heard in my whole life --

and I am very happy I had the implant.

May 31, 2009

Gerald

As others have said, recovery is an individual thing but over all most of us

were not idle for very long. The first few days after surgery you need to take

it easy - get lots of rest, drink lots of fluids to get the surgery meds out of

your system and just let your body regroup. You'll know when you are ready to

take on more.

Just to give you a time frame, figure two weeks of being off work. It may be

less or it may be more depending on how you do and your surgeon's instructions.

MOST IMPORTANT --Keep a positive attitude about the surgery and keep asking the

questions. The more information you have, the more confident you will be about

going into it.

Good luck

Suzanne Nebraska USA

Surgery 1/14/08 R ear N.Freedom

Activation Date 2/14/08

Dr. W. Conlon, Alpha ENT Clinic Ft. , CO

Hi Jim,

I can always stock up on groceries and eat in fast food restaurants. I just do

not want to be idle at home for month(s).

Gerald

May 31, 2009

Ruth,

Since June of 1987 I was living alone. I am kept busy being webmaster for two

fraternal organizations that I do not have the time to feel lonely.

Thank you for describing your perception and visual appearance after surgery.

If the audiologist who is also doing the psychological component approves

surgery it is likely that it will take place. The surgeon made a lot of effort

in finding a hospital that he has practice privileges that would take my

insurance. Doctors are no problems but most facilities are not registered with

United Health Care. At least the New York State policy.

The surgeon will brief me. If assistance is suggested I can always decline. I

will discuss this with the surgeon before surgery.

Gerald

>

> Thanks all for your quick response. I did not intend to be brash but I

am

> not retired yet and a prolonged absence from work means lost pay. As I

said

> carrying groceries is more than ten pounds. Of course, I cannot go into

> the subway if I am still bleeding (I am in New York City) but to sit

around

> the office or sit around at home - what is the difference? And to have

> someone take care of me is not an affordable expense. If so, I would

prefer

> a nursing home for the interim.

>

> BTW I still have hearing in both ears and adequate vision. I can hear

> normal conversation at work but I fail the audiology exams. And while the

> responses that I received here is somewhat encouraging before I see the

> doctor I can speak to the audiologist who will be doing the psychological

> component about my financial health. She has more say than the surgeon on

> whether surgery should be performed.

>

> Gerald

>

May 31, 2009

Anne,

I have a slow pace job but sometimes I have to do lifting. There is some

potential lifting in the near future (paper shredding) but if I have a surgery

date I can press the person who has to review some work to do so

expeditiously. As Ruth explained a week off would not be problematic. I was

worried that this would be for months. And since recovery is usually complete I

can resume most activities afterward.

Gerald

From: Anne Todia <anne350831@...>

Subject: RE: Re: Modified activity after surgery

Date: Sunday, May 31, 2009, 7:52 AM