Advice, Hints and Suggested To-Do's

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Advice, Hints and Suggested " To-Do's "

From Those Who've BEEN THERE

This is a list of advice I have received through numerous listserves,

emails, and online support groups regarding pre-operative and

post-operative CI planning. This list is by no means exhaustive, nor

does it negate the importance of individuals checking with the doctors

about specifics they are concerned about in regards to their own

medical history.

My thanks to all who participated by sending me ideas and advice. I

wish I could give credit to everyone, but I literally received 100's

of individual pieces of information. Feel free to share this list

with others, and hopefully all seeking information about CI surgery

will find this list useful.

Pre-operative

1. Purchase things like triple-antibiotic ointment, hydrogen

peroxide, cotton balls, q-tips, over the counter pain relievers,

shower caps, gauze, Vitamin E capsules,and special shampoos (see

post-operative below – some could use baby shampoo right away, while

others had to purchase " no rinse " shampoos for a week's use) PRIOR to

surgery. Discuss the use of each with doctors and nurses. The

important thing is to purchase these prior to your surgery date so

that all is ready for use when you get home. If you know you will

have pain medication prescriptions and antibiotics, get them filled

before surgery so that you don't have to worry about getting them

after you get home.

2. Clean your house before you leave to go to the hospital! Wash all

of your dirty clothes, etc. No one wants to come home from even

outpatient surgery to a dirty, messy house. Make sure you wash your

bedding so that you have clean sheets to snooze on at night! Find

towels to place over pillows so that ointment will not stain

pillowcases.

3. Purchase extra pillows if you think you will need them, in order

to prop yourself up better at night. Some CI patients borrowed a

recliner in advance if they did not own one. This enabled them to

sleep comfortably in a reclined position after surgery for a couple of

weeks.

4. Purchase healthy microwave meals, or freeze a week's worth of

meals in advance. This will enable you to quickly re-heat food so

that you do not have to prepare and cook meals immediately following

your surgery. Put them in cheap microwaveable plastic containers so

that you can throw them away and not have to wash dishes. Purchase

fresh fruit the day before your surgery so that you have healthy

snacks readily available. Wash them ahead of time so that you need

only retrieve a piece from the fridge. Stock up on applesauce,

Popsicles, etc., which may help with jaw or throat pain.

5. Make a list of how to take care of your pets, plants, etc., and

make sure a friend or family member has a key to your home in case you

are kept overnight. This will ensure care for the critters should the

doctors choose to keep you an extra day.

6. If you know you will not want visitors for a few days (especially

as you cannot wash that hair of yours!) email or contact people you

know may " drop by unannounced.

7. Most surgeons now require that patients get an age-appropriate

vaccine (Prevnar or PCV7 and/or Penumovax or PPV23) prior to implant

surgery. Make sure you discuss with your doctor the reasons for the

vaccines, and when they recommend getting them.

8. Many surgeons require a physical prior to your surgery by your

general practitioner. Some require that it be within 30 days of the

surgery date. This physical may include additional tests like the

EKG, CBC, BMT, PT/PTT, and chest x-ray. Discuss this with your

surgeon at pre-operative visits.

9. Most surgeons ask that you stop taking aspirin, or

spirin-containing products during the 14 days prior to your surgery.

Failure to do so, may cause your surgery to be cancelled. Some of

these products are listed below, however this list is not exhaustive.

If in doubt, please contact your physician and/or surgeon. These

products may include:

Alka-Seltzer

Anacin

Arthritis pain formula

Arthritis strength BC powder

Arthritis strength Bufferin

ASA enseals

ASA suppositories

Ascriptin

Ascriptin ND Caplets

Aspergum

Aspermin

Aspertab

Axotal

Azdone

Bayer

BC Powder

Buffaprin

Buaffasal

Bufferin

Buffets

Buffex

Buffinol

Butalbital compound

CAMA arthritis pain relief

Children's chew. Aspirin

Cope

Damason-P

Dasin

Darvon Compound

Epromate

Equagesic Tablets

Equazine M

ES Bufferin

Gensan

Genuine Bayer Aspirin

Goody's Headache Powder

Isollyl Improved

Lortab ASA tablets

Magnaprin

Marnol

Micrainin

Midol

Measurin

Monentum

Norgesic

Norwich Aspirin

Pacanalgesic tablets

Pain reliever tablets

Percodan

Presalin

Persistin

Salatim Capsules

Saleto

Salocol

Sine-Off sinus

Soma Compound

St. ph's Aspirin

Stanback Powder/Max Powder

Supac

Synalgos-DC Capsules

Talwin Compound

Therapy Bayer aspirin

Tri-pain caplets

Trigesic

Ursinus inlay tabs

Valesin

Vanquish

Verin

Wesprin Buffered

Zorprin

(Certain herbs and supplements should also be checked with you

doctor. Go to

http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?id=SA00040 for more information)

10. Just in case you are dizzy after surgery, and you live in a home

with stairs, make sure everything you need is on one level. That way

you won't have to go up and down stairs for a few days.

11. If you are the person in your household who pays the bills, make

sure you do this in advance. You can have them prepared, but ask a

trusted friend to mail them on a particular date, or you can mail them

early. (Like the companies will complain for getting paid early?)

You may not feel up to bookkeeping for several days, so be prepared.

12. Some CI patients were told they could not lift more than 10

pounds for 3 weeks after surgery. If you are the grocery store

shopper in your home, you may want to stock up on groceries as you

will be unable to lift grocery bags full of food.

13. You cannot wear contacts in surgery. You cannot wear glasses

during surgery. However, post-op, you will need to see to speech

read, or to read notes written to you. Remove the " same side " arm on

your glasses as the side you are having implanted. Keep the tiny

screw and side-arm in a ziplock bag in a SAFE place so that you can

re-assemble them later.

14. Go the library or video store so that you will have plenty of

things you can do while " resting " with your feet up.

15. If you take other prescription medicines for blood pressure,

diabetes, etc., make sure you have a week to 10 days worth before

having to have it re-filled. The last thing you want to do the day

after surgery is try to get a prescription re-filled.

16. Check with your surgeon about acrylic nails, false nails, or

polish. Some do not require that you remove it, however some ask that

you do. It is best to find out ahead of time, especially if you wish

a professional to remove your nails. Ask about both fingernails AND

toe nails.

17. If you have questions that need answers, bring them with you at

check-in so that you will have the answers prior to being released.

18. If you have short and/or very thin hair (OR if you fear a

horrific hair cut!) you may want to invest in some hats and scarves.

Nice wide-rimmed hats with brightly colored scarves look great. The

" guys " may want to do without the scarves – but baseball hats, cowboy

hats, etc., are all great options.

19. You can find numerous CI lists online, some of which have

pictures of post-op haircuts. If you see one you like, and would like

the implant center to try to duplicate that " look " , print the picture

off and take it with you! It won't hurt to ask them to do their best

to leave you enough to work with later!

Day of the Surgery

1. Whether you are wearing street clothes or pajamas home, make sure

the shirt buttons all the Way down the front. You will not want to

try to pull something over your head. The same goes for your jacket

or coat if it is cold. No pullovers! Sweat pants, or " other " slip on

pants are a great idea as well. Skirts, dresses, hose? No way!

2. Plan to wear slip on shoes. You do not want to have to bend over

and tighten, then tie or snap shoes. No high heels. No-skid soles

are best for OBVIOUS reasons.

3. If it is cold, bring a light scarf that you can lightly drape over

your head to protect it from the wind and cold.

4. Bring a small pad of paper and pen to communicate with others.

5. Bring your " CI ready " eye glasses (see pre-op above) and a ziplock

bag or container to keep hearing aids in while in surgery. If you do

not have someone to hold these for you and bring them directly to you

post-op, ask a nurse to take charge of them so that you can put your

hearing aid back into the non-implanted ear after surgery. Label the

baggie with your glasses and hearing aids with marker, even if you are

leaving them in another person's care. You never know! They may get

misplaced.

6. If you know you will be spending the night in the hospital, make

several nice signs that say " Deaf patient – Please face to

communicate " , or other instructions. This can be taped to your

door, above your bed, etc.

7. Do not wear jewelry – best to leave it at home.

8. Bring a picture ID with you. Once checked in, you can give it to

a family member or friend for safekeeping.

9. Bring crackers or other light snack with you. You may be in

recovery for hours and they will forget to feed you more than likely.

Ask permission to eat peanut butter crackers, or ask for Jell-o or

soup. (Make sure family or friends bring a snack or money to purchase

something from the cafeteria.)

10. Arrive ON TIME as registration takes a great deal of time, and

mountains of paperwork. Bring your insurance information even though

they should already have this. Don't take any chances.

11. Do not bring your purse, wallet, etc., unless you are leaving

them in the care of a waiting family member or friend.

12. Talk to your doctor and anesthesiologist about anti-nausea meds.

This can be given through your IV during surgery and helps many

patients in your immediate recovery. If you are extremely nervous

beforehand, you can be given a light sedative like Xanax or " other "

through your IV. Talk to your doctor.

13. Want a Kodak memory? Make sure you bring a camera and instruct

those around you to " snap happy " . YOU will not feel like taking

pictures, but you can have designated people to take pictures, or even

run a video camera.

Post-operative

1. Do not allow doctors or nurses to give you verbal instructions.

Ask them to write EVERYTHING down. Even if you have a family member

or friend listening as well, something may be forgotten.

2. Make sure there are clear instructions about incision care. Make

sure it is written down.

3. Make sure there are clear instructions written about HOW and WHEN

to wash your hair. You may want to find this information out ahead of

time in case you need to purchase special shampoos, etc.

4. After surgery, if you have to sneeze, do so with your mouth open!

Closing your mouth, or trying to hold the sneeze back may damage your

ears and break the clot from the surgery.

5. Avoid crowds and little ones if possible. You do not want to

catch a cold, virus, etc. Your immune system will be weakened from

the operation.

6. Do not drive for at least a week, however some surgeons ask that

you do not for as long as two weeks. Obviously, if you are dizzy and

weak after 2 weeks, you still should not drive. " When " you can drive

varies a great deal based on the responses I received. Ask the

doctor. Many who responded said they were told no driving as long as

they were still taking prescription pain meds.

7. Make sure you have a reliable way to contact your surgeon and

implant center (with the actual names of a couple of nurses), and your

general practitioner.

8. Returning to work varies individual to individual. Speak to your

doctor about this, and stay in contact with your employer so that they

know how you are doing and your anticipated return date.

9. This may vary hospital to hospital, but no airline flying for at

least 3 weeks after surgery.

10. Ask for an identification card the implant center may have

available that you can carry with you in the future, to verify that

you have a cochlear implant and that it cannot be removed.

Security checkpoints in certain buildings, all airports and train

stations, etc., will need to see proof of your medical implant.