Re: Is there a downside to going for a ci?

April 27, 2009

I will be completely honest with you. Before receiving my CIs, I only had mild

tinnitus in my left ear. After both of my CI surgeries, I now have mild to

moderate tinnitus in both ears. I also have problems with severe dizziness and

nausea whenever I turn my head, move from a lying position to an upright

position, turn in bed or bend over to pick up an object. My CI surgeon says I

have BPPV or benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. I know it was the result of

surgery because my symptoms didn't start until after I was implanted.

However, having said that, I think that getting CIs was 100% worth it. I'm

*very* happy with the way I hear. Even though it took me quite a bit of time to

find maps that I was really pleased with, I've finally found them and am hearing

better than ever.

In fact, I'm hearing better than I have for a majority of my life since I was

diagnosed with mild hearing loss age age 3.

I think it's good that you are asking questions about the " other side " as far as

CIs are concerned. Knowledge is power and the more knowledge you have, the

better.

Good luck with your final decision.

Bilateral Cochlear CIs

December 2004 and February 2006

Deafblind/Postlingual

April 27, 2009

Hi Yeagr,

There are a lot of possible complications with a CI. First of all it requires

surgery and general anesthesia and their inherent risks including infection

(meningitis), malplacement of the implant or only partial insertion, facial

nerve injury, persistent vertigo, allergic reaction to the implant and increased

vertigo to name a few, however, the chances of complications are reported as

less than one percent, by all three companies that produce them. I have CIs on

both sides. I had my left (worst) ear implanted in 2005 and my results have

been excellent. I can use a wireless telephone, a cellphone and I can really

enjoy music again. It has given me my freedom back and taken a lot of stress off

of my wife as she doesn't have to act as my interpreter all of the time. I had

my right ear implanted April 15th and I'm being activated on Wednesday. Doing

the workup to see if you are a candidate shouldn't obligate you to have the

surgery if you decide not to go through with it. The cochlear implant is one

journey I'm glad I took.

Best regards,

Jim

>

> Is there a downside to going for a ci?

>

> Hello to all,

>

> I have several questions regarding ci's. First, and overall, is there a

downside to going for a ci? Getting one, or at least starting the testing, has

been recommended by ent MDs and audiologists.

>

> From the reading I have done it appears that everyone is happy with theirs or

at least seems satisfied. But what is the other side? What are the side effects

of the surgery? Has anyone you are familiar with had problems such as nerve

damage from the surgery? What about the dizziness, is it transient or long

lasting? How often does it occur? Are people incapacitated for a time? Are you

or people you know of just not helped by the ci? Was this predicted in those for

which it did not work?

>

> These are a lot of questions I know, however, these concerns have kept me from

proceeding with the tests even though the MDs and Audiologists think I would be

a good candidate. I worry about losing the little hearing I have and am very

concerned that I might be worse off than I am now. I'm finding that I am

participating less and less in events, socials, outings, etc. so I thought I

would revisit the issue and consider it.

>

> I thank you in advance for any responses and comments to this.

>

April 28, 2009

Not to me!

In a message dated 4/28/2009 12:02:41 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

roses33@... writes:

Is there a downside to going for a ci?

**************Access 350+ FREE radio stations anytime from anywhere on the

web. Get the Radio Toolbar!

(http://toolbar.aol.com/aolradio/download.html?ncid=emlcntusdown00000003)

April 28, 2009

In a message dated 4/28/2009 12:02:49 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

roses33@... writes:

Is there a downside to going for a ci?

There are risks for every surgery that an individual has and CI surgery is

no exception. It is good that you are doing research to help you in your

decision. In my case,I had moderate hearing loss in my early teens with

progressive loss that was profound by the time I was 27. Hearing aids were

no use to me, since I did not benefit from them. I used ASL interpreters

and signed for many years. Finally after doing some research, I made the

decision to have my right ear implanted in 2007 (I.had not been able to hear

for 36 years). When I was first activated I thought I had made a mistake

going through with the CI surgery. Because I still could not hear spoken

words clearly. However with patience, practice listening to audio tapes, and

computer training programs I was able to hear and understand spoken words,

sentences, and music. It took me over a year to really be able to

understand speech and to listen to music in my right ear. My second implant

Nov.

24, 2008 in my left ear, I adjusted faster.

The downside is I do have tinnitus spells that sounds like wind blowing or

constant static in my left ear, but goes away when I put my processor on.

This is bearable for me since having bilateral CI surgery I have been able

to hear sounds and enjoy music which I have not been able to for many

years. I was numb on the side of the implant for a while but that went away.

YES there is a risk for CI Surgery, BUT for me the benefit far outweighed

the risk. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Betty Lynch

RT ear CI Freedom on 12/31/2007

LFT ear CI Freedom on 11/24/2008

**************Access 350+ FREE radio stations anytime from anywhere on the

web. Get the Radio Toolbar!

(http://toolbar.aol.com/aolradio/download.html?ncid=emlcntusdown00000003)

April 28, 2009

has anyone tried to treat you for the BPPV? There is a very successful

physical therapy approach to it. There are two people in my area that had it;

one so badly that she had to be hospitalized. Both were completely cured of it

within a very short time. It is a matter of getting the loose crystals out of