Members Tim Posted January 11, 2023 Members Report Share Posted January 11, 2023 @Mary Beth@Caroline@Jared Charney@Kylie Thaks for everyone's support and encouragement. Back home and everything went well. Took longer than I expected. Checked in at 5:30 AM and got discharged about 2:30 PM. No real issues just slow at the hospital. Everything went great. I'm still a little loopy and tired but surgeon said the CT was sent to Med-El and they said that the longest electrode would fit me so that is what he used. Everything seemed to go well as I recall - all electrodes were inserted and an audi monitoring the procedure said all the impedances were good. Hoping that means that I get 100% of electrodes operating at activation. He said that Med-El info should help mny audi for mapping. Hoping that it means that activation and first mapping go smoothly too. In hindsight, I should have removed the leg from my glasses in advance. My wife hand to hunt for a pair and the eyelglass tools but but it worked. Moved a nice comfy stuffed chair in my living room before surgery. Thanks for the suggestion Mary Beth. I wish I had bought or rented a nice recliner. All set for recovery! Next up is Caroline! Hope yours goes well too. See people at the Google Meet on 29th! Tim Kylie, Lauren, Dianna and 1 other 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HearPeers Heroes Mary Beth Posted January 11, 2023 HearPeers Heroes Report Share Posted January 11, 2023 @Tim Congratulations!!!! Yay! Rest easy. Definitely sounds like your surgeon and audiologist are using OTOPLAN. That is terrific!!!! Dianna and Jared Charney 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jared Charney Posted January 11, 2023 Report Share Posted January 11, 2023 Congrats! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Tim Posted January 11, 2023 Author Members Report Share Posted January 11, 2023 @Mary Beth Yes, Med-El did the Otoplan as a demo for surgeon. My surgeon usually uses the 28 electrode but with longest one based on Med-El's info. FIngers crossed it all worked out as smoothly as it seems. Was tired but feeling pretty good and caught a sceond wind. While it is fresh in mind, I I was thinking of ideas to think about little tips for surgery day and recovery. These come to mind: Furniture Get a good chair for recover (stuffed and/or recliner) Can get a used one or in the US, they have rental chairs Have cough drops for sore throat from intubation. Coffee drinkers-plan for a possible caffeine headache after surgery Bring a backup battery for cell phone if you bring ia phone. Consider a traditional single sided bluetooth ear piece if you rely on headphones for the days immediately after surgery. Clothing: Wear a button shirt, no t-shirt to avoid pulling overhead Crocs or sandals Zippered pocket sweat pants can be nice for storing and not losing things Any other ideas? Tim Lauren 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caroline Posted January 11, 2023 Report Share Posted January 11, 2023 Tim’s so pleased for you sounds like you are really recovering. Just into my hospital room - surgeon dashed by saying all went well. Not feeling quite as strong as you as a lot of pain setting in and they very hesitant to give medication here must beg before sleep. Home tomorrow and the only way is up. So glad to know you are all there for me. My next challenge is to work out how to do the google meet as would really love to be ther. Best for now Caroline Dianna 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HearPeers Heroes Mary Beth Posted January 11, 2023 HearPeers Heroes Report Share Posted January 11, 2023 @Tim great suggestions for surgery. Plus removing one arm on an old pair of eyeglasses. Maybe start a new topic and copy your list so others will be able to see it and search for it later? Dianna 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HearPeers Heroes Mary Beth Posted January 11, 2023 HearPeers Heroes Report Share Posted January 11, 2023 Rest easy @Caroline. I hope your recovery goes smoothly. Do you have an activation date? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Tim Posted January 11, 2023 Author Members Report Share Posted January 11, 2023 Caroline, Sorry to hear that they aren't more agreeable to pain meds in the hospital. Would seem like an advantage to being there overnight. I think you wrote your response more directly after surgery then I did so not at all surprising that you were more uncomfortable. My message was about 3 or 4 hours after going to Recovery and they used strong pain meds at the hospital. I was definitely too loopy to get discharged on my own and asked my wife to retake notes for all the discharge instructions. I eased back on pain meds today (for the day after surgery) to 500 mg of acetaminophen every 8 hours. Feeling good except for throat irritation after intubation. The throat irritation is slowly getting better but went away much faster in my two previous surgeries. Using cough drops and limiting food to yogurt and ice cream. They said I could take off the ear shield today (day after surgery). Nice to protect it from any accidental scratching or irritation. Wondering if it would be good to keep it on another day or let the wounds breathe for perhaps better healing. Does anyone get told to leave it on two days instead of one day? Dianna 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Tim Posted January 11, 2023 Author Members Report Share Posted January 11, 2023 Yes, how did I miss the eyeglass item - probably still loopy from the meds. That was the first thing that I was thinking of for the list when we had to search for a suitable screwdriver! I'll add that to the list and start a new thread. Dianna and Mary Beth 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HearPeers Heroes Mary Beth Posted January 11, 2023 HearPeers Heroes Report Share Posted January 11, 2023 @Tim Both of my surgeons used a soft head wrap and I was to remove it the next day. Dianna 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dianna Posted January 12, 2023 Report Share Posted January 12, 2023 Tim i had a list of post op things and it had "wait 24 hrs for bandage removal". Removal of The snug bandage actually felt terrific! And a shower (i was nervous) i had pills for pain, antibiotics and steroids. Stopped pain meds early, antibiotics 5 days, steroids were for hearing preservation, had 28 days worth of those which had mild effects (yuk) How are you today??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dianna Posted January 12, 2023 Report Share Posted January 12, 2023 Caroline, how are you doing today?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caroline Posted January 12, 2023 Report Share Posted January 12, 2023 Hi all it sounds as though different process in different countries. I am fascinated with the ear shield Tim. I had a bandage round my head and the next morning the surgeon came and took it off and inspected the wound and said all good and off I went. Home. Am kicking myself as he offered me opiates but of course as was so doped up in hospital said no didn’t need them, and wow when I got home the pain kicked in and wish I could go go back and ask now. Slept sitting up last night. - followed your idea Tim with the chair, and this morning taking it incredibly easy and hoping the pain will ease. I am just so grateful that I didn’t get any loss of balance which was worrying me about how to cope in hospital, and no sore throat etc. just the strong pain in the whole left side into the ear. I have antibiotics for a week and only three days of steroids wonder why you have a lot more dianna. I see my specialist in another four days and will have a lot more questions to ask meantime the only way is up. Cannot wait to compare notes when I get my activation which is 25th. I have no idea what it is going to sound like and nobody seems able to give me a very clear idea. I am not sure if I am able to drive home alone after activation as wonder if the strange noises will distract me from driving - perhaps need a friend to come as it is an hour drive home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Tim Posted January 13, 2023 Author Members Report Share Posted January 13, 2023 @CarolineI'm jealous you have a shorter time for activation! Implanted the day after me and activated the day before. Glad to hear that you are home and doing well. Yes, very interesting how different the practices are. They sent me home with the following medicines hydroxycodone + 325 mg acetaminophen (1-2 tablets every 4 hours; 30 tablets) Amoxocillin (twice a day for 5 days) Zofran for nausea as needed Took 1 of the pain reliever and then just switched to regular acetaminophen (Tylenol). Last pill of that was 36 hours after surgery. Not feeling any pain. Wanted to avoid the hydroxycodone as much as possible. Took 1 of Zofran shortly after getting home. This stuff is like magic and great to keep on hand! (I'll tell a story involving ballet at the Google Meet if asked!) My only real physical discomfort was throat irritation from intubation (about 32 hours post surgery and still a bit of a scratchy throat). I didn't get prescribed any steroids and in looking over the doctor's lengthy procedure notes, I didn't see anything about steroid treatment as well for hearing preservation. Not sure that I have enough residual hearing to bother with but they made a point of ordering the Sonnet 2 EAS option since they were the same cost. I took off the ear shield last night just before bed. Just tried to not sleep on the bad ear. Slept much better than the two previous nights. I don't have a followup with doctor's office until activation day (16 days after surgery). Again, prefer Caroline getting to see someone after 4 days. I had the arm removed from an old pair of distant viewing glasses. Good for binge watching TV but it made it VERY hard to use the computer. Today I'm back to wearing regular glasses again - being very gentle with the arm to try to avoid rubbing incisions. Tinnitus is more pronounced but I expected that might happen. As for a shower - they said wait until Saturday (4 x 24 hours!) Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caroline Posted January 13, 2023 Report Share Posted January 13, 2023 Hi all it sounds as though different process in different countries. I am fascinated with the ear shield Tim. I had a bandage round my head and the next morning the surgeon came and took it off and inspected the wound and said all good and off I went. Home. Am kicking myself as he offered me opiates but of course as was so doped up in hospital said no didn’t need them, and wow when I got home the pain kicked in and wish I could go go back and ask now. Slept sitting up last night. - followed your idea Tim with the chair, and this morning taking it incredibly easy and hoping the pain will ease. I am just so grateful that I didn’t get any loss of balance which was worrying me about how to cope in hospital, and no sore throat etc. just the strong pain in the whole left side into the ear. I have antibiotics for a week and only three days of steroids wonder why you have a lot more dianna. I see my specialist in another four days and will have a lot more questions to ask meantime the only way is up. Cannot wait to compare notes when I get my activation which is 25th. I have no idea what it is going to sound like and nobody seems able to give me a very clear idea. I am not sure if I am able to drive home alone after activation as wonder if the strange noises will distract me from driving - perhaps need a friend to come as it is an hour drive home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caroline Posted January 13, 2023 Report Share Posted January 13, 2023 Gosh Tim I am so glad that I see the surgeon sooner. He popped in to see me the morning after surgery took off the bandage an said will see you next week to check all is well. He however doesn’t do the activation that is the audiologist, unless I am reading it wrong it sounds as though others have the surgeon doing activation. Sadly I think the google meet is usa time the middle of our night. If I can work out how to do it will try and get up to join as it would be so good. meantime I am feeling so grateful that I have no other symptoms no tinnitus, or nausea etc just jolly sore which of course one would expect. They reckon three days maximum which i can cope with I almost think I might sleep in a chair permanently it was so comfortable last night!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Tim Posted January 13, 2023 Author Members Report Share Posted January 13, 2023 @Caroline At my clinic the audi and the surgeon are part of the same team. I'll be meeting with the the surgeon's assistant to review the healing for 15 minutes before seeing the Audi for activation. May not even need to move rooms! Glad to hear that you are doing so well. I've had tinnitus for 10+ years so it getting a little worse before activation is no big deal. Keeping fingers crossed that it gets better with activation (that seems to generally be the case.) I get what you mean about the nice chair. My wife and I are looking at home furniture. We had a nice chair picked out at a furniture store two days before surgery but they would not sell from the floor - had to be ordered with a 2 or 3 month lead time. As long as the lead time for the surgery! As for the Google Meet, I think it is 9 AM New York time - no time works perfect for everyone. It is 6 AM on a Sunday morning for me on a day I like to sleep in. I'll send you a direct message with a zoom link and we can do a 1:1 at a better time. Again, very glad that you are doing well. Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caroline Posted January 13, 2023 Report Share Posted January 13, 2023 15 hours ago, Dianna said: Caroline, how are you doing today?? I am getting there Dianna a lot of pain and regretting turning down the offer of opiates as I left hospital, but am lucky enough to. Have no other nasties. No loss of balance of taste or sore throat etc. so cannot complain each day should improve. Now excited about activation Dianna and Kylie 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dianna Posted January 13, 2023 Report Share Posted January 13, 2023 11 hours ago, Caroline said: I am getting there Dianna a lot of pain and regretting turning down the offer of opiates as I left hospital, but am lucky enough to. Have no other nasties. No loss of balance of taste or sore throat etc. so cannot complain each day should improve. Now excited about activation Oh thats good about the rest of symptoms, im sorry you have pain...tylemol perhaps? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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