Nothing much going on now, one week to activation.
Left ear still feels stuffed up most of the time but not quite as bad.
Back to wearing HA on that side but so muffled I tend to pull it out because it's almost useless.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Friday, August 29, 2008
Med El EAS Journey - Part 3
OK, so when we left off I found out that I had all my residual hearing a great start.
Ended up back at the surgeon the next day, had swelling of the skull and significant pain while chewing that was getting worse.
He initially said the swelling was just fluid and the issues with my mouth were unrelated to the surgery.
Great surgeon, but didn't want to listen to me, saying do I grind my teeth, dental issues all while I'm saying this has just started in the last two days and gotten steadily worse.
Finally he says he's going to drain the fluid, so it's needle in the head time!! Now that doesn't feel very good, not root canal bad but no fun.
Result is not fluid but AIR, I waited the two weeks to blow my nose and sneeze but it wasn't enough and air was leaking into my skull and building up... crazy but true.
So back to no sneezing or blowing of the nose, which sucks for a guy with allergies but compared to being an Air Head I'll show restraint.
Much improved the last two days, still a bit of swelling but nothing major.
Got approval to wear my HA in the left ear pending activation, still stuffed up so not doing it much but does help at work.
11 days till activation, can't wait but still kind of dread what I'm going to look like, oh well I'll deal with it.
Ended up back at the surgeon the next day, had swelling of the skull and significant pain while chewing that was getting worse.
He initially said the swelling was just fluid and the issues with my mouth were unrelated to the surgery.
Great surgeon, but didn't want to listen to me, saying do I grind my teeth, dental issues all while I'm saying this has just started in the last two days and gotten steadily worse.
Finally he says he's going to drain the fluid, so it's needle in the head time!! Now that doesn't feel very good, not root canal bad but no fun.
Result is not fluid but AIR, I waited the two weeks to blow my nose and sneeze but it wasn't enough and air was leaking into my skull and building up... crazy but true.
So back to no sneezing or blowing of the nose, which sucks for a guy with allergies but compared to being an Air Head I'll show restraint.
Much improved the last two days, still a bit of swelling but nothing major.
Got approval to wear my HA in the left ear pending activation, still stuffed up so not doing it much but does help at work.
11 days till activation, can't wait but still kind of dread what I'm going to look like, oh well I'll deal with it.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Med El EAS Journey - Part 2
Surgery was on 8/12/08, arrived went through the whole pre-op process.
As I'm walking into the OR without glasses (blind as a bat) the surgeon (Dr. Hoffman) has me sign a new release because they just got approval on a different implant.
Not a lot of time for discussion so he tells me it's better and easier to work with and I sign away.
Surgery ran about an hour longer then planned and I took another hour longer to come out of the gas, really was out of it. Everything appears to have gone fine, no issues.
I managed to swollen my jello and pee so they let me go home with a big plastic bubble over the ear for protection.
Home at 3:30, slept till around 6:00 and then I felt pretty good. Took all the meds and relaxed.
Next day back to Dr. Hoffman to have bandages removed and everything checked out. All looking good and then back home for week of rest. Overall felt very good, didn't take pain med after the first day. Tired out pretty quick, but no issues with vertigo or dizziness.
Back to work on 8/25, only wearing right HA so pretty tough but not allowed to wear left HA.
Hearing test on 8/26, big one to see if my residual is still there post op, I know it's there, but not if I've lost any.
Good news, hearing is the same, Audio says all looks well and scar is minimal due to much improved surgical technique and skill of Dr. H.
As I'm walking into the OR without glasses (blind as a bat) the surgeon (Dr. Hoffman) has me sign a new release because they just got approval on a different implant.
Not a lot of time for discussion so he tells me it's better and easier to work with and I sign away.
Surgery ran about an hour longer then planned and I took another hour longer to come out of the gas, really was out of it. Everything appears to have gone fine, no issues.
I managed to swollen my jello and pee so they let me go home with a big plastic bubble over the ear for protection.
Home at 3:30, slept till around 6:00 and then I felt pretty good. Took all the meds and relaxed.
Next day back to Dr. Hoffman to have bandages removed and everything checked out. All looking good and then back home for week of rest. Overall felt very good, didn't take pain med after the first day. Tired out pretty quick, but no issues with vertigo or dizziness.
Back to work on 8/25, only wearing right HA so pretty tough but not allowed to wear left HA.
Hearing test on 8/26, big one to see if my residual is still there post op, I know it's there, but not if I've lost any.
Good news, hearing is the same, Audio says all looks well and scar is minimal due to much improved surgical technique and skill of Dr. H.
Med El EAS Journey - Part 1
OK, so I'm going to try to keep this up for a bit and see if it's worthwhile.
A bit behind the curve now, so going to do a fast round of catch up and then hopefully proceed as events unfold.
I've been hearing impaired since I'm 21 so that's 22 years of hearing aids.
Hearing loss came out of my service in the Navy, never able to pin down the exact cause but came in with perfect hearing left with bilateral loss!
It's gotten steadily worse over the years, so much so that I "qualify" for a CI (love that term, like it's a prize).
I had giant issues with the CI, from a "I'll look like a freak" to the "I'll be DEAF when not wearing them" so I've stayed away and done my best with the HA's.
Finally my frustration level exceeded my vanity level and I started seriously researching CI's, came across studies of "Hybrid" which are part CI & part HA.
Found Med EL study and called them up to find out more and started the process.
The NY Eye & Ear Infirmary was part of the study in NY so that worked out since I work in NYC.
After reviewing past audio test, more current tests, CT's, etc.. I qualified and was accepted into the study (and there was great rejoicing throughout the land).
Surgery was scheduled for 8/12/08
A bit behind the curve now, so going to do a fast round of catch up and then hopefully proceed as events unfold.
I've been hearing impaired since I'm 21 so that's 22 years of hearing aids.
Hearing loss came out of my service in the Navy, never able to pin down the exact cause but came in with perfect hearing left with bilateral loss!
It's gotten steadily worse over the years, so much so that I "qualify" for a CI (love that term, like it's a prize).
I had giant issues with the CI, from a "I'll look like a freak" to the "I'll be DEAF when not wearing them" so I've stayed away and done my best with the HA's.
Finally my frustration level exceeded my vanity level and I started seriously researching CI's, came across studies of "Hybrid" which are part CI & part HA.
Found Med EL study and called them up to find out more and started the process.
The NY Eye & Ear Infirmary was part of the study in NY so that worked out since I work in NYC.
After reviewing past audio test, more current tests, CT's, etc.. I qualified and was accepted into the study (and there was great rejoicing throughout the land).
Surgery was scheduled for 8/12/08
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