Skip to content
HearingTracker
Log in

Approved for Cochlear - starting to get anxious

113 replies4k viewsLast reply

Jump
Link to this topic
Reply

I would follow the doctors orders. If your doctor told you not to get the surgery area wet, that’s what I would do. If they didn’t I would be careful but wash my head normal and the surgery area carefully.

Do you have a clear goop like material, liquid bandage, on the surgery area? When you take the cup off you will know. That stuff is pretty tuff and holds up for almost a week. It keeps your surgery clean and dry.

Instructions from my dr that were sent home with me just say I can remove the ear cup and dressing 3 days after surgery. I can shower once cup is removed but do not rub area behind your ear as it can lead to wound dehiscence and implant movement.

Once the cup is removed I will know what is left behind the ear. I do know that she said they had to do a small graft behind the ear to protect the implant as there was not enough extra skin/padding (my words - she said you are thin so need the graft). I am assuming based on other pics out on the web that there will be some steri strips that will be left in place until I see the dr on Thurs.

Follow the Dr’s orders and don’t get your wound wet. You don’t want to risk your wound breaking down. I took myself off to the hairdresser when I wanted to wash my hair. She gave me a towel to hold over my ear so it didn’t get wet. She was very careful with the water hose. Something you can’t do by yourself. It’s only for a couple of weeks not like your implant that life long.

Deaf_piper - my dr didn’t say anything in my post op instructions about not getting the surgical site wet; instructions were no shower until the cap can come off and then just no rubbing the surgical site. So all of that followed. I just “added” the part of a cotton ball in the ear to prevent water from going in because it sounded like best practice and wouldn’t “hurt” either way. :slight_smile:

In reply to @Raudrive

Day 4 - yesterday getting that cup (the bands!) off was fantastic. Shower good. Jaw is more of an ache vs pain now. Overall balance is much better, new as of last night when I get up from laying down small vertigo episodes. Somersault vertigo. BUT that is not anything I can’t handle - compared to Meniere’s attacks over the years this little vertigo is nothing.
No liquid in the ear or blood so far. Doing well all said!

Did you have a clear goop like material over the surgery area? I ask because I did on both implant surgeries. From members here I learned it’s a liquid type bandage the keeps the site clean and dry. Mine wore off over a 7-10 days time.

I know different doctors and locations do things differently. That’s why we can’t tell you what’s best. You have to follow the doctor’s orders.

You are doing great.

@Raudrive No clear goop over the surgery area. When the gauze pad was removed underneath was steri strips. (Look like several long white small bandages) No instructions to remove those so I left in place. I did an internet search and it indicated that after showering to pat dry and even potentially use hair dryer to dry the strips quicker.

Day 6 update - balance issues pretty much back to normal. I think I overdid chewing gum yesterday so jaw a little sore. All in all everything is good. One thing that was a shock to me last night, I took off my makeup and noticed that around my left upper lip and upper left eye brow I had dark black/yellow bruises. Did a google search and appears that it is likely due to the needles from the nerve tests during surgery.

In reply to @nicmger

@nicmger said:

I took off my makeup and noticed that around my left upper lip and upper left eye brow I had dark black/yellow bruises. Did a google search and appears that it is likely due to the needles from the nerve tests during surgery.

Thanks for this. Taught me two things.

Sure didn’t know about the needles and nerve testing.

Thanks for the update. You are doing great.

I knew that there was some nerve tests as right as they rolled me in to surgery they introduced me to the dr that would be in charge of that during surgery (no idea what their name was). Didn’t know how testing was done, definitely wasn’t discussed before then - but not really an issue. Just more of a surprise seeing the bruise. LOL

Thurs (2 days) is follow up appt.

Day 8 - today was my follow up to the surgery. Although I was told to bring the backback in, activation was NOT done today. Today dr checked the impant and surgery site; removed the medi strips and wiped with alcohol pad (stung a bit). She tested if implant area was ready for the processor/magnet (yes). So set for activation on 12/1 - soonest appt because of the holiday next week.

Appointment was good. Today was not. I was experiencing signficiant balance issues today, even some vertigo. Could easily have been one of my Meniere’s attacks.

So…no new updates for a couple of weeks.

Happy Thanksgiving all.

I did not since 1) balance/vertigo issues were told to me as potential side effects and 2) my Meniere’s. Figured it it continues for a long time or gets worse I would mention it.

Yesterday still some balance issues but no vertigo. Today better so far, still not 100% but not as much balance issues. So fingers crossed!!

Update: Today processor was activated. Basically just was showing me how to charge, attach the batteries, put on the processor etc. Sound was set.

Supposed to ensure that I wear at least 12 hrs per day. Move up to program 2 next week (louder); 3 in two weeks; and 4 in 3 weeks. She did not want me to pair processor to the phone until next appointment. I am supposed to read out loud for at least an hour a day. (My plan on that since I work remote is to read all of my emails and teams messages incoming and outgoing throughout the day.) Programming (whatever it is called) will be at next appt Jan 5th.

I only wore it for about 6 hrs - but that was not my fault. The batteries were not fully charged before I got there this morning (they had the backpack/case) and the processor did a series of beeps and some time later went out. I have it on the charger and will start full day tomorrow.

Today it was just noise. Sound. My heels on the pavement that type of thing. Definitely nothing close to words. LOL

Yes I knew that they were monitor the nerves but I didn’t think it would cause a bruise. No worries of course - would rather have a couple of bruises than nerve damage!

I would like to say hello to everyone. My hearing loss was due to noise damage from years of being a truck mechanic. I started wearing a year ago. My right ear is the worst and I have been approved for in that ear. My surgery is Tues. Jan 6th

madmechanic - excited for you. I am early in my process, many here much more experienced! I was concerned about pain but it really wasn’t bad. Worse for me was how tight the ear protector was (straps around back of head and over forehead). Once I got approval to loosen that a bit it was god. Some soreness a couple of days in with my jaw if I tried to chew something hard (as expected); definitely keep soft foods ready. As I did get sick after a couple of previous surgeries my dr prescribed a pill for the immediate days after to take but also they approved/placed a patch behind my other ear after surgery to address that. Good luck!!!

Related discussions