recovery after surgery

[Guest guest]

Dear ,

I just read your after surgery post. My heart goes out to you. I

thought about typing to you privately; but this topic deserves to be

addressed out in the open fourm just like any other recovery so I'm

posting to you in the hopes that you will be checking the CI Hear

posts. If I don't see you posting soon, I will forward a copy to

your email address.

Let me assure you that you are not alone! Unfortunately,

balance issues do happen with the surgery and not necessarily just

due to the anesthesia. And as one whose balance went out the window

following CI surgery, I am very sorry you are dealing with it. I

see that Mike has already typed you a good post. Do believe him

that it will get better. Unfortunately, it may take awhile longer

before you feel good again.

As I said my own balance went out the window following my CI

surgery and it took me 14 months to feel good again. What should

have been a same day procedure turned into a 2 night, 3 whole day

hospital stay. That's how long it took to gain some control over my

stomach before I could go home. I couldn't walk without bouncing

off the walls or banging into everything in sight. Six days after my

surgery, my siblings rallied together and made simple goals to get me

up off the couch and walking again. I could no longer just go to

the bathroom and go back to the couch. I had to make a full circle

of the downstairs to get to the couch and I had to walk out to the

kitchen for my meals. As the weeks went by, my daily goals

increased. It was such an exhausting time and my favorite place to

be for the first 12 weeks was the couch with a section that had a

recliner. My own surgeon told me that it would resolve itself in

time; but when I was still bouncing off of everything in sight 2

months later and still not feeling well, I begged him for something

to do to help regain my balance. He gave me eye exercises to do to

help retrain my eyes, ears and brain to work together on my

balance. I did them 2 to 3 times a day for the next year and I

gradually saw improvement over the next year. By the 13th week of

doing them, I was no longer bouncing off of everything in sight (just

some things) and my couch time was starting to get shorter although

I still needed at least 2 naps a day. Imbalance can be quite

exhausting as I'm sure you have discovered. During that summer I

discovered I had another balance issue. I was diagnosed with

Positional Vertigo when I discovered I was getting seasick in 3 ft of

pool water and couldn't stand to watch a train cross an

intersection. I was given another set of exercises to do and I did

them twice a day for 4 months along with the imbalance ones that I

was still doing 2 or 3 times a day. Those exercises helped me a

lot! By Fall, I could watch trains again without feeling like I was

moving along with them and I no longer flounder like a fish in 3 feet

of pool water; although I still can't stand submerging my head

underwater; but that's okay by me. I was never a great swimmer

anyway.

My advice to you is to hang in there. Right now rest and pace

yourself. When you do have to walk, be sure to focus on one

stationary object ahead of you as you get to where you are going. Do

not take your eyes off that object as you walk. And feel free to

clutch onto things too. I hope you will soon be feeling more like

yourself.

I have to be honest and tell you that my balance never did resolve

itself. I still can take up a lot of space when I walk from one

area to to another but I no longer bounce off of things. Rather than

resolving itself, I have adjusted to my imbalance over a 14 month

period of time. Today, I feel pretty darn good and have not had a

couch day in over 2 years.

, after my surgery, I also thought I made a big mistake. I

was more nervous than excited on my hook up day. My youngest sister

had her hands full keeping me calm in the waiting room. I had myself

practically talked into it not going to work for me. What a

surprise I was in for! Today, I am still very much in awe with what

my CI has given me! Despite the balance problems, I am very glad I

got implanted. It's the best hearing I've had in my whole life!

Good luck to you, ! If you would like to email me privately

and ask any questions, feel free to do so. I'll even be happy to

share my exercises with you in case you would like to see them.

Please rest and pace yourself as much as possible. My very best

wishes that you will soon be feeling well again.

Patti

Surgery Day 11/25/02 (What A Day!)

Hook Up Day BWP 1/2/03 (A Happy Day!)

3G 1/31/03 (An Even Happier Day!)

[Guest guest]

I have Menieres Disease & already bounce off the walls, fall down and have

lousy balance all the time. The CI surgery affecting my balance concerns me

more than anything because the dr wants to implant the better ear - the only one

with vestibular (balance) function left, because it was the last to go deaf

(zero speech comprehension in both ears with HA's.) Wouldn't it be better to

implant the dead ear? This is what worries me most. I've already gone through

balance retraining and gaze stabilization therapy. I just have bad equilibrium

from so much damage. Any advice?

Sherry

velma214 <Scrabbler214@...> wrote: Dear ,

I just read your after surgery post. My heart goes out to you. I

thought about typing to you privately; but this topic deserves to be

addressed out in the open fourm just like any other recovery so I'm

posting to you in the hopes that you will be checking the CI Hear

posts. If I don't see you posting soon, I will forward a copy to

your email address.

Let me assure you that you are not alone! Unfortunately,

balance issues do happen with the surgery and not necessarily just

due to the anesthesia. And as one whose balance went out the window

following CI surgery, I am very sorry you are dealing with it. I

see that Mike has already typed you a good post. Do believe him

that it will get better. Unfortunately, it may take awhile longer

before you feel good again.

As I said my own balance went out the window following my CI

surgery and it took me 14 months to feel good again. What should

have been a same day procedure turned into a 2 night, 3 whole day

hospital stay. That's how long it took to gain some control over my

stomach before I could go home. I couldn't walk without bouncing

off the walls or banging into everything in sight. Six days after my

surgery, my siblings rallied together and made simple goals to get me

up off the couch and walking again. I could no longer just go to

the bathroom and go back to the couch. I had to make a full circle

of the downstairs to get to the couch and I had to walk out to the

kitchen for my meals. As the weeks went by, my daily goals

increased. It was such an exhausting time and my favorite place to

be for the first 12 weeks was the couch with a section that had a

recliner. My own surgeon told me that it would resolve itself in

time; but when I was still bouncing off of everything in sight 2

months later and still not feeling well, I begged him for something

to do to help regain my balance. He gave me eye exercises to do to

help retrain my eyes, ears and brain to work together on my

balance. I did them 2 to 3 times a day for the next year and I

gradually saw improvement over the next year. By the 13th week of

doing them, I was no longer bouncing off of everything in sight (just

some things) and my couch time was starting to get shorter although

I still needed at least 2 naps a day. Imbalance can be quite

exhausting as I'm sure you have discovered. During that summer I

discovered I had another balance issue. I was diagnosed with

Positional Vertigo when I discovered I was getting seasick in 3 ft of

pool water and couldn't stand to watch a train cross an

intersection. I was given another set of exercises to do and I did

them twice a day for 4 months along with the imbalance ones that I

was still doing 2 or 3 times a day. Those exercises helped me a

lot! By Fall, I could watch trains again without feeling like I was

moving along with them and I no longer flounder like a fish in 3 feet

of pool water; although I still can't stand submerging my head

underwater; but that's okay by me. I was never a great swimmer

anyway.

My advice to you is to hang in there. Right now rest and pace

yourself. When you do have to walk, be sure to focus on one

stationary object ahead of you as you get to where you are going. Do

not take your eyes off that object as you walk. And feel free to

clutch onto things too. I hope you will soon be feeling more like

yourself.

I have to be honest and tell you that my balance never did resolve

itself. I still can take up a lot of space when I walk from one

area to to another but I no longer bounce off of things. Rather than

resolving itself, I have adjusted to my imbalance over a 14 month

period of time. Today, I feel pretty darn good and have not had a

couch day in over 2 years.

, after my surgery, I also thought I made a big mistake. I

was more nervous than excited on my hook up day. My youngest sister

had her hands full keeping me calm in the waiting room. I had myself

practically talked into it not going to work for me. What a

surprise I was in for! Today, I am still very much in awe with what

my CI has given me! Despite the balance problems, I am very glad I

got implanted. It's the best hearing I've had in my whole life!

Good luck to you, ! If you would like to email me privately

and ask any questions, feel free to do so. I'll even be happy to

share my exercises with you in case you would like to see them.

Please rest and pace yourself as much as possible. My very best

wishes that you will soon be feeling well again.

Patti

Surgery Day 11/25/02 (What A Day!)

Hook Up Day BWP 1/2/03 (A Happy Day!)

3G 1/31/03 (An Even Happier Day!)

[Guest guest]

Hi Sherry,

I also have bilateral Meniere's disease. I had my worst ear implanted

and I am very happy with the results. My surgeon also wanted to

implant my worst ear. The good news is the CI basically cured my

recruitment and distortion in that ear. I have no vestibular function

in that ear. I had some very mild dizziness for about an hour after

waking up from the anesthesia. You might want to go back and look at

post # 41664. It is an article about implanting the worst ear.

Best regards,

Jim

>

> I have Menieres Disease & already bounce off the walls, fall down

and have lousy balance all the time. The CI surgery affecting my

balance concerns me more than anything because the dr wants to implant

the better ear - the only one with vestibular (balance) function left,

because it was the last to go deaf (zero speech comprehension in both

ears with HA's.) Wouldn't it be better to implant the dead ear? This

is what worries me most. I've already gone through balance retraining

and gaze stabilization therapy. I just have bad equilibrium from so

much damage. Any advice?

> Sherry

[Guest guest]

Hi Sherry!

When I first read your post, I thought to myself, it's not my

place to give advice over what a surgeon has said. Then I re-read

your post and it brought back memories of my own CI Candidacy

appointments. I peppered my ENT with questions when he wanted to

implant my worst ear. I wanted my good ear done and so I asked him

why he chose the worst ear. The CT Scan showed it had everything in

there that the good ear had; but my dad and I talked him out of it

and insisted that the good ear be done since I had never ever heard a

sound via my worst ear and knew that I once heard sound via my good

ear. I think that's what you need to do with your own Surgeon...ask

him questions. You have a great one right in your post: " Wouldn't

it be better to implant the dead ear? " Find out what he/she has to

say to that. Also, ask your ENT what he thinks will happen to your

vestibular function if your good ear does get implanted. And while

you are at it go ahead and ask if your worst ear could be done

instead and if not find out why. I, myself, do not have Menieres

Disease so I can't really give you any advice how you will do balance

wise after the surgery. Besides everyone is different anyway.

Before my surgery, I did tend to sway to the left due to not seeing

out of my right eye but I was not off balance like I have been since

the surgery. Hopefully you will get some feedback from people who

have Menieres Disease who have had the operation already.

Good luck to you! Keep us posted on how it's going and keep any

questions you have coming.

Patti

Surgery Day 11/25/02 (What A Day!)

Hook Up Day BWP 1/2/03 (A Happy Day!)

3G 1/31/03 (An Even Happier Day!)

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I've found doing yoga at home really great for my balance. I don't have

menieres but when I had my sudden hearing loss my balance was bad for a

short while afterwards. You can do yoga from books and DVD (I found one

with captions) and the good thing about yoga is that you can do it anytime

and anywhere.

_____

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of

Sherry Mason

Sent: Tuesday, 31 January 2006 2:34 AM

Subject: Re: Re: Recovery after surgery

I have Menieres Disease & already bounce off the walls, fall down and have

lousy balance all the time. The CI surgery affecting my balance concerns me

more than anything because the dr wants to implant the better ear - the only

one with vestibular (balance) function left, because it was the last to go

deaf (zero speech comprehension in both ears with HA's.) Wouldn't it be

better to implant the dead ear? This is what worries me most. I've already

gone through balance retraining and gaze stabilization therapy. I just have

bad equilibrium from so much damage. Any advice?

Sherry

velma214 <Scrabbler214@...> wrote: Dear ,

I just read your after surgery post. My heart goes out to you. I

thought about typing to you privately; but this topic deserves to be

addressed out in the open fourm just like any other recovery so I'm

posting to you in the hopes that you will be checking the CI Hear

posts. If I don't see you posting soon, I will forward a copy to

your email address.

Let me assure you that you are not alone! Unfortunately,

balance issues do happen with the surgery and not necessarily just

due to the anesthesia. And as one whose balance went out the window

following CI surgery, I am very sorry you are dealing with it. I

see that Mike has already typed you a good post. Do believe him

that it will get better. Unfortunately, it may take awhile longer

before you feel good again.

As I said my own balance went out the window following my CI

surgery and it took me 14 months to feel good again. What should

have been a same day procedure turned into a 2 night, 3 whole day

hospital stay. That's how long it took to gain some control over my

stomach before I could go home. I couldn't walk without bouncing

off the walls or banging into everything in sight. Six days after my

surgery, my siblings rallied together and made simple goals to get me

up off the couch and walking again. I could no longer just go to

the bathroom and go back to the couch. I had to make a full circle

of the downstairs to get to the couch and I had to walk out to the

kitchen for my meals. As the weeks went by, my daily goals

increased. It was such an exhausting time and my favorite place to

be for the first 12 weeks was the couch with a section that had a

recliner. My own surgeon told me that it would resolve itself in

time; but when I was still bouncing off of everything in sight 2

months later and still not feeling well, I begged him for something

to do to help regain my balance. He gave me eye exercises to do to

help retrain my eyes, ears and brain to work together on my

balance. I did them 2 to 3 times a day for the next year and I

gradually saw improvement over the next year. By the 13th week of

doing them, I was no longer bouncing off of everything in sight (just

some things) and my couch time was starting to get shorter although

I still needed at least 2 naps a day. Imbalance can be quite

exhausting as I'm sure you have discovered. During that summer I

discovered I had another balance issue. I was diagnosed with

Positional Vertigo when I discovered I was getting seasick in 3 ft of

pool water and couldn't stand to watch a train cross an

intersection. I was given another set of exercises to do and I did

them twice a day for 4 months along with the imbalance ones that I

was still doing 2 or 3 times a day. Those exercises helped me a

lot! By Fall, I could watch trains again without feeling like I was

moving along with them and I no longer flounder like a fish in 3 feet

of pool water; although I still can't stand submerging my head

underwater; but that's okay by me. I was never a great swimmer

anyway.

My advice to you is to hang in there. Right now rest and pace

yourself. When you do have to walk, be sure to focus on one

stationary object ahead of you as you get to where you are going. Do

not take your eyes off that object as you walk. And feel free to

clutch onto things too. I hope you will soon be feeling more like

yourself.

I have to be honest and tell you that my balance never did resolve

itself. I still can take up a lot of space when I walk from one

area to to another but I no longer bounce off of things. Rather than

resolving itself, I have adjusted to my imbalance over a 14 month

period of time. Today, I feel pretty darn good and have not had a

couch day in over 2 years.

, after my surgery, I also thought I made a big mistake. I

was more nervous than excited on my hook up day. My youngest sister

had her hands full keeping me calm in the waiting room. I had myself

practically talked into it not going to work for me. What a

surprise I was in for! Today, I am still very much in awe with what

my CI has given me! Despite the balance problems, I am very glad I

got implanted. It's the best hearing I've had in my whole life!

Good luck to you, ! If you would like to email me privately

and ask any questions, feel free to do so. I'll even be happy to

share my exercises with you in case you would like to see them.

Please rest and pace yourself as much as possible. My very best

wishes that you will soon be feeling well again.

Patti

Surgery Day 11/25/02 (What A Day!)

Hook Up Day BWP 1/2/03 (A Happy Day!)

3G 1/31/03 (An Even Happier Day!)

[Guest guest]

I was wondering if any one out there has had surgery and how long

before you felt better. I has surgery on october 26, 2006 and am

still having issues with pain, swelling and lack of energy. The

surgery was on my foot to repair a broken metatarsel that would not

heal. I just can't shake the tiredness and swelling. THe pain is

sordof off and on so i can manage it a little better. Any information

would be greatly appreciated.

THanks

Angie

[Guest guest]

This is the biggest one I have seen in years. My guess is that they have not done many. Most who do this surgery go in from the back. But if that is what your guy does that is the way to go. You need to get a copy of your pathology report for your and your families files. CE Grim MDOn Dec 29, 2009, at 9:17 AM, Rosie wrote:Has anyone had surgery recently? I had mine last Monday and I know I am not going to feel 100% for a while. Maybe I just woke up irritated that I feel like I have been hit by a Mack truck every night while I am asleep. What has your recovery been like? Dr Grim, I posted a picture of my incision, is it normal to be cut this big? I go for my follow up visit on Thursday but any feedback about your recovery stages would be greatly appreciated!!Rosie