Cochlear Implant Patients.

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Well just as an update. I have been taking the pain meds, just not until it gets out of control. they say for 1 pill every 4 hrs and for 2 pills every 6hrs. so i'm trying to wait like an extra hour.. not like i'm going a whole day without them..

And I don't think this was something i was dreading, so i was kinda ready for the surgery, I knew that the worst part would be the pain afterwards which i'm finding out was fairly accurate!

I am trying to stay calm and such not lifting weight trying not to strain to much, coughing makes that really hard. Although i realized today that my dog may be over the 10lb weight limit, but not my much. He's a Jack Russell terrier.

I keep realizing things as I go, like why blood pressure would matter in the surgery.. lol
Good to know that you got yours out of the way like I did. I feel its better to get it over with than to keep dreading it.

Finally for Deb1hd, you probably are going to lose that hearing regardless of what product you choose, so if you think you want the longer electrode i say go for it unless your doc says otherwise. And i'm hoping the ringing goes away as well, after activation of course!


Few more unrelated questions, anybody know what to do for the implant site as far as swelling and such trying to help keep that down, and possibly more pain free than just taking the meds.

Would an ice pack help or anything?
Any particular way i should sleep or anything?
 
Zebadee

Over the years, I've learned a LOT (far too much) about pain management from various pain specialists (drs who specialize in pain management)... I was in a car accident in 2004 and now live in constant severe chronic pain (with pain meds 6-7 out of 10 all the time, without pain meds 8-9.5 out of 10 all the time)... so I know LOTS about how pain impacts your body and how pain meds effect things.

I'd really suggest taking the meds as prescribed, typically it's every 3-4 hours for most medications you'd get post-op - check the label & take the meds on that schedule for a few days (instead of waiting as long as you currently are). They likely contain an antiinflammatory which is very important to take (reduces swelling, speeds healing etc), if you feel pain it's likely inflammatory pain - which the meds will help.

Everyone has a different amount of post-op pain, and everyone's body interprets pain differently ... so just because some people say "oh, I didn't really need anything other than some Tylenol" please DON'T think that somehow that means your "weak" or something if you are having pain that requires taking stronger meds more often.... your pain is YOUR pain and you need to manage it according to you body's needs.

Properly managing (or if possible almost eliminating) the pain with medication, rest and relaxation will help your body heal better and faster (pain is hard on your body - it raised your heart rate, blood pressure, causes swelling and inflammation... all things that you do NOT want right now)

Honestly - take the meds as often as you need (not exceeding the recommended dosing) for the first few days - the idea is to control the pain - so that your body can relax and heal better. Waiting until you are in significant pain to take your meds only hurts you, it doesn't help.


As for lifting things ... I'd recommend not lifting the dog or anything more than a gallon milk jug for a bit. Just take it VERY easy for a few days - the last thing you want is to cause complications because you did something you shouldn't have.


Keeping the pain well controlled, and staying well hydrated, relaxed and trying to avoid caffiene and salt might also help with the tinnitus (ringing/sounds etc)
 
Anij said:
Zebadee

Over the years, I've learned a LOT (far too much) about pain management from various pain specialists (drs who specialize in pain management)... I was in a car accident in 2004 and now live in constant severe chronic pain (with pain meds 6-7 out of 10 all the time, without pain meds 8-9.5 out of 10 all the time)... so I know LOTS about how pain impacts your body and how pain meds effect things.

I'd really suggest taking the meds as prescribed, typically it's every 3-4 hours for most medications you'd get post-op - check the label & take the meds on that schedule for a few days (instead of waiting as long as you currently are). They likely contain an antiinflammatory which is very important to take (reduces swelling, speeds healing etc), if you feel pain it's likely inflammatory pain - which the meds will help.

Everyone has a different amount of post-op pain, and everyone's body interprets pain differently ... so just because some people say "oh, I didn't really need anything other than some Tylenol" please DON'T think that somehow that means your "weak" or something if you are having pain that requires taking stronger meds more often.... your pain is YOUR pain and you need to manage it according to you body's needs.

Properly managing (or if possible almost eliminating) the pain with medication, rest and relaxation will help your body heal better and faster (pain is hard on your body - it raised your heart rate, blood pressure, causes swelling and inflammation... all things that you do NOT want right now)

Honestly - take the meds as often as you need (not exceeding the recommended dosing) for the first few days - the idea is to control the pain - so that your body can relax and heal better. Waiting until you are in significant pain to take your meds only hurts you, it doesn't help.


As for lifting things ... I'd recommend not lifting the dog or anything more than a gallon milk jug for a bit. Just take it VERY easy for a few days - the last thing you want is to cause complications because you did something you shouldn't have.


Keeping the pain well controlled, and staying well hydrated, relaxed and trying to avoid caffiene and salt might also help with the tinnitus (ringing/sounds etc)
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I've been trying to take the meds, right now with all the pain i just don't want to run out as they say no refills! I have been trying to get plenty of sleep but i've been told i need to stay elevated which i find hard, I'm trying though.

As for lifting things i'm not lifting anything unnecessary but the dog might be a must, he helps me relax and sleep! And i don't do anything with caffine, however i am big on things like soy sauce.

I'm trying though the best i can. Most of my pain keeps changing. right now its in my teeth for some reason? it also hurts to open my jaw very far, i'm sure this is normal but its definitely not cool!!
 
zebadee2010 said:
I've been trying to take the meds, right now with all the pain i just don't want to run out as they say no refills! I have been trying to get plenty of sleep but i've been told i need to stay elevated which i find hard, I'm trying though.

As for lifting things i'm not lifting anything unnecessary but the dog might be a must, he helps me relax and sleep! And i don't do anything with caffine, however i am big on things like soy sauce.

I'm trying though the best i can. Most of my pain keeps changing. right now its in my teeth for some reason? it also hurts to open my jaw very far, i'm sure this is normal but its definitely not cool!!
Click to expand...

If you take the meds as often as directed, by the time you run out, you'll likely be fine on Tylonel (or other OTC meds) ... however if you DO still have significant pain, you should be able to call (or have someone call) your dr and they will write you a script for a few more pills so don't worry too much about that.


If at all possible, see if there's a way to make it so someone (mum ? someone) can lift the dog as much as possible, espeically the first few days ... or set something up (foot stool etc) so that the dog can climb up to you without you having to lift anything

the not lifting anything, and bending more than "x" rules - are really important and not a "guideline or suggestion" (unlike some of the "rules" they give post op)



I just really really want this to work out for you ... and make sure you don't accidentally do something that may jeopardize the outcome.
 
zebadee2010 said:
I've been trying to take the meds, right now with all the pain i just don't want to run out as they say no refills! I have been trying to get plenty of sleep but i've been told i need to stay elevated which i find hard, I'm trying though.

As for lifting things i'm not lifting anything unnecessary but the dog might be a must, he helps me relax and sleep! And i don't do anything with caffine, however i am big on things like soy sauce.

I'm trying though the best i can. Most of my pain keeps changing. right now its in my teeth for some reason? it also hurts to open my jaw very far, i'm sure this is normal but its definitely not cool!!
Click to expand...

The pain your feeling sounds normal to what they told me to expect. rest rest rest. I wouldn't be bending over and picking up the dog. The pressure from bending so soon after surgery is a NO NO. I know it sounds like whut.. But you want to heal to the very best of your ability. They told me that pain in the jaw and neck is possible luckily I didnt really experience hardly much pain at all. They had me on percocet and some anti bio's I took 10 percs in the course of my surgery even tho i was prescribed 30 I just never needed them. The antibio's I took till they were gone. Did you get the meningitis vaccine?
 
Deaffy said:
The pain your feeling sounds normal to what they told me to expect. rest rest rest. I wouldn't be bending over and picking up the dog. The pressure from bending so soon after surgery is a NO NO. I know it sounds like whut.. But you want to heal to the very best of your ability. They told me that pain in the jaw and neck is possible luckily I didnt really experience hardly much pain at all. They had me on percocet and some anti bio's I took 10 percs in the course of my surgery even tho i was prescribed 30 I just never needed them. The antibio's I took till they were gone. Did you get the meningitis vaccine?
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I am going to keep taking the pain medicine. I forgot about taking Advil. Is that still Ok? or just tylenol?

I also don't pick the dog up too much (he can jump pretty well) sometimes he just has to be coerced! Why is it that i'm not supposed to bend?

Also on my pain, I can feel the stitching around my ear and stuff. And my actual ear hurts a bit, feels numb and if you touch it feels swollen! And as for my jaw. I though that was normal until my tooth started hurting. Never had any cavities before so i dunno what it is. Did they drill my teeth without telling me? Lol.
 
Also as I am still kinda young, I think they may have told my mom most of these instructions as I heard none of them while i was at the hospital. So anything in particular that i should avoid or do? In addition to the lifting?
 
I felt much better after the bandage was off. you probably will too if you still have it on
 
zebadee2010 said:
Also as I am still kinda young, I think they may have told my mom most of these instructions as I heard none of them while i was at the hospital. So anything in particular that i should avoid or do? In addition to the lifting?
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Your mom will have been given an info sheet from the hospital with instructions on what you can do and can't do - including NO bending, NO lifting, how to clean the site when you can wash your hair etc ... Ask your mom to show you anything that has this type of info on it.

If you have any questions at all about pain, what you can do, can't do - call the hospital or your doctor to ask (or have your mom call for you)

The bending and lifting are the big things as they put a lot of pressure and strain on surgical sites (and the CI is sooo precise, you don't want to have anything shift while it's healing or otherwise mess anything up!)


BTW
Do you know how to use your computer to make a phone call using an Internet based relay service ? If not, let us know and we can walk you through it. That way YOU can make your own calls whenever you want (via internet connection) without having to ask others to call for you.



The bandages (Pressure type) are the worst .... when I was younger ,I had a 3 surgeries on my ears where the incisions are right behind my ear, similar to the current CI ones - and my surgeries requiring wearing pressure bandages 24/7 for 3-4 WEEKS (it was horrible, sticky, smelly , uncomfortable and HOT)
 
Since it took two surgery attempts I was not willing to comprised the healing. I even had to stop stretching out when waking up in the morning for almost two months in my case. I had a great deal of antibiotics during surgery and during the overnight stay at the hospital. My recovery was not the easiest due to an underlining condition. Now four years later I am grateful that my tooth and nail aproach in getting the CI worked out very well. The only pain I had was a slight jaw pain due to a small strip of muscle taken out to pack the array to the cochlea.
zebadee2010 you are doing fine
 
Hey Zebadee, you are doing ok, I had very stiff neck (implant side) and sore throat, probably they weighed/held my head down and the intubation tube were sitting on one side for 4 hours. On the day after my surgery I had those ear pressure pains like people would have when they fly on planes, the surgeon told me to keep swallowing which did the trick. These pains disappeared after few days.
You probably would experince out of sorts pain such as painful jaw. Some people came out looking black and blue as if they had been in boxing ring! The pain will subside.

I have also got a JRT!!! he's 18lbs!! Big one!
 
Anij said:
As for lifting things ... I'd recommend not lifting the dog or anything more than a gallon milk jug for a bit. Just take it VERY easy for a few days - the last thing you want is to cause complications because you did something you shouldn't have.
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Yes, I was told the same thing after my surgery. And perhaps also not to drive too soon. Give it at least a week, before you do any short distance driving or anything to that sort.
 
The pressure bandages are now removed the next day, at least where i'm from! And I now know not to bend, pick up, or wash my hair, and possibly sleeping elevated? This is all i could find out..

Luckily I didn't come out looking Black and Blue.. But that does explain the jaw pain. I knew they wrapped the electrode I just didn't know with what!

And I guess I should mention that I won't be driving anywhere probably until activation is over. As I can't hear, it threw off my balance (it's getting better) so parents won't let me drive until I can walk better. Not that I have anywhere to be. I might make a lap around our neighborhood just for test driving...

Hopefully my pain and such will go away with another day or so..

And to DDU, this isn't a hate thread. Please don't post things like that!
 
zebadee2010 said:
The pressure bandages are now removed the next day, at least where i'm from! And I now know not to bend, pick up, or wash my hair, and possibly sleeping elevated? This is all i could find out..

Luckily I didn't come out looking Black and Blue.. But that does explain the jaw pain. I knew they wrapped the electrode I just didn't know with what!

And I guess I should mention that I won't be driving anywhere probably until activation is over. As I can't hear, it threw off my balance (it's getting better) so parents won't let me drive until I can walk better. Not that I have anywhere to be. I might make a lap around our neighborhood just for test driving...

Hopefully my pain and such will go away with another day or so..

And to DDU, this isn't a hate thread. Please don't post things like that!
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Glad you are adjusting well. Remember, the post op period is uncomfortable for everyone. Hang in there.
 
Interesting reading the above from my own operation in July/07. Don't recall much pain after operation as such-given a 30 day prescription which I took. Wasn't renewed. Seems I am one of those that define "pain" as "discomfort". The only question I had for the surgeon was- when can I resume swimming? 2 weeks after operation but couldn't lift any weights over head for a couple of months-danger of splitting the stitches. That was okay with me! Interesting also keying ones reactions on their laptop- as it happens. I didn't. Just read a lot on my back deck. In a rough way I did document my reactions in the other computer group I belong to: VampireFreaks.com as Bill's journey towards hearing. Yeah a retired Goth. I don't recall any discussion about deafness as such there.
In the end each of us have gone through the operation in individual manner which is a rough help to anyone else doing the same thing.Guess depends on one's age/physical shape etc.

Implanted Advanced Bionics-Harmony activated Aug/07
 
drphil said:
Interesting reading the above from my own operation in July/07. Don't recall much pain after operation as such-given a 30 day prescription which I took. Wasn't renewed. Seems I am one of those that define "pain" as "discomfort". The only question I had for the surgeon was- when can I resume swimming? 2 weeks after operation but couldn't lift any weights over head for a couple of months-danger of splitting the stitches. That was okay with me! Interesting also keying ones reactions on their laptop- as it happens. I didn't. Just read a lot on my back deck. In a rough way I did document my reactions in the other computer group I belong to: VampireFreaks.com as Bill's journey towards hearing. Yeah a retired Goth. I don't recall any discussion about deafness as such there.
In the end each of us have gone through the operation in individual manner which is a rough help to anyone else doing the same thing.Guess depends on one's age/physical shape etc.

Implanted Advanced Bionics-Harmony activated Aug/07
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I knew the post op wasn't supposed to feel good, but i was kinda hoping it would feel better than this! I really wish I could swim while wearing the CI, kinda got to thinking about that the other day!

How do deaf people play Marco Polo? Just a question..

I was expecting pain but nothing like i've been experiencing. I was hoping that i would at least be able to eat without my jaw hurting..

All is going well though, overall. I am going to miss some things like swimming but i guess i'll have to get over that. I am getting better at lip reading so that could possibly help while i can't hear..
 
zebadee2010 said:
I knew the post op wasn't supposed to feel good, but i was kinda hoping it would feel better than this! I really wish I could swim while wearing the CI, kinda got to thinking about that the other day!

How do deaf people play Marco Polo? Just a question..

I was expecting pain but nothing like i've been experiencing. I was hoping that i would at least be able to eat without my jaw hurting..

All is going well though, overall. I am going to miss some things like swimming but i guess i'll have to get over that. I am getting better at lip reading so that could possibly help while i can't hear..
Click to expand...

Students at my son's school would just slap the water surface instead of saying "Marco"..."Polo".
 
zebadee2010 said:
I knew the post op wasn't supposed to feel good, but i was kinda hoping it would feel better than this! I really wish I could swim while wearing the CI, kinda got to thinking about that the other day!

How do deaf people play Marco Polo? Just a question..

I was expecting pain but nothing like i've been experiencing. I was hoping that i would at least be able to eat without my jaw hurting..

All is going well though, overall. I am going to miss some things like swimming but i guess i'll have to get over that. I am getting better at lip reading so that could possibly help while i can't hear..
Click to expand...
I swim around like a sniper.. slowly.. and with my superior lip reading skillz, i am graced with the ability to read people who are talking above water while im underwater.. Then i play whack-a-mole punching people who says marco polo...

Most.......... pointless........... game.............. ever.
 
posts from hell said:
I swim around like a sniper.. slowly.. and with my superior lip reading skillz, i am graced with the ability to read people who are talking above water while im underwater.. Then i play whack-a-mole punching people who says marco polo...

Most.......... pointless........... game.............. ever.
Click to expand...

:lol: just picturing the whack-a-mole part.
 
posts from hell said:
I swim around like a sniper.. slowly.. and with my superior lip reading skillz, i am graced with the ability to read people who are talking above water while im underwater.. Then i play whack-a-mole punching people who says marco polo...

Most.......... pointless........... game.............. ever.
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This makes no sense what-so-ever..

To play marco polo one says marco, and the people hiding say polo to give away their position. The person finding has to tag someone to win.

I find this hard as your eyes are supposed to be closed while doing this and also you can't hear to see if the say polo or not??
 
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