My 16 year old daughter will be undergoing a CI surgery on her right ear in April. My wife and I just found that she will have to travel the night of the surgery and will be gone for four days after the surgery. I will be helping my daughter with her recovery. I have read up on some stuff but I want to hear info from people or loved ones who have gone through the CI. Please share your or other's experiences. I will ask any questions if I think of them.
My daughter will be undergoing CI surgery
- Thread starter paul61
- Start date
overthepond
New Member
- Joined
- Jun 3, 2008
- Messages
- 2,078
- Reaction score
- 0
Welcome,
Congrats on your daughter getting one.
Wait on hands for her!
She may be very groggy/dizzy/off balance which is perfectly normal after CI operation and it should subsides after a while. So keep her quiet and relaxed would justify. I had mine last july. I was very lucky not to experince any dizzness or nauesa after the operation and I was fine but as I had long operation (mine was 4 hours) the GA takes alot of toll on our bodies so I was very tired and drugged for few days. I had very stiff neck (from where they postiton my head while operating on me for 4 hours) Sore throat from the tube. And uncomfortness of wearing the bandage.. it was so tight!
Jelly, nice soft food (let her choose beforehand) is recommended post op as we do get sore throat! also the sweetness would kick some life into us!
I was pretty much back on my feet doing normal things few days after but taking easy. My mum went back to Austria 4 days after my operation so i was on my own from then I managed OK...
Any questions fire away.
What implant is your daughter getting? is she looking forward to it.
Congrats on your daughter getting one.
Wait on hands for her!
She may be very groggy/dizzy/off balance which is perfectly normal after CI operation and it should subsides after a while. So keep her quiet and relaxed would justify. I had mine last july. I was very lucky not to experince any dizzness or nauesa after the operation and I was fine but as I had long operation (mine was 4 hours) the GA takes alot of toll on our bodies so I was very tired and drugged for few days. I had very stiff neck (from where they postiton my head while operating on me for 4 hours) Sore throat from the tube. And uncomfortness of wearing the bandage.. it was so tight!
Jelly, nice soft food (let her choose beforehand) is recommended post op as we do get sore throat! also the sweetness would kick some life into us!
I was pretty much back on my feet doing normal things few days after but taking easy. My mum went back to Austria 4 days after my operation so i was on my own from then I managed OK...
Any questions fire away.
What implant is your daughter getting? is she looking forward to it.
Abby is getting a Advanced Bionics Harmony implant. She is looking forward to it and has been waiting for months. She says she is nervous about the surgery and sort of hates she will spend her spring break recovering from it. She decided to get done during spring break instead of the summer break because she will be working at my sister's accounting firm. I have heard of the sore throat effects from the intubation tube. I didn't think about her having a stiff neck. Our ENT has told us she will need the bandages
on for 48 hours. What kind of instructions did you get on dealing with the incision after the bandages are removed?
overthepond
New Member
- Joined
- Jun 3, 2008
- Messages
- 2,078
- Reaction score
- 0
I had the bandage on for 48 hours too.
I had the glue and steri strips for my incision, I was told not to wash my hair until i had seen my surgeon which was 2 weeks post op!! Being girl (your daughter will feel same) i Had to wash my hair!!! So on 3rd day, my mum (then friends after she went home) helped with the hair washing while i cover my incision with dry cotton wool pad/facecloth to keep it dry.
The instructions may vary from hospital to hospital....
It's past my bed time... good night and will read any questions you may ask tomorrow morning (i am in england and it's nearly one am)
I had the glue and steri strips for my incision, I was told not to wash my hair until i had seen my surgeon which was 2 weeks post op!! Being girl (your daughter will feel same) i Had to wash my hair!!! So on 3rd day, my mum (then friends after she went home) helped with the hair washing while i cover my incision with dry cotton wool pad/facecloth to keep it dry.
The instructions may vary from hospital to hospital....
It's past my bed time... good night and will read any questions you may ask tomorrow morning (i am in england and it's nearly one am)
overthepond
New Member
- Joined
- Jun 3, 2008
- Messages
- 2,078
- Reaction score
- 0
I had my op in the middle of my racing season last year! I race boats. I wasn't strong enough until 6 weeks after which was almost end of the race season. Now i am preparing for new season... looking forward to it.
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2009
- Messages
- 4,951
- Reaction score
- 25
the procedure and instructions varies by surgeon. i had my CI surgery February 9th this year.. i stayed one night in the hospital and the day after surgery he came by took the bandages off and said it looked good and that i could go home. i had 15 staples in the incision and was told i did not have to keep a bandage on it at all just clean it with cotton balls damp with peroxide 4 times a day and keep the incision coated with neosporin at all times and to keep a cotton ball coated with neosporin in my ear untill i saw the surgeon again. and i couldnt wash my hair untill i saw him again either. i had the staples removed today. he said it looked fine and just have to go back to see him in 1 month for a followup which is 2 weeks after activation.
- Joined
- Aug 7, 2008
- Messages
- 4,335
- Reaction score
- 5
Wow that sounds really awesome about racing boats!
Paul, I had the surgery myself in November of '08. I basically just watched tv, ate, watched tv, ate. All in bed. Some people react differently, I had a huge appetite and it seems to me that this is not very common. But one thing for sure, she would need a lot of rest. It was painful for me and make SURE you put yourself in her view instead of making her turn around. My mom KEPT forgetting and would start talking while at bedside, making me turn my head which hurts. Quite annoying. I only had to keep the bandage for 2 days but couldn't wash my hair for 2 weeks. They told me to, every day, clean the wound with hydrogen peroxide and put on some cream which they gave me. Feel free to ask me any questions.
SteveESP52
New Member
- Joined
- Dec 8, 2006
- Messages
- 156
- Reaction score
- 0
Another perspective.
I had my second Cochlear Freedom implanted this past December.
I stayed overnight at the hospital and did really well. Surgery was early 9:00 AM and I was out in my room at 2:00 in the afternoon. I felt well enough to go home around 6-7 but because I was scheduled to stay 23 hours, I stayed the night.
I had a sore throat, little worse than the first time but totally tollerable. My neck was not as sore this time and I think because I was better about sleeping inclined with pillows. The soreness was quite noticeable especially in the shoulder muscles. I had a hard time on days 2-4 with lifting my head to get out of bed. Muscle related.
For me, the tylenol 3 never touched the pain and I knew going into the surgery this time that I wanted to make the switch to Motrin as quickly as possible after being released. I did check with the Dr on how soon I could start Motrin. It just worked against the muscle/neck pain better.
Taste may be altered (Metallic type taste) for a little while. I did not get this with the second surgery but the first 2 years earlier, I had the taste for about 2 weeks.
You may have read that there might be some ear canal drainage shortly after surgery with popping and some earache type pain. Nothing that Motrin won't help with. Honestly, it was not that bad considering the benefit the CI provides in the way of being able to hear noises.
I was not suppose to wash my hair for a week and was not suppose to lift anything heavier than 10 lbs. My wife helped me wash my hair but the lifting restrictions were impossible to follow. A 20 month old just doesn't understand that Daddy can't pick her up.
I'm sure your daughter will make it through with flying colors.
Just encourage her to be really careful coming out of surgery and not eat to much to fast. The first surgery I was not successful in keeping what I ate down. The second time I was much more careful and did make it but thought I was not going to. The Jello almost beat me both times but it sure tasted good.
Since you will be taking care of your daughter, soft food and for me cold food helped with the sore throat for the first several days. Jello was the perfect food. Pudding was also good.
Please post if you have other questions.
BTW. I was up and doing stuff on day 2 and if I recall, I was back driving on day 3 picking up the kids that evening. I felt good and that was another reason I got off the tylenol 3.
Steve
I had my second Cochlear Freedom implanted this past December.
I stayed overnight at the hospital and did really well. Surgery was early 9:00 AM and I was out in my room at 2:00 in the afternoon. I felt well enough to go home around 6-7 but because I was scheduled to stay 23 hours, I stayed the night.
I had a sore throat, little worse than the first time but totally tollerable. My neck was not as sore this time and I think because I was better about sleeping inclined with pillows. The soreness was quite noticeable especially in the shoulder muscles. I had a hard time on days 2-4 with lifting my head to get out of bed. Muscle related.
For me, the tylenol 3 never touched the pain and I knew going into the surgery this time that I wanted to make the switch to Motrin as quickly as possible after being released. I did check with the Dr on how soon I could start Motrin. It just worked against the muscle/neck pain better.
Taste may be altered (Metallic type taste) for a little while. I did not get this with the second surgery but the first 2 years earlier, I had the taste for about 2 weeks.
You may have read that there might be some ear canal drainage shortly after surgery with popping and some earache type pain. Nothing that Motrin won't help with. Honestly, it was not that bad considering the benefit the CI provides in the way of being able to hear noises.
I was not suppose to wash my hair for a week and was not suppose to lift anything heavier than 10 lbs. My wife helped me wash my hair but the lifting restrictions were impossible to follow. A 20 month old just doesn't understand that Daddy can't pick her up.
I'm sure your daughter will make it through with flying colors.
Just encourage her to be really careful coming out of surgery and not eat to much to fast. The first surgery I was not successful in keeping what I ate down. The second time I was much more careful and did make it but thought I was not going to. The Jello almost beat me both times but it sure tasted good.
Since you will be taking care of your daughter, soft food and for me cold food helped with the sore throat for the first several days. Jello was the perfect food. Pudding was also good.
Please post if you have other questions.
BTW. I was up and doing stuff on day 2 and if I recall, I was back driving on day 3 picking up the kids that evening. I felt good and that was another reason I got off the tylenol 3.
Steve
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2009
- Messages
- 4,951
- Reaction score
- 25
this list helped me do and get what i needed before my surgery.
pre/post op CI surgery tips.
http://www.alldeaf.com/hearing-aids-cochlear-implants/57860-pre-post-ci-surgery-tips.html
pre/post op CI surgery tips.
http://www.alldeaf.com/hearing-aids-cochlear-implants/57860-pre-post-ci-surgery-tips.html
etalton
New Member
- Joined
- Jul 6, 2008
- Messages
- 790
- Reaction score
- 2
I was super lucky with mine. I had my surgery November 7. Checked in at 6 am and checked out at noon. In between was waiting and 4 hours of surgery. Mine took so long because they found ossification in my cochlea (meningitis as a baby). I didn't have a sore throat, but my jaw hurt for days. The bandage was painful, but that was due to the scrunched ear lobe under it. I wasn't dizzy at all, which was amazing since I have meneire's disease and hadn't been able to walk a straight line in a few years. I was wide awake and ready to go after surgery (excellent cocktail they gave me out in under three minutes and awake and aware just as fast). I was hungry on the way home and opted for french fries and iced tea. Never got sick, or anything. I went off the pain meds the second day and just used tylenol, regular strength. My hubby waited on me the first day, but after that, I pretty much took on normal duties though I did take a lot of naps that first week. I had dissolving stitches and was able to shower on shower the second day, shampoo the third. If you daughter isn't able to shampoo until a week or so later, check into rinse free shampoos and conditioners. I found one brand online called No Rinse (fancy that) and it is recommended by hospitals. I learned a lot from the link ncff07 sent you. The recliner was a must for me, it cut down on my rolling on my implant, so I slept better. It forced me to sleep more peacefully.
I ate what I wanted and scrambled eggs were my favorite. Ice cream tasted good, so I had that too, and mashed potatoes.
I ate what I wanted and scrambled eggs were my favorite. Ice cream tasted good, so I had that too, and mashed potatoes.
I want to add my congratulations on your daughter's cochlear implant. I must say it has been the best choice I ever made. I had bilateral cochlear implants July 2007. One issue I had was a "fat lip" this was caused by the facial nerve monitor during surgery. The monitor assist the doctor to avoiding any facial nerve damage. I ended up with a huge fat lip. So for at least a week I could not eat hot food. I didn't have a taste.
Advanced Bionics has a great website calling hearing health journeys. BionicEar.com - Harmony Cochlear Implant by Advanced Bionics Also CI circle for parents of children with cis at CI Circle: Connecting Parents of Children with Cochlear Implants ‎(www.cicircle.org)‎ One other place is deaf village at Deaf Village it has blogs and many of the blogs contain experiences with cis.
The best food for recovery is pudding. I spent 3 days eating chocolate pudding. (I can't eat any pudding since surgery).
My daughter's surgeon has told us she won't be able to wash her hair for five days but if he said if we feel confident in using a sink we could wash her hair. I have heard about dry shampoos has anyone used them during recovery for CI.
My daughter's surgeon told us about the rinse free/dry shampoos how do they work exactly. We have a couple of recliners but I don't think Abby would sleep in one of them.
rick48
New Member
- Joined
- Oct 9, 2006
- Messages
- 1,943
- Reaction score
- 0
Do you mean leaving her alone at home for a couple of days or for just a couple of hours while you run some errands?
I meant to say in my post that I will be able to stay home for a couple a days with her after the surgery but after a couple of days I will probably have to go to my office and a couple of places to run errands which might keep me out of the house for a whole day. I was wondering be ok alone if I was gone for more than four hours.
overthepond
New Member
- Joined
- Jun 3, 2008
- Messages
- 2,078
- Reaction score
- 0
Not in the first few days obviously but after that as long she is feeling better and not dizzy, i don't see why not although i have a thought, she may would like to have her friends around since it's spring break, it would keep her company and you wouldn't have to worry much, her friends can call you in case of problems...
rick48
New Member
- Joined
- Oct 9, 2006
- Messages
- 1,943
- Reaction score
- 0
Was thinking the same thing. Also, can she text you if something comes up?
I think some of her friends would be ok with coming over and if she is alone she can text me if something comes up.