dizziness
I had my balance function tested about six months ago, and found out that I have normal function in my right ear and poor function in my left ear. It complicated my decision on the cochlear implant because my left ear is my better hearing ear. I've actually had the benefit of being part of a vestibular study at Hopkins, so the testing was free and I will get free testing again to see what effect the surgery had on my vestib function. I'm very thankful for that.
My doc, who just designed the world's first multi-channel vestibular implant (still a ways off for being ready in humans), recommended that I get my left ear implanted because of the risk. He estimated a 10-20 % of vestibular damage to my right ear, and impaired function in both ears would really be a mess. Then last weekend, just a few days before surgery, he emailed me and told that he thought the risk to my vestibular system was lower than he'd previously thought-- 5-7%. He said I could go either way, and that if I chose to do the right ear, I'd be able to keep the little hearing in my left ear and have a 90%+ chance of retaining my vestibular function. He said that I could play it safe with my vestibular system but then there would be no guarantees on the remaining hearing in my left ear, and that it would probably be destroyed. So after 36 hours of soul-searching, I decided to take my chances. (I have more hearing in my left ear than many getting an implant, considering I can still use the phone pretty effectively) This was a big deal for me since for the last six months I'd been almost certain I would do the left ear, since I didn't want to have increased vestibular problems.
5 days post-surgery I'm still dizzy, though it's not vertigo or Meniere's type dizziness. It's lack of vestibular system type of dizziness, which means the world moves when I move. It's too early to tell whether my vestibular system in my right ear is damaged or I'm still recovering, and my doc told me it would take a month to know. I've heard about a lot of people who've had dizziness post-op, and recovered just fine. While I'm a bit worried, I also have no reason not to be optimistic. There's still a lot of inflammation and discomfort in my ear, and I expect it will take a while for things to settle down. I'm able to walk around and function pretty normally, and I'll do vestibular rehab if necessary. I took my chances, and I'll have to deal with whatever happens as a result of that.
I will say that with a 10-20% risk I just didn't feel that was worth it. When the risk assessment was re-evaluated, I took that as a bit of a sign. He said a 5% chance of significant damage, meaning vestib rehab and compensation could give me normal function. There was a 2% chance of severe damage, meaning walking with a cane and never driving again, and I don't think I'll have to worry about that.
The fact that I'll hear out of both ears for the first time is very exciting to me, and it's a relief to still really be able to enjoy music and tune my guitar with my left ear, bad as my hearing in that ear may be. At the same time, I love biking, playing sports and being active, and I'd already lost a bit of my competitive edge when I started having vestibular problems last year. If I have to give up any of that because of my choice, I won't lie... I'll have regrets about changing my mind. But I opted for the bigger jackpot and the bigger risk, which tends to be in my nature anyway.
If anybody else has post-op dizziness stories I haven't heard yet, let me know. How did you deal with the dizziness? How long did it take to clear up? Did you have vestib rehab?
Honestly, I've heard of people who've gone back to work a few days after surgery. All I can say is, I'm really glad I'm on my summer vacation and I don't have to worry about that right now. I feel perfectly fine-- when I'm lying down. Any type of activity for more than five minutes makes it feel as if things are sloshing around and throbbing up there. On the outside it's healing up quickly but it's obviously taking longer on the inside. I'm totally spaced out and feel like a vegetable with a computer chip in it. Even with all this, I feel a lot better than I expected to five days post-op. I just have no clue how people go back to their normal lives so quickly.
I had my balance function tested about six months ago, and found out that I have normal function in my right ear and poor function in my left ear. It complicated my decision on the cochlear implant because my left ear is my better hearing ear. I've actually had the benefit of being part of a vestibular study at Hopkins, so the testing was free and I will get free testing again to see what effect the surgery had on my vestib function. I'm very thankful for that.
My doc, who just designed the world's first multi-channel vestibular implant (still a ways off for being ready in humans), recommended that I get my left ear implanted because of the risk. He estimated a 10-20 % of vestibular damage to my right ear, and impaired function in both ears would really be a mess. Then last weekend, just a few days before surgery, he emailed me and told that he thought the risk to my vestibular system was lower than he'd previously thought-- 5-7%. He said I could go either way, and that if I chose to do the right ear, I'd be able to keep the little hearing in my left ear and have a 90%+ chance of retaining my vestibular function. He said that I could play it safe with my vestibular system but then there would be no guarantees on the remaining hearing in my left ear, and that it would probably be destroyed. So after 36 hours of soul-searching, I decided to take my chances. (I have more hearing in my left ear than many getting an implant, considering I can still use the phone pretty effectively) This was a big deal for me since for the last six months I'd been almost certain I would do the left ear, since I didn't want to have increased vestibular problems.
5 days post-surgery I'm still dizzy, though it's not vertigo or Meniere's type dizziness. It's lack of vestibular system type of dizziness, which means the world moves when I move. It's too early to tell whether my vestibular system in my right ear is damaged or I'm still recovering, and my doc told me it would take a month to know. I've heard about a lot of people who've had dizziness post-op, and recovered just fine. While I'm a bit worried, I also have no reason not to be optimistic. There's still a lot of inflammation and discomfort in my ear, and I expect it will take a while for things to settle down. I'm able to walk around and function pretty normally, and I'll do vestibular rehab if necessary. I took my chances, and I'll have to deal with whatever happens as a result of that.
I will say that with a 10-20% risk I just didn't feel that was worth it. When the risk assessment was re-evaluated, I took that as a bit of a sign. He said a 5% chance of significant damage, meaning vestib rehab and compensation could give me normal function. There was a 2% chance of severe damage, meaning walking with a cane and never driving again, and I don't think I'll have to worry about that.
The fact that I'll hear out of both ears for the first time is very exciting to me, and it's a relief to still really be able to enjoy music and tune my guitar with my left ear, bad as my hearing in that ear may be. At the same time, I love biking, playing sports and being active, and I'd already lost a bit of my competitive edge when I started having vestibular problems last year. If I have to give up any of that because of my choice, I won't lie... I'll have regrets about changing my mind. But I opted for the bigger jackpot and the bigger risk, which tends to be in my nature anyway.
If anybody else has post-op dizziness stories I haven't heard yet, let me know. How did you deal with the dizziness? How long did it take to clear up? Did you have vestib rehab?
Honestly, I've heard of people who've gone back to work a few days after surgery. All I can say is, I'm really glad I'm on my summer vacation and I don't have to worry about that right now. I feel perfectly fine-- when I'm lying down. Any type of activity for more than five minutes makes it feel as if things are sloshing around and throbbing up there. On the outside it's healing up quickly but it's obviously taking longer on the inside. I'm totally spaced out and feel like a vegetable with a computer chip in it. Even with all this, I feel a lot better than I expected to five days post-op. I just have no clue how people go back to their normal lives so quickly.
