Learned that my medical group signed off the procedures for both ears and was sent Thursday, July 28, 2011. We should know this coming week of when the surgery will be done and what I need to do. I am getting my PPSV injection on Thursday (Booster Shot) which is required. This will help lower chance of various illnesses during and after surgery. We're suppose to get this one every 10 years anyway.
I wanted to share with you all the latest update since my July 11th visit.
July 11th drive was very close to missing the appointment. Thanks to my iPhone 4 and GPS unit, it warned us of traffic problems at 7:20 AM. We had to take alternate route and actually drove by a truck that fell off the 710 freeway and was on the street below the over-path. We made it in a nick of time. Signed in and 3 minutes later, Dr. Mills called us in. Dr. Mills got to meet Patrick, my son and we chit chatted.
Dr. Mills went over expectations without discouragement which is a challenge in anyone's job. She is awesome.
Surgery is outpatient and will be home by night.
I will need to be in early in the morning and the surgery is 2 hours. Dr. Luxford (more on him later), will make a small incision behind my ear (will be left one first) to attach special wires to the cochlea. The wires will come from a very small and special metal which will be inserted under the skin and behind the ear. These will be stitched by a bio-degradable staples (dissolves into the skin).
My head will be wrapped with a gauze and placing pressure on my ear which will various pads and medicine to help start the healing process even before going to post-op. I will remain in Post-op for a few hours to make sure I am coming out of the drugs well and not having any side effects from the procedure. This is less than 1% according to reports and Dr. Mills.
I will be going home that night and will be droggy. By the time I get home from Los Angeles to Orange County, I might be alert when Patrick gets home but we will see. We all react to drugs differently.
Because we live in a 2 level home, it is suggested I "live" on the first floor the first two days because of my equilibrium will be off. Dr. Mills did say it might even just need to be the first day. But take it slowly.
The first day I may experience some discomfort which is why I will have vicodin RX before the procedure to make sure we have some at home. I was told not to be surprise that I will be sleeping most of the day the first day or two. Its a good thing too! Sleep allows the body to heal!!!
Should be back on my feet by day 3 but still need to take an easy and not drive for a few days. (Oh darn!) The gauze around on my head comes off day 2 but the pack on my ear will need to be cleaned and replaced. The nurses will show Daunine while I am in post-op. (Don't worry...I will have some pictures of me and update you as we go along)
I will be deaf in 1 ear for 3 weeks! The ear internally takes time to heal and they want to make sure all is healed before the "hook up" with the new equipment which.
Dr. Mills wanted me to be very clear that sound will be very different, especially on the first hook up. I may recognize some voices but not all and some sounds will be very strange. My question here was will I be able to hear Streisand, Mannheim Steamroller, and Kenny G when after time....she said what will happen is you will hear like Streisand's voice but may not hear the orchestra behind her the same way you do now. It will sound different. Since I listen to so many kinds of music, my brain will probably enhance the sound because of what I know well.
I will also be given a complete training system to use on my computer at home to help train my ears for vowels, sounds, music, and so on so I can begin to train my ear and brain what to hear. Dr. Mills does not believe I will need speech therapy because of my strong speech now.
Once I get "hooked up" Dr. Mills will place on my on a tight schedule of when to use only the new system and not the old system, when to use both, and also when to turn off everything. This will impact some of my work schedule.
I will need to go back to the LA Office and work with Dr. Mills (I am lucky to have her!) 4-5 more times in 6 weeks time. It was recommended that my wife, Daunine come with as well. She can help let Dr. Mills know what she thinks I am hearing and what I an hearing. I also added it might be best so when driving home, she drives until I re-adjust and Dr. Mill agreed.
From there, we will decide when to do my other ear.
Dr. Mills showed me the new equipment. It is really neat. Designed and made by CoclearAmerica, the leading experts in the field, I will be placed on the Nucleus 5 system. We picked out the color of the system so it will hide in my hair and behind my ear. I get rechargeable batteries and charger, remote control and it will be ready for my right ear when it is done. With the system I will be able to use the phone as usual, cell phone as usual, and so many other things. It also comes with a special plug for me to use with my iPhone for music which means a lot to me. Dr. Mills demoed how it works and it is very easy.
After visiting with Dr. Mills, we got to meet with Dr. Luxford. Dr. Luxford reviewed my file and the pictures on the CD from the CT Scan. Upon his return, he informed Daunine and I that I have deform ear canal and certain organs and that I am a perfect cochlear patient. He was very impressed withm my speech and asked, "How did you learn to speak so beautifully?" I replied 16 years of speech therapy, my parents, and my wonderful teach in Minnesota, Kappy. He think my recovery will be not be too long but there will be some adjustments to be made. I said I am in good hands with you and Dr. Mills. He then took me in another room for a minute. He grabbed a couple things and told me to look at the screen on my right. He had a camera looking inside of my ear and in it was something unusual. He said to be still and took scissor and snip snip....grabbed pick-ups and pulled out a HUGE chunk of wax! My left ear felt a big pressure off of it. Did not hurt a bit and was a relief feeling. He asked, "Do you use Q-tips?" I said, "everynight to keep my ears clean." He said, "Don't do that anymore. All q-tips so is push junk inside your ears. Also, do not pop ears. Your right ear drum looks close to rupture." I told him I don't even do that. He said just be careful. I am guessing it is from all of the allergies I had until I got on Flonase. Otherwise, he said, "Now we just wait for the approval." I responded, "Great." It is true most surgeons do not have good bed side manners, but Dr. Luxford is unique and has a good sense of humor.
We wait for a couple weeks and the office will let me know once they get the approval. In the mean time, I have to go get my pneumovax shot to avoid my chances of getting meningitis which is also less than 1%. Its good for 10 years so I will get it in the next couple weeks. I am hoping to schedule the procedure 3rd or 4th week of September. August is a bad month because of my work has gone to a new version of Blackboard during the summer and someone needs to be there to train and help some of the faculty and now students. I will know more soon. I am very excited yet I am also scared. I trust Drs. Mill and Luxford. The staff at Hear Clinic are wonderful and I know I am in good hands. Most importantly I have my family and friends.
