YES! I CAN HEAR!!! As of a week ago, my hearing as returned.
January 9, we headed off for Nashville for my surgery. Everything went well and hubby and I came home the following day after spending that night with Eric's parents. The surgeon told me that every day I should hear things louder and louder. That didn't happen! There were some days following the surgery that I was hearing less than what I had been hearing. I had quite a bit of swelling in my ear and quite of bit of dizziness that lasted for 5 days. Thankfully, those were my only major side affects of the surgery.
Last Monday night, I was frustrated that I was not seeing an improvement in my hearing. I was trying to be patient and hold out until Thursday for the 2 week followup visit with the dr/surgeon.
Tuesday morning I woke up and I noticed something immediately - I COULD HEAR! It was amazing. It was like I woke up in a whole world. I could hear myself DO things around the house. I could hear myself walk for the first time in who knows how long. Everything WAS SO LOUD! The first time the phone rang I jumped about 2 feet! It was piercing!!! Even though it's been a week since my hearing returned, I am still adjusting to how things REALLY sound!!
When we saw the dr. on Thursday I told him what happened and he nonchalantly said, "Oh, the packing must have dried up." So...some packing in my ear that dried opened for sound to return to my ears! Glory HALLULUJAH!!! A hearing test was also done that day and it showed a 40% return in my loss of hearing which bumped me into hearing in the normal range of hearing! The dr. is also confident that I will regain another 5-10% of my hearing! YAY!!
I feel like I'm living in a whole new world, or at least, back in your world! Wow! I knew I was missing a lot, but not as much as I know now that I was missing!!
Monday, January 26, 2009
Sunday, January 11, 2009
The OFFICIAL ear update
Sorry it's taken some time to get out the update, but I couldn't see straight yesterday (side affect of some of the meds they gave me).
We left Friday morning for Nashville. My surgery was scheduled for 12:00 pm so we had plenty of time to drive the 2 hours it takes to get to Nashville. At 7:30 that morning, the Dr.'s office called us and said that they had two shows for surgery and whenever I got there, I would go right into surgery. Had we lived in Nashville, that would have been great, but since we were coming from Huntsville, it didn't make much of a difference.
We arrived at St. Thomas at 10:30, I filled out all the paper work, and minutes later I was getting ready for the surgery. I thought I would be going into sooner than 12:00 pm, but it was just after 12:00 pm that I have my last memory before waking up in recovery.
Eric's dad, aunt & uncle came down to take care of Ethan and take him back to Eric's parents house since Eric would have his hands full with me once I woke up. The pastor at Eric's parents church also came down to visit and pray with us quickly.
As I stated earlier, just after 12:00 is my last memory. Two anesthesiologist nurses came in, said they were giving me something to relax me while the rolled me down the hallway. Yeah right! I don't even remember closing my eyes! Man that stuff works fast!!!!! My next memory was in recovery and my first thought was, "It's all over?"
While I was waking up in recovery, the Dr. was speaking with Eric and said everything had gone fine. I had very little bleeding, which is great. The surgery did take longer because apparently my ear anatomy is not 'normal." Instead of going straight in, as with most people, he had to go in at an angle, which is more time consuming and tedious. He also said my bones were pretty fused together. That didn't surprise me. I could barely hear out of my right ear!!! But other than that, everything went great and i could go home as soon as I woke up.
So...the big question I'm sure you all are wondering, "Can I hear better?" I do hear more, but I can't say it's a noticeable difference yet. I do know I hear things that I didn't hear before or could barely hear. I still have a cotton ball, attached by a band-aid, to my ear to catch the excess drainage, but even through all the cotton, I can still hear things I couldn't before. I know my ear is still swollen from the surgery, and once the swelling goes down, that is when I will really be able to hear (hopefully back to normal levels).
My ear is still in some pain, not much, but if it does start to ache, I have some pain meds that will quickly take care of that. I'm also on an anti-biotic to prevent and infection and thankfully, I've not had to take any of the medicine for nauseousness. I had enough nausea while pregnant with Ethan that I could forgo that side affect. The only side affects I am having are dry mouth, some dizziness, and a nasty metal taste in my mouth. Food does not taste good right now and that side affect may be around for up to 3-4 weeks. Guess I'll be losing those few holiday pounds I put on.
And for the next few days, I have to take it easy. Eric is taking off 3 days of work to do all the lifting and taking care of Ethan. Eric's parents are coming at the end of the week to take over for Eric so he can go back to work. My personal nurse, Nurse Eric, is doing a fabulous job taking care of my every little need. He is also changing the cotton balls in my ears, as ordered by the Dr. Isn't he such a sweetie :)
We'd like to thank everyone for praying. I thought I would be more nervous about the surgery, but I was as calm and peaceful as you could possibly be and I know that was from all the prayers. I think some of the prayers affected Ethan too. He was the most perfect baby the entire time he was at the hospital and for his Pops after they took him home, and all without a good nap!! Ethan is generally good, but he was exceptional on Friday!
I hope I can report soon that I am hearing at normal levels out of my right ear. I go back in two weeks for a hearing test. I can't wait!
We left Friday morning for Nashville. My surgery was scheduled for 12:00 pm so we had plenty of time to drive the 2 hours it takes to get to Nashville. At 7:30 that morning, the Dr.'s office called us and said that they had two shows for surgery and whenever I got there, I would go right into surgery. Had we lived in Nashville, that would have been great, but since we were coming from Huntsville, it didn't make much of a difference.
We arrived at St. Thomas at 10:30, I filled out all the paper work, and minutes later I was getting ready for the surgery. I thought I would be going into sooner than 12:00 pm, but it was just after 12:00 pm that I have my last memory before waking up in recovery.
Eric's dad, aunt & uncle came down to take care of Ethan and take him back to Eric's parents house since Eric would have his hands full with me once I woke up. The pastor at Eric's parents church also came down to visit and pray with us quickly.
As I stated earlier, just after 12:00 is my last memory. Two anesthesiologist nurses came in, said they were giving me something to relax me while the rolled me down the hallway. Yeah right! I don't even remember closing my eyes! Man that stuff works fast!!!!! My next memory was in recovery and my first thought was, "It's all over?"
While I was waking up in recovery, the Dr. was speaking with Eric and said everything had gone fine. I had very little bleeding, which is great. The surgery did take longer because apparently my ear anatomy is not 'normal." Instead of going straight in, as with most people, he had to go in at an angle, which is more time consuming and tedious. He also said my bones were pretty fused together. That didn't surprise me. I could barely hear out of my right ear!!! But other than that, everything went great and i could go home as soon as I woke up.
So...the big question I'm sure you all are wondering, "Can I hear better?" I do hear more, but I can't say it's a noticeable difference yet. I do know I hear things that I didn't hear before or could barely hear. I still have a cotton ball, attached by a band-aid, to my ear to catch the excess drainage, but even through all the cotton, I can still hear things I couldn't before. I know my ear is still swollen from the surgery, and once the swelling goes down, that is when I will really be able to hear (hopefully back to normal levels).
My ear is still in some pain, not much, but if it does start to ache, I have some pain meds that will quickly take care of that. I'm also on an anti-biotic to prevent and infection and thankfully, I've not had to take any of the medicine for nauseousness. I had enough nausea while pregnant with Ethan that I could forgo that side affect. The only side affects I am having are dry mouth, some dizziness, and a nasty metal taste in my mouth. Food does not taste good right now and that side affect may be around for up to 3-4 weeks. Guess I'll be losing those few holiday pounds I put on.
And for the next few days, I have to take it easy. Eric is taking off 3 days of work to do all the lifting and taking care of Ethan. Eric's parents are coming at the end of the week to take over for Eric so he can go back to work. My personal nurse, Nurse Eric, is doing a fabulous job taking care of my every little need. He is also changing the cotton balls in my ears, as ordered by the Dr. Isn't he such a sweetie :)
We'd like to thank everyone for praying. I thought I would be more nervous about the surgery, but I was as calm and peaceful as you could possibly be and I know that was from all the prayers. I think some of the prayers affected Ethan too. He was the most perfect baby the entire time he was at the hospital and for his Pops after they took him home, and all without a good nap!! Ethan is generally good, but he was exceptional on Friday!
I hope I can report soon that I am hearing at normal levels out of my right ear. I go back in two weeks for a hearing test. I can't wait!
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