ANA Discussion Forum
Archive => Archives => Topic started by: BostonJake on November 12, 2005, 07:29:02 am
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Does anyone here know anything about SCUBA diving an AN surgery. I'm curious and was wondering if anyone out here had any experience in this area. I really cant wait to get back to diving, but need my doc's approval first. Any idea what I can expect?
Thanks,
Jake
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Hey Jake
Its your fellow Oct 18th surgery patient! You must be feeling pretty good to be thinking diving already! I was wondering how you were doing. Did you lose your hearing? I had a good outcome with no facial nerve damage, and the doc thought he saved my hearing nerve, but so far no hearing. This has been really difficult for me; the numb feeling on that side causes me alot of anxiety. I was wondering if you had any of those issues. Balance is now pretty good, unless I turn my head fast. Taking it a day at a time as I am sure you are.
Linda
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Linda and Jake,
I am three weeks post surgery. I had a small tumor removed at House. I did lose my hearing. First, Jake, I was told that I couldn't dive again because of the fear of losing the hearing in the other ear. Linda, I am struggling with the hearing loss too. Have you heard how long it takes to get use to being deaf on one side?
Darlene
5mm by 8mm AN
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So good to see you three posting and obviously doing well. I have never been a diver so I cant help with that question but the hearing loss and getting used to it...I just two days ago tried to answer my phone using my deaf ear ::) totally forgot that I could hear and was almost angry that someone called and wasnt answering me. :) Boy did I feel silly when I realized and switched ears and the person on the other end was saying "hello, hello....can you hear me now???" :D
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Darlene ( and others struggling with this!)
I have not realy read anywhere on the forum how long it takes to get used to the deafness.  I would appreciate any input that you all can give.  One of the hardest parts is being around any noise; I have tried going to the grocery store and a restaurant, and my hearing side is so hypersensitive that it beomes ovewhelming. And  that leads to more anxiety...I can only hope it gets better.
Linda
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Linda,
I am three weeks out tomorrow and I too struggle with this deafness. I had to leave the grocery store because all the noise was overwhelming. Sensory overload, I think. It's at least nice to know that I am not the only one with this problem.
Darlene
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Hi Jake,
I am also a scuba diver and had a 3.1cm AN removed last August via translab. Here's what my ENT (Dr. Jackler @Stanford) told me:
-After full recovery, there isn't anything physically that would prevent you from diving. (I was wondering if translab would effect my ability to equailize my AN ear), but...
-Strongly recommended that I do not dive because scuba can be hard on the ears and since now I only have one hearing ear...why take the risk
-If I still want to dive, he said to make sure I am in good health on the day I dive (no cold or allergy problems) and should restrain myself from any deep diving
-I have also heard from several people that the first time going underwater (even swimming) after AN surgery can be very disorienting.
Since I have a 3 yr old, 18 mos. old, and a 3rd on the way, diving (AN or no-AN) isn't in the cards any time soon so I have plenty of time to decide :)
Rex
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There was a thread on scuba diving some time ago.
I am not a diver but check it further.
Hope this helps.
Bluestar
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Hi Gang,
First off, great to hear from you all. I too am struggling with being deaf in one ear. It's driving me somewhat nuts. Any place with backround noise, weather it be construction, traffic, a loud cafe, the mall, or whatever causes a lot of anxiety with me. I cant hear a conversation and have a hard time even pretending I know whats going on. Even tv commercials are bothering me and I find myself turning the TV as low as it will go often. Which is odd, consdiering I'm deaf in one ear. I'm curious if anyone here works in a cublicle type office setting? The phones where are work are difficult for me to figure out, I have no idea if my phone is ringing or not, so everytime I hear a phone ring I'm always looking at my phone to check. oh well.
thanks for all the input,
Jake
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I was a diver, too, actually my symptoms came on suddenly after a dive/cruise but my doc said it was just a coincidence. I don't believe that.
Sadly, I won't dive again because I'm not willing to jeopardize the other ear.
I'm three months post-op and plagued with constant dizziness, worse than before the surgery, and worried something else is wrong....
Personally, I would give up diving and find another love. I LOVED diving, but to me, again, not worth the risk.
Nan
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I'm curious if anyone here works in a cublicle type office setting? The phones where are work are difficult for me to figure out, I have no idea if my phone is ringing or not, so everytime I hear a phone ring I'm always looking at my phone to check. oh well.
I'm the same way, but that what Voice Mail is for! .. and cell phones drive me nuts too .... I cant tell if its my phone or someone elses ..change your tone to something no one else has .. I just got BAHA, and its my first day Monday in the office with it ... its not perfect but I seems to help a little with nosiy places...
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Re cell phones: What I do is wear the phone on my waistband/belt and keep it on vibrate whenever I'm in a noisy or "problem" place. Otherwise, I have it on a ringtone that my grandson put on it. It plays a peice of classical/dancey music. I've never heard it on anyone else's phone.
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Hi Rex!
"I have also heard from several people that the first time going underwater (even swimming) after AN surgery can be very disorienting."
-Yes; There is a name for the phenomena but I can't remember it. I would give up the diving just because of this aspect. If the vestibular system is impaired, diving is about as close to weightlessness as one can get. Murky enough water and one might find themselves swimming down while thinking they are swimming up and become panicky. Much as walking in a dark room with a vestibular deficit.
Take care! -Russ
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Hi Group,
I am so glad to know that others have the phone problem. I work in a small office and have to look at my phone everytime it rings to see if the light is on. I kind of solved the cell phone problem. I bought a little loop thing that goes around your neck, it is used for an i-pod. Hooks onto the cell phone and really works great in a noisy place. If it is really noisy I will put it on vibrate. Why I don'd know because I couldn't talk on it any way. Several of my hearing coworkers have bought them because they can't hear their phones in purses or pockets.
I am 7 months with single sided deafness. The first month I went out of a restarunt crying because I was so frustrated. A Mexican place with music blaring, dishes clanking, children screaming and I could not hear a thing. Couldn't hear the waiter. Couldn't hear my husband.
I started with other quieter places and have learned to seat my self where my ear in to the waiter. Also I have started complaining about the noise level in a couple of places and they have moved me to a quieter section. I also have not problem telling anyone that I can't hear what they are saying and please speak up and look at me when you speak.
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Jake i've never been scuba diving myself, however my surgeon told me to never go deep sea diving. Because of the loss of balance, when you get to a dark area, it's impossible to tell which way is up or down. If you go diving jake, please make sure you can see the surface!!!
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I used to dive a lot when I lived in the Virgin Islands, but I moved to NC 15 years ago and pre-AN would go down and bare-boat in the BVI every year. I'm an avid snorkler and was a charterboat captain down there. I used to be able to free-dive to 30- 35 feet and noticed the last time I was down there, my left ear had a hard time equalizing. One year later, I was diagnosed with an AN. About 9 month post-op, I got in a pretty deep pool and practised clearing my ears--pretty weird because of no hearing in the AN side I couldn't hear the "pop" and pressure release that tells you your ears have equalized.
Right now I have no idea what it'l be like at 20 feet.
Anyway--to those of you struggling with post-op deafness and balance issues--you DO get used to it and the balance does get better. You have to fight for the balance with walking, PT, head-turning, etc. The VEDA site has great at home excercises. And that over-stimulated feeling--well, it never goes away, but it does become managable as your brain compensates--it just takes time. I remember going to Wal-mart was a major ordeal and the grocery store--YIKES! Today, I don't think twice about it.
The SSD thing is more annoying than anything, but then again I work at home where it's quiet (except for Radio Margaritaville in my studio!)
Good luck to you all and keep fighting
Captain Deb 8)
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Hi Captain Deb!
Thanks for the reply to the post, it was nice to hear from someone with similar pasttimes as myself. I too have been a charter boat captain in addition to my normal day job. Although, I really loved being able to have conversations with passengers but since my surgery am worried how I'll hear folks for the wind noise while sailing.
I really hate this deafness thing, much more than I thought I would. I've had ADD since I was a kid, so carring on normal conversaations was hard for me with hearing in both ears. Now, I have half that, and it's nearly impossible. Everytime I go out with my friends, I cant hear any of the conversation and just sit quietly to myself. I've tried the usual tricks, have my good ear facing the conversation, try places with little noise, and all that. But really any noise, people talking, multiple conversations, or normal street traffic negates my participation in any other conversations. It's really depressing. I like being a pretty social guy, but I cant carry on conversations anymore. Even my girlfriend is frustrated with me when I don't hear her, or I ask her to repeat things. I used to like the fact that I am a personable guy, who enjoys conversing with people, now, I feel like I can;t hear anything unless someone faces me and speaks loudly. It's really frustrating.
As far as diving goes, this past week I had my six month mri. I saw the picture and was a little scared, so I'm going to hold off pressing the panic button until I meet with my doc may 3rd. Hopefully then, he'll be able to give me some answers on the dive thing. I am scared though. I've been getting this aweful headaches that started a few weeks ago. Just shooting pain on my an side. Everything has been going great for a while now, so I'm getting way frustrated that I'm hitting stumbling blocks now. Anyway, just thought I'd vent, its been kinda a frustrating day....thanks for listening...er...reading.
Jake
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Jake
For me, it's still hard to hear in crowds, but it has gotten a little better, either that or I just am not social at all anymore--I used to love parties and stuff, but now I'm just not interested. Don't really miss it, just not interested! Just too much of a hassle. I enjoy quiet evenings with the hubby now.
I used to judge wind direction by putting my face into the wind till the noise is even in both ears--no need of telltails for this winch wench!
Where did you skipper?
Good luck with the headaches--mine started just after my surgery and got progressively worse for 2 years, then just started to get progressively better (???) and now I just have one occaisionally.
Capt Deb 8)
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Jake am I understanding your correctly that you're follow up mri is showing signs of an an? Did you get the report with the mri?
I can relate to the social thing. Seems like no matter where I go or whom I'm with I feel so left out of the conversations with a group of people. I can barely handle one on one.
Hey capt Deb...we's got us a back up capt in case you have a migraine on our journey! ;D
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Hi all, I used to live in the swimming pool when I was younger. I thought I'd try it now, (3 1/2 years post op} Its scares me. I have no sense of direction. I don't know top from bottom and I ALWAYS KEEP MY ARMS IN FRoNT OF ME SO i DON'T HIT THE WALL OR FLOOR of the pool.{caps locked on me again, woops!]but at least i can go and splash and get wet.
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Cakes I'm hoping to start swimming in the next few weeks to lose some weight..I'll keep the hands thing in mind. A neighbor wanted me to go swimming the week after surgery..Can you imagine that? ??? I can't walk, dress myself but she thought I could swim LOL
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Wow Batty, thats silly and dangerous too. I hope to get back in the pool too, I need to lose some weight myself. I used to go to a "fat farm" for a year and I lost 40 lbs. but old habits come back. Boy, did I think I was cool, and I swore I would never be heavy again but------ tada her I am! You know, I'm 47. I'm to the point where it like, give me a break, I'm getting old. I can have a few wrinkles and be a little out of shape and have a few gray hairs, I earned all of them. Maybe this is the wrong way to feel but it makes me feel better anyway. :)
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Hey Jake
Why did the pictures scare you? Perhaps you just saw the fat in your head which is used in the translab procedure?
Don't get too worried about headaches and shooting pains on AN side. It really is still early days for you - your surgery was only 6 months ago. I still get shooting pains on that side every now and then. I think half the time it's just a little fluid, hayfever - basically lots of different things that can cause these feelings. Don't get too stressed - the likelihood of a regrowth tumour that's causing any symptoms you can feel is highly unlikely. Remember you've been through major surgery - it's natural that you will feel sharp pains every now and then . I actually got alot more symptoms 6 months after surgery than I did immediately after.
Keep me posted on how you go with the doc. Would like to hear all is well, which I'm sure it is.
Sofie
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Hey Jake,
I'm a Mass General patient as well. Going back for another MRI on 5/11 - next week. I'm a professional musician! Think of how I feel!!!
My left ear is done. Now I have to protect my right ear.
Did you have Drs. Barker and McKenna?
Paul
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Hi Gang,
Well, the MRI picture that started this thread proved to be a little strange. My doc showed me the mri the day after surgery, and the mri from a couple weeks ago, and there is an amazing difference. Pros: Those ventricle things are back in the center and not shifted past the midline. Very cool to see my brain back to a semi normal shape. Con: The AN looks like it has changed shape slightly and collapsed on itself where the tumor used to be. Thats why the tumor looked the same as before. It looked similar except it was hollow everywhere except where it was attached to the artery. So here is where I go from here.
Its proton time. I start on 5/30 getting my mask made and ct scans. I guess they spend the next week or so mapping out where they shoot the protons. Then starting a week or so after that, five days a week, for six weeks, I drive into boston to get zapped. You have no idea how much I'm hoping this finishes this thing off. I really do. I'm 28, this brain tumor stuff is not what I had on my agenda for this time in my life.
So, thats the status report. Hope everyone is well.
Jake