BAHA surgery loomin, scared and have some ???s

[tenai98]

Ok, just had my pre admin test.  The three month is for no swimming in contaminated waters, ei the ocean....so I can wet my head (wash hair) the next day being careful not to wet the incision....then full lather in 10 days...Now, I was told the surgery is 2.5 hrs long under a general which I am fearing cuz I have hard time coming out of it...I wass told I will be dizzy and off balance for a week or so and that I cant drive til doc gives me the ok on the follow up the following week.  I think I"m more scared of this surgery than the AN one.  It took me 3 days to get up and walk....First few days I could barely moved. Felt like I was paralysed...Oh well I survived the first one, I'm sure I'll survive this one...
My questions are:
1) how long was ur Baha surgery?
2) when did you drive after Baha surgery?
3)was your dizziness and balance issues the same as with AN treatment?
4)how much pain were u in afterwards?? I had no pain after AN surgery, therefore I was only given reg. tylenolX2
Joann

[leapyrtwins]

Jo -

your BAHA Recovery Kit will contain a very nice plastic cup that you can hold over your BAHA site while you shampoo until you can get it wet.  I should be mailing it any day now.

Answers to your questions (from my experience)

1)  surgery was about 90 minutes start to finish - but I didn't have general anesthesia; I had local

2)  I drove the same afternoon - no dizziness, no pain, no balance issues

3)  My AN dizziness and balance issues were huge - I had none of either with my BAHA surgery

4)  I took an Extra Strength Tylenol the afternoon of my surgery and possibly one the next morning; nothing after that.  Like you, I had no pain after my AN surgery; took no pain meds.


Keep in mind that everyone is different - plus your doctor obviously has a different protocol than doctors here in the States.  Don't be scared.  Hell, you survived AN surgery - and compared to that, BAHA implant surgery is truly a piece of cake.

Best,

Jan

[Sefra22]

Hi Joann,

I had general anesthesia. I am not not sure exactly how long the surgery was, but I went in around 11:30, and I was home around 3:00. (The hospital is only a mile from my house) I am guessing I was in recovery about an hour.

I was a little dizzy for 2 days after, but only when I exerted myself by bending over. I believe this was because of the anesthesia, NOT the surgery.

My surgery was on a Wednesday, and I was able to drive on Friday. I also went to work that day, which was not a good idea. Luckily, I only had to go in for a couple of hours.

My pain was minimal, it was sore, like I had a bruise, but it really wasn't too bad.

I hope this helps, it's natural to be scared, I think everyone is, but when it's over, most everybody says "it was a piece of cake".

Lisa

[wendysig]

Hi Jo,

I had my BAHA surgery in January and it was not bad at all.  I had no dizziness at all, but didn't have general anesthesia.  I asked my doc about this possibility and he said the anesthesia could cause dizziness but the surgery itself would not.  I drove a couple of days later, but probably could have driven by the next day, or perhaps even the same day as the surgery but I wasn't in a rush and didn't push myself.  I'm sure you'll be fine too.  It's natural to be a little anxious about any surgery, but this one really is a piece of cake.

Best wishes,
Wendy

[Richey]

I'm due for surgery on Oct 8th and I was told it takes around an hour.

I think after affects vary greatly from person to person but if you went through AN surgery this should be easier.

[leapyrtwins]

I think after affects vary greatly from person to person but if you went through AN surgery this should be easier.

That is a gross understatement    BAHA implant surgery is absolutely NOTHING like AN surgery - been through both, so I know this for a fact.

Jan

[lori67]

My BAHA surgery took about an hour and a half under general anesthesia.   Not really sure - I was asleep!    I didn't have any problems afterwards.

I think I went into the OR around 10am and I was home by 3pm, and that was after stopping at the pharmacy to fill my prescription for pain meds that I didn't wind up using anyway.  I was tired from the anesthesia, but didn't have a problem with dizziness.  I drove the next day.

I was able to wash my hair and get the incision wet that night (that made me very happy).

Don't be too nervous - this one is definitely a piece of cake compared to the AN surgery.

It'll be worth it!
Lori