Jan's BAHA pictures

[leapyrtwins]

joef -

I did think about you - mainly because of the stickers, but also because you were one of the first people on this forum who gave me information on the BAHA and answered my many questions.  If I didn't thank you then, I'm thanking you now!

I guess the stickers were phased out    But they wouldn't have shown through my hair anyway.

Lori tells me that the new "Security Control Instructions" are an addition to the gift pack and since I only gave her a brief description of the card, I will give you guys the details now.

It's a laminated credit card size piece of information that you can keep in your wallet.  One side shows pictures of a head with and without the processor attached and it explains what the BAHA is.  It specifically states that the titanium implant cannot be removed and gives Cochlear's 800 number for any questions.  The audiologist told me it's for going through airport security in case the beepers go off - which I found a little strange, because in my experience titanium doesn't cause the detectors to beep.

The other side of the card is like an information sheet for MRI technicians.  It explains that it's okay for a BAHA patient to have an MRI with their processor removed.  Then it says - and this made me both chuckle and cringe - "For an MRI near the abutment area, the abutment must be removed by a specialist (i.e. audiologist) 

The card also says that this MRI information applies to "Vistafix Prostheses" (which apparently are "facial or auricular protheses") as well as BAHAs.

Jan

[lori67]

Joef - either your ears were ringing because Jan was talking about you - or maybe it's time to change your BAHA battery!   

And I suppose you wouldn't want a "non-specialist" removing your abuttment!  OUCH!

Lori

[MaryBKAriz]

I found the pictures! SO interesting! COOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLL!

[jerseygirl]

Jan,

Pictures, as they say, are worth a thousand words. I had no idea BAHA is so small. I hope you find great benefit from BAHA. Congratulations on you clean recent MRI!

             Eve

[leapyrtwins]

Thanks, Eve 

The BAHA processor is so small and as Mary said, it's very interesting.  I did a few show & tells at work today and people were just amazed.  I have a new nickname now "Baha Benjamin" 


(Benjamin being my last name)

[wendysig]

Hi Jan -
Is that like Private Baha Benjamin (did you see the movie, or am I dating myself, you know showing my age, I'm really not dating right now, I have a husband).   Anyway, nice nickname.  I'm sure people find it fascinating.  Love the pics.  Don't listen to Steve, your hands are fine and your head is not tiny.

Sorry Steve, I know you're just funnin' her!

Wendy

[leapyrtwins]

Wendy -

don't worry, I never listen to Steve 

I do remember the movie - neither of us are THAT old  and I am certain that if your husband reads this post he will be relieved to know you are not dating 

I am not dating either; although I have no husband anymore, I have absolutely no intention of ever going in that direction again!

The BAHA is fascinating to me and it has been ever since I tried the demo.  People's reactions to it are interesting - and amusing.  Most of them "get" the processor, but are clueless when it comes to how the processor attaches.  The majority of the people I work for, and with, know I had BAHA surgery so I just assumed they realized I had a hole drilled in my head and a screw implanted.

While I haven't exactly advertised my fixture, I haven't been shy about mentioning it either.  But surprisingly enough lots of them asked me how the processor attached to my head; most assumed it somehow attached to the back of my ear.   So needless to say when I showed them my fixture I noticed more than a few shell-shocked expressions 

I know, I know.  I need to be a nicer person 

Jan   


 

[sgerrard]

So needless to say when I showed them my fixture I noticed more than a few shell-shocked expressions    I know, I know.  I need to be a nicer person 

No, no, keep up the shell shocking! That's the beauty of the BAHA - you have a metal post mounted in your head, which you can display with great effect whenever you want. Find some punk kids with safety pins in their noses, or whatever, and say "yeah, that's okay for beginners, but here's what a real head piercing looks like!" 

Steve

[leapyrtwins]

Steve -

I can just tell that if you ever have the opportunity to get your own BAHA you are going to have the time of your life 

Jan

[lacey7]

Jan,
Thanks so much for the pictures.  I had NO IDEA of what one looked like.  I've only heard the term mentioned here.
That is too much!!!  Did they put the screw in your head with just a local, or were you under?
With not much of a brain in my head......it's so empty they could probably use a cordless screwdriver and I wouldn't feel a thing!!  ha.
My hair is soooo thin, and short, I'm not sure it wouldn't show on me?
Thanks so much for doing all the work to post those pictures.  I really appreciate it.
Lacey

[Joef]

joef -

I did think about you - mainly because of the stickers, but also because you were one of the first people on this forum who gave me information on the BAHA and answered my many questions.  If I didn't thank you then, I'm thanking you now!

shucks... no thanks needed ....

Yep .. its very small ! .. in fact I would not make it any smaller! .. (maybe thinner) ..

Tell people it attaches like a coat button or LEGO ... not many people have asked me about it at work 

[wendysig]

Hi again Jan -
I just can't get enough of talking to you today!  Seriously though, I find BAHA inriguing but I think you get that from me.  If I had seen someone before now with a screw sticking out of their head before now, I probably would have had one of threreactions -- either thought they did this to themselves and were out  of their minds;  felt sorry for them, because they obviously had some kind of serious problem; or been intensely curious about what it was for.  I can  just imagine the llooks on people's faces when you explain how it attaches and show them.  Amazing!!

Steve - Funny comment about the piercing.  Maybe Jan should wear her hari up and clip strings of bead or CZs or feathers(or maybe all of them) close to e BAHA, yoiu know, like one huge earrring with the BAHA in the middle  and that would make it really make it interesting!  Now that would be an attention getter!  Sorry Jan, sometimes my imagintiion goes wild!

Wendy

[leapyrtwins]

Lacey -

had local anesthesia for the implant - basically the doc shot Lidocaine in my scalp and went from there.  People ask me if I needed some kind of sedation to calm me down, but it wasn't necessary - I had no anxiety.  Maybe because I was really thrilled to be having this surgery - okay, call me sicko 

From what my doc's staff tell me, 90% of their BAHA patients choose local anesthesia.  It cuts down on the cost since there is no anesthesiologist - the doc wields the needle as well as the scalpel and drill  plus there is no need for pre-hospital tests and you don't have to worry about side-effects or grogginess from the anesthesia.

My hair in the picture is actually a lot longer than I usually wear it but with all the heat and humidity here lately, it's just a matter of time before I get it chopped off.  I don't know how short I'll be able to go.  You might want to ask your doc if any of his patients have a BAHA or ask him if he has a processor you can see.  I would say ask to see the demo, but I think it is larger than the actual processor - it's been about 10 months since I saw it in person.   

Joef -

I agree the BAHA shouldn't be any smaller - it if were I probably wouldn't be able to snap it on the fixture.  As Steve will attest, I have rather large hands and I think my fingers would be too big to manage it.  Thinner would be okay but it might be hard to pop it off if it were too thin.  All in all, I'm very happy with it the way it is.

Wendy -

believe it or not, your imagination isn't that out there    Strings of beads and other attachments have been suggested on this forum before - I'm an "oldie" rather than a "newbie" so I remember things like this    I think Lori was working on that market idea of our behalf - she's a busy woman 

I did find Steve's piercing comment highly amusing - he's such a rebel 

Jan

[lori67]

Lacey -

I had general anaesthesia for my BAHA implant.  I'm not as tough as Jan, and I really needed the nap anyway.  Still, it was outpatient and I was in by 10am and home by 3pm.  No problems.

I also have no problems showing off my BAHA or the abuttment.  I think it's just amazing technology and I don't mind other people being interested in learning about it.  It's also a great way to get people to stop complaining about things like hang nails and skinned knees when you show them you had a bolt drilled into your head.  Keeps things in perspective!

Lori

[leapyrtwins]

Although I am showing off my BAHA, I also feel like I'm educating others about it and I feel like that's the least I can do.  Others have educated me and I feel it's part of my "job" to educate others.  That's one of the many reasons I post on that forum - it's a way to "give back" 

Lots of people have heard of a Cochlear but not many have heard of a BAHA.  I usually explain the difference to them - Cochlears are for bilateral deafness, BAHAs are for unilateral deafness.  I didn't know this myself until my doctor explained it to me.

BAHAs and Cochlears are not just for AN patients - they are for anyone who is bilaterally or unilaterally deaf - and I think it's important to let others know of this option since you never know who has a deaf relative or friend, a deaf neighbor or colleague, or may become deaf themselves for some reason. 

A day or two after my BAHA surgery I discussed it with a colleague at work, showed her my bandage, etc.  She in turn was talking to another one of our colleagues who happened to mention that her mom had just scheduled BAHA surgery.  (Her mom lost her hearing through something other than an AN).  Colleague #2 was a little concerned because she had never heard of the BAHA or seen anyone who had had the surgery.  Colleague #1 told colleague #2 about my surgery and very soon after that I was in colleague #2's office being a hands-on exhibit and answering questions.  When I got my processor I naturally just had to demonstrate it for both these colleagues

Colleague #2's mom gets her processor next week.   Small world.

What can I say? - my life's an open book - but if it helps someone else, I don't mind at all   

Jan (tougher than Lori - give her time, she's younger) LOL