This is a thank you to the forum, as I am finally at peace, with what will be. I am an occupational therapist, my last day of employment 7/27/08 was spent at a health fair promoting the hospital for which I am employed, sitting next to a booth that displayed assistive technology for the hearing impaired. Never would I imagine that two days later, I would wake with severe vertigo and hearing loss that would ultimately place me on the other side of the health system. Fortunately my background is in rehab which led to a quick diagnosis and I was fortunate to live within driving distance and insurance coverage to seek out opinions from two outstanding institutions in the bay area. The first opinion felt that since I had a benign tumor, I could put off surgery until this January...at the time I couldn't drive (due to my dysequilibrium), work, or care for my two young children without assistance... The first opinion was a blessing, as I sought out a second opinion, which was a team of surgeons with surgical options and more expertise. I chose the translab procedure, based on the liklihood that it would have less long term effects on my equilibrium once my brain learned to compensate. My surgery went well, but I required a longer stay (6 days) instead of the planned 3 days. I was transferred to the inpt rehab unit (where I normally worked as a therapist) to spend a week working on intensive vestibular rehab. I never planned on requiring inpt therapies, I thought that since I was a therapist that I would be able to skip that part and maybe do a little outpatient therapy. But, here I was with post-op balance that was so unsafe, that I had to use a walker and a therapist to guide me down the hall. I even reqired a cognitive evaluation (which gave my co-workers a good laugh) due to my reaction to morphine. Along the way, I developed an abdominal seroma which ended up requiring surgery and a 3 day hospital stay. I am now about 10 weeks out from surgery, and am facing return to work next week (pending my wound cultures). My equilibrium and balance has improved to the point where I could now pass a sobriety test. I have SSD, and will be exploring BAHA options in the near future. I have tinnitus, residual headaches, and an abdominal wound that continues to heal. I understand what "wonkeyhead" means...not something one can ever be taught. This experience has given both my husband (who is a nurse) and I, a new understanding of patient care and how important it is for people to be heard and treated with respect. I hope to convey the experiences that I have had, to improve the practices of those around me, when I return to the healthcare field. I wish everyone the best and Thanks for listening.
