Wendy's BAHA gotcha day

[leapyrtwins]

Wendy -

I am so sorry I missed your BAHA gotcha day yesterday.  I lurked very late last night/early this morning and after much searching I found your comment on this thread in AN Community http://anausa.org/forum/index.php?topic=9112.0

IMO, this is a HUGE event and needs its own thread.  I recall like it was yesterday, my gotcha day and the fun I had posting all about it in a thread that Lori started for me.  I feel you are entitled to the same   Since I'm not a moderator I can't move the one buried in the Community, so I decided to start another topic.  Yes, I have always been one to color outside of the lines 

Anyway, I am so THRILLED that you love your BAHA as much as I do.  I was hoping that you'd have some wonderful BAHA moments yesterday and it sounds like you did. 

I don't know how you feel about your ability to attach the processor to the abutment right now, but I wanted to tell you, if you think you'll never be able to master that task, don't worry - you will.  Initially I thought I'd never get the hang of attaching mine, but eventually - and thankfully - I did. 

Please keep us posted on all the new BAHA moments you have during the next couple of weeks - and may your BAHA always exceed your expectations 

Jan

[Kaybo]

Wendy~
HOW EXCITING!  I am so glad that it lived up to your expectations...and maybe more??  All this talk "might" make me think of one some day, but I think it would be a HUGE adjustment for me to go back to hearing on that side after 13 (or more) years!!  We will see...

Hope today is an even better BAHA day!!

K 

[lori67]

Wendy,

You made it!  I'll bet you thought this day would never come!

I would be willing to bet that in a week, you'll have the whole attachment thing down to a science.  I was amazed when Jan said she could attach hers with one hand - so I had to give it a try - and I was able to do it.  It's a little tough with long hair because you have to get that out of the way too, but at least I know if my left arm stops working, I'll still be able to wear my BAHA.

I hope you're having a nice day there today and can listen to all the birds singing!

Lori

[moe]

So happy for you Wendy.
OK I admit I'm a tad bit jealous. My BAHA didn't work for me because of the shrill tinnitus. Too much interference. Plus it was placed right over a black head that kept getting infected. Go figure......
Many happy BAHA  days for you.
I say my BAHA was a BOOHOO.
Maureen

[sgerrard]

This is interesting: a topic about Wendy's BAHA, with no post from Wendy!

As a confessed BAHA envier, I congratulate Wendy on the wonderful result she has reported, and hope that she masters the single handed attachment with a flourish. Just look in the mirror and practice saying "excuse me while I attach this device to my head" while performing the maneuver. 

Steve

[EJTampa]

"excuse me while I attach this device to my head" while performing the maneuver. 

Steve

Or how about attaching it while in a crowded mall or other public place and saying "This is agent Wendy calling planet X, come in planet X.  Do you read me?"
 
Ernie

[wendysig]

Hi all,

Jan - Thanks for starting this thread -- I was actually going to start one myself because I figured most people wouldn't see it in AN Community.  When I woke  up today, the battery in my BAHA was dead after only one day.  I hope that means that I didn't turn it off all the way last night and just need to be more careful, a battery a day will get expensive  I remember reading here that a battery should last about two weeks.  As for attaching BAHA, I'm not quite ready to try one handed attachment yet.  Right now, I'm using a hand mirror to look at the post and make sure all my hair is out of the way and then put it down and do a two handed attachment.  I'm impressed you can do it with one hand.  Maybe I will too someday.

With another day with BAHA under my belt, I have to say it is making a difference in my life.  I went to the mall today (another noisy situation) and  found BAHA did not work quite as well there, but I expected that.  I did notice that I can hear the radio in the car much better than I could before, and  I actually was talking to my daughter Jen (she was in the middle row of our minivan) withiout having to turn my head as much. 

Today a man walked up to me in the mall and handed me a note saying he was deaf and he wanted $4.00 for an American Flag pin.  Interesting enterprise -- I was tempted to flip up my hair and show him my BAHA, but restrained myself -- I did decline the pin though.   

Lori -- You're right, I did feel like this day would never come.  When it was finally here, it was kind of emotional and weird but in a good way.  The past few days have been the hardest because, as you know, Dr. Choe gave my my BAHA kit, processor and all in the recovery room the day of my surgery.  All week I was very tempted to use it.  It was worth the wait!   

Kay -- BAHA has exceeded my expectations so far.   It is wonderful to hear things from my deaf side again, it will just take a little while to adjust to hearing them on the left.  I think my directionality might also be a little better but I don't expect much if any more improvement in that.   If you ever seriously consider getting BAHA, I would highly recommend it!

Maureen -- I'm so sorry to hear BAHA didn't work out for you.  I never considered the possibility that tinnitus would interfere with it.  The blackhead sounds like a pain in the neck (or head) too.  I hope at least that got better for you.

Steve -- As someone who also had BAHA envy for a long time, I can tell you it was worth the wait and I would do it again in a heartbeat! 

Looking back, I have to say if anyone would have ever told me that one day I would want a doctor to drill a  hole in my head and implant a post so I could wear a hearing device,I would have thought they were crazy.    I LOVE MY BAHA and as I said, would do it again in a heartbeat!!

Wendy

[wendysig]

Very funny Ernie! 

Wendy

[leapyrtwins]

Steve -- As someone who also had BAHA envy for a long time, I can tell you it was worth the wait and I would do it again in a heartbeat! 

Looking back, I have to say if anyone would have ever told me that one day I would want a doctor to drill a  hole in my head and implant a post so I could wear a hearing device,I would have thought they were crazy.    I LOVE MY BAHA and as I said, would do it again in a heartbeat!!

Wendy, I couldn't have said it any better myself 

I forgot how wonderful it is to be able to hear a child or children seated behind you in the van.  Today I take it for granted, but that was a big issue for me pre-BAHA and I remember being so glad when it was finally solved.  Also being deaf left, my BAHA gave me back the ability to hear people at the drive-thru of the bank and at fast food restaurants without turning my entire body in the driver's seat.  Ah, it's the little things in life that can thrill you 

It isn't easy to attach the BAHA without experience.  Popping it off is so easy, but putting it on was a different story for me for a long, long time.   I do notice that when I pop it off, I usually grimace.  I have no idea why, because it doesn't hurt at all    You ever do that, Lori?

Funny about the dead battery - you must have left it on.  In my experience batteries do last about 2 weeks.

Have you knocked the processor off your head yet?  I did that a few times the week I started wearing mine and I remember Bucko saying the same thing when he got his.  I kind of got past that stage, but have to admit I actually knocked it off just this morning     Almost stepped on it too    Was thinking I never did look into that insurance that Lori was talking about and my processor is almost a year old.  Perhaps I should get moving.

If I recall, you have long hair.  Is it hard for you to attach the processor without getting your hair caught between it and the abutment?  I've been growing my hair out and while it's not tremendously long, when I attach my Divino I sometimes get some strands of hair in the way.  It actually hurts like hell if I snap it on and there is hair caught.  Ouch!

Details, details, we want details.  Please tune in tomorrow - and beyond that - and tell us what else you can hear now.

Kay - I highly recommend the BAHA demo and I know a great doc in Chicago who implants them.  You can come for a visit any time 

Jan

[Kaybo]

I might have have to do that - i know that there is no one here - not even for a TransEar - well, actually, I say that about a BAHA but I guess I just checked into the TransEar...

K

[Sefra22]

I am happy for you Wendy. I should be getting my implant soon, so I hope to be able to use the processor by August. It's so nice to hear how happy you are with it. It makes me want it all the more. I never thought I be so eagerly waiting for a medical procedure!
Congratulations!
Lisa

[leapyrtwins]

I might have have to do that - i know that there is no one here - not even for a TransEar - well, actually, I say that about a BAHA but I guess I just checked into the TransEar...

Well, I definitely have a guy for you - and I'll share    My neurotologist, who did both my AN and my BAHA surgeries, will be at the symposium.  I'd be very happy to introduce you 

[lori67]

Jan, I can't say I've made any funny faces while snapping off my BAHA, but I can tell you it does hurt like heck to get your hair stuck in there!   

We took a walk down the street to the playground earlier tonight, and there's a pond that apparently has a lot of very loud bullfrogs living in it.  Tonight was the first time I noticed that I could tell what direction the sounds were coming from.  I don't know if that's a good thing - I can't tell where my kids are half the time, but I can tell you where the frogs are!

My audiologist said that I should be able to get a week or two out of a battery, but since I don't use it all the time, I get much longer than that.  I usually turn it off when I'm in the house - or when I don't feel like listening - so I'm sure that helps.  And watch the Sunday papers - I've found a few coupons for $4 off hearing aid batteries!  Whoooo-hooooo!

Wendy, while trying to reach Planet X, have your husband take off his shoe and start talking into it, Maxwell Smart style!  That should really make people wonder!!

Lori

[moe]

Girls,
Best of luck as you continue on your baha journeys. 
The doc unscrewed the abutment, but I can actually get it put back on if I ever decide to try again, so that's an option/ ( in and out surgery type deal)

We'll see what this tinnitus does through the years.
I still have the titanium implant in the skull.
So I'm still a half baha person, I guess
Maureen

[kmancini]

I use the powerone battery.  I have gotten 3 weeks out of one battery. I take the battery out every night and put the peel sticker back on every night.  I don't know if that works out or not.  The doctor said to keep that up if it works for me.

Karen