Post-op Transcanal

I had a very good experience yesterday, success to be determined!
My surgery went on time at 2 pm, out of OR at 4:30 and in recovery til 7:30. Dr. Seidman told me it went well but it was right as I was waking up so all I could do was give a half drunk thumbs up. I did not need the full revision, so I still have all my hair!!! (and so does Dr. seidman ;)!!!!) According to what my husband told me, there were a lot of adhesions. Some right on the driver and stapes and some on the ear drum too. He removed it all with a laser (Activate the laaaser...anyone who's seen Austin Powers would appreciate that). Then he also noticed part of the driver was sticking out from the stapes so he recemented it back in place with some Envoy cement.
The Envoy rep that was there tested the device before surgery and said I was only getting a 5 dB gain. Normal is 25-35 dB gain. After surgery it was tested and I had a significant improvement to 35 dB gain! Praise God! Everyone was ecstatic! Results to be determined at 2 weeks when I can turn the Esteem back on. Yep, 2 weeks, not 6-8 like originally thought!! I'm very happy with that. I have packing in my ear that will need to be removed at 10 days post op and Dr. S is kind enough to let me do it at my audiologist who is close to home vs driving 3 hrs to see him for 5 min to remove the packing. Love this guy! He gave me 4 pictures with explanations from the surgery. It was very cool to see.
My pre-op nurse and recovery nurse were amazing! They were so kind and did everything possible to make me feel confortable. After surgery I couldn't pee (I was expecting this) and had to be straight cathed again. My nurse gave me some good advise about this. I should go to my pcp or a urologist and get a signed letter stating I have to have a catheter for all procedures no matter how short or small it is d/t difficulty urinating. It's a good idea. I'll probably see about doing this.
Over all this whole thing was very positive.
I couldn't have had it go any better I think.

The most discomfort I have right now is a sore throat that feels like strep throat from the ET tube and my ear feels like it has a bad ear ache. No neck or shoulder pain like last time. No incisional pain. Instructions are similar to a stapedectomy; no lifting objects over 10 lbs for 4 weeks, no strenuous activity for 4 weeks. I can shower right away but have to have a cotton ball with vaseline in my ear to keep water out of my ear. No blowing my nose and must sneeze with my mouth open for 3-4 weeks. Appt to take out ear packing in 10 days. And the best instructions; don't make anymore adhesions!!!!! Hahaha

I will add the photos here:

Transcanal Tomorrow

Transcanal revision tomorrow at Henry Ford West Bloomfield! I'm to arrive at the hospital at 12:15. Dr. Seidman is certain he will not have to access the auricle incision (original incision behind my ear) to fix the scar tissue but it always is a possibility. I am going to tell him that if I wake up with half a shaved head like last time, he better have a shaved head too!

Basically he will be peeling back the eardrum, shaving off any adhesions and removing bone and cement dust that may be impeding the full potential of the Esteem device. He figures on about 2 hours operating time. I hope it'll be smooth going and no need to do the full revision. Regardless, I have to leave the device off for 6-8 weeks. That's going to be extremely hard now that I've become so dependent on this ear. Bye bye phone conversations!

I'll have a 1 week follow up on Dec 7 at the office to remove the packing on my ear and then just waiting on re-activation. I kinda hope I can just turn it on myself and move on...I really don't want to pay for activation fees! This surgery will be paid for by Envoy, for which I am terribly thankful. Beyond that I've got to hope and pray with all my might that everything goes swimmingly and works and I can HEAR without issues and not need extra visits that I'll need to pay for. I keep working on my insurance to cover any part in this whole thing. I've been denied, so I'm on to the appeals process and have my pcp helping me. Fingers crossed it gets me somewhere! Considering Dr. S is only 1 of 11 surgeons who can provide the services required for the Esteem, I'm thinking I might have a fair shot at Priority Health picking up some of the tab.

"Hear's" to a smooth surgery tomorrow!