Hello everyone!!

Well it finally happened!! I had my stage 1 operation for the BAHA. It went really really well. I think the worst part was waiting. We got to the hospital at 9am and didnt get called till 1145. The surgery was supposed to start at 12 but it ended up starting a a little after 1. I kept hearing two things. From the doctor he was saying that I was going to be awake the whole time. From the nurse and anasthesiologist, they were telling me I was going to sleep. Not general but local with a sedative. I got the local with the sedative. I don't even remember falling asleep! They did tell me that I was intubated, but not in the usual way. I actually knew this before they told me because I have a scratch in the back corner of my throat, and my throat is really really dry. I woke up and had no pain whatsoever! I was really suprised at that. I stayed in the recovery room for about 45 minutes, then they wheeled me out to my husband. They gave me a starter bottle of tylenol with codeine. I took it last night before bed, and I never will again. I would go to sleep and wake up gasping for air, like I had forgotten to breath while sleeping. That was really bad. Oh well I dont think I will need to take anything, as right now Im not on anything and it is just a dull pain and numbness in all of my scalp.(Thank goodness not on my face) I would say the pain is at a 2 1/2 on a scale of 10. 
Well there is my story!! If anyone would like to see pictures, send me an email at chicamr81@aol.com

Thanks for reading my story!!

~Mairim~

The round white disc that can be seen is known as the “Healing Cap” and is put in place at the finish of the operation. This is like a plastic “washer” and snaps onto the abutment (socket) / implant to secure a dressing underneath it. The dressing underneath will have been soaked in medication before application. 

The dressing and healing disc help prevent the graft area round the implant from swelling. The discs, and the dressing beneath, normally stay in place for two weeks until it is time to remove stitches (if used). When you healing cap is removed ask to keep it. It may be useful if you ever need another dressing at any time.

Immediately after the surgery gaze and cotton wool are placed over the healing cap and held in place with a firmly bound bandage. This will stay on for 24 hours. This is also to prevent post operative swelling. If there is oozing 24 hours post op, then the healing cap may be covered by gauze for as long as necessary, with regular changes. But oozing should not last long, and if there are concerns advice should be sought.

What can be seen above.

The grafts look sunken. This is because they have been thinned down during surgery (The tissue beneath the skin surface has been peeled away). It is necessary to do this for two reasons:- 1) To avoid the skin growing back over the abutment (socket). 2) To remove the underlying tissue which contains hair follicles. This is very important as it prevents hair growing under the abutment and causing problems. So the areas immediately round the abutment will remain hairless. (Rarely the odd hair may grow, but is easily dealt with using electrolysis).

The link given here shows in detail the BAHA stages 1 & 2 procedures.

1 = Titanium implant placed.

2 = Abutment attached to implant. The abutment is also referred to as the "socket" in some cases.

Please be aware that some of the pictures are graphic.

Also note that some clinics will do stages 1&2 in one go with adults, whilst children generally have the two stages separately (Abutment fixture is generally around ten weeks post implant). For written details of each procedure please refer to our "Patients Guide to BAHA" booklet on the home page list.

http://www.sickkids.ca/cochlearimplant/section.asp?s=For+Physicians&sID=6704

( When you are on this website click on Bone Anchored Hearing Aids (BAHA) from the left hand menu, and then for more information click the link below . )

Click here for the BAHA Surgey Link

"Mairim`s Post Operation"  12th November