Oh, Trisha, you're quite welcome!! I am so very happy to hear how quickly you are recovering and out walking already!! I'm so proud of you! Tears. But happy tears. You've gotten your life back honey, no more anxiety, my orders, lol. I will chat with you soon. Keep up the good work!
Look at you! Walking around with confidence within days after "the surgery" people seem to dread. Absolutely you should have no more anxiety or fear about a sudden vertigo attack from that ear. I can't wait until your new reality really sinks in and you realize in one of those "aha" moments how you don't even think about this darn thing anymore; how you realize that you automatically make plans with people because you know you will be able to make it; how in the morning your first thought is not whether it will be a good day or not. And then realize on top of all that, just how happy you are! I am so very happy for you.
Hi Trisha, I had the Laby 8 months ago. Never looked back. I would like to give you an answer to your questions. 1st one on hearing thing in that ear. It felt like I was hearing things but it just takes time to adjust. I had lost some hearing in my ear before operation but was not totally deaf after operation. I turned around a lot and still do because I think I hear someone talking me so I turn and look. It just takes time to adjust to it. My good ear is super sensitive to loud noises. If I am somewhere like a horseshow and the announcer in talking I have to cover my good ear. I carry earplugs now for things like that. Your 2nd question about swimming. You will become more confident with everything you do now, I was afraid to swim across a pool and I finally just did it. it did feel weird because I came up out the water and expected to be dizzy but wasn't. It is just another stepping stone to taking your life back, You will be skeptical about trying things but just do it. I ride and compete on horses. I have learned how to adjust and adapt so I can continue to ride. you will just learn to doing things just a little bit different. My big thing I have is I have to keep moving, If sit in the recliner all day it makes me feel bad. Keep doing things. It will help your mind and body come back to life like you once knew it. good luck. you have got this!
Trisha you are doing great!! In terms of getting back in the pool or riding a bike or whatever you want to do, you will gain confidence with each day. I was a tri-athelet before my surgery. My biggest fear after was getting back on the bike and swimming. Once I was confident that I would not fall off the bike I started riding again in my backyard. I gained enough balance back by walking, walking, hiking and yoga. I finally advanced from backyard bike riding to going on 30 mile rides. I was afraid like Stabird of swimming and coming up out of the water and being dizzy. But I have conquered that fear too. Glad I did because I love to swim. You are well on your way to getting back to your normal routine. So very happy for you! Keep moving and napping and you will be back in full swing within a month or two.
Trisha As Red and Bird said, it will all come in time and when it does it will be a beautiful feeling. I love the water, most of my problems in life have happened on land and around humans. Lol I water ski, wakeboard, surf all summer with my kids at the lake and ocean and swim every day for exercise. No Problems at All!!!! I do wear an ear plug in my good ear when doing it just as a precaution an also because I just don't want to hear my wife yelling at me saying "your an idiot, your 45 years old not 25". But hey I like it and have fun. As Mick Jagger said "it's only rock n roll but I like it" Go for it!!!!!
Hello everybody i just wanted to give everybody a two week update post laby surgery. I went yesterday to get my stitches out and asked the doctor if he could put a mirror up so i could see my scar. Much to my amazement there was no scar as i remember Dr. Rauch telling me he was going to go in the same way they put my shunt in and it would be a very easy operation. My ear when i came out of surgery felt a like a balloon but at the two week mark my ear feels completely normal. Zero issues whatsoever. Dr. Rauch recommended me to go to between two and four vestibular rehabilitation sessions, but i feel i do not need them. I emailed him yesterday after i got my stitches out and he told me if i feel good do not worry about the vestibular rehab sessions but per doctors orders he said just stay busy and keep walking. i also am proud to say i drove to get my stitches out with my dad in the car and did great. I was a little nervous at first but once i got on the highway i felt just fine and now i have my freedom of driving back as of yesterday as well. I do feel a little off balance in the big box stores such as Wal-Mart and Costco but Dr. Rauch told me this would happen until my brain completely adjusts which could take up to 8 weeks. Outside of the big box stores i love being outside and i have no issues with my balance except if i wake up at night in the dark it takes a few seconds for my brain to adapt, and i am fine. The only time i can tell anything is wrong with me is in very noisy environments like a busy restaurant because i am deaf in one ear. Other than that i think i hear better in and around the house and with small groups because i do not have the deafening fullness and tinnitus i had prior to the laby. So in many ways i am better off with only one hearing ear. The single biggest difference i have noticed is i am not fatigued and tired all day every day anymore, i feel like i have normal energy but i do like to take an afternoon nap maybe because i have been pushing myself with so much walking over the last two weeks. The other think i have definitely noticed is i am not anxious outside or in any environment as Dr. Rauch told me i would never spin again in that ear. In my email to Dr. Rauch he did give me a prescription for valium 2mg i can take twice a day if i find myself in a noisy noisy and busy environment, he said it will help calm the ear, when i questioned him that i don't have an ear, he said he left my snail portion of the cochlea in just in case he need to use it one day for a hearing apparatus. So any response i am getting from that ear is probably from the snail portion of my cochlear and the swelling is still going down and there may be some calcification or healing still going on in there. NOT A BIG DEAL AT ALL. I never took any pain medication even though Dr. Rauch ordered it for me, i just never felt any pain or discomfort at all. I do still stick to a low sodium diet and take a water pill as well. But Dr. Rauch told me that was my decision and for my peace of mind he prescribed me a diuretic. I asked him what causes this and why did i get it and he simply said "bad luck, but you will be fine" So my goals this summer are to ride my bike and go swimming either in a pool, lake or ocean. I think it would be neat to ride my bike on a beach and go for a swim in the same day. So Much Thanks to everybody and i guess you can count me among the people who consider the laby a life saver and the easiest way to a normal life. Sincerely, Trisha
FANTASTIC UPDATE! I am so happy for you, every time I read your updates my eyes well up with tears of joy for you. I hope you stick around the forums to let future sufferers know of your experience and your success with beating this MM demon, but if you don't I fully understand because you will be out enjoying your life again which is wonderful! Thanks for the exciting and wonderful update!
Trisha, I am so excited for you! Soon your spins will be a very distant memory. Thank you for coming back and sharing your recovery progress!
Trisha, so happy for you!! Get your bikini on, hop on the bike and ride to the beach for a swim. It won't be long before you can do this. Keep up the good life
Right on track Trisha-----Go enjoy the rest of your life and that includes the beach and bicycle riding and all it has to offer.
I feel tied in with all you Laby's. had the VNS. Its such a small world out there and isolated one. Please keep in touch with me as I will you. Message me. FB friends if you want. I'm in TX. 40 f/ married with a beautiful daughter.
My insurance did. I was going for many as been so bad but Dr really wanted to do VNS as hearing not too bad. I'm unable to walk with walker by myself yet but my double vision has gone. I'm so thankful for this rehab its so good and what I need. For 1 week post op doing good. I was way bad off and had tried mostly all including gents.
So happy to hear Shelly and Tricia doing So well .keeps me hopeful that down the road If need be I know of successful experiences with These procedures so happy for you both very brave People.