finally got date for ds cochlear implant.

[melminx]

we have been going through test and assessments for over a year now and we have been given 12th july for ds2 who is 5 in august to have his cochlear implant. Been waiting for date for so long now its here scared to death for him.

We dont believe he was deaf from birth. He was born at 30 weeks weighing 1lb 14oz and was "dead" at birth but was resussitated. Came home at 10 weeks old having coped with stomach infections. Home 3 days turned blue was rushed back to hospital for an emergency double hernai operation and still only weighing 3lb 9oz. Then at 4 months and weighing just 7lb he caught bronchiolitus and spent his first christmas in hospital fighting for his life. He is fine now gorgeous and cheeky as hell!!

But now im so scared fro th eop even though i know the benefits for him will be amazing.If anyone else on here has gone through this op with their child i would love to hear from you ie how you coped.

Hey melminx, not my child, I have just had the op myself and I'll be getting "switched on" a week on Thursday.

I was talking to my social worker today, who deals with kids being implanted, she says it's an utterly amazing experience to be with them for the first time they hear something. Kinda like an awakening she said...

The op for me was pretty straightforward, had a sore head for about a week and was a little bit dizzy. The wound is healing up nicely though, it's not much of a scar really.

ChristinaThe Astonishing's DS has just had his implant switched on, so hopefully she'll be along soon to reassure you. July isn't too long at all, I'm sure it will fly in. Thinking of you x

lol, what a response! there were no replies when I started! x

congratulations - are you excited? What a wonderful chance. Keep us posted (like Califrau - no connection but interested.)

Califrau...you have my schedule pegged correctly. This is a rather unusual time for me to be on. It's so busy!!

Oooh, just found this, how exciting for your ds2 melminx!

The op is very minor - nowhere near the awful things he's already dealt with. As I understand it, it's fiddly and technical for the surgeon, but the anaesthetic is very straightforward, just a light one to keep you asleep.

My experience was that the pain from the op was no worse than a headache, and was easily treated with paracetamol/brufen. I felt quite dizzy for a few days - I was able to walk fine etc, but I noticed it if I turned around too quickly. None of this lasted very long.

The worst thing for me was not being allowed to wash my hair for 5 days but I guess a nearly-5-year-old is not going to stress about this too much!

He has no hair so that wont matter although he loves his baths!

I was a wreck when they put him to sleep fo rthe mri really dont know how dh and i will cope with the "op".

His 5 in august but is the size of a 3 yr old. Lets him get a way with murder. His teachers adore him and the girls in his class fight over who gets to sit with him at lunch!

Melminx, he sounds absolutely adorable! As welliemum said, the op is more technical than major surgery, so the amount of time under anaesthetic (2 to 5 hours I beieve) is just to get the implant into the cochlea correctly.

How was he under anaesthetic for the MRI? If he was fine with that, then I'm sure the actual surgery will be OK too. Keep us updated, I'm really chuffed there are so many of us implantees!

Much love to you and your ds

Hi
My DS is deaf and uses hearing aids but I know quite a few kids with implants. They seem to get over the op amazingly quickly. One was featured in an issue of the NDCS magazine, you could try their website and see if it is on there. Which implant centre are you under?

hi he was fine with the ga for mri it was me that was a grizzling wreck! We have been warned it can take up to 8 hours if incredibly tricky.

Luke is having his op in St Thomas's in London.