In my last post, I said that I hadn’t worn my CI for three weeks.
While I was at home over Spring Break, and chatting with my mom, I was itching, so I started to scratch my ear. She saw that my ear was red, and asked me to take off my CI, which revealed that it looked like I had contact dermatitis. My ear had been itching, but I never paid much attention to it, since I figured it was part of normal bodily functions, if you have a itch, you scratch it. Living alone, I can’t see the side of my neck/behind my ear, so I paid no attention to it.
Her thought was that the redness that was there, was along the same area where the CI Processor and the battery pack were resting against my skin. I stopped wearing it for two days, to let it subside, and on the third day, when I put it back on, it started to flare up again.
I went to the doctor, who said it looked like an allergic reaction, who then called a ENT specialist to see what he thought, and he agreed. I haven’t changed shampoo, or used anything that was new and could be possible triggers for an allergic reaction. Catherine was talking with the audiologists at AB, who sent me a list of questions, and decided to keep an eye on it and see what happens.
Thus began the journey of not wearing it for five and a half weeks, which was my decision. I finally put it back on Wednesday afternoon, April 16, as my boyfriend’s parents came up to visit. It was my first time meeting them, and I wanted to be sure I could hear them. By the time we got to Friday night, my ear was all red again, sore, and irritated. During the break with the CI, my ear felt much better, and wasn’t sore.
This is why I think there’s something with the processor/batteries that is causing me to have a reaction to the materials used (I suspect the paint). I’m back to wearing it off and on (depending on my mood) and what my day is going to be like.
My options at this point are to clean it with a alcohol wipe, put moleskin on it/behind my ear, and recently, somebody recommended clear nail polish. I’m a bit iffy about adding more chemicals or materials to the CI, as it’s heavy enough as it is, and I don’t want to void any warranties by modifying it. I want to wear it as it is. I haven’t had problems with the hearing aids, why am I having problems with the CI? That’s what I don’t understand.
Oh man! I don’t blame you if you getting red ears
I’m so sorry to hear that — what a pain in the you-know-what! Did you develop irritation when you were wearing the Auria, or is it just since you switched to the Harmony? Could you go back to wearing the Auria? Just a thought. I really hope someone at AB can work with you to find a solution. Keep us posted!
Have you considered a body-worn processor for Harmony? That’s what I have, so nothing’s ever touching my ear. If the head piece becomes an irritation then I just simply tuck it under my shirt collar for a while and takes less than a couple secs to put it back on if I need to listen to something. It’s difficult putting it on in the morning at first, but it’s a great advantage throughout the day.
Hi All!
Abbie, I know, it’s frustrating.
Brandyn, I didn’t notice it, (rather my mom noticed it) until I was home for the break and she saw my ear was red from me scratching at it.
Went out to dinner with my (now ex) boyfriend and his parents when they came to visit for the first time, and my ear was starting to turn red that night. It was the first time in a few weeks that I hadn’t worn the CI.
They had a few suggestions, and I am working my way down the list. Eventually, this summer I just gave up and was like “forget it”. I haven’t worn my CI since June.
Jason,
I have considered it, but I don’t want to buy a new one, since I already have an opened Auria, and an opened Harmony processor.
I do agree, it is difficult to put it on in the morning. I don’t understand what you mean by putting it on under your shirt collar. The headpiece, or the part that goes over your ear?
I had a similar situation of itchness, but it occured to me at along the incision, not the ear. After 1 year of surgery, the itchness happened when the incision became tender. I got itchness for a few days, and I tried not to touch it when I have dirty hands, such as from playing tennis. I just immediately wash my hands and take a shower to clean the area after workout/exercise. It was better. So far now, I didn’t have any itchness as the tenderness of the incision was gone. As about the redness/soreness, it only occurred to me one time when I was wearing a big PowerCel Plus battery for 3 days in a row. This battery is heavy and its put so much weight on top of my ear(T-Mic)–that is were the redness/soreness came from the T-Mic resting on. The redness/soreness went away when I switched back to my PowerCell Slim. I, now, will only use my smaller PowerCel Slim for every day wear, and use the bigger PowerCell Plus for backup. What battery pack did you wear until the redness/soreness occured? It might be your heavy PowerCell Plus.
hmm, it was the big powercel battery packs.
but sometimes i have issues even with the smaller ones/the processor. but it’s definitely the big powercel pack.
for the next round of designs for the CI (hah, i’m loving my Industrial Design class), Advanced Bionics should do the following.
1. Make the weight lighter.
2. More color options
3. Reduce fragile parts (i.e the “wings” on the battery pack break easily, reducing the ability to stay on and “lock” in place)
4. Create a design that isn’t as large, bulky, and boxy.
key words: streamline, curves, unnoticeable.
i love industrial design and product critiques…i could probably come up with more, but i’ll end it on this note.
Hi, I read your blog, then I saw that you’re not wearing your CI anymore due to the itching problem. Are you now officially not wearing the CI on a regular basis?
Correct, I have stopped wearing my CI due to that, and because I need to change my MAP.
I will put it on and wear it every now and then, but some weeks I don’t wear it at all.
However, I can say that I have discovered the following:
When I wear the cochlear implant
1. My speech is much better, due to the ability to self-monitor and hear myself much clearer.
2. I am more aware of environmental noises.
3. I can catch words and sounds better.
4. I feel much more a part of the “hearing” world
5. My comprehension (not having to ask people to repeat) in conversations is much higher as with just one hearing aid.
Not wearing the CI on a regular basis, it’s like starting over all over again at activation day, but it goes by much quicker.
When winter quarter starts, I plan to go in and get a re-mapping and see if that helps with my CI issues. Since I have not been wearing the CI, the map is too strong for me, and it sounds totally out of whack.
It’s very disappointing to me, as I had high hopes for it, but then it just kind of fell apart.
ouch sorry to read you have had a bad time with your ear! Hopefully they will find out what is causing it! and you will get back to hearing with your CI again eh?
I feel bad for you about the itching part. It sounds like you’re getting benefits from the CI. Mapping is always important to adjust to changes. The more you keep on top of your mappings, the easier and normal it becomes.
That can be really awful with the itching part. I hope that the center will consider other options. Maybe try out a dummy BTE from Cochlear or Med-El, you may find that you can tolerate their material and consider their CI.
I hope you let AB be aware of your experience with the itching because they might explore the reason behind it. They could fix that. Never know.
Maybe AB could trade one of your BTE processors for a BWP (Body Worn Processor) because of your case with itching.
I know you tried moleskin. Have you tried Hearing Aids Sweatbands? Here’s the link:
http://www.hearingaidsweatband.com/index2.php?home
I hope something works out better for you
http://www.gearforears.com/testimonials.asp
This is another website called Ear Gear similar to the Hearing Aids Sweatbands.
Just ideas to see if they help you avoid itchiness.
Hi Allison. Just checking in but noticed you haven’t made a post in a very long time, so I hope everything’s alright. I’m a big fan of your writings, especially since I have the Harmony as well, so it gives me comfort and sense of empathy to read someone else’s journey with this device. I’m rooting for you to hopefully become re-acquainted with the Harmony CI again and I hope the re-mapping goes well. As for the body-worn processor, it has been wonderful for me. You asked me earlier to clarify what goes under the shirt collar – it is the wire that goes from the processor, under my shirt, out my collar, and connected to the headpiece that is placed over the implant. There is no “part that goes over the ear”, which is the benefit of the BWP – no BTE, no itching. Also, it’s very discreet – I’ve been in grad school for three months now and no one even knows I’m deaf or have an implant unless I tell them. I always enjoy the surprised look, it definitely makes me feel like I’m truly part of the “hearing” world. Anyway, I really hope you will resume blogging and I’ll keep you and your journey in my thoughts.