Cochlear Implant - glasses arm affects and hurts the magnet - why?

Question

I had a cochlear implant a few months ago.

I am aware all the time of this magnet embedded in my head. It affects me in many ways.

I cant sleep with that side of the head on my pillow now because of the magnet - it hurts and is uncomfortable.

The magnet itches a lot of the time - the magnet can get very intense - it has a pins and needles feeling some of the time and also when a lot of sound comes through it can hurt and be unbearable.

At the hospital, I was told 'its early days yet...give it time' etc but no real information.

But the fact i cant wear my current prescription spectacles because the metal arm really irritates the magnet and hurts (and I'm not talking about the pressure of the arm on the side of my head-I already have to bend the glasses arm for that), I have to take the glasses off.

An old pair of glasses I can wear but it is not my current prescription, so I cant see well with them.

Any ideas? Why does the magnet hurt so much?

Answer 1

Most opticians should alter your glasses for you for free...Pop into one of the big stores and tell them what the problem is and if there is someone available they should do something for you.Even if it just loosening the arm a little

Its worth a try!

Answer 2

ok your old glasses must have been a plastic frame because its the metal that is making it react this way. not all plastic arms are thick, if you shop around you will find you can get really thin plastic arm glasses now. you may want to also try a lighter pair of glasses as the metal ones can be quite heavy. they may even be able to use your old lenses for this!

you can also find glasses with no arms and they either go around you head with a string or clip onto your nose and these are also very light weight.

Answer 3

Try taking the arms off and using elastic to hold it back to your head? It's not pretty, but it works.

I've never heard of implants causing trouble with glasses- neither the falling off nor the pain. You might want to go back to the hospital and make it VERY clear you know something is wrong.

Answer 4

Glad i've found someone who is in the same situation as me.

i've been implanted 2 weeks ago. but because where the internal device has been implanted my glasses tend to put pressure on it which causes pain as that wear u can feel the internal implant as it is hard. . the scar area don't hurt at all.

hope are you coping with it now. I'm just researching about it now just incase it doesn't stop the pain and what i would need to do in the future. I do have contact lens but don't reali like using them all the time. The only them when i go out or if i play my sports.

katie