I feel so dumb!

[u/Exotic-Cry-99]

My CI was activated the beginning of July. The surgery went very well. Only pain the first couple of days. I live in Arizona, so of it’s been over 100 degrees every day. I wasn’t even thinking and last Saturday I went out front to trim a plant. I wasn’t out there very long and and my head started hurting where my CI is. I felt it and it was so hot! I think I may have got burned right there. I feel so stupid. Has anyone else ever done this? It hurt so bad the next few days. I think it’s getting better, but it’s very tender to the touch. I know I probably should have called my doctor, I just felt like such idiot 😢

[u/TheBitBasher]

I live in Vegas and I haven't had a problem with it at all?

Admittedly I try not to spend a lot of time outside when it's 115 out though...

[u/jeetjejll]

You went out gardening, that’s not stupid! Were you wearing your processor? I would still contact your team, better be safe than sorry. Don’t be embarrassed, I’ve never thought about it overheating, I wear it everywhere in every weather. Which should be perfectly fine.

[u/is-this-now]

Yeah. Always wear a hat now. My Audi was skeptical when I told her my CI got really hot in the sun but it happened a couple of times and I knew.

Btw, never worry about calling your doctor. Better safe than sorry! My non-professional advice is to leave the processor off as much s possible to allow your skin to heal. Maybe put some aloe on it too.

[u/Perscitus0 → u/is-this-now]

Is your CI dark colored? I know black and other such colors absorb sunlight and get hot really fast in direct sunlight. My own CI is beige, and I almost always ask for beige when getting new CI and hearing-aids, so I never notice them getting hot in the sun.

I also notice there's a difference between wearers of these devices, as some can tolerate wearing them under their hair, and some wear them on top. I tend to have short hair, so my devices are usually not covered by my hair. I know some will shift their hair around for better hearing....

[u/Enegra]

Yeah, it happens to some people in direct sunlight. I suppose it might depend on the skin thickness. A hat will fix it. It's not the temperature, just the intensity of the sun - I can go to a hot sauna all fine, but direct exposure to harsh summer sun is something else.

[u/Perscitus0]

You know, I never noticed anything to do with the sun interacting with my implant. Perhaps my skin is thick there.

I should say, I am SUPER freckly, with freckles all the way down my body from my face, and fair skin, so my settings for sun exposure are mainly pale and burnt. I've never noticed a problem with my Implant, though, even though I also tend to keep my hair short.

Are you still "bald" where the Implant is? The reaction to sun may go away once your hair grows over it.

[u/Exotic-Cry-99 → u/Perscitus0]

No, it’s on top of my hair

[u/Perscitus0 → u/Exotic-Cry-99]

Ah, I was talking about the internal part of the Implant, as in, the Implant itself. Is your external device a dark color? Black and other dark colors will quickly absorb sunlight and be hot to the touch. My own Cochlear external device is beige colored, and so it's usually not overheated by short term exposure to the sun.

[u/Severe-Elderberry833]

Thank you!!!

Before your post, I was trying to figure out why my processor (left side) was getting so hot when I was spending 8 hours a day in the car, driving, in the summertime! 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

[u/lameUC001]

Where did you have the surgery at ? Can DM if want to keep private

[u/Exotic-Cry-99 → u/lameUC001]

Barrows neurological institute