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Mr Jeremy Lavy 2021-06-30 Person 5 5 0

So my story began a few years back when I was 17 and realised that I was having trouble hearing. I had a hearing test local to me and was told that I had Otosclerosis in both of my ears. At the time I was offered NHS hearing aids but as I was so young I paid to have the smaller ones that fit in the ear as I was so embarrassed about being seen with aids. As time went on I felt that my hearing was deteriorating so I had a BAHA fitted, again this was done at my local hospital. I had been offered a stapledectomy operation but was slightly put off with the slight risk of hearing loss so decided that I’d try all other avenues before I had surgery. I felt that this would be a last resort. A few years passed and I was getting increasingly frustrated with the BAHA as although it was great once I had it on when it wasn’t I was almost completely deaf. The BAHA wasn’t waterproof so I constantly worried if it rained it would get wet and the same when I was out running. A few times people knocked it out throwing their arms around me and I was petrified that it would get trampled on when I was out. Or worse being on holiday and it broke. I came to the realisation that I couldn’t go on like this so one evening I googled otosclerosis and came across Jeremy Lavy’s name and read the reviews that people had written about him. Once finished I knew that this was the person that I needed to talk to. I hadn’t felt overly confident with my consultant at my local hospital but now I felt like I had hope. That evening after emailing Jeremy I waited for a reply and that came a few hours later. I was quite surprised to receive a reply from a consultant personally. The fact that he had time to reply and showed a real interested prompted me to get referred to his clinic in London. After my initial consultation I was booked in for the first of my two operations. The whole time I felt comfortable and happy to be going ahead with the surgery. Jeremy and his team put me at complete ease and I had every faith that the operation was going to be a success. On the morning of the operation I arrived at the NHS TNE hospital in London and was prepared for my operation. I was to be awake through surgery and although I felt very nervous I was put at ease by the lovely nurses and Jeremy. My desire was so strong by then to hear normally that I had every faith in Jeremy and his team. I had read all the reviews, met Jeremy and knew that I was in safe hands. It’s only been 4yrs since my first operation but I can’t remember too much about it other than the moment Jeremy spoke to me after removing the Stapes bone and replacing it with the prosthesis and the first thing I heard was Rock the Casbar on the radio by the Clash!!! It was amazing!!!! I had to wait a while till the anaesthetic wore off then I was allowed home. I had packaging in my ear and felt a little light headed but otherwise I was ok. I did have some numbness in my face and a metallic taste in my mouth but again I was prepared as I had read everything I could about the operation. Again I’m a bit fuzzy but I think it was 6 weeks when I had the packing out. And wow it was amazing for the first time since I could remember I could hear. I felt like crying as I had been struggling for so long. I could’ve kicked myself for not having the operation sooner. 6 moths later I was back to have my left ear operated on. I didn’t think I needed it as my hearing was that good but thought I may as well go for it so that I have two working ears. Fast forward four years and I can’t tell you how much this operation has changed my life. Losing your hearing is devastating I can’t believe I struggled for so many years. I couldn’t lip read and it was beginning to affect every aspect of my life. I’ve now got to a point in my life where I’ve applied for a job that I never could’ve done before as I knew I wouldn’t pass the hearing test but this week I did just that!!!! Ok it wasn’t 100 per cent but it wasn’t far off and to think that I was barely hearing is amazing. I’m eternally grateful to Jeremy and his dedicated staff for changing my life. I just wish that I had done it sooner.