New Stapedectomy Report

Reidan

Hello everyone. Been awhile since I posted. I have popped in and read other postings, just did not take the time to make a post of my own. Hope everyone is healing and progressing well.

I am now at a little over 3 months post surgery (December 2nd). I have not had much, if any, change since my last posting. Still have the pressure feeling in the operated ear. Hearing is still at about the pre-surgery level. And still have the numbness in and around the ear, but it is better. Or maybe I am just getting used to it. And, still have a little tenderness.

I feel my hearing has not gotten better due to the swelling and fluid I still have in the ear. The doc has given me two rounds of steroids. First round caused some popping in the ear for the first day or two. Then no other changes from the steroids. I have been taking the over the counter anti-inflammatory Traumeel for several weeks. Does not seemed to have helped either.

I go back next week for my next hearing test and checkup.

Oh, went to regular family doc recently for the first time since the surgery. She took a look in my ear and said that the Ear Drum looked real good after the surgery and that the doc did a good job preserving it. Then she said that it looked "Very Deep" compared to my non-operated ear. Not exactly sure what would cause that.

Iwanttohear

Hi I am living in Basel and having the same problem ıs there anyone who has an idea of a specialist in Basel or around
I would appreciate that since I am new in this country
Thanks

newyork27

Hi TaniaHop:
I am almost 4 weeks post-op (Feb. 16) . Just as you described, had more side effects than expected and the dizziness has become worse. My doctor prescribed steroids (as hearing results weren't great) and now I'm on day 9 of prednisone. Wondering if you still feel dizzy and what if anything you did against that?
good luck on your recovery!

Reidan

Had my visit this week. It was what I expected. Audiogram is unchanged since last one 2 months ago. And the Doctor asked me if I still wanted to have the left ear done!!!

I still actually have hope this ear may get better. Told doc about the pressure and numb feeling and he has given me a script for a much more aggressive round of steroids. Hoping that if these work this time the hearing will get better. Otherwise I am going to have to get Hearing Aids.

Reidan

Where is Basel? When I Googled it I got several hits in Switzerland.

Brighton1732010

Hi

I had my surgery three days ago and I haven't experienced any pain, ache or dizzyness. Maybe I've been really
lucky but the only side affect I seem to have is that I have this strange taste in my mouth.

The operation went well according to the surgeon and i have an appointment in four days to remove the inner packing.
I hear strange sounds in the operated ear which seems normal...

I'll keep you updatedon the progress

Thanks
Gabriel

luscious38

So now i am week 6 after the surgery and I dont have my follow up hearing test till the 8th of april. I think im hearing better but am not sure. I am having A LOT of headaches. MY ear goes back and forth to hearing and in a tunnel sound. Its not really painful but more sore and sowllen feeling. The outside of my ear where the top lobe meets the bottom feels like there is a weird bump strange

zotosclerosis

I'm new here and have been reading up on reports and results of everyone - MUCH appreciated in your experience - has made it tremendous in knowing I'm not alone!

My procedure was done last Wednesday (5/19/10) based on symptoms similar to everyone except for a few others that my doc was a little puzzled by. Perhaps you all could chime in. My ears got pressurized even as I went up elevators or up hills. I could hear "better" upon me forcibly popping my ears (but then soon it got re-pressurized on its own). Anyway, did a CT scan and an MRI and the CT scan showed something that could be characterized as otosclerosis. But honestly, they took 30 minutes to find it and me being the skeptic, if you look hard enough at some fuzzy slides, you're bound to find whatever you want.

Anyway, here I am day 6 after surgery on my right (worse) ear. He removed the wick surface packing (along with a layer of gel) this past Monday (@ day 5). He left the inner packing as is and said will get a 1 month check-up as it's supposed to dissolve on its own. He also did a hearing test that day as when he whispered in my ear, I heard nothing. He wanted to make sure I still had hearing - my conductive was as before so "no worries."

I also had fullness in my "good" ear as if more air-pressure was in it. Of course I cannot pop it due to the operation. Day 6 and the fullness / pressure is worse. I can't pop it! Talking almost hurts due to the vibration.

Tinnitus in the operated ear is high pitch (annoying heartbeat pretty much passed). The good ear's tinnitus is a static or a low-pitched "blowing wind." It's like I'm under water constantly now with no hearing on the operated ear and bad pressure with bad hearing in the good ear. Gone from bad to worse! Doc said the left ear could seem bad because I now have nothing to compare it to (even though it's the same). It doesn't feel the same - I never had issues with talking being somewhat painful! Anyone else out there with unusual air-pressure? More as it develops...

-z

zotosclerosis

Day 7 - Quick rundown on stats: the pressure has somewhat died down but still there & the heart-beat sound is back in the operated ear. Now the loud tinnitus pitch is accompanied by a low hum (kind of like a vibration) - and they both alter in volume. Well, at least I now have 3 consistent sounds on the operated ear - a million more to go, right!? Doc (on Monday) said that I should keep using the drops in the ear (past the week initial supply - gave me a new prescription to maintain it).

The ear does the crackling sound (as others mention) and I also notice that contact-sound is off and on. By contact sound I mean if I touch my ear-lobe, sometimes it's audible as a loud scratch, and sometimes not. Does that mean the drum is slowly adhering to the metal and doing its thing or is it loose?

I can hear through it (tapping on wall or fridge) as I'm close to it (tunnel sound) but quite strange as it's not consistent of events... Stay tuned - more as it develops!

Dannlang

Hi, i am brand new here on this forum and just had a stapedectomy on my right ear wed. I can relate to the never ending heart beat and popping it drives me crazy!.. But only real problem ive had , very little dizziness ,can hear a little but not much.

zotosclerosis

Day 12: The pressure seems gone and the thumping heart thing seems to have disapeared - though it comes back here and there when heart rate elevated - no biggie. At around day 9, walking home from work, there was a giant pop and the ear seems to have cleared somewhat. Was just like when landing on an airplane and all of a sudden you could hear better. Hearing IS better. I test daily by flicking finger-nails together and compare to left ear (before I could hear nothing - now it's muffled but there). Tunnel sound but working. I can use the phone on that ear fine now. The big "changes" I have now are 2 things: 1 - I don't have that transmission sound on my operated ear. Meaning if I lightly touch my ear lobe, I could hear it loud and clear - so I think that's progress. 2 - my jaw popping (TMJ) is LOUD!!! Eating is very loud (and kinda' disgusting). More as it develops! Hang in there people - success rate is high!

KM80

Hi Zoto,

How are you doing today? I am having a stapedectomy in a few days. I'm nervous but hopeful. Any advice?

CAB1

Hi all,

Remember:

PATIENCE, PATIENCE, PATIENCE.



-Carol-

zotosclerosis

You probably had it done today - congratulations! Be glad you did! It's the first step in getting your hearing back! And as someone who I met who had it done said - you have a rare opportunity to fix your hearing - that's FIX your hearing - amazing opportunity compared to one's who cannot.

Best of recovery! It's slow but worth it! Think of it this way as you recover: The months of recovery is undoing years of loss - quite fast in the big scheme of things!

Advice? Just be informed through these message boards (read many of them) about what to expect - any number of which will be experienced. I'll update my current status now: