Practical problems years after ear surgery

StonyIron

I'm not looking for medical advice here but more just a double check as to whether this experience is normal and I've been to an ENT about this, but I'm not really getting anywhere.

I had a tympanoplasty and canalplasty (done to access the eardrum more easily) quite while ago at this stage (10+ years) and it's been causing me a lot or problems ever since.

1) extremely bad tinnitus that's loud enough to actually wake me from sleep. (Also posted in more detail on the tinnitus thread)

2) No matter what I do, every once in a while my ear canal fills with debris deep inside and I'll lose my hearing in that side and even develop ear infections. The only solution is rather painful microsuction and cleaning followed by antibiotics and antibiotic & steroid ear drops.

Last time I couldn't tolerate the pain of the treatment very well and the ENT got quite "cranky" and said in that case I'd have to do it under aesthetic in hospital. So, I just put up with it regardless.

I'm not a "wuss" but I've literally had tears rolling down my cheeks during this cleaning procedure. It's literally barely tolerable.

3) the area where they took the graft for the eardrum (scalp muscle tissue) is still occasionally twitchy / sore years after. If I wear headphones or glasses the area behind and above my ear both hurts and gets muscle twitches.
It means I just always wear contact lenses and can't really wear glasses for extended periods.

Anyway, I'm just wondering is this kind of thing normal and I'm just being a total moan or do I need to find a different ENT?

The impression I got when I brought all this up with the ENT guy was that I was just being a moan and I should suck it up / go away.

The hearing in the ear is only OK but not very good. I can't really make out most of the beeps over the tinnitus when I've done hearing tests on that side. The other ear compensates though.

looksee

I've had the microsuction done and, while it might give an occasional twinge, it isn't painful. However if you have infection that might make it more painful (I don't know, but it seems possible). Is there any chance you could arrange to get your ears checked routinely and get them done before infection sets in?

Maybe after this length of time you should try another ENT specialist? I know I was very unimpressed with the one I saw who consistently told me I did not have any hearing loss when the tests showed that I did.

StonyIron

I tried that and was told that "I don't need to see you!"

He does things like just ignore questions as if you haven't asked them etc etc

Apart from the tinnitus sometimes the hearing just goes. It's like a switch being turned. It just goes silent. Then comes back.

I mentioned this a few times and was basically just ignored completely.

There's a good bit of hearing loss on that side. If I sleep with my other ear on the pillow I don't hear my alarm for example.

I also did a pre-employment medical and it showed up as being quite low & I wasn't recruited as a result. Probably a lucky escape though.

looksee

StonyIron wrote: »

I tried that and was told that "I don't need to see you!"

He does things like just ignore questions as if you haven't asked them etc etc

Apart from the tinnitus sometimes the hearing just goes. It's like a switch being turned. It just goes silent. Then comes back.

I mentioned this a few times and was basically just ignored completely.

There's a good bit of hearing loss on that side. If I sleep with my other ear on the pillow I don't hear my alarm for example.

I also did a pre-employment medical and it showed up as being quite low & I wasn't recruited as a result. Probably a lucky escape though.

You could ask your gp or hearing aid person to just look and see do you need attention, then go and get it done. Your gp will very likely have to be persuaded NOT to syringe your ears

The whole business with hearing does seem to be very frustrating in the hospital system, I find my hearing aid supplier is the most helpful person.

Funny, like youI cannot hear my alarm if I am on my good ear, but I can hear my mobile buzzing, so I use that.

StonyIron

The GP won't go near my ear with syringe. Too complicated !

the_syco

Got this in the Deaf shop next to the catherdral at the top of O'Connell street in Dublin.

The ability to change the tone is GREAT (I wouldn't hear the tone of "normal" alarm clocks), as is the vibrating pad for under the pillow (this you will feel!).

Note; at full volume, it'll also probably wake everyone else up in the house as well

StonyIron

the_syco wrote: »

Got this in the Deaf shop next to the catherdral at the top of O'Connell street in Dublin.

The ability to change the tone is GREAT (I wouldn't hear the tone of "normal" alarm clocks), as is the vibrating pad for under the pillow (this you will feel!).

Note; at full volume, it'll also probably wake everyone else up in the house as well

Handy .. I just put an old mobile phone under the pillow (in airplane mode)