Do I have a damanged ear drum?

[itsjudicious]

Hello All,

I went to see an ENT doctor two weeks ago to have my ears checked. I previously had surgery in my left ear to patch a hole in the ear drum. This was when I was 16,17,18; now that I have insurance I wanted to make sure the hole is patched. The doctor said a piece of skin needs to be removed from my ear so he can get a better look. While he was pulling, it actually hurt. He then said I might have a cyst and it can get bigger and turn into a tumor and I can lose my hearing in 10 years. I am currently 22 years old. He gave me some ear infection drops (I believe it’s called oflaxacin). I scheduled an appointment with him in about 3-4 weeks for a hearing test to discuss the surgical procedure I may need. He also explained how I did not heal like a normal person should. I over healed with the patch and that the healing went inside of my ear drum.

I took the medication and I shopped because I started to hear loud ringing noise and I had several sharp pain in the ear. Two days ago, I decided to a see a different doctor. This ENT doctor said the ringing should be temporary and that he did not see a cyst n suggest I should not get surgery done. He also said I should not take any more medication. The pain is most likely associated with the removal of the extra skin.  

I wanted to go back to the first doctor because he had the equipment of scanning and taking a picture of my ear drum to display on the TV. I went in and he said it’s most likely because women have arthritis and I am suffering that in my left ear. I don’t think he knows what he is talking about. I asked him if it was the skin he removed which caused me to have the ringing and sharp pain; he denied and said there is no association. He then prescribed me another drop which is stronger in medication and to take once a day. He showed me the picture of my ear and I can see a reddish/black glob in my ear. I think that is some kind of blood that got generated from the removal of the skin because I have not seen that in my ear before. I asked the doctor if I needed surgery and he said let’s not talk about that right now until you get your hearing test. He could not give me a straight answer about my pain and ringing in my ear. I then think I saw a hole in my ear drum; I then asked him and he said, it can be, but we won’t know until the hearing test. That hole was not there before, now I think after he pulled out the skin, he might of pulled or ruptured my ear drum because the spot of the ‘hole’ is where the skin was present. I asked him if I still have a cyst and he said I may have one and that I may even have liquid behind it, but can’t tell until the hearing test.

I feel like I can’t do much and now I walk around with a loud ringing noise and pain in my ear. Do you think it’s really possible to pull a part of my ear drum out while he took the skin out as well? I did not pick up my medication yet, but I feel as if I should not put anything into my ear anymore. If there is a hole, the medication can go inside. If it is indeed a hole, will it heal by itself? How long will that typically take?

I’m not sure if I should take legal action, but I did make another appointment another ENT clinic for a hearing test and to see another ENT doctor.

[Enoch Choi, MD]

I agree with Wear/a/Jimmy and would add that the black/red may be an antifungal, since black dots in your ear are sometimes fungal spores.

It doesn't hurt to go and get a another second opinion, but wait and see what they tell you with the audiometry hearing test and tympanometry which will show if the eardrum is ruptured or not

[Wear/a/Jimmy]

Tympanometry will find the hole no matter what you do. It is not a subjective test. No surgery is required, and I do not even think medically necessary or even done on a monomeric membrane.

[itsjudicious]

So if I do have a hole in my ear and have one layer of tissue, should I get surgery to patch it to prevent future hearing loss?

How often does pain and ringing in the ear occur when removing old skin or dead skin?

How long do you think it will take for me to heal? The second doctor said I do not have a hole, but I'm guessing sometimes you can't see small holes with the naked eye.

During the hearing test, if I can't hear well, does it mean I have a hole? How does the hearing test determine if I have a hole?

Thanks for your comments.

[Wear/a/Jimmy]

Legal action?

I think you should get educated about the ear first before you waste your time money, and the doctors time and money.

I know that sounds harsh but you are rushing and reaching.

A) The ear canal is extremely tender. It is common to cause bleeding while removing old skin, dead, skin, debri, wax etc.

B) Sure it doesn't feel good, discomfort etc, but geez that is life.

C) You already said you have had holes in you ears periodicaly during your life. Who is to say it was not there all along?

D) Tinnitus is so common. You would have a hard time proveing onset, and conecting that with the removal of ear debri. Not only that, but Tinnitus is subjective and there really is no objective test to prove that you have tinnitus. So basically it is your word the court would have to rely on....  you stand to gain...  so who do you think they are going to believe? Especially with a person that has had a case history of ear problems....   Not saying you are a liar, I am just laying the facts out on the table.

E) Holes heal on their own, or they can. The ear drum is made up of 3 layers. If a hole occurs, when the ear heals, only one layer of tissue regenerates. So where there was a hole, only one layer of tissue covers where that hole was.  What this means to you....  or anyone else looking into the ear is that often times a hole may appear to be present, but really is not. It appears to be a hole because the tissue is only one layer thick, allowing light to penetrate more easily, thus giving the appearence of a hole.

I got several of these monomeric membrane patches on my ear drum. I use my ear drums as a model when teaching about this.

Overall, good luck to you. But I don't think you have a case, but feel free to get a second opinion, because maybe you really do have a hole. It is easily determined through a hearing test, and tympanometry.