Post-Myringotomy

[glorieb]

I am an adult who had a myringotomy without tubes two days ago.   I'm usually very thorough
in asking questions but this time I did not get all I needed about post-surgical expectations.

I had the surgery because of a fluid buildup of 3 1/2 weeks (post cold) that was not responding to medication. I had hearing loss and loud ringing with a fullness that would not clear.   Also my eardrum was inflamed (told to me by the ENT and audiologist).   I was getting an itchiness with mild pain.   The symptoms were beginning to become intolerable due to the fact they seemed to be permanent.

My ENT, a highly respected man in my area, did the surgery expecting to insert a tube.  When he got to that point he said he saw my ear canal was too small for a tube.   He said he hoped it would resolve without the tube and said that if all else failed I'd need surgery to widen my ear canal.   He said my hearing would return and it did.

I was not told what to expect or how long to expect it.   What I find troubling is the itchiness and loud ringing are there.   It also feels like cotton deep in my ear.   I assume that the puncturing of the eardrum during surgery, the existing inflammation, and natural need to heal are responsible.   However, having been through a long 3 1/2 weeks with these symptoms I find myself a bit unnerved.  
My hearing is back, but is not the best while these symptoms are there.

Understanding that there is always the chance fluid can build again and symptoms can return I am wondering which of my symptoms are simply normal for the situation.   I really need to calm down and let time heal the wounds.    Are my symptoms normal for post-myringotomy where the eardrum was inflamed pre-surgery?

Thank you so much.

Gloria

[Cabaz]

I feel as though I wrote this. I; just had my ear drained an I'm experiencing the same thing and am so worried that the pressure and pain will return. Please tell me how you are now?

[Enoch Choi, MD]

Great news, glorieb!

God bless the rest of your healing process!

[glorieb]

Good news on this situation!   I saw a doctor in my ENT's office who checked everything out and gave me a clean bill of health!   He said there seemed to be no sign of infection.   He cleaned the area up and applied a bit of antibiotic to the incision site.  

The symptoms I've been having (other than the early drainage) are apparently normal under the circumstances.     Ringing, popping noises, itching, alterations in sounds all concerned me in light of drainage and they needn't have been such a frightening thing.     It is a testament to being sure we get the information about post-surgical expectations.  

Now just to ride out the normal healing process.    

Thanks for all help!

[glorieb]

Ok, I understand that a bit more now.   But a question.....when he said my ear canal would need to be widened under general could that simply mean myringotomy with with the manipulations they must do to get those tubes in pediatric ears?

If the tools are larger, and possibly too large for my ear canal to accommodate, I can't help but wonder about the 4 year olds who have this done.    No matter the size of the canal an adult's would still be larger than that of a 4 year old.    Is the fact the 4 year old is under general and more manipulations can be made the reason the tube can be inserted?

[Wear/a/Jimmy]

It is rare that an ear canal would be so small a tube can not be fitted. A tube is about as big as the plastic ball on a sewing pen/needle.

Granted the tools used to place a tube are larger,

[glorieb]

Thanks for the reassurance about the tinnitus!  

As for the antibiotics, the doc prescribed ofloxicin (sp?) and I used one dose.   My ear began itching enough to suspect allergy.   I called the office and I was told to see if the drainage and new itching symptoms go away on their own.   That was two days ago.   I plan to call the office today as they said they would see me sooner than my appt (it's not for 2 more weeks!).   Hopefully I can be seen in the next few days and get something else.

It is distressing as I keep feeling a little bit of fullness in the ear again.   Without the tube I find myself worrying that fluid is building up as the eardrum is healing and that I will find myself in the same position I was before surgery, which was horrible!    True, the situation that caused the problem is gone.   I got this post-cold.   Now I still have one sinus plugged...but then it seems like it always is!

Right now the itching is driving me crazy and I know that could just be healing.   I got a lot of information from my doc on what to expect of the surgery, was told throughout the surgery what was coming next, and why he was not inserting the tube (I wish he had!).   He was very good about talking me through it all.   Yet he told me nothing about what to expect afterward.   He only frightened me with "if it doesn't resolve you may need your ear canal widened because it is too small for a tube."   Honestly...I know of small children who have had tubes inserted and a 54 year old woman can't have a tinier ear canal!!!

Thanks again for your response.   It is very assuring to hear the tinnitus is most likely temporary!

Gloria

[Wear/a/Jimmy]

I certainly hope your ENT placed you on some Antibiotict, and there is a whole lot of out there used for OME.

The tinnitus shoule resolve when your hearing/ear issues ressolves.

[glorieb]

I wrote the original and am including updated info.   I am now on my 5th day since the procedure and have gone on to have a night of intolerable tinnitus followed by two days of drainage.   The first day it was mixed clear and yellow and since is mostly clear.

I assume it is the infection I was told to be on guard for and to call the doc if it happened.   Interestingly the tinnitus, the most unnerving of symptoms, increases until drainage and then becomes tolerable to a "phase out" level.   In other words, I can concentrate on other noises and ignore it.

Any similar experiences?   Words of encouragement?  

Gloria