I went deaf in my left ear a few months back. They tried to do a minor surgery to repair my ear a few months ago, but the ear drum was too far gone.
Yesterday they went back in to repair the ear. This involved cutting my ear 3/4 off, pulling it forward, cutting behind the ear and making a graft to place where my ear drum used to be. They though I had 25-50% of my ear drum left to work with.
They also had to drill into my skull and clean out the air passages as something was in there but they couldn't tell what.
So yesterday they get in there to find only the attachment sites of the ear drum left. It was completely gone. They also found remnants of infection debris that took over 3 hours to clean out, this involved more drilling then expected. They also found my otic bones to be eroded away to the point they almost put 'aftermarket' (prosthetic) ones in. The surgery lasted much longer and had way more complications then expected. I was supposed to be home last night around 9ish-10ish at the latest. I was in so much pain that they could not get it under control. I had a few doses of mophine, some demerol, 2 extra strength Vicodin and some other stuff injected into me. At that point I went into the fetal position crying and they sedated me till this morning
I hate surgery, I never ever want to have that kind of pain in my head again. They finally got it controlled and I just got home from the hospital with my little thingy on my head to keep everything in place.
No real moral to this story, other then if you ever get a earache... please go to the doctor. They think minor infections turned into major ones despite the fact I have never had issues with my ears. They had been treating the major infections, but had no idea what kind of damage had actually been being done.
All said and done they think I will regain 95% of my hearing, but only time will tell and all I am allowed to do is sit in bed for the next week to one month depending on how I heal.
Sorry I had to vent, I have been cooped up in a hospital bed for 2 days.
Wow. I didn't realize how swollen I am.
It's going to be awhile though before all is better.
Best drugged up comment was at about 10pm last night when they walked me to the bathroom, the nurse was holding me up, my wife was on the other side because I insisted on trying to stand. They had removed the catheter and this left an 'air pocket' that I 'peed out' I must have said it pretty loud because some people up the hall started laughing, but I yelled "Holy Shit my Penis just farted!!" :sonicjay:
Yesterday they went back in to repair the ear. This involved cutting my ear 3/4 off, pulling it forward, cutting behind the ear and making a graft to place where my ear drum used to be. They though I had 25-50% of my ear drum left to work with.
They also had to drill into my skull and clean out the air passages as something was in there but they couldn't tell what.
So yesterday they get in there to find only the attachment sites of the ear drum left. It was completely gone. They also found remnants of infection debris that took over 3 hours to clean out, this involved more drilling then expected. They also found my otic bones to be eroded away to the point they almost put 'aftermarket' (prosthetic) ones in. The surgery lasted much longer and had way more complications then expected. I was supposed to be home last night around 9ish-10ish at the latest. I was in so much pain that they could not get it under control. I had a few doses of mophine, some demerol, 2 extra strength Vicodin and some other stuff injected into me. At that point I went into the fetal position crying and they sedated me till this morning
I hate surgery, I never ever want to have that kind of pain in my head again. They finally got it controlled and I just got home from the hospital with my little thingy on my head to keep everything in place.
No real moral to this story, other then if you ever get a earache... please go to the doctor. They think minor infections turned into major ones despite the fact I have never had issues with my ears. They had been treating the major infections, but had no idea what kind of damage had actually been being done.
All said and done they think I will regain 95% of my hearing, but only time will tell and all I am allowed to do is sit in bed for the next week to one month depending on how I heal.
Sorry I had to vent, I have been cooped up in a hospital bed for 2 days.
Wow. I didn't realize how swollen I am.
It's going to be awhile though before all is better.
Best drugged up comment was at about 10pm last night when they walked me to the bathroom, the nurse was holding me up, my wife was on the other side because I insisted on trying to stand. They had removed the catheter and this left an 'air pocket' that I 'peed out' I must have said it pretty loud because some people up the hall started laughing, but I yelled "Holy Shit my Penis just farted!!" :sonicjay: