I saw the specialist today and I described the sounds. He said something like, "Yup, that might happen, let's see here..." He removed my stitches and it wasn't painful. The worst part felt just like I was poked by a needle, so no big deal. He proceeded to insert some drops into my hear and he used his suctioning tool quite a bit. I asked him, "How do you not suction out the skin graft" and he told me that he was working quite far from the eardrum, in the ear canal. He was suctioning out some of the 'packing'. As soon as he was done, I heard better instantly. Not perfect, but much better and I would say about 50% now.
The doctor looked in my ear for a while and told me that everything was looking great. He said the skin graft was positioned right on, and he told me to continue using the antibiotic drops he gave me twice a day and to still take it easy. By this, he now means no heavy lifting, no holding sneezes in, no bending straight down, etc.
I have been going to work for a few days now and today my co-workers kept making me laugh. I was trying not to laugh hard as I could hear weird sounds when I did it, and I was afraid that it could move my skin graft. Yet, everything is well, so laughing a little was OK to do :)
I am pretty happy today for the first time since the surgery. I think everything is going to be fine. I asked the doctor if I could see what he removed from my ear and he pointed to a little table. I actually got to take a photo of it with my phone, so here it is:
22 comments:
Very interesting to hear about your experience! I just had a Tympanoplasty (7.21.11) in my right ear due to a central perforation taking up about half my eardrum. You have been much more careful than I have been and I'm sure that your healing process was in your favor. I rejected the pain pills and worked the day after my surgery. Fortunately after that day of work, I got a weekend to rest and boy did I realize how much I needed it!
It's very interesting how different surgeons/doctors work. I was told I could run after one week and was never informed about sleeping upright, (though it makes sense, because it is more uncomfortable to sleep horizontal). Anyway, as far as noises go, I have had tinnitus ever since the perforation became a certain size so the clicking and ringing is nothing new to me. I have to say the one thing that is most bothersome is the swelling. You mentioned hearing your pulse, which is caused by the swelling and pressure. I have much discomfort simply from the swelling, so that's when I know to take an anti-inflammatory medication such as Aleve which is actually quite effective.
You're correct when you say it's hard to tell what's "normal" for healing, espcially if you've never experienced the side-effects before. I'm always afraid that I've blown or popped the graft off simply from doing something like accidentally burping with my mouth closed (which I never realized how often that happens..)- Essentially anything I do that gives me a 'new' sensation, sound, or pain is troublesome because I never know if it is significant or not. You can't be TOO careful, right? I have my follow-up in one week so I only hope to have the positive result as you had! Thanks again for sharing! - Vanessa
Hi..I just had this procedure done 7 days ago and im very glad that the pulsing noises is normal cos im experiencing that aswel as some other noises. Did you experience some crackling, buzzing and hearing your own voice loud in your ear when you talk? I talked to the doc bout them and he said everything is completely normal..but im still a little worried. Just need to speak to someone that has experienced these. When do they go away? Any advice you can give me.will be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Tammy
I had my tympanoplasty done nearly 5 years ago. From the moment the packing was removed up to this very instant, i've been affected by that incessant beeeeeeep a.k.a. tinnitus. I've never heard any crackling or my own voice though. I'm sure you already went for a follow up and gotten it checked out already, Tammy. Sorry I didn't know about this web site sooner. Rich
Hi, thanks for your knowledge and sharing, i too have it done just 3 weeks back from now in my right ear.
when ever i am swallowing saliva while talking, i am getting some discomfort sounds
Hi
I've had a right tympanoplasty 6 days ago and just had the main packing removed. The ringing in my ear is constant and the surgeon glossed over this risk. Hearing is reduced but there is some packing still to dissolve. Other popping and bubbling sounds are there and an amplified water dropping on my head when I shower! I hope everything goes back to normal as at the moment I could hear better prior to surgery so I'm questioning the value of the operation. Thanks for the blog - more information here than from the surgeon - best to learn people's experience from those who have already had the procedure.
Regards,
Peter A.
Does anyone know if laughing is okay to do?
I think everything's good. It's been 17 days since my tympanoplasty surgery. I get to use drops tomorrow for 7 days then he takes the rest of the packing out.
I had surgery end of January.
I've underwent the surgery almost 3 months now... muffled sounds, nasty discharge and a HUGE dose of dissapoinment is all that I feel.. Did anyone had these nasty discharges and no hearing in the operated ear after almost 3 months after the surgery? Thanks a lot in advance guys. P.S.: My Dr. is not giving me too much hope, but the way he avoids to say things, made me stop trusting him!
Hello! I had my surgery 4 full days ago. The first 2 days after, I didn't really do anything besides sleep slightly tilted upright & walk from the bathroom or kitchen or to the bedroom. By day 3, I felt the over stuffed feeling and inability to hear properly along with cracking/popping noises. I wasn't worried until today when I began hearing loud cracks when I swallowed. Then, I was going down the stairs and somehow tripped and to prevent falling face first, I had to Jump the last 3 steps. Soon as I landed I became worried for my graft. Now, my ear feels less stuffed, I hear new odd noises similar to popping and what scares me the most is that when I breath, nose especially, it's like the air is going to my ear drum through the inside of my head. The fact that this wasn't felt before the jump scares me. I have anxiety on a regular basis so it's extremely easy for me to become over concerned about nothing, but if you know anything that might help explain these sensations or if my concern that I messed up the graft is valid or not, I'd greatly appreciate a response.
Hello guys
Even I hear cracking noise when I swallow. Its been 10 days from my tympanoplasty and I still can't hear from that ear. And in the morning, ear looks to be stuffed or swollen with heaviness.
Is it normal?
For Peter Arians: Did the ringing go away. I had it before the operation and am now two months past, I'm hoping it will go away as it it ruining my life. Please give me some hope.
I Had my surgery 9 days ago and im having little sharp pain with the pulse sound in my ear . I also feel as if a part in my tonsil is hurting dr gave me ciprodex ear drops and when i bring my head back up i see that the drops cause a small amount bleeding
Hi there I too had tympanoplasty in my left ear and it has been 2 weeks now . I have also heard the same sound while swallowing saliva .
I had myringoplasty on my left ear on 11 days ago.since the operation i had bleeding but after 9 days ago it was heavy bleeding with huge clots.i went three different hospital but no one helped me.please share your experince if somebody had same.is my grafting is right place..
What are stymproms are that grafting is going to work.please let me
I had myringoplasty on my left ear on 11 days ago.since the operation i had bleeding but after 9 days ago it was heavy bleeding with huge clots.i went three different hospital but no one helped me.please share your experince if somebody had same.is my grafting is right place..
I had my myringoplasty 8 weeks ago. Packing removed after three weeks. Since then my hearing I think is gradually coming back but I still feel like my ear is clogged and over the last few days there has been a lot of crackling popping. I'm really hoping it's worked this time as this is th second time I had it done. This time it does seem a bit different and i saw the consultant three weeks ago and he said all was good but you just don't know! How soon will I know if it's worked for definite? The not blowing my nose thing is driving me mad now!
For me, it's been 5 days since I had the surgery on my left ear.recently (21 y/o) It seems that the rupture in my ear drum caused progressive hearing loss, infection of my inner ear, and perfuration of my middle ossicle I believe, and the fusion of the other two. That is a given, because as far as I know, I had the rupture since 8 years ago!. I don't know if the ringing voice I keep hearing occasionally till now is "titanus". But the sound definitely comes and goes though, with occasional cracking noises, and feeling like something is holding or folding my ear tightly. Also, my ear feels stiff and numb", like if it wasn't even my own. You get the same feeling as when your leg sleeps, but it feels constant. There is also something I noticed blocking my ear cannal, which irritated me since yesterday . I took it upon myself to remove it as the doctor couldn't see me earlier and it only turned out to be a clotted blood-ball. Still though, the doctor said to not risk anything until my post-operation appointment, as I might just injure the area doing so. I will be seeing the doctor in two more days from now, marking one week after the operation.
I have had tympanoplasty surgery in my right ear 3 days ago. I spent three days in hospital, tow days before surgery and one day after that.the day after surgery while getting discharged the nurse dressed up my ear and repacked it and told me to visit them after 7 days to remove the packing.
It is three days from my surgery, I can’t sleep properly, and while eating and talking I feel pain inside my eardrum, and when I swallow my saliva I feel pain and when I drink water I feel water goes inside my ear through my ear canel. My friends came to visit me, they all asked about the surgery, so I had to talk to them, now I am feeling pain inside my ear, and also I feel something is inside like water, blood or wax. I don’t know whether it is normal or has been cased by talking or eating. I decided to visit my doctor today afternoon.let’s see what is his response.
I hope I get a good result from the surgery, I could not hear properyt with my right ear and when I visited the ENT specialist, she told me that there is a hole in my eardrum and I have to do a surgery to get it fixed.
Can anyone help?
I accidentally blew my nose and heard a popping sound.. I'm scared I've blown myy graft off.. :(
I don't think I blew it too hard.. But the noise it made has me worried..
That's heartbreaking Ela. I had a consultant who was trying to do this op on me for ten years, making me feel horrible, like a bold child, for not. I didn't trust him or like him at all and requested a transfer to a different consultant and very happy I did. I hope all turned out well for you.
How did you get on Maya??
Had a tympanoplasty 3 weeks ago. Is anyone experiencing everything bein too loud and amplified? It’s so overwhelming I can barely level my house. Please help
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