Re: Dissolving packing question

May 5, 2002

Hello ,

I'm not sure of the answers to some of your questions so hopefully someone else will weigh in. I can tell you, though, that I had the dissolving stitches & packing with my 2nd surgery and it was a big improvement on the non-dissolving stuff in the 1st surgery.

Maybe I'm just a big baby, but I really hated having the regular stitches removed. I had quite a few of them (the behind the ear arc + he had harvested cartilage from the outer ear in front), it was very, very uncomfortable. It was a huge relief after the 2nd surgery not to have to deal with that.

Ditto on the packing, it just seemed to be easier. I still went in to him for the regular followups. I have no idea what happens to the stuff, though - I'd suggest that you ask your ENT. I don't wear eyeglasses, though I know I'm always really ginger with my sunglasses right after surgery (particularly when the stitches are there!)

I'm interested to see how others feel & I thank you for bringing this up. My 3rd surgery is on 5/22 with a new ENT (I've moved) and I never thought to ask him if he's using the dissolving kind or not. Take care and good luck -

May 5, 2002

Hi ,

It's magic! Larry has had dissolvable packing before,

but it doesn't always all come out, so they have to

suction. You really need to try and get used to them

messing with your ears. Depending on what kind of

surgery you have, you may need aftercare to clean out

your ear every 3 to 6 months. Larry has to have this

done, and it is not pleasant. In fact, I can tell it

hurts just by looking at him when the cleaning is

going on. As far as glasses, you will be tender for

awhile, and your glasses may irritate your scar for

awhile, even after stitches come out.

Try not to be scared. Know that we will be waiting to

hear from you after surgery.

Michele

--- fiddlepaintingca <beans@...> wrote:

> Hi: I was just wondering something. My Ent says that

> he will use in

> surgery where he can, dissolving packing and

> stitches. This is

> because he knows that I can't calm down for anything

> going into my

> ear. So, my questions.

> Where does the dissolving packing go, meaning ,where

> does it drain?

> Will he put in tubes or something, so it drains out

> of the ear?

> How long does this happen for?

> Will he still have to do the scraping and cleaning

> out of the canel

> after surgery?

> I where glasses, do they pose a problem after

> surgery?

> I'II be so glad when this is over with, I'm totally

> scared to death!

>

> Thanks for any info.

>

__________________________________________________

May 5, 2002

Hi :

Thanks for the fast reply! It's good to see that the dissolving

packing is better then the other type! It would be a big help to know

where that packing does end up though! The ENT must put somekind of

drainage appliance in the ear to drain it out. Maybe it's tubes and

they dissolved too, who knows??? Anyhow, on to the glasses question

Maybe I'II have to wear them lope sided lol. Anyothers with the same

situation with wearing glasses after surgery out there???

Thanks again

> Hello ,

>

> I'm not sure of the answers to some of your questions so hopefully

someone

> else will weigh in. I can tell you, though, that I had the

dissolving

> stitches & packing with my 2nd surgery and it was a big improvement

on the

> non-dissolving stuff in the 1st surgery.

>

> Maybe I'm just a big baby, but I really hated having the regular

stitches

> removed. I had quite a few of them (the behind the ear arc + he had

harvested

> cartilage from the outer ear in front), it was very, very

uncomfortable. It

> was a huge relief after the 2nd surgery not to have to deal with

that.

>

> Ditto on the packing, it just seemed to be easier. I still went in

to him for

> the regular followups. I have no idea what happens to the stuff,

though - I'd

> suggest that you ask your ENT. I don't wear eyeglasses, though I

know I'm

> always really ginger with my sunglasses right after surgery

(particularly

> when the stitches are there!)

>

> I'm interested to see how others feel & I thank you for bringing

this up. My

> 3rd surgery is on 5/22 with a new ENT (I've moved) and I never

thought to ask

> him if he's using the dissolving kind or not. Take care and good

luck -

>

May 5, 2002

Hi again ,

It is called gel-foam packing and it dissolves, which

is the same thing as evaporating. They do not put

tubes in to aide in drainage of packing. If your

doctor puts tubes in, it would be for something else,

like a retraction pocket.

Hope this helps.

Michele

--- fiddlepaintingca <beans@...> wrote:

> It would be a

> big help to know

> where that packing does end up though! The ENT must

> put somekind of

> drainage appliance in the ear to drain it out. Maybe

> it's tubes and

> they dissolved too, who knows???

__________________________________________________

May 5, 2002

Hi Michele:

Thanks for the speedy reply too! Oh no, lol I know I'II have to take

Adivan to calm down if the ENT has to suction that stuff out now! I

back to see him on May 28. I've got so many questions to ask him.

Thanks again,

> > Hi: I was just wondering something. My Ent says that

> > he will use in

> > surgery where he can, dissolving packing and

> > stitches. This is

> > because he knows that I can't calm down for anything

> > going into my

> > ear. So, my questions.

> > Where does the dissolving packing go, meaning ,where

> > does it drain?

> > Will he put in tubes or something, so it drains out

> > of the ear?

> > How long does this happen for?

> > Will he still have to do the scraping and cleaning

> > out of the canel

> > after surgery?

> > I where glasses, do they pose a problem after

> > surgery?

> > I'II be so glad when this is over with, I'm totally

> > scared to death!

> >

> > Thanks for any info.

> >

>

> __________________________________________________

>

May 5, 2002

Hi Michele:

WOW that's pretty kewl, that it evaporates!

Thanks again

> > It would be a

> > big help to know

> > where that packing does end up though! The ENT must

> > put somekind of

> > drainage appliance in the ear to drain it out. Maybe

> > it's tubes and

> > they dissolved too, who knows???

>

> __________________________________________________

>

May 5, 2002

Actually, dissolving isn't quite the same thing as evaporating.

The packing does need to come out of the ear canal, and some

of it will have absorbed blood from the surgery and be pretty

bloody. Once you start using your post-surgery ear drops, the

packing starts to dissolve and will drain out of your ear along

with the ear drops. At post-surgery visits with your doctor, he or

she will probably pick or suction out much of what remains. But

expect some kind of gnarly bloody looking stuff to come out of

your ear once the ear drops start dissolving the packing.

May 5, 2002

Hi ,

The packing & stitches are usually absorbed by the body, so they don't need

to go anywhere.

Regarding glasses, it depends on what exactly your doc does in surgery.

Usually you have a large bandage around your head, finding your ears to put

the glasses on might be a trick. If the doc goes through the ear canal,

probably no problem at all. If he goes in behind the ear, you usally have

stitches all along in the crease behind your ear, then the glasses might

hurt. I couldn't wear mine for months because he also took some facia from

the muscle slightly above and behind the ear to graft my eardrum and this

took longer than the stitches to be less tender. Thankfully I do wear

contacts most of the time. It was a bother because I ususally don't wear my

contacts in the evening and I had to wear them all the time I was awake. I

still consider it a good trade off for a safe ear.

I'm sure others have already responded to your questions. Good luck, we

care!

Jane

>From: " fiddlepaintingca " <beans@...>

>Reply-cholesteatoma

>cholesteatoma

>Subject: Dissolving packing question

>Date: Sun, 05 May 2002 13:37:43 -0000

>

>Hi: I was just wondering something. My Ent says that he will use in

>surgery where he can, dissolving packing and stitches. This is

>because he knows that I can't calm down for anything going into my

>ear. So, my questions.

>Where does the dissolving packing go, meaning ,where does it drain?

>Will he put in tubes or something, so it drains out of the ear?

>How long does this happen for?

>Will he still have to do the scraping and cleaning out of the canel

>after surgery?

>I where glasses, do they pose a problem after surgery?

>I'II be so glad when this is over with, I'm totally scared to death!

>

>Thanks for any info.

>

_________________________________________________________________

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May 5, 2002

,

I was operated on April 4, I had disolvable packing in front of and behind the eardrum. I had regular stitches that had to be removed from behind my ear. The removal did not hurt. I was not given drops for the packing until I went for my first post op visit and said that my ear was still draining. The doctor said that was the jell packing and gave me some stuff to use for three days and said to use it on the morning I go back for my 6 week check up because he wants to soften the packing up so it is easier to remove.

I wear glasses and after I got home I put them on by slipping them between the bandage and the side of my head. After I removed the bandage, I wore them normally. There was some discomfort but nothing overly bothersome. I do wear them kind of cockeyed when I am home because they cause quiet a dent in behind the ear because of the swelling that still exist. I also had cartlidge and muscle removed to make a new eardrum.

Dont worry, everything will be fine.

Dave

Dissolving packing question

Hi: I was just wondering something. My Ent says that he will use in surgery where he can, dissolving packing and stitches. This is because he knows that I can't calm down for anything going into my ear. So, my questions. Where does the dissolving packing go, meaning ,where does it drain? Will he put in tubes or something, so it drains out of the ear?How long does this happen for?Will he still have to do the scraping and cleaning out of the canel after surgery? I where glasses, do they pose a problem after surgery?I'II be so glad when this is over with, I'm totally scared to death!Thanks for any info.

May 5, 2002

Well now with my surgery scheduled the 22 of May, I am also very

curious about the packing in the ear. There seems to be alot more to

the surgery than I ever expected, kinda scares me to read that it

might hurt to have the ear suctioned out afterwards!!!! But I am glad

that I will have alot of questions answered even before I have the

surgery. So , we can be scared together...LOL.

Lori

May 5, 2002

Dear Lori,

When my daughter was 6 & 7 she had this surgery, and the removal of the packing was never a very painful ordeal. She is scheduled again for this surgery on May 17, at Children's Medical in Dallas. I will be sure and pray for you also on May 22.

Blessings-- C.

May 6, 2002

Hi Lori, I am due for my 4th op this month (as I have said earlier)...I have never had my ear "sucked out" in any way after any op to date. The thought would scare me too! I guess each ENT has his own way. I have also never had dissolving packing and had some removed each time. So has my son. Usually its a great relief when this is done. I usually find my ear canal gets itchy sometimes as it heals. Good luck Audrey Re: Dissolving packing question Well now with my surgery scheduled the 22 of May, I am also very curious about the packing in the ear. There seems to be alot more to the surgery than I ever expected, kinda scares me to read that it might hurt to have the ear suctioned out afterwards!!!! But I am glad that I will have alot of questions answered even before I have the surgery. So , we can be scared together...LOL. Lori

May 6, 2002

For those of us who have never gone through this surgery........Don't

we have so much to look forward to

> Hi Lori,

> I am due for my 4th op this month (as I have said earlier)...I have

never had my ear " sucked out " in any way after any op to date. The

thought would scare me too! I guess each ENT has his own way. I have

also never had dissolving packing and had some removed each time. So

has my son. Usually its a great relief when this is done. I usually

find my ear canal gets itchy sometimes as it heals.

> Good luck

> Audrey

>

> Re: Dissolving packing question

>

> Well now with my surgery scheduled the 22 of May, I am also very

> curious about the packing in the ear. There seems to be alot more

to

> the surgery than I ever expected, kinda scares me to read that it

> might hurt to have the ear suctioned out afterwards!!!! But I am

glad

> that I will have alot of questions answered even before I have the

> surgery. So , we can be scared together...LOL.

>

> Lori

>

May 6, 2002

-

I've had surgery four times and am having my fifth this Friday. The

dissolving packing is definitely better (I've had both). Most of it

dissolves and runs out the ear while you sleep usually. The drops

they give you help it to dissolve. Some of it they do have to suck

out. It doesn't really hurt usually if you've been using your drops

consistently. However, it can be annoying (the sound) and a little

uncomfortable. The packing behind the ear drum also dissolves by

itself, and I would assume it runs down the eustachian tube (although

you never notice it).

Hope that helps. Best of luck with your surgery.

-

> Hi: I was just wondering something. My Ent says that he will use in

> surgery where he can, dissolving packing and stitches. This is

> because he knows that I can't calm down for anything going into my

> ear. So, my questions.

> Where does the dissolving packing go, meaning ,where does it drain?

> Will he put in tubes or something, so it drains out of the ear?

> How long does this happen for?

> Will he still have to do the scraping and cleaning out of the canel

> after surgery?

> I where glasses, do they pose a problem after surgery?

> I'II be so glad when this is over with, I'm totally scared to death!

>

> Thanks for any info.

>

May 6, 2002