1 day post surgery - Happy results

[Guest guest]

Hello,Well I do have good news to share as my surgeon said he got IT all out. He had said the surgery would take 1 to 1 1/2 hours, but it took almost 4 hours as it was much more extensive than the cat scan showed...as many of you know is often the case. Since my eardrum was collapsed for so many years (10 or longer?) it grew sideways in two directions. It was not in the mastoid, but that was full of debris from 51 years of infection and had to be cleaned out too. It also entered the sigmoid sinus and he removed it from there too. Apparently it was fortunate that I had the operation now as he said it was close to becoming a very dangerous situation since the sigmoid sinus is so close to the brain. All in all I feel so very fortunate in finding capable healing hands to do my surgery. Columbia Presbyterian was quite a different setting than my last operation (for nasal reconstruction) which was done in a private (think Hyatt Hotel) setting in a regional medical center. There had to have been over 25 people in the recovery area...with visitors, etc. it was a very noisy, busy zoo. But once they realized that I was in severe pain, the care was wonderful. The important factor is the surgeon and the major medical centers is where the some of the best are located.So to anyone who is now wondering if they should be checking out that overdue ear problem....PLEASE don't put it off. Mine gave me real trouble in 2005, but the cat scan was not read correctly and the c-toma grew tremedously in three years. Trust your feelings and get second or third opinions if you are having repeated infections. I had eight ear infections in 2006 and was just given more Cipro drops each time. I now know that Cipro's manufacturer recommends further investigation after more than 2 or three in one year. It should have been removed then to avoid the extensive damage I have.Somehow my jaw joint was effected by the extensive drilling and the pain level was out of control even with several doses of morphine & Percaset. But the ear area had hardly any pain at all. I did have a TMJ (jaw joint) problem for years but it was not a problem lately. The surgeon felt it was caused by the extensive drilling he had to do or perhaps the intubation. Guess this is a little price to pay for a successful surgery.Again I must send my thanks to all who have been there for me with advice and good wishes. It has made quite a diffarence in my treatment choices and spirits.Healing thoughts to all.