Re: accidentally got water in my post-op ear

[Guest guest]

Hi, . I don't think you have anything to worry about. I remember times when Troy got water in his ear, even when we had done everything to prevent it. It is upsetting. To put your mind at ease, give your doctor a call.

Terri

-----Original Message-----From: Graves [mailto:lag4302@...]Sent: Sunday, October 27, 2002 7:55 PMcholesteatoma Subject: accidentally got water in my post-op earOK, I am worried. It has been 5 days since my surgery. I have washed my hair 3 or 4 times since surgery and I managed to keep my ear dry. I used a cotton ball and covered it with vaseline and I took a baggy and drapped it over my ear and held it with one hand the whole time I washed my hair but this time for some reason when I took the cotton ball out of my ear it was water logged. Has anyone gotten their ear wet? What will happen? What should I do? What problems will I have as a result of this? Has anyone else done this? G.

[Guest guest]

-

I have had the same thing happen where I pull the cotton ball out and

it is soaked. You probably still have packing in your ear which

should absorb any water that might have gotten in your ear. Although,

I really think that with the cotton ball and vaseline, even though it

was soaking, the chances of getting measurable amounts of water in

your ear are slim.

I still have to either wear and ear plug or do the cotton ball trick

(will for the rest of my life). I have had times when the cotton ball

has come out soaked, but no water has gotten in my ear. I would know

because I just have a big open cavity now so I can hear it sloshing

around in there and than I feel it run out when I lay down.

Don't worry, it probably seems like a lot more than it is, but if

you're worried, contact your doctor.

-

> OK, I am worried. It has been 5 days since my surgery. I have

> washed my hair 3 or 4 times since surgery and I managed to keep my

> ear dry. I used a cotton ball and covered it with vaseline and I

> took a baggy and drapped it over my ear and held it with one hand the

> whole time I washed my hair but this time for some reason when I took

> the cotton ball out of my ear it was water logged. Has anyone gotten

> their ear wet? What will happen? What should I do? What problems

> will I have as a result of this? Has anyone else done this?

> G.

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

We took every precaution to keep 's ear dry but we still had the same thing happen the first time she was allowed to wash her own hair with the cotton ball and vaseline ... she still had the packing in her ear and she didn't actually have any water get in the ear. You probably still have the packing in and that affords you some protection. If you do think there is a problem, give the doctor a call, but I think you will be OK. I have never had a c-toma, but I have had severe vertigo. I have a script for antivert (meclizine) which can be somewhat helpful if all else fails. The downside is, the theory behind meclizine is it kind of "relaxes" you so you sleep more and it may just add to your zoniness. I do pray that the dizziness eases swiftly -- I know how difficult it can be. I woke up years ago with what the doctors called "true vertigo" and it didn't go away for several months. One day, just as suddenly, it was gone. It comes and goes for me but is associated with other problems. Like I said in an earlier response ... had the same problem, but it cleared by the second week. I do hope that you fare as well.

God Bless!

Dianne

OK, I am worried. It has been 5 days since my surgery. I have washed my hair 3 or 4 times since surgery and I managed to keep my ear dry. I used a cotton ball and covered it with vaseline and I took a baggy and drapped it over my ear and held it with one hand the whole time I washed my hair but this time for some reason when I took the cotton ball out of my ear it was water logged. Has anyone gotten their ear wet? What will happen? What should I do? What problems will I have as a result of this? Has anyone else done this? G.

[Guest guest]

Terri, , and Dianne,

Thanks so much, you sure put my mind at ease, I do have a tendency to

worry more than I need to. What kind of ear plugs do you wear? I

have Macks ear plugs, kind of waxy plugs that you mold into your ear,

they help some but I have noticed that when I take them off I still

have dampness in my ear. I haven't worn them in my post-op ear

because that ear is too sore to mold plugs into it. Is there anything

out there that is a sure bet that will keep water out of the ears?

It would be nice to take a shower " worry free " . I think all of us

trying to keep our ears healthy can be a job in itself. Thanks again

for easing my mind.

G.

>

> Hi ,

> We took every precaution to keep 's ear dry but we still had

the same thing happen the first time she was allowed to wash her own

hair with the cotton ball and vaseline ... she still had the packing

in her ear and she didn't actually have any water get in the ear.

You probably still have the packing in and that affords you some

protection. If you do think there is a problem, give the doctor a

call, but I think you will be OK. I have never had a c-toma, but I

have had severe vertigo. I have a script for antivert (meclizine)

which can be somewhat helpful if all else fails. The downside is,

the theory behind meclizine is it kind of " relaxes " you so you sleep

more and it may just add to your zoniness. I do pray that the

dizziness eases swiftly -- I know how difficult it can be. I woke up

years ago with what the doctors called " true vertigo " and it didn't

go away for several months. One day, just as suddenly, it was gone.

It comes and goes for me but is associated with other problems. Like

I said in an earlier response ... had the same problem, but it

cleared by the second week. I do hope that you fare as well.

>

> God Bless!

>

> Dianne

>

>

>

> OK, I am worried. It has been 5 days since my surgery. I have

> washed my hair 3 or 4 times since surgery and I managed to keep my

> ear dry. I used a cotton ball and covered it with vaseline and I

> took a baggy and drapped it over my ear and held it with one hand

the

> whole time I washed my hair but this time for some reason when I

took

> the cotton ball out of my ear it was water logged. Has anyone

gotten

> their ear wet? What will happen? What should I do? What problems

> will I have as a result of this? Has anyone else done this?

> G.

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi, .

My son has a custom made plug, bright green. He uses it when he showers and it seems to do fine. I will sometimes put drops (Floxin) in his ear, just in case I see moisture. The custom plugs are not covered by insurance, but they aren't very expensive (I think we paid $27). I'm sure you will be able to get one, once your ear has healed.

Good luck to you.

Terri

-----Original Message-----From: Graves [mailto:lag4302@...]Sent: Sunday, October 27, 2002 10:24 PMcholesteatoma Subject: Re: accidentally got water in my post-op earTerri, , and Dianne,Thanks so much, you sure put my mind at ease, I do have a tendency to worry more than I need to. What kind of ear plugs do you wear? I have Macks ear plugs, kind of waxy plugs that you mold into your ear, they help some but I have noticed that when I take them off I still have dampness in my ear. I haven't worn them in my post-op ear because that ear is too sore to mold plugs into it. Is there anything out there that is a sure bet that will keep water out of the ears? It would be nice to take a shower "worry free". I think all of us trying to keep our ears healthy can be a job in itself. Thanks again for easing my mind. G.

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

First, take a deep breath. I've gotten my cotton wet and it didn't get wet

all the way in. I changed the cotton and used the drops the doc gave me.

Chances are nothing will happen. Call your doctor, tell him what happened

and ask him if there is something else he would like you to do. It won't be

catastrophic.

Take care, we're pulling for you!

Jane

_________________________________________________________________

Get faster connections -- switch to MSN Internet Access!

http://resourcecenter.msn.com/access/plans/default.asp

[Guest guest]

in a similar vein.....this is a problem that troubles me greatly.

francesca will be 10 years old in a little over week's time.....and she now

wants (and due to rapidly increasing hormones NEEDS) her hair washed much

more often lately. To date.....I pack her ears with the vaseline balls, put

the moulded plugs in and wash her hair for her. i am super careful, using a

jug of water to wet and rinse, as i have better control than with a shower

head.

here comes the but.....she has expressed a desire to wash her own

hair......help???

i am apprehensive, particularly at the moment as she's had some discharge

from her worse ear.....but i also know that she's going to have to do it

eventually.

any input greatfully received......i appreciate there may be no right answer.

so...if you have any thoughts as to when, how, etc...????

thanks in advance

julie

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

This is a tough one, but being a mother of two teen age girls, I gotta tell ya, you're probably going to have to give in to this request pretty soon. You might be able to postpone the inevitable for a short time until you find out why she is having some discharge from her bad ear ... but as she enters puberty she is more than likely going to want to take over complete control of her own hygiene. It just happens. I know it did with my two and they are adamant about their privacy and their "space". Each child is different I realize, but I remember going through that stuff -- we all do to some degree. It's all part of growing up and claiming your individuality. I am just taking a shot in the dark here ... but if it were me, I think I would consult with your physician as to the cause of the discharge and see if there is any particular action needed ... and then I would start working with Francesca and teach her how to handle washing her hair in the shower without getting water in her ears. It's just a suggestion ... If she's happy to continue the way things are a while longer, great, but it probably won't be long before this comes up again, so might as well have her ready. I hope this helps a little. Like you said, unfortunately, there's really no right answer here. The safest solution would be for you to just keep washing her hair for her, but that may not be best for her psyche.

I wish you both well.

Dianne

juliequill@... wrote:

in a similar vein.....this is a problem that troubles me greatly.francesca will be 10 years old in a little over week's time.....and she now wants (and due to rapidly increasing hormones NEEDS) her hair washed much more often lately. To date.....I pack her ears with the vaseline balls, put the moulded plugs in and wash her hair for her. i am super careful, using a jug of water to wet and rinse, as i have better control than with a shower head.here comes the but.....she has expressed a desire to wash her own hair......help???i am apprehensive, particularly at the moment as she's had some discharge from her worse ear.....but i also know that she's going to have to do it eventually.any input greatfully received......i appreciate there may be no right answer.so...if you have any thoughts as to when, how, etc...????thanks in advancejulie