Re: C-toma surgery in Washington State

[Guest guest]

If you can go out of state I would recommend Dr. McMenomey at OHSU

(Oregon). Google him. He has done surgery twice on my hubby and there

are other members who have had him as their surgeon.

We also have members in WA state and I am sure they will pipe in.

Michele, Group Moderator

>

> My insurance is Group Health which limits the number of doctors I can

go to. I probably

> need a cholesteatoma repaired in my right ear but had a CAT scan done

today just in case. If

> I have to change jobs for better insurance I'll do it but need to

know a good ENT to go to to

> know for sure.

>

> Any recommendations?

>

> Greg

>

[Guest guest]

Greg,

I'd recommend the following search engine. You'll want at least otology

as a specialty ... and hopefully neurotology as well.

http://www.entnet.org/ent_otolaryngologist.cfm

Otologists specialize with the ear while neurotologists work with the

nerves that run through the ear (taste, facial, etc.).

Matt

gregmatty wrote:

>

> My insurance is Group Health which limits the number of doctors I can

> go to. I probably

> need a cholesteatoma repaired in my right ear but had a CAT scan done

> today just in case. If

> I have to change jobs for better insurance I'll do it but need to know

> a good ENT to go to to

> know for sure.

>

> Any recommendations?

>

> Greg

>

>

--

[Guest guest]

Hi Greg

I can tell you how it's been for me but don't know about anyone else.

I had my first c'toma 13 years ago. They removed that and left the

wall down. That was fine but suffered hearing loss but they didn't

worry as I still had my other ear!!!

Then in November 06 I had my second c'toma in the other ear! This time

they left the wall up. They couldn't find any of the bones I should

have in my ear and can't tell me if I ever had them or if the c'toma

ate them.

Just before the 2nd surgery they gave me my first hearing aid. Which

was great, I teach so really need my hearing. But the problems occured

with the in the ear model as I kept getting infections. I had constant

ear infections for a year with antibiotics all the time.

They then gave me a hearing aid on a band which you wear over your

head which cleared all the infections.

I'm now waiting for my BAHA (bone anchored hearing aid) which is

attached to my skull.

You don't have a choice with this, you have to have it done .

Good luck.

Louise

>

> My insurance is Group Health which limits the number of doctors I

can go to. I probably

> need a cholesteatoma repaired in my right ear but had a CAT scan

done today just in case. If

> I have to change jobs for better insurance I'll do it but need to

know a good ENT to go to to

> know for sure.

>

> Any recommendations?

>

> Greg

>

[Guest guest]

I have been away for a while after getting the CT scan done several months ago.

My

Group Health surgeon instantly diagnosed C-Toma upon viewing my ear in his

office. The

CT scan was to confirm his suspicion.

Well the CT scan came back all but negative and he basically did a 180 saying I

didn't

need it done right away. Since April 1st I have been back to my regular ENT and

he too

doesn't think my current condition warrants a C-Toma surgery right now. My

sister is an

MD and she sent my CT scan to an ENT colleague and he too didn't think I should

rush into

it.

So for now I am just keeping an eye on things and hope that what I assume is a

minor C-

Toma will go away on it's own though that is probably wishful thinking.

It seems there are a lot of young people with this condition. I am 38 and I

think my cleft

pallet and associated Eustatian (sp?) disfunction is what has led to this grief.

Does anyone

know what causes these things? I am not one to feel sorry for myself but if

anyone here

knows of a pill I can take to make my cleft pallet go away I'll give you $1,000

for it.

Greg

> >

> > My insurance is Group Health which limits the number of doctors I

> can go to. I probably

> > need a cholesteatoma repaired in my right ear but had a CAT scan

> done today just in case. If

> > I have to change jobs for better insurance I'll do it but need to

> know a good ENT to go to to

> > know for sure.

> >

> > Any recommendations?

> >

> > Greg

> >

>