1st surgery next week

[Guest guest]

Hi All : )

I am 31, and will be having my first cholesteatoma surgery next week. About 2

years ago, my eardrum ruptured for no good reason. I went to an ENT at U of M

Hospital who told me not to worry because the eardrum would likely heal. I went

back to see him 6 months later, and the eardrum had not healed. He told me that

it would probably never heal at this point, but that surgery was not necessary.

I started having some pretty severe bouts of vertigo, but he told me the vertigo

was not related to the ear (even though they were on the same side). Decided to

get a second opinion, and was told that I have a good size cholesteatoma,

probably has been there for awhile. The Doc could see two holes in my eardrum,

with cholesteatoma behind each hole. I have never had any infections or

drainage that many of you have mentioned...... just the vertigo off and on. Has

anyone had a similar experience? I am a worrier by nature, so the fact that I

have the vertigo without any drainage has me convinced this thing must be

tunneling into my brain?? My hearing test came back borderline normal, and the

Doctor told me that was a very good sign. Any advice as I prepare for my

surgery next week would be greatly appreciated. Is the first surgery usually

easier than the subsequent ones?? I am trying to be positive about this, but

having a hard time not thinking about all of the bad things that could happen :

(

Thanks,

Holly