My Dang Left Ear and Its Problems

[Michael]

Today I was in for my normal follow up with the ENT doctor and the temp tube in my left ear has again come out. See this thread for the Orginal Thread on the on-going problems http://www.mytractorforum.com/showthread.php?t=312

I had another tube placed back in the my ear to allow it to drain and to prevent the eardrum from deflating.

I was informed by the ENT doctor of a new type of operation that would probably work well for me and I got some literature on it today. This new type of operation is to remove the eardrum and take a piece of ligament and form a ring and then place this in the ear by the eardrum and then put a new skin graft over the entire surface of the eardrum with a tube in it. This operation is considered more permanent and has been used with excellent results in the midwest. Most patients with this operation have been able to keep the tube in the ear for up to ten years, without it pushing out.

My tube from my sinus to the inner ear is blocked and there is no operation that can be performed to correct this problem. the only option is to keep going back every 6 months to another tube to placed in the ear and this can lead to scar tissue building up and causing more problems.

In 3 weeks I will have a appointment with a doctor from the University of Washington Medical Center to see if I am a acceptable candidate for this operation.

[Ken N Tx]

Good luck Michael..I would listen to the advise of the doctors and take in all that they tell you..

It will be a tough decission to make as you will have to undergo another operation.

[Dachshund]

Good luck! I'm almost deaf in my left ear. I was SUPPOSED to have surgery on it last December, but my wife chickened out at the last minute and didn't want me to be "put under". Losing steam in the right ear, too. Guess I'll just have to get used to being deaf!

[glenn27]

Yep-had to get a hearing aid for my left ear last year-hearing loss 30/40% on the low tones.....Dr. figured afterwards from loud noises (driving trucks, heavy equip. for years) Who would have thought back in the 70's that loud exhaust, and loud r&r music wasn't goodd for u???
At the Dr's. you would be surprised how many people have hearing probs?

Used to make my wife mad as h**l!! But honey, I didn't hear u!
Eyes and ears-we have to take care of them, or we will be helpless...

Best of luck w/ ur decision!!!

[simple_john]

good luck.. that operation sounds..... amazing... and a little gross... But most operations are...


hope you will be a canidate...

[wheely_boy]

Speaking of ear problems, I recently travelled to Atlanta for training and about 3 hours after I landed, I went completely deaf in my left ear. I assumed I had an ear infection. When I got back home 3 days later and called the ENT doctor, he freaked out and saw me right away. I started taking a heavy dose of steroids and I am now back to normal except for some ringing. Apparently, something blocked the blood flow to the nerve servicing my left ear which caused the problem. They basically have no clue why it happens.

[Durwood]

Good luck Michael and I hope that operation works out for you. It would be tough to lose your hearing.

Dur

[Durwood]

Speaking of ear problems, I recently travelled to Atlanta for training and about 3 hours after I landed, I went completely deaf in my left ear. I assumed I had an ear infection. When I got back home 3 days later and called the ENT doctor, he freaked out and saw me right away. I started taking a heavy dose of steroids and I am now back to normal except for some ringing. Apparently, something blocked the blood flow to the nerve servicing my left ear which caused the problem. They basically have no clue why it happens.


I don't know wheely but you may want to have that checked a little more closely. Something more damaging could be the cause of it.

Dur

[bontai Joe]

Michael,
Sorry to read that you are still having problems with your ear. I hope that they can fix it up more permanent for you.

Wheelyboy,
I second the idea that you get your ear carefully checked out. Ringing in the ear can be a sign of something more serious.

[Michael]

Well guys I do not at have at this time a hearing loss but the problems seem to compound, I orginally had vertigo and alot pressure on left side to the point I was having migraine headaches or so my primary car doctor thought until I went in during a migraine and he took a hunch and looked in my left ear, and freaked out and referred me to the ENT. I went to the ENT 3 hours later and he took one look and had a emergency MRI done and then I got back in office and he decided to place the first tube. As soon as the tube was placed the migraine was gone and so was the pressure.

After almost a year and half and the problems are still around I guess it is time to figure out a different options other then going for the rest of my life having multiple operations (skin grafts) and tube placements. I am just tired of the constant problems and fighting this problem. Heck my heart valve replacement operation was quicker and easier to solve then this.