Two months ago I had ear surgery and yesterday I had my 3rd follow-up visit with Dr. Cullen, the neuro-otologist who did my tympanoplasty.  This process has been more complicated than I anticipated, but began when, as a child, I had repeated ear infections.  My sister remembers me as a baby screaming in pain.  So, 59 years later in February 2013 I started  a series of persistent infections that caused me to use up all my sick leave at work.  Each one was progressively worse, and by March, while the infections did not appear obvious, a left-sided pounding began in my left ear.  After multiple doctors, including every doc in my primary care group, I saw an ENT who saw a hole in my eardrum.  There was "something" behind it, and he suspected a cholesteatoma.  This required a sub-specialist, and scans: CT, MRI and MRA.  All results were negative and the new doctor, Dr. Cullen, said I was a good candidate for a tympanoplasty.  He was not sure how much repair he would need to do until he got inside.  He could see from the scans that the malleous bone (the hammer) in the middle ear had deteriorated from disease.  He said he would build a new one using otologic cement to replace it.  It took two months to reach this conclusion and by April I was on medical leave. It was an anticlimactic end to my 18 year career with the Shawnee Mission School District, but my coworkers gave me a wonderful luncheon party the week before surgery in May.

One day post-surgery

On May 20 my sister, Jan Schiller, arrived from Florida to look after me for two weeks post-surgery, and on May 21 I went to the Overland Park Surgery Center for the all-morning procedure. The surgery was an incision around the outer ear to fold it out of the way.  A one-inch strip of hair was shaved behind my ear. Once the doctor got in he realized there was a sizable cholesteatoma and the eardrum was beyond repair.  He built me a new one out of some of my ear cartilage.  Amazing! He also replaced the malleous bone with a newly constructed model.  Both the middle and outer ear were packed with surgical packing, much of which dissolved over time, and Dr. Cullen neatly put my ear back together with a tight row of steri-strips and a pressure dressing. The outer dressing came off after 24 hours; after a week the doctor removed the tape and steri-strips revealing a tender, but neat and tidy incision, already beginning to heal nicely. The main thing was "The ear MUST be kept dry... No water in the ear!" I was also not allowed to lift or to bend over.

For 2 weeks Jan helped me wash my hair at the kitchen sink.  I was very sad to see her go and definitely missed her company when she left.  It wan then that I realized I couldn't pick things up off the floor without a deep-knee bend!

Celebratory farewell lunch 

Bill called my straight-postured stoop for using the dishwasher "The Tympanoplasty Dip." For the washing machine I used long tongs like a reacher.

Waterproof ear-gear

At the end of 3 weeks I was able to bend and lift, and I began using antibiotic ear-drops to loosen the packing in the outer ear. To wash my hair I developed a waterproof system of Vaseline covered cotton ball, covered then by Saran Wrap and a slit sandwich bag. Using folds and hair clips I was able to keep my ear dry, and definitely looking forward to being able to wash my hair normally again!

After one month I saw the doctor and he removed the remaining outer ear packing.  Bill was in California for family business and I asked when I could fly just in case I could join him.  He said I was free to fly!  So, within 20 hours I was on a plane to L.A.  Flying and changing altitude in general has always been painful for me.  I just grit my teeth, chew gum, yawn, take decongestants, and wait for the painful popping to end.  This was an amazing trip because in spite of all the fluttering and popping in my left ear, there was no pain - the first time ever! I definitely enjoyed my time in Manhattan Beach, California.

View from The Sea View Inn

And so, here I am 2 months post-surgery. Yesterday I got that much-anticipated clearance to get my ear wet!  I had a normal shower this morning - no ear-gear... It was glorious!  I am not quite done yet, there is still packing inside that dissolves ever-so-slowly over time leaving me with a metallic taste in my mouth. And there is minor tenderness on the top of my outer ear.  The eardrum still feels raw, tender and sore with some discharge now and then, all part of the healing process. I can tell that my hearing has already improved - another amazing outcome since I was at a 50% loss pre-surgery.  I will have another doctor visit in 2 months to check healing and hearing.  Overall, I am thrilled with the outcome.