REMINDER: THE ARENA PLATFORM, INC. has no obligation to monitor the Forums. However, THE ARENA PLATFORM, INC. reserves the right to review any materials submitted to or posted on the Forums, and remove, delete, redact or otherwise modify such materials, in its sole discretion and for any reason whatsoever, at any time and from time to time, without notice or further obligation to you. THE ARENA PLATFORM, INC. has no obligation to display or post any materials provided by you. THE ARENA PLATFORM, INC. reserves the right to disclose, at any time and from time to time, any information or materials that we deem necessary or appropriate to satisfy any applicable law, regulation, contract obligation, legal or dispute process or government request. Click on the following hyperlinks to further read the applicable Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Surfers ear surgery
- Thread starter Belchfire1
- Start date
I don't see anything wrong with what you call 'promoting '. Moreover, this is not promoting , but a regular advertisement for breast augmentation. How can girls find a good clinic if it didn't advertise ? I was told that only in Malaysia you can be sure of surgeons. When I enlarged my boobs, I ran around so many doctors to find someone who I would trust my body . And I found https://www.seattleplasticsurgery.com/breast-augmentation-in-seattle-tacoma , they did all very good . However, I didn't have to fly to Malaysia to find good specialists.
Last edited:
I'm just over 2 weeks post-op from having both ears done at the same time. I got them done Feb 22nd, by Dr. Hetzler, using his method (chip and chisel.) I wanna say it was about a 3-4 hour surgery, but to be honest it was the best surgical experience I've had. It wasn't near as bad as thought it was gonna be, I was able to hear and function as soon as I woke up, albeit a little groggy. My recovery wasn't really that bad, cotton balls for a couple of days, and some discomfort (about like having an ear infection really,) then each week he carefully cleans out the scabs, clotting, etc around the incisions. That part actually feels great, I've got one more appointment and he seemed to think I'd be surfing next weekend, so 3 weeks after surgery. I can't recommend Dr. Hetzler enough, if he's an option, and you need this procedure, it's a no brainer. Oh, I can hear now too.
That's awesome Johnson! Btw, how hard was it to get the surgical appointment with him?
I just got diagnosed with 100% closure in my left ear. I knew it was close, but now it's completely screwed. Amazing that even at 3-5% opening you can have essentially normal hearing, but once it closes....nada. Paddled out Friday two-weeks ago able to hear, paddled in and have been functionally deaf in my left ear since with no infection or inflammation. Just the last straw for the bone growth I guess. Still tripping on that...
Would love to see Hetzler and family is in SC, but I can't commit to being there for weeks on end. Looks like I'm going to go with the Osborne Head & Neck Institute here in LA. Have to go get a CT scan first though bc the doctor can't see behind the closure. Anyone have experience with them?
** Right ear is 95% closed, but they won't do both at once. Fml
I just got diagnosed with 100% closure in my left ear. I knew it was close, but now it's completely screwed. Amazing that even at 3-5% opening you can have essentially normal hearing, but once it closes....nada. Paddled out Friday two-weeks ago able to hear, paddled in and have been functionally deaf in my left ear since with no infection or inflammation. Just the last straw for the bone growth I guess. Still tripping on that...
Would love to see Hetzler and family is in SC, but I can't commit to being there for weeks on end. Looks like I'm going to go with the Osborne Head & Neck Institute here in LA. Have to go get a CT scan first though bc the doctor can't see behind the closure. Anyone have experience with them?
** Right ear is 95% closed, but they won't do both at once. Fml
Last edited:
Getting the appointment was a couple of months out, luckily we just switched to a PPO. Yeah, it's amazing what you get used to with this condition, I'm so glad I finally did it! I've had so many sessions end just like you explained above, and not to mention surf trips, where half the trip is spent deaf.
I don't think you'd have to commit to being there for weeks on end, you could schedule the follow up appointments with your local ENT. I think all you would need is maybe a weekend, 2-3 days at most, then you would be fine to drive, not sure about flying? I think the prerequisites are an audiology test, and a covid test 2-3 days before the procedure, you can call to check? If you can swing it, I would totally make the trip to get it done by him. I've been to a few ENT's over the years, and he is by far the best, even when he's pulling scabs, clotting, gelatinous goop, it's done in a delicate matter, to where I barely feel it, not so much with my previous experiences. I think your going to feel a lot better after you get this done, wether it's with Hetzler or Osborne. Good luck, and let me know if there are any other questions I can help answer.
Do you feel like you have less pressure and more "air flow" through your ears now, if that makes sense? I know I have some closure and had eustachian tube dilation a few years go, but my ears still feel closed. Do they feel better now?
Totally, from the moment I woke up in the recovery room. I'd say the most uncomfortable part of the surgery for myself was a few days after, when you can feel your ear canals are full of stuff (crusty scabs, itchy, etc) just have to fight the urge to dig in there, or manipulate the ear canal by applying pressure from outside of the ear. At my first follow up he meticulously cleans all the gunk out of both ears, applies another coat of antibiotics, and your on your way. The 2nd follow up more of the same minus the antibiotics, and there was a lot less stuff to clean out, he seems to think I'll be able to surf this upcoming Friday.
I can't really articulate how much better I feel, especially my ears, pressure and air flow, along with the ability to hear again. I thought it was gonna be like wisdom teeth, but my ear canals, and it wasn't anything close. I'm trying to get in line with being healthy, so for the last year I've given up taking almost everything, with the exception of CBD oil, multi vitamin, and few other supplements, and I didn't need anything for the pain. If your used to your ears always being full of water, and regular infections, you'll be fine. One thing I will say though, my infections decreased a lot, when I quit inhaling antihistamines, anti inflammatories, and any other nasal spray/congestion relief thing, I don't know if there is any correlation or not?
I wish I would've done it way sooner, good luck.
I can't really articulate how much better I feel, especially my ears, pressure and air flow, along with the ability to hear again. I thought it was gonna be like wisdom teeth, but my ear canals, and it wasn't anything close. I'm trying to get in line with being healthy, so for the last year I've given up taking almost everything, with the exception of CBD oil, multi vitamin, and few other supplements, and I didn't need anything for the pain. If your used to your ears always being full of water, and regular infections, you'll be fine. One thing I will say though, my infections decreased a lot, when I quit inhaling antihistamines, anti inflammatories, and any other nasal spray/congestion relief thing, I don't know if there is any correlation or not?
I wish I would've done it way sooner, good luck.
Got my appointment with Dr. Hetzler. Doing both ears on the 24th. I cannot wait to be able to go in the water knowing it will no longer result in an ear infection damn near every time I do.
After bullshitting with the ear docs down here and them refusing to do both ears at once while trying to pressure me into using their private surgery center that isn't covered under my insurance, I finally said fvck it and called Hetzler. Even though I no longer live in SC, the process was super easy and he had way more availability than I anticipated. Sent my records from down here, I'll have a quick pre-opp on the 23rd, and then it's on the next morning.
After bullshitting with the ear docs down here and them refusing to do both ears at once while trying to pressure me into using their private surgery center that isn't covered under my insurance, I finally said fvck it and called Hetzler. Even though I no longer live in SC, the process was super easy and he had way more availability than I anticipated. Sent my records from down here, I'll have a quick pre-opp on the 23rd, and then it's on the next morning.
Good luck. Are you still in the canyon? Lot's of dirty water downstream...
ps I gave my notice and will retire this summer. Looking for a place up your way but right now there's nada, at least not in our price range. Hoping something will come on the market.
Thanks! Yeah, we're still up here. Last infection that shutdown my left ear was after sneaking in a solo session at Chart House in between rain squalls when I noticed conditions were lining up and no one was on it. That's about as close as I get to the point these days, other than the occasional surf casting mission.
Congratulations on retirement! That must have felt great. Unfortunately the real estate market has gone insane up here in the last couple of years. It's damn near impossible to find anything desirable for less than $1.5 - bonkers. Hope you guys find a hidden gem! If you're ever up this way hit me up for a beer or a surf or whatever.
Congratulations on retirement! That must have felt great. Unfortunately the real estate market has gone insane up here in the last couple of years. It's damn near impossible to find anything desirable for less than $1.5 - bonkers. Hope you guys find a hidden gem! If you're ever up this way hit me up for a beer or a surf or whatever.
Congrats man, you are going to feel so much better once this procedure is done. You'll be back in the water in 3 weeks too!
Whatever he says, I think the worst for me was 3 days after? The ear canals fill up with all the gelatinous goup, you cant't hear, then they dry out, scab up, and flake off, making it super itchy! So you really have to fight the urge not to manipulate the ear canal, from the outside or inside. The follow up visits were cleaning all that stuff out, and making sure the incisions were healing properly. I surfed 3 weeks and a day, after the surgery, and haven't looked back since. I did try the surfer's ear plugs, but my ears felt like they just filled up with water, and never drained until after I got out, I went back to the purple Macks. Anyway it's an amazing feeling not to have to worry about it, after every surf. Good luck next week, your good hands though.
Plenty of rest, follow the doc's orders, and give it a solid 3 or 4 weeks to heal FULLY.
My doc at House Ear Institute said to avoid any heavy exercise. I remember when he said I had to absolutely stay out of the water for a month, I said, "I guess I'll just do running." And he said ,"No, you really don't want to do anything that makes you sweat profusely because the inside of the ear canal perspires and if it is excessive it could cause an infection."
Just letting you know what my surgeon said. You should ask yours.
Antihistamine for the inner and outer ear goup. Take it easy and keep the ear(s) dry and invest in plugs door future surfing... watch out for the pain med if it’s codeine based, it will likely plug up your lower G.I. Tract and you may become one miserable b!tch until you give birth to an arab...
Surgery went super smooth. I'm stocked! If I would have known how easy it was, I would have done it years ago. My doctor in LA would only do one ear at a time, was going to drill, and told me there was a high probability he would have to go in behind the ear to do the left side. Dr. Hetzler did both at once, no drilling, and zero pain post-op. Didn't even need a Motrin. Still have some minor bleeding in the ear canals and my hearing isn't great, but the bleeding should be done by tonight/tomorrow and my hearing should be better than ever once he removes some of the gunk and build up in there next week. Huge thanks to all who recommended Dr. Hetzler!