Surfers ear surgery

[Belchfire1]

I'm thinking it's time. 90% blocked in L ear 80% in R ear.
Has anyone had it done recently? Chisel or Drill seem to be the 2 options.
Any opinions?

Cheers,
Belch

 

[rowjimmytour]

I'm thinking it's time. 90% blocked in L ear 80% in R ear.
Has anyone had it done recently? Chisel or Drill seem to be the 2 options.
Any opinions?

Cheers,
Belch

Maybe things have changed but I heard and was told not to get the surgery until it gets so bad that water well not drain and causes infections. I was also told chisel works best. Start wearing earplugs if you have not started. This can further delay surgery and even bring your ears back to health.

 

[Belchfire1]

Maybe things have changed but I heard and was told not to get the surgery until it gets so bad that water well not drain and causes infections. I was also told chisel works best. Start wearing earplugs if you have not started. This can further delay surgery and even bring your ears back to health.

I agree with that logic. I have been wearing plugs 100% for a few years now. No infections or trapped water. My hearing is kinda suffering and I hope that the surgery would help me not feel like an old man always asking peeps to repeat themselves. ha

 

[Woke AF]

don't let it go to 100% blockage. Mine did, so they had to guess where to drill, which took them 3 or so hours. Surgeon said it was sketchy.
I recently was told @ 80% closure if I am not getting infections(only 1 in 30 years surfing) just keep an eye on it.

 

[flyinraptr]

Recomendatons on which ear plugs to get?

 

[rowjimmytour]

Recomendatons on which ear plugs to get?

After years of using Doc Pros and buying new ones twice year I recently bought surfer ears plugs and so far like them. Super tight fit, nice leash, and great pouch to store well worth money.

 

[everysurfer]

I wear a hood, with a waterfi mp3 player and waterproof earbuds

 

[Belchfire1]

I've been wearing Mack's plugs for years, the purple ones. Cheap and keeps water out. I've had zero issues since I started wearing them. My surfers ear hasn't progressed but it hasn't gotten better either (not sure that's possible)

 

[flyinraptr]

Thought I'd check one of the local shops in town … to my surprise they had Mack's. Picked up two pairs for $10 US. No leash though.

 

[Belchfire1]

Thought I'd check one of the local shops in town … to my surprise they had Mack's. Picked up two pairs for $10 US. No leash though.

No leash needed. I've never lost one in the water.

 

[kelly7873]

I'm thinking it's time. 90% blocked in L ear 80% in R ear.
Has anyone had it done recently? Chisel or Drill seem to be the 2 options.
Any opinions?

Cheers,
Belch

I've had both done. The left ear about 10 years ago. The doctor said the growth was shaped like a mushroom, one hit with the chisel and it came off clean. In the OR about 10 minutes but it took about 3 months to heal. Right ear was done earlier this year different doctor. There were three bumps with one right up against the drum. The doctor used a chisel and the drill and it took about 3 hours. My jaw was very sore but I was good to go after a few weeks.
The first one my insurance paid for, the second one my insurance paid like 80% and I had to pay $3000.

 

[SurfDoc]

Wear the plugs! Try a couple different ones until you find what is comfortable for you. I like Doc's ProPlugs. As for surgery when the ear becomes symptomatic (infections, pain, blockage etc.) get the surgery. I tend to advise the flap and chisel, but you have to confer with your local ENT. Try to find one with experience at removing osteomata. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3370017/

 

[Swallow Tail]

Anyone in Monterey/Santa Cruz have a surgeon they’d recommend?

 

[Woke AF]

Anyone in Monterey/Santa Cruz have a surgeon they’d recommend?

Douglas Hetzler, M.D., FACS
I was diagnosed that I needed it on my other ear(the one that was a virgin). Made the appointment... Went to have my hearing tested by an audiologist. She said my ear wasn't bad. Told Hetzler, he asked if I was having any infections and I said no. He recommended to postpone the surgery until water didn't drain or I started getting infections. That was 3-4 years ago. No infections, no problems and no surgery.
An honest dr who is competent is worth their weight in gold.

 

[llilibel03]

Douglas Hetzler, M.D., FACS
I was diagnosed that I needed it on my other ear(the one that was a virgin). Made the appointment... Went to have my hearing tested by an audiologist. She said my ear wasn't bad. Told Hetzler, he asked if I was having any infections and I said no. He recommended to postpone the surgery until water didn't drain or I started getting infections. That was 3-4 years ago. No infections, no problems and no surgery.
An honest dr who is competent is worth their weight in gold.

I had my left ear done a long time ago. Drilled from behind. It was over 90% closed. Pre-op they gave a full hearing test in a soundproof booth. My hearing was fine. When the MD told me this my wife was glaring at me. Surfer's ear was my go to excuse for years for just about every thing. I asked why I need the operation? They said as small as my ear opening was, if I got an infection it would seal off and it gets really hard to fight the infection with antibiotics that are not ear drops. Sometimes they have to operate under emergency conditions, where they cannot see the eardrum as they drill.

My right ear has been over 80 % closed since that time, but I wear a hood when water temps are below 62 degrees and it has not gotten worse. I use homemade ear drops 50/50 rubbing alcohol and distilled white vinegar (MD's recipe).

 

[Woke AF]

I had my left ear done a long time ago. Drilled from behind. It was over 90% closed. Pre-op they gave a full hearing test in a soundproof booth. My hearing was fine. When the MD told me this my wife was glaring at me. Surfer's ear was my go to excuse for years for just about every thing. I asked why I need the operation? They said as small as my ear opening was, if I got an infection it would seal off and it gets really hard to fight the infection with antibiotics that are not ear drops. Sometimes they have to operate under emergency conditions, where they cannot see the eardrum as they drill.

My right ear has been over 80 % closed since that time, but I wear a hood when water temps are below 62 degrees and it has not gotten worse. I use homemade ear drops 50/50 rubbing alcohol and distilled white vinegar (MD's recipe).

My right ear was 100% closed and they drilled it out. The surgeon said it was really sketchy, the canal was a series of pockets of bone, so she went really slow. 3+ hrs

My left ear got infected and I could not hear anything, nothing at all because my right is fcked from a different problem with the inner ear. So I woke-up deaf one morning. Freaked out went to a local ENT, she was an idiot trying to suck out the wax while my ear was closed with infection, she gave me some drops and they worked well. She wanted to refer me to someone she knew and have surgery ASAP. I went with Hetzler. I would definitely go back to him if it needs to happen.

I try to keep the wax flushed out with a spray bottle/ tube and some vinegar/hydrogen peroxide/water mixture.

 

[llilibel03]

FYI- to original poster, if you're in the LA area, I had my ear done at House Ear -

House Ear Institute

House Ear Institute is a nonprofit foundation with a threefold mission of otology education, research, and global health, “so all may hear.” HEI is at the forefront of new discoveries and research in otology (ear medicine) and skull base surgery.

hei.org

 

[Swallow Tail]

Douglas Hetzler, M.D., FACS
I was diagnosed that I needed it on my other ear(the one that was a virgin). Made the appointment... Went to have my hearing tested by an audiologist. She said my ear wasn't bad. Told Hetzler, he asked if I was having any infections and I said no. He recommended to postpone the surgery until water didn't drain or I started getting infections. That was 3-4 years ago. No infections, no problems and no surgery.
An honest dr who is competent is worth their weight in gold.

thanks!

was talking to someone in the water today that recommended him as well.

 

[isurfcardiff]

I have a gnarly story about my ear. Had exostosis in my left ear, but also had cholesteatoma in my inner ear. I couldn't hear and was getting infections all the time. They had to drill through canal for the exostosis, and go behind the ear for the cholesteatoma. 5.5 hrs surgery! They had to replace my inner ear bones (auditory ossicle) with a prosthesis. Felt like I got ran over by a semi when I came to afterwards. Thank goodness my hearing is much better, no more infections, and no complications either. My advice, go to a good ENT and then go to another one to get a second opinion before going under the knife or drill or chisel. And, yes, if you have up to 80-90% blockage, you can prevent surfer's ear from getting worse by wearing plugs (and a hood).

 

[grg]

Had it done and Dr. used both tools from what I understand. Went well for me with minimal recovery and much better. I could hear and water wouldn't get caught behind the Bone Dam.