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
Quick update...
It's been just over a week since the surgery. Never experienced any pain, just some slight discomfort with the pressure and my hearing was pretty bad. I went back to Dr. Hetzler on Monday (5 days post op) for a check up. Usually you wait 7 days, but he was still able to clean out some of the blood clots and scabs. That relieved all of the pressure in my left ear and my hearing on that side is pretty much as good as ever. My right ear wasn't quite as far along so he couldn't clean it as well. I can still feel a little pressure in there and my hearing on that side is still not great. The nice thing is the little bit of spotty bleeding that was going on has ceased and I don't need to use cotton balls or anything else in my ears now. Just need to make sure I keep them dry for the next week and half and I should be healed enough to get back in the water. Hetzler estimated 1-month from the surgery date for all swelling to be gone and my ears to be 100% healed. I'll let you guys know if any complications pop up, but it looks like things should go about as smoothly as I ever could have hoped.
It's been just over a week since the surgery. Never experienced any pain, just some slight discomfort with the pressure and my hearing was pretty bad. I went back to Dr. Hetzler on Monday (5 days post op) for a check up. Usually you wait 7 days, but he was still able to clean out some of the blood clots and scabs. That relieved all of the pressure in my left ear and my hearing on that side is pretty much as good as ever. My right ear wasn't quite as far along so he couldn't clean it as well. I can still feel a little pressure in there and my hearing on that side is still not great. The nice thing is the little bit of spotty bleeding that was going on has ceased and I don't need to use cotton balls or anything else in my ears now. Just need to make sure I keep them dry for the next week and half and I should be healed enough to get back in the water. Hetzler estimated 1-month from the surgery date for all swelling to be gone and my ears to be 100% healed. I'll let you guys know if any complications pop up, but it looks like things should go about as smoothly as I ever could have hoped.
Good to hear. Don't rush back into the water though. Make sure it's 100% healed.
Good advice. Thank you. I should be all the way healed at the three week mark, it's just the swelling that will take a little longer to completely subside. But I will definitely follow doctor's orders before taking any chances.
Also two small annoyances I forgot to note earlier... As you guys warned my ear canals (especially the right one) are pretty itchy. I'm so used to using all kinds of stupid techniques I've developed over the years to manipulate that area that I have to remind myself often not to do it now. Hoping that will go away with the next visit. Also, I've got a decent amount of ringing in the right ear that I hope clears up soon.
Last thing, I know we all have different insurance but I'll let you guys know my costs as the bills come in so you can get an idea of what it might cost you if you're interested in seeing Dr. Hetzler for the surgery.
Also two small annoyances I forgot to note earlier... As you guys warned my ear canals (especially the right one) are pretty itchy. I'm so used to using all kinds of stupid techniques I've developed over the years to manipulate that area that I have to remind myself often not to do it now. Hoping that will go away with the next visit. Also, I've got a decent amount of ringing in the right ear that I hope clears up soon.
Last thing, I know we all have different insurance but I'll let you guys know my costs as the bills come in so you can get an idea of what it might cost you if you're interested in seeing Dr. Hetzler for the surgery.
For your itchy ears-Good advice. Thank you. I should be all the way healed at the three week mark, it's just the swelling that will take a little longer to completely subside. But I will definitely follow doctor's orders before taking any chances.
Also two small annoyances I forgot to note earlier... As you guys warned my ear canals (especially the right one) are pretty itchy. I'm so used to using all kinds of stupid techniques I've developed over the years to manipulate that area that I have to remind myself often not to do it now. Hoping that will go away with the next visit. Also, I've got a decent amount of ringing in the right ear that I hope clears up soon.
Last thing, I know we all have different insurance but I'll let you guys know my costs as the bills come in so you can get an idea of what it might cost you if you're interested in seeing Dr. Hetzler for the surgery.
Another week, and another cleaning you should be past the itchy part. I ended up about $2,200.00 out of pocket, after all was said and done.Good advice. Thank you. I should be all the way healed at the three week mark, it's just the swelling that will take a little longer to completely subside. But I will definitely follow doctor's orders before taking any chances.
Also two small annoyances I forgot to note earlier... As you guys warned my ear canals (especially the right one) are pretty itchy. I'm so used to using all kinds of stupid techniques I've developed over the years to manipulate that area that I have to remind myself often not to do it now. Hoping that will go away with the next visit. Also, I've got a decent amount of ringing in the right ear that I hope clears up soon.
Last thing, I know we all have different insurance but I'll let you guys know my costs as the bills come in so you can get an idea of what it might cost you if you're interested in seeing Dr. Hetzler for the surgery.
Thanks for the updates. I'm saving his info. I might even drive from down south to have Hetzler do it based on these experiences, and information I read about him and his process.Last thing, I know we all have different insurance but I'll let you guys know my costs as the bills come in so you can get an idea of what it might cost you if you're interested in seeing Dr. Hetzler for the surgery.
Thanks johnson7. My insurance isn't the greatest, so I wouldn't be surprised if I end up paying more, but that gives me some serious hope! And no matter what it will be cheaper than doing two separately which is what Osborne Head and Neck Clinic and Westside Head and Neck Clinic insisted on down here. Not to mention Osborne trying to push me into using a surgery center that isn't covered by my insurance by telling me it could take months to get an appointment in their usual surgery center at Cedars at a time I had zero hearing in my left ear. That would have cost $7500...per ear.
I would definitely recommend the trip scdad. When I called them they offered dates for the surgery less than two weeks out. The only thing they require is a clean covid test within 4-5 days of your visit, a recent hearing test to establish a baseline, and a pre-op appointment with Hetzler the day before the surgery. The clinic down here made me get an MRI (or maybe a CAT scan, I mix them up) and Hetzler didn't ever bother looking at it. Plus you can do all your post-op visits with your local ENT. Assuming you have someone to drive and you aren't overly sensitive to after effects from general anesthesia, you could easily show up in SC on Monday, meet the doctor that afternoon for a 30 minute exam, get the surgery Tuesday, and drive home Wednesday.
I would definitely recommend the trip scdad. When I called them they offered dates for the surgery less than two weeks out. The only thing they require is a clean covid test within 4-5 days of your visit, a recent hearing test to establish a baseline, and a pre-op appointment with Hetzler the day before the surgery. The clinic down here made me get an MRI (or maybe a CAT scan, I mix them up) and Hetzler didn't ever bother looking at it. Plus you can do all your post-op visits with your local ENT. Assuming you have someone to drive and you aren't overly sensitive to after effects from general anesthesia, you could easily show up in SC on Monday, meet the doctor that afternoon for a 30 minute exam, get the surgery Tuesday, and drive home Wednesday.
Glad it worked out for you! I'm still not used to being able to hear after taking my ear plugs out, after each session.
Yeah, I wasn't expecting to have to pay so much out of pocket either, but it's been forever since I've had a procedure done too.
First bill came in this morning for $2450. The bill isn't really itemized, but it seems to cover Dr. Hetzler's fees. If I'm lucky that will be it, but I wouldn't be surprised if Santa Cruz Surgery Center sends a separate bill for using the facility and anesthesia.
Last edited:
I had to pay them up front, right before the surgery, like $700? Oh and I just got another bill from the anesthesiologist, for $145, I think my policy is $3,000 out of pocket for the year, and 20% after that, either way it was totally worth it.
I have a HMO that paid for everything. I had a really good primary care physician, so having an HMO was never an issue. It didn't hurt that he had the same surname either. He retired, or was forced out, when Healthcare Partners became Optum. The list of doctors available were all young, some with no reviews. It will be interesting to see how this plays out in the future.
Had my last follow up today. Should have been a week ago, but had trouble getting an earlier appointment. Anyway, got the go ahead to do anything I like. Sounds like things healed up nicely. No more ringing in the ears either. Stocked!
Also, I got a letter from my insurance yesterday and it looks like I still owe about $1,600 and change to the anesthesiologist. That makes the grand total $4k and change. Not bad for an out-of-network surgery under my insurance plan. For comparison, I paid almost $10k out of pocket a year and a half ago to get my sinuses cleaned out at an out of network surgery center.
Thanks again for all the advice guys. See you in the water!
Also, I got a letter from my insurance yesterday and it looks like I still owe about $1,600 and change to the anesthesiologist. That makes the grand total $4k and change. Not bad for an out-of-network surgery under my insurance plan. For comparison, I paid almost $10k out of pocket a year and a half ago to get my sinuses cleaned out at an out of network surgery center.
Thanks again for all the advice guys. See you in the water!
I've been close to pulling the trigger on getting both ears done for a couple years, my ENT didn't see much change. Went recently and got worse. He's said 95+% and 85+%. I was hoping to get them both done in 6 months.
I've worn earplugs for the last 2 years and a hood all winter but sometimes water gets in and I get swimmers ear/ear infections. Its never painful but I pretty much can't hear out of that ear for typically 2-3 days. Had another ear infection recently in my bad ear and haven't been able to hear for 7 days now. I think it finally got to 100% closed. It's pretty miserable physically for me, the fogginess, dizziness, and head aches when I can't hear out of one ear. I'm trying to get the surgeries done ASAP but that means early June at best. Has anybody had these symptoms and if so did you get used to only having one working ear, gonna be a long 40 days?
I've worn earplugs for the last 2 years and a hood all winter but sometimes water gets in and I get swimmers ear/ear infections. Its never painful but I pretty much can't hear out of that ear for typically 2-3 days. Had another ear infection recently in my bad ear and haven't been able to hear for 7 days now. I think it finally got to 100% closed. It's pretty miserable physically for me, the fogginess, dizziness, and head aches when I can't hear out of one ear. I'm trying to get the surgeries done ASAP but that means early June at best. Has anybody had these symptoms and if so did you get used to only having one working ear, gonna be a long 40 days?
Last edited:
Advise you continue to protect your ear(s) (when showering, surfing, etc.). The growths in your ear canal can come back with a vengeance. Don’t ask me how I know…
Its been 15 years of chronic tinnitus since my exostosis surgery on my right ear. I had the ear flap slice/drill procedure done by Dr. Joni Doherty at UCSD Hillcrest back in 2009. What seemed like a successful surgery at the time, turned into hell about a year post op. The vertigo attacks I endured started a year out and became worse over time and lasted about 3 years. I literally could not make any sudden movements or else I'd trigger a severe vertigo attack that left me puking my guts out, often times in public settings. For whatever reason the vertigo attacks eventually disappeared but I was left with a constant buzzing in my right ear with extremely compromised hearing since then. An audio test revealed severe hearing loss in my right ear but the ENT's at Scripps have no idea as to why. An MRI also didn't reveal anything unusual. Its been the most frustrating thing I've ever had to deal with and an annoyance of epic proportions. I'm starting to consider looking at a functional doctor who may be able to better help me with diagnosing the root cause of the tinnitus. The out of pocket costs are the only thing holding me back even though the slightest alleviation of symptoms would make the extra costs totally worth it.
I'm really curious if anybody else on here has dealt with similar symptoms post drilling procedure.
I'm really curious if anybody else on here has dealt with similar symptoms post drilling procedure.
My main post surgery issues:
1) ear wax no longer migrates out of my ear canals. Removal done by ENT (although I've become proficient at flushing myself)
2) ear plugs need to be worn all the time in the water(watersports) I've ruptured my ear drum 4 times since my surgery, once wearing earplugs. I think the flap/drilling left my ear canal more open and susceptible to damage. I wouldn't waterski or wake board without plugs
I also suffer from terrible tinnitus but I've been in construction for a long time, starting way before hearing protection was readily available
1) ear wax no longer migrates out of my ear canals. Removal done by ENT (although I've become proficient at flushing myself)
2) ear plugs need to be worn all the time in the water(watersports) I've ruptured my ear drum 4 times since my surgery, once wearing earplugs. I think the flap/drilling left my ear canal more open and susceptible to damage. I wouldn't waterski or wake board without plugs
I also suffer from terrible tinnitus but I've been in construction for a long time, starting way before hearing protection was readily available
My only post surgery issues:
First surgery, nothing, but I found out later that they did a really bad job suturing my ear drum back together, a lot of scaring.
During the second surgery, they packed the ear canal with gauze, and they packed mine very tightly. For the first two weeks post-surgery, every morning, I felt like I was kicked in the head by a donkey, just about crying. Called the clinic a couple of times and the head nurse basically said get over it you're a pussy and take some aspirin. Come in in a week . Go in to have it removed, and the bitch can't get the gauze out. She said they did pack this tight. It's solid as a rock. the glare I gave her...
I've had tinnitus since the 80's, high fever in South Africa. Learn not to fight it and it is no big deal. Almost deaf in one ear from shooting shotguns as a kid and a failed different ear surgery. That sucks, but hearing aid works when I use it.
First surgery, nothing, but I found out later that they did a really bad job suturing my ear drum back together, a lot of scaring.
During the second surgery, they packed the ear canal with gauze, and they packed mine very tightly. For the first two weeks post-surgery, every morning, I felt like I was kicked in the head by a donkey, just about crying. Called the clinic a couple of times and the head nurse basically said get over it you're a pussy and take some aspirin. Come in in a week . Go in to have it removed, and the bitch can't get the gauze out. She said they did pack this tight. It's solid as a rock. the glare I gave her...
I've had tinnitus since the 80's, high fever in South Africa. Learn not to fight it and it is no big deal. Almost deaf in one ear from shooting shotguns as a kid and a failed different ear surgery. That sucks, but hearing aid works when I use it.
My first surgery on my left ear went fine.
During my second surgery on that ear, the doc nicked a nerve and the left side of my tongue went numb. It's since regained most of its feeling but there's still a slight numbness there. I'm lucky the whole left side of my face wasn't paralyzed.
I do have some low tone tinnitus. It doesn't bother me until it's quiet at night and then it sounds like someone is pumping house music next door. It can be pretty annoying at times but turning on the radio helps.
During my second surgery on that ear, the doc nicked a nerve and the left side of my tongue went numb. It's since regained most of its feeling but there's still a slight numbness there. I'm lucky the whole left side of my face wasn't paralyzed.
I do have some low tone tinnitus. It doesn't bother me until it's quiet at night and then it sounds like someone is pumping house music next door. It can be pretty annoying at times but turning on the radio helps.