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Chronic eardrum perforation- failed patch... cholesteatoma?

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Abreetah
Abreetah

image35 years old, had tympanostomy tubes placed 2 years or so ago after a lifetime of EUSTACHIAN TUBE DYSFUNCTION - didnt follow up as recommended and wound up with "permanent" holes in both ear drums which were patched using paper patch, right one has ultimately failed and now im petrified because i didnt know the failure had occurred until i recent purchased an oto-endoscopy camera (cheap one) to take a peek... now im petrified that i may have developed a cholesteatoma ... anyone with experience that can take a look and let me know what they think?

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1 Reply

  • dannysarruby
    dannysarruby Abreetah

    Posted

    cholesteatoma (in the ear) is quite literally, a build up of skin that forms a sort of 'lump', which if left untreated, can develop over time and reduce hearing.

    My knowledge of ears would make me think it's unlikely that you have a Cholesteatoma as they are more common in more older patients. However, permanent ear drum perforation could allow for quicker build up. So although it is unlikely, it is possible.

    Many people think of Cholesteatoma as a tumour. IT IS NOT. Cholesteatomas are benign non-cancerous growths which can be surgically removed, if needed I.e. if they start to reduce hearing significantly due to the size of the growth.

    I myself have recently had a mastiodsectomy and tympanoplasty surgery. As I think you might know, Tympanoplasty is essentially, patching the eardrum using a muscle graft from your jaw muscle.

    I have yet to have a post surgery follow up but I'm pretty much 100% confident that the Tympanoplasty has failed. The Mastiodsectomy wound is still quite sore and 13 of 14 staples have been taken out - 1 staple at the top of my ear is embedded so deeply into the skin that its impossible to get with the staple remover.... it's also pretty painful when touched.

    I would suggest that you contact your Drs GP surgery and ask them for a referral to ENT for them to check your ear as they have not done so in some time and you have a symptom of reduced sound. DONT SAY YOU BOUGHT AN OTO-ENDOSCOPY CAMERA AS THEY'LL JUST TRY TO BLAME YOU FOR ANY PROBLEMS. AND STOP USING IT AS YOU COULD BE CREATING MORE DAMAGE THROUGH EAR IRRITATION, PUSHING BUGS OR DISCHARGE BACK DOWN INTO YOUR EAR TOWARDS THE EARDRUM - ALL OF WHICH IS BAD

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