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Hi there, I had my stapedectomy operation done in Decem...

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Hi there,

I had my stapedectomy operation done in December 2006 and thought I'd share my experience with anyone who might be considering this operation and sprawling patient forums as I did.

I was 60% deaf in my right ear and had early signs of otosclerosis in my left ear. I decided to go ahead with the opeartion largely because insurance doesn't cover hearing aids. My specialist was Mr. J A Lavy who I can't recommend enough. He explained that there was a 1% chance of total hearing loss and 10% chance that my hearing wouldn't improve and as others have mentioned they may not be able to do the operation should my facial nerve be in the way.

I had the operation done under local anaesthetic and was also given a sedative. I have to say the most painful part of the whole experience was the injections in my ear but they are over in a matter of minutes. Unfortunately my ear canal was too narrow so they had to make an incision in the top of my ear but that really wasn't a big deal and has left the tiniest of scares. I watched the operation as it was being done through their camera which was quite reassuring as there were a lot of loud noises as they chipped away at bone etc. I fell asleep as they were doing the laser bit and came round after they had sewn up my ear drum. The advantage of them doing it under local was that they could do a mini test on my hearing there and then.

I felt extremely dizzy after the op - don't underestimate how dizzy u'll feel. I think that it is a little under played on a lot of these sites about how rotten you'll feel for the next day or so. I ended up staying in the hospital overnight.

My recovery took a week and it was a week of very squelchy noises, having to have someone wash my hair (you musn't get it wet) and restless nights as obviously it's too painful to lye on the operated ear.

Once the padding came out (2 weeks) everything was defeaningly loud and had a tinny quality about it but that settled down over the following two weeks. But I would be prepared to negotiate your social life for this period as I found that going out a bit of an overwhelming experience as I found my sense of sound direction was completely off.

Yesterday I had my hearing tested, you have to wait 6 weeks in total before it's testable, the results were fantastic I now have a normal right ear and can use the phone on that ear and hear what people are actually saying rather than just pretending to understand.

There is a small chance that I may have to have the piston replaced years from now as I am only 25 and so it may wear out also I may need to have the left ear operated on in time but I don't see this as a major issue considering how well my first op went.

The things that I have been told I wont be able to do post op is scuba diving and sky diving (shucks!)

Well that's it - hope that's helpful!

[i:0f5ba42d8b]This message was automatically imported from the original Patient Experience[/i:0f5ba42d8b]

5 likes, 204 replies

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  • hope4cure
    hope4cure Guest

    Posted

    Thanks for your detailed observations regarding ear surgery.

    My son has put off the surgery or hearing aids due to  osteosclerosis.

    Mabe sending your experience to him will help encourage him to have it done.

     Congratulations 😁on the success of your surgery. Happy to hear you have now got your hearing back! 

  • shipra02962
    shipra02962 Guest

    Posted

    I am just 28 year old and have hearing loss problem and when i read i become very nervous in those days. 
    • joanne8798
      joanne8798 shipra02962

      Posted

      I think typically a stapendectomy /stapes surgery has short term issues that are well worth getting the survey done, especially as young as you are (minor dizziness because of temporary swelling/blood and overall disturbance to an area that has much to do with balance, metallic sounding noises as hearing returns and adjusts, taste-bud issues, maybe tenderness and of course post surgery care as instructed. As you heal, symptoms fade). I think vertigo that lasts as mine has (for me it was wrong size prosthetic put in and odd shaped ear canal that bubbles got into and stayed for a long time leaving my brain to retrain balance).  A year later I’m in vestibular balance therapy for ‘positional vertigo’ meaning I’m basically fully functional  to drive, walk etc.....but feel imbalance in certain positions (getting up from laying down, bending and moving with stepping i tip over, putting pant leg in sometimes tip ....but it’s amazing how your brain can compensate). This is due to 2 surgeries that each had ‘complications ‘ . I think most are successful and on this forum most people are in the healing stage saying what’s happening. Prepare for a few months at most of not being perfect, talk to the surgeon and do everything they direct you too. You should be just fine! I can hear! That part was a success in the end. Most likely you will not ha e anything g lasting except better hearing. Definitely discuss concerns and what to expect from the surgeon.  Good luck!!!
  • joannesstapedec
    joannesstapedec Guest

    Posted

    January 5, 2018

    Hi there, just thought I should let everyone know that the left side of my tongue is back to normal but still have an awful taste like glue in my mouth. I was given ear drops (antibiotic) 2 weeks ago to help devolve the inner packing after having my doctor use a tiny vacuum to suck what he could out.

    I went back to work after 4 weeks. Back to my regular duties with no limitations.  Was suppose to go back after 3 weeks but I needed another doctors note that’s why an extra week. My doctor said the surgery went well. He said to use drops in ear for 1 week 2x a day. He said to be careful and not get water in the ear, after 3 mths should be ok to get water in ear. 

    Just curious when did everyone’s hearing get better after your stapedectomy? My surgery was Nov 23 2017 and I still cannot hear from left ear. My doctor said it could take upto 3 months. I am so looking forward to the day when I can hear. 

    Joanne from Kingston Ontario 

    • joanne8798
      joanne8798 joannesstapedec

      Posted

      Hello again! Yes about 3 months to get hearing back. LOTS of tin-metal-sounds ....different decibel voices off the TV would just hurt. But that calms down as our brains decifer sounds and the healing happens. Don’t be alarmed, i was and then i think it was this blog where i heard about it. Some ringing too. Anyone else please add your healing experiences.

      Good luck. I still have positional vertigo, getting physical therapy. Not noticing improvement yet. 

      Joanne

  • joannesstapedec
    joannesstapedec Guest

    Posted

    January 5, 2018

     Hi there,  my surgery was Nov 23, 2017. I just thought I should let everyone know that the left side of my tongue is back to normal but still have an awful taste like glue in my mouth. It’s normal the doctor said. I was given ear drops (antibiotic) 2 weeks ago to help devolve the inner packing after having my doctor use a tiny vacuum to suck what he could out.

    I went back to work after 4 weeks. Back to my regular duties with no limitations.  Was suppose to go back after 3 weeks but I needed another doctors note that’s why an extra week. My doctor said the surgery went well. He said to use drops in ear for 1 week 2x a day. He said to be careful and not get water in the ear, after 3 mths should be ok to get water in ear. 

     Just curious when did everyone’s hearing get better after your stapedectomy? My surgery was Nov 23 2017 and I still cannot hear from left ear. My doctor said it could take upto 3 months. I am so looking forward to the day when I can hear. 

     Joanne from Kingston Ontario 

    • AgentRaj
      AgentRaj joannesstapedec

      Posted

      Hi Joanne,

      With my left ear Sapedotomy in Mar 2016. I could hear better right away after the surgery and it getting better with healing.

      With my right ear Stapedotomy last week (Jan 9th), the hearing hasn't become any better yet.  There is still inner gel packing covered by another cotton swap in addition to blood inside the ear drum.  I'll have the inner gel packing removed Jan 22nd and will get better idea how the hearing is.

      Had the bad taste with left ear surgery that lasted couple of months and have it again this time so lets see how long that lasts.  I took anti-biotics first time and only Tylenol 3 this time over first 2 days.  Ear drops 2x daily for 2 weeks both times.  Harder part is only being able to sleep on one side for first 2 weeks.

      Best of luck with your hearing recovery.

  • AgentRaj
    AgentRaj Guest

    Posted

    Hello all,

    I’ll share my Stapedotomy surgery experiences with you all here.  I’ve had bad hearing in my right ear since I was a teenager but never proceeded with any treatment.  Then hear loss also started in left ear in 2014.  By 2015, I only had about 30% hearing in both ears with left ear being worse off.  I was 38 and thought I may lose all my hearing by age 40!  After tests and all, the surgeon advised Stapedotomy on left ear first.  

    Left ear was operated in March 2016.  After the surgery, I experienced very little discomfort for only couple of days and some “tin can” hearing for about a month.  Other than that surgery was a success and hearing back to about 85% level.  

    Right ear was operated on Jan 09/18.  Once again, there was only a slight pain and heard “slushing/throbbing” sounds in ear but that only lasted couple of days.  No other issues at all.

    What I do notice is that hearing doesn’t seem as good as it did with left ear right after the surgery.  But then again maybe it sounded better last time since hearing was terrible in both ears at that time.  Still, the inner gel packing will be removed on Jan 22/18 and hopefully that makes a bigger difference along with further healing of the ear.

    In conclusion, left ear surgery was a success and right ear surgery success still TBD.  However, I’ve been lucky both times to not have major issues post surgery and only minor discomfort. Hope this provides some insight and look forward to answering any questions you any have.

    Both surgeries were performed by Dr. Lin of Sunnybrook Heath Sciences, Toronto.

  • dave62450
    dave62450 Guest

    Posted

    Just curious if anyone is still around here and how everyone was feeling after their stapedectomy or stapendotomy? I had a Stapendotomy exactly 4 weeks ago today. I was approximately 70-80% deaf in my left ear and had mild rushing (roaring) tinnitus that didn't effect life to much unless it was very quite. I got my packing out last week and I can definitely hear much better but I know have SEVERE ringing tinnitus in my ear. It is so bad it is preventing me from sleeping and focusing. My Dr. says it may or should go away with time but I'm going mad here. Just curious what to expect over time. Do I just keep waiting this thing out hoping it improves. I just need some advice as I'm going crazy here. Thanks

    • joannesstapedec
      joannesstapedec dave62450

      Posted

      January 29, 2018

      Hi dave62450,

      I had my stapedectomy done Nov 23 2017. I feel fine except I have tennitus in my ear mostly when its quiet. I also have a funny taste in my mouth its a bit sweet tasting its not bad though. I was told I would have a titanium taste as the prosthesis is made of titanium. However, I still cannot hear well from my left ear. The doctor says it can take upto 3 months to hear. He said, my surgery was a success, its just a waithing game now. Looking forward to that day when it happens. 

      Joanne from Kingston Ontario smile

    • dave62450
      dave62450 joannesstapedec

      Posted

      Hanks for answering Joann you had your surgery approximately 1 month before me. I had mine on Dec. 28th. So I am right at 1 month I feel completely normal and that’s what is throwing me off so bad is my tinnitus is so bad it’s hard to focus and feel normal. Did you battle really bad ringing the first month?  Also maybe it’s different for everyone I’m just really hoping I don’t have to live with this because that it gonna be a struggle to figure out how to cope with this constant noise.  Thanks again for your help.  Good luck with recovery. 
  • dave62450
    dave62450 Guest

    Posted

    SORRY...I should have also mentioned that the Dr. did have to cut my taste nerve that runs through the ear. She said that my taste should recover over time but I will always taste things different. My surgery did take over 3 hours as she said my ear canal was extremely small she tried to avoid cutting the nerve for quite some time but finally she had to. I feel completely fine now besides the high pitch ringing and she has placed zero restrictions on me except scuba diving. I wouldn't care if my taste was messed up for life if this darn jet noise would just go away.

  • hans28727
    hans28727 Guest

    Posted

    Hi, I had a stapedactomy at age 35 (45 years ago) it did not improve my hearing and my

    hearing has gone down to the "severe" loss. Stapedactomy was in right ear. Which has only 10%

    ?hearing . Left ear is about 35 %. People are suggesting I consider a Cochlear Implant.

    ?Anybody has personal experience with implants or have a relative who has implants ?

    ?Like to have more info but most info on websites are from Cochlear the company 

    ?selling the implant wish makes up most of the cost for the operation which is about $ 100,000.00

  • pondwater62
    pondwater62 Guest

    Posted

    Hello all,

     I've been reading all the comments from the very first one and would like to thank all of you enlightening and educating me of procedure. Hope there are still some active members still writing on this board. I am considering stapedectomy surgery this fall and have a couple of questions for anyone who can  offer advice. I am a retired army veteran and was injured while serving, which caused gradual hearing loss over twenty or so years ago. My doctor says my bone inside my ear is not moving, I am a good candidate for the surgery. All Cat Scans/MRI test came out good with no problems other than the bone not moving. I've developed tinnitus over the years and was wondering if anyone experience tinnitus prior to your surgery and did it get better or worse over the course of a month or year(s).  

    Thanks you all.

    Robert

  • p45523
    p45523 Guest

    Posted

    Hi All,

    I had my right ear stapedotomy done on 1 Aug, 2018 and it's 17 days and still not able to hear anything from the right ear. It feels very clogged and different kind of sounds play in my ear.I had an appointment with the doctor on 9th day of the surgery where he removed my outer packing, however, as per doctor internal packing is still there and it will take sometime to dissolve. As i read the stories of many others whom hearing improved right after surgery or after removing of the packing. So, I am bit worried everything is fine or is there any issue with my surgery and should I take second opinion. please share your experience and how is the hearing now.  

     

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