- Re: Digest Number 641

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I just want to know what you mean by "saved" your canal wall? I have had 2 canal wall downs and have had no trouble with it at all. My canal wall is still intact and if I am not mistaking it referes to the procedure type that is being performed. Canal wall up it stayes intact and with a canal wall down the canal wall is opened to get inside the middles ear. It is a more invasive surgery. I was just curious to what you meant by saved?

Thanks and good luck to you! G.rlockw1092@... wrote:

Great info from Phil on reconstruction. Anyone who is being told "no" on reconstruction but is still interested in it should make sure they are seeing an otologist & not a regular ENT, & if they really want cutting edge (no pun intended!) make it an otologist from a teaching hospital. Doctors can & will tell you things with absolute sincerity & sometimes they are wrong.My ENT said I had to have a Canal Wall Down surgery (after 3 ops with cholesteatoma still present), quite firmly, & held out the consent for me to sign. I just really, really did not want that (my own personal thing, I know it is often necessary but I was very committed to my canal wall!) & by the grace of God I ended up in the hands of a skilled otologist in a teaching hospital who managed to save my canal wall. In the process, I learned that what is impossible in one doctor's office may be quite possible in another's. Get a second opinion (from an otologist) if you are at all uncomfortable with what your doctor is telling you. A good doctor will not be offended by this & even if the end result is the same you will at least have heard another perspective.FYI, I'm a "candidate" for reconstruction who has decided against it. My bones are all gone, although they did leave that all-important footplate of the stapes in there. Welcome to all newcomers, speedy recovery to all recent surgeries, hang in there to all.