Guest guest Posted July 8, 2003 Report Share Posted July 8, 2003 Hi , Welcome to the group. My husband had a cwd about 4 years ago and couldn't be happier. He does go for regular cleanings (about once every 4 months) but he hasn't had to have surgery again. In fact, when he was diagnosed in his right ear, his doctor had to talk him out of a cwd because the c-toma was so small. He figured if he had a cwd right away, no more surgeries. Well, he had a cwu and hasn't had any other surgeries besides the second look. My hubby is a testament to the great benefits of both a CWU and a CWD. He doesn't find his cwd ear uncomfortable at all. He is deaf in that ear, however he can hear with a hearing aide. So, for him a cwd was no big deal. But as we are all so fond of saying, everyone's experience is different. Good luck to you and please keep us posted. Michele, Group Moderator offcenter72 <offcenter72@...> wrote: I had this procedure done twenty years ago and it is a constant nightmare today. If anyones doctor informs them that this is in their future insist that he perform a "cannal wall up" procedure since it will result in a normal appearance. The other "cannal wall down" procedure results in the removal of cartlidge behind the ear and is very uncomfortable even twenty years ater the fact. Both will require frequent trips back to your doctors office for brief torture sessions where they clean out all the crud that has built up. It doesn't take much to get infections since you will now have a even larger whole in your head. Also, you will have to do this for life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 3, 2011 Report Share Posted June 3, 2011 Donna, I've had this surgery, back in April 2007, and was in my mid 30s. I've had no re-occurrence of c-toma since then. Actually had my doctors appointment yesterday after not seeing him for 6 months. As you mentioned in earlier post about CWD, it does create a bigger space. The upside, the doctor has bigger space to see and rid of the c-toma and is not constricted. Also in future follow up visits the bigger opening lends to better visual inspection. Yes, with upsides there are downsides. Water restriction is strictly forbidden in the first year. I was a swimmer, and having a daughter at age 4 at the time that also enjoyed swimming, it was difficult, but I did it. As the first 6 months after surgery had passed, the opening to my ear on the outside was only slightly larger than the opening on the other good ear. The large scar left behind from the surgery was starting to fade away and the hair started to regrow. After a year, I asked the doctor if I could return to the pool and ocean for swimming. I was allowed but very limited, I went in the ocean twice during a summer week's vacation and went swimming in a pool roughly 10-15 times. I used basic OTC ear plugs to maintain as much a dry ear as possible. The doctor recommended that I also use after each contact with water, an OTC solution called "Swim Ear". Just make sure the main ingredient is isopropyl alcohol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 3, 2011 Report Share Posted June 3, 2011 How did this procedure affect your hearing. Currently her hearing is poor but she uses aides in both ears & does get a lot of correction back. Donna DeBoer > > Donna, > > I've had this surgery, back in April 2007, and was in my mid 30s. I've had no > re-occurrence of c-toma since then. Actually had my doctors appointment > yesterday after not seeing him for 6 months. As you mentioned in earlier post > about CWD, it does create a bigger space. The upside, the doctor has bigger > space to see and rid of the c-toma and is not constricted. Also in future > follow up visits the bigger opening lends to better visual inspection. Yes, > with upsides there are downsides. Water restriction is strictly forbidden in > the first year. I was a swimmer, and having a daughter at age 4 at the time > that also enjoyed swimming, it was difficult, but I did it. As the first 6 > months after surgery had passed, the opening to my ear on the outside was only > slightly larger than the opening on the other good ear. The large scar left > behind from the surgery was starting to fade away and the hair started to > regrow. After a year, I asked the doctor if I could return to the pool and > ocean for swimming. I was allowed but very limited, I went in the ocean twice > during a summer week's vacation and went swimming in a pool roughly 10-15 > times. I used basic OTC ear plugs to maintain as much a dry ear as possible. > The doctor recommended that I also use after each contact with water, an OTC > solution called " Swim Ear " . Just make sure the main ingredient is isopropyl > alcohol. > > Into the 2nd year since surgery, I swam, and continue to swim, without > earplugs. I make sure I use the Swim Ear solution as well as daily inflation of > the ears. I too have a dysfunctional eustacian tube. > > Hope this give you some clarity of what to expect after this surgery. > > -Nate > > > > > ________________________________ > From: Donna <Donna_is@...> > cholesteatoma > Sent: Thu, June 2, 2011 4:16:42 PM > Subject: Radical Mastoidectomy > >  > JinMei is finally out of her canal wall down surgery. The Dr. said there is an > opening into her eustachian tube, something he has never seen in a child this > young (8). She MAY need a radical mastoidectomy vs a complete. (And all of this > is MY understanding of things so I could have it all wrong). Doesn't sound good. > Thoughts? comments? Opinions? *sigh* > Donna DeBoer > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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