Re: Fungal infections and keeping ear dry

[Guest guest]

I don't have the complications that you do, but my ear has been what I would call "moist" since my surgery in March. I've tried drops, steroidal nose spray, antihistamines, etc. and it doesn't seem to get any better. I had a cold a couple of weeks ago and it has been worse since then. I too would like to know what others have done to dry out a wet ear. Its driving me crazy. I tug at it all the time and pretty much can't find any sort of relief. Its maddening. Snap crackle pop and a feeling of fullness/congestion all day every day is enough to drive one insane!

From: mamapicklejuice <emilyweb@...>Subject: Fungal infections and keeping ear drycholesteatoma Date: Tuesday, October 7, 2008, 12:28 PM

Hi guys -I haven't posted in a long time. I had surgery last year to remove ahuge golf ball sized ctoma, and my recovery seemed to go pretty well.Then this past spring I had a pretty bad bacterial infection coupledwith granulation tissue build-up - which my doc said was unusual, asthat type of tissue is usually seen immediately post-op. It took awhile, but seemed to clear up. Now, several months later, I had to goback again - acute fungal infection. As I am in the last weeks of mysecond pregnancy, he is only cleaning it out weekly and we are nottreating it yet with medication.However, and it may just be because I'm tired, hormonal, worn down,prone to over-reaction, I don't know, but I got home from my weeklyappt today, and honestly, I can't stop crying, I'm just worried, andupset and I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I just want to have astupid DRY EAR. Thank goodness my daughter is

asleep now - I'm just amess.Does anyone else have a super wet ear? My doc recommended I use ahair dryer on it, but I'm also thinking of trying either the Sahara orMac Ear dryer. I will also go back to using cotton balls and vaselinefor my showers - or do you guys just to baths now? I hate baths, butI am also just freaking out. Apparently the granulation tissue may beback, too, and that is NOT a good combination if you have a fungalinfection.Gosh, sorry this is so long. I'm just stupidly emotional right now. I just so desperately want to get better. Thanks for reading all this!

[Guest guest]

Well, I don't have any answers for ya but just wanted to let you know that I think we all get down in the dumps at some point and time in our journey of the cholesteatoma!!! Have a good cry, eat some chocolate and maybe buy a new pair of shoes!!! Hope things get better for ya. I really do!!!!!!!!!!!!

chin up

JO

From: mamapicklejuice <emilyweb@...>Subject: Fungal infections and keeping ear drycholesteatoma Date: Tuesday, October 7, 2008, 2:28 PM

Hi guys -I haven't posted in a long time. I had surgery last year to remove ahuge golf ball sized ctoma, and my recovery seemed to go pretty well.Then this past spring I had a pretty bad bacterial infection coupledwith granulation tissue build-up - which my doc said was unusual, asthat type of tissue is usually seen immediately post-op. It took awhile, but seemed to clear up. Now, several months later, I had to goback again - acute fungal infection. As I am in the last weeks of mysecond pregnancy, he is only cleaning it out weekly and we are nottreating it yet with medication.However, and it may just be because I'm tired, hormonal, worn down,prone to over-reaction, I don't know, but I got home from my weeklyappt today, and honestly, I can't stop crying, I'm just worried, andupset and I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I just want to have astupid DRY EAR. Thank goodness my daughter is

asleep now - I'm just amess.Does anyone else have a super wet ear? My doc recommended I use ahair dryer on it, but I'm also thinking of trying either the Sahara orMac Ear dryer. I will also go back to using cotton balls and vaselinefor my showers - or do you guys just to baths now? I hate baths, butI am also just freaking out. Apparently the granulation tissue may beback, too, and that is NOT a good combination if you have a fungalinfection.Gosh, sorry this is so long. I'm just stupidly emotional right now. I just so desperately want to get better. Thanks for reading all this!

[Guest guest]

Fungus is present in the air all around, humidity helps the fungus grow.

Discharge is nutriant for both fungus commonly found in ears- Candida and Aspergillosis

Arun

On 10/8/08, Jo Watters <tink442002@...> wrote:

Well, I don't have any answers for ya but just wanted to let you know that I think we all get down in the dumps at some point and time in our journey of the cholesteatoma!!! Have a good cry, eat some chocolate and maybe buy a new pair of shoes!!! Hope things get better for ya. I really do!!!!!!!!!!!!

chin up

JO

From: mamapicklejuice <emilyweb@...>

Subject: Fungal infections and keeping ear drycholesteatoma

Date: Tuesday, October 7, 2008, 2:28 PM

Hi guys -I haven't posted in a long time. I had surgery last year to remove ahuge golf ball sized ctoma, and my recovery seemed to go pretty well.Then this past spring I had a pretty bad bacterial infection coupled

with granulation tissue build-up - which my doc said was unusual, asthat type of tissue is usually seen immediately post-op. It took awhile, but seemed to clear up. Now, several months later, I had to goback again - acute fungal infection. As I am in the last weeks of my

second pregnancy, he is only cleaning it out weekly and we are nottreating it yet with medication.However, and it may just be because I'm tired, hormonal, worn down,prone to over-reaction, I don't know, but I got home from my weekly

appt today, and honestly, I can't stop crying, I'm just worried, andupset and I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I just want to have astupid DRY EAR. Thank goodness my daughter is asleep now - I'm just a

mess.Does anyone else have a super wet ear? My doc recommended I use ahair dryer on it, but I'm also thinking of trying either the Sahara orMac Ear dryer. I will also go back to using cotton balls and vaseline

for my showers - or do you guys just to baths now? I hate baths, butI am also just freaking out. Apparently the granulation tissue may beback, too, and that is NOT a good combination if you have a fungalinfection.

Gosh, sorry this is so long. I'm just stupidly emotional right now. I just so desperately want to get better. Thanks for reading all this!

[Guest guest]

My recommendation is to have a custom ear plug made by your audiologist. It's not expensive and may be covered by your insurance plan. The vaseline covered cotton balls got really old for me...I always felt like my ear was slimy.

Good luck!

cholesteatoma From: tink442002@...Date: Tue, 7 Oct 2008 19:36:23 -0700Subject: Re: Fungal infections and keeping ear dry

Well, I don't have any answers for ya but just wanted to let you know that I think we all get down in the dumps at some point and time in our journey of the cholesteatoma!!! Have a good cry, eat some chocolate and maybe buy a new pair of shoes!!! Hope things get better for ya. I really do!!!!!!!!!!!!

chin up

JO

From: mamapicklejuice <emilywebostermiller>Subject: Fungal infections and keeping ear drycholesteatoma Date: Tuesday, October 7, 2008, 2:28 PM

Hi guys -I haven't posted in a long time. I had surgery last year to remove ahuge golf ball sized ctoma, and my recovery seemed to go pretty well.Then this past spring I had a pretty bad bacterial infection coupledwith granulation tissue build-up - which my doc said was unusual, asthat type of tissue is usually seen immediately post-op. It took awhile, but seemed to clear up. Now, several months later, I had to goback again - acute fungal infection. As I am in the last weeks of mysecond pregnancy, he is only cleaning it out weekly and we are nottreating it yet with medication.However, and it may just be because I'm tired, hormonal, worn down,prone to over-reaction, I don't know, but I got home from my weeklyappt today, and honestly, I can't stop crying, I'm just worried, andupset and I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I just want to have astupid DRY EAR. Thank goodness my daughter is asleep now - I'm just amess.Does anyone else have a super wet ear? My doc recommended I use ahair dryer on it, but I'm also thinking of trying either the Sahara orMac Ear dryer. I will also go back to using cotton balls and vaselinefor my showers - or do you guys just to baths now? I hate baths, butI am also just freaking out. Apparently the granulation tissue may beback, too, and that is NOT a good combination if you have a fungalinfection.Gosh, sorry this is so long. I'm just stupidly emotional right now. I just so desperately want to get better. Thanks for reading all this!

[Guest guest]

My daughter had a bad case of mastoiditis this summer that resulted in a lot of granulation tissue and fungus as well as bacteria. It was caused by a new growth of ctoma in her mastoid cavity. She took diflucan pills all summer, but that is tricky since you are pregnant. Has your doctor said anything about vinegar drops? They have been very effective for Chloe in a past fungal infection and they're pretty safe.

I had four high risk pregnancies, and it's definitely not fun to have any serious medical issues at the end of pregnancy. It sounds like you are staying on top of it, and hopefully, your doc will be able to clear it up soon!

Good luck,

On 10/7/08, Arun Gupta <drarunjind@...> wrote:

Fungus is present in the air all around, humidity helps the fungus grow.

Discharge is nutriant for both fungus commonly found in ears- Candida and Aspergillosis

Arun

On 10/8/08, Jo Watters <tink442002@...> wrote:

Well, I don't have any answers for ya but just wanted to let you know that I think we all get down in the dumps at some point and time in our journey of the cholesteatoma!!! Have a good cry, eat some chocolate and maybe buy a new pair of shoes!!! Hope things get better for ya. I really do!!!!!!!!!!!!

chin up

JO

From: mamapicklejuice <emilyweb@...>

Subject: Fungal infections and keeping ear drycholesteatoma

Date: Tuesday, October 7, 2008, 2:28 PM

Hi guys -I haven't posted in a long time. I had surgery last year to remove ahuge golf ball sized ctoma, and my recovery seemed to go pretty well.Then this past spring I had a pretty bad bacterial infection coupled

with granulation tissue build-up - which my doc said was unusual, asthat type of tissue is usually seen immediately post-op. It took awhile, but seemed to clear up. Now, several months later, I had to goback again - acute fungal infection. As I am in the last weeks of my

second pregnancy, he is only cleaning it out weekly and we are nottreating it yet with medication.However, and it may just be because I'm tired, hormonal, worn down,prone to over-reaction, I don't know, but I got home from my weekly

appt today, and honestly, I can't stop crying, I'm just worried, andupset and I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I just want to have astupid DRY EAR. Thank goodness my daughter is asleep now - I'm just a

mess.Does anyone else have a super wet ear? My doc recommended I use ahair dryer on it, but I'm also thinking of trying either the Sahara orMac Ear dryer. I will also go back to using cotton balls and vaseline

for my showers - or do you guys just to baths now? I hate baths, butI am also just freaking out. Apparently the granulation tissue may beback, too, and that is NOT a good combination if you have a fungalinfection.

Gosh, sorry this is so long. I'm just stupidly emotional right now. I just so desperately want to get better. Thanks for reading all this!

[Guest guest]

Just wanted to send you some support - my left ear has been " wet " for

a month now, which is what made me realize that I had issues with it

again.

Do you wear cotton balls during the day? Do you wipe it out with Q-

tips? I'm sure after you have baby #2 - they can give you a course

of antibiotics (oral and drops) - but putting a cotton ball in there

during the day should at least help that yucky draining feeling.

It's the worst when you turn your head and can feel the liquid oozing

in your ear!! Also, what the other poster said about vinegar is

true - and it won't hurt the baby at all!

Best of luck to you on the last few days of your pregnancy - just

remember that as soon as you see the baby, wet ear won't really

matter much in the whole grand scheme of things!!

> From: mamapicklejuice <emilyweb@...>Subject: Fungal

infections and keeping ear drycholesteatoma@...: Tuesday, October

7, 2008, 2:28 PM

>

>

> Hi guys -I haven't posted in a long time. I had surgery last year

to remove ahuge golf ball sized ctoma, and my recovery seemed to go

pretty well.Then this past spring I had a pretty bad bacterial

infection coupledwith granulation tissue build-up - which my doc said

was unusual, asthat type of tissue is usually seen immediately post-

op. It took awhile, but seemed to clear up. Now, several months

later, I had to goback again - acute fungal infection. As I am in the

last weeks of mysecond pregnancy, he is only cleaning it out weekly

and we are nottreating it yet with medication.However, and it may

just be because I'm tired, hormonal, worn down,prone to over-

reaction, I don't know, but I got home from my weeklyappt today, and

honestly, I can't stop crying, I'm just worried, andupset and I don't

know what I'm doing wrong. I just want to have astupid DRY EAR. Thank

goodness my daughter is asleep now - I'm just amess.Does anyone else

have a super wet ear? My doc recommended I use ahair dryer on it, but

I'm also thinking of trying either the Sahara orMac Ear dryer. I will

also go back to using cotton balls and vaselinefor my showers - or do

you guys just to baths now? I hate baths, butI am also just freaking

out. Apparently the granulation tissue may beback, too, and that is

NOT a good combination if you have a fungalinfection.Gosh, sorry this

is so long. I'm just stupidly emotional right now. I just so

desperately want to get better. Thanks for reading all this!

>

[Guest guest]

My daughter had a nasty fungal infection in her ear and a few weeks of lotrisone ear drops did well. Not sure if you can use these pregnant. Ask doc.

From: mamapicklejuice <emilyweb@ostermille r.com>Subject: Fungal infections and keeping ear drycholesteatomaDate: Tuesday, October 7, 2008, 2:28 PM

Hi guys -I haven't posted in a long time. I had surgery last year to remove ahuge golf ball sized ctoma, and my recovery seemed to go pretty well.Then this past spring I had a pretty bad bacterial infection coupledwith granulation tissue build-up - which my doc said was unusual, asthat type of tissue is usually seen immediately post-op. It took awhile, but seemed to clear up. Now, several months later, I had to goback again - acute fungal infection. As I am in the last weeks of mysecond pregnancy, he is only cleaning it out weekly and we are nottreating it yet with medication.However, and it may just be because I'm tired, hormonal, worn down,prone to over-reaction, I don't know, but I got home from my weeklyappt today, and honestly, I can't stop crying, I'm just worried, andupset and I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I just want to have astupid DRY EAR. Thank goodness my daughter is

asleep now - I'm just amess.Does anyone else have a super wet ear? My doc recommended I use ahair dryer on it, but I'm also thinking of trying either the Sahara orMac Ear dryer. I will also go back to using cotton balls and vaselinefor my showers - or do you guys just to baths now? I hate baths, butI am also just freaking out. Apparently the granulation tissue may beback, too, and that is NOT a good combination if you have a fungalinfection.Gosh, sorry this is so long. I'm just stupidly emotional right now. I just so desperately want to get better. Thanks for reading all this!

[Guest guest]

oh my god, I feel so bad for you going through this while youre pregnant. i used to have fungal infections in my ear. my ear was always slimy,wet,stinky. Its not fun at all.i know.trust me all this will get better. Dont cry so much because i used to do that and I sware it made it worst. I think this because how your ears,nose and throat are all conected i believe it messes with it a little. I got diagnosed right after my pregnancy.Sorry to say it this way but it really sucks. I used to cry alot but then I learned more about it and it doesnt scare me so much now. I know your hearing is messed up but i promise everythiing will get better. take care of your baby and i wish you luck with everything you do. You will be in my prayers.

P.S.

What helped me out the most ever is Cipro Otic drops the other ones didnt do anything for me.Now I hardly ever use it and my ears are dry even though I dont use anything when i shower.(i should) And skip the vaseline and cottonball alltogether its just one big mess. Earplug is better.

Fungal infections and keeping ear drycholesteatomaDate: Tuesday, October 7, 2008, 2:28 PM

Hi guys -I haven't posted in a long time. I had surgery last year to remove ahuge golf ball sized ctoma, and my recovery seemed to go pretty well.Then this past spring I had a pretty bad bacterial infection coupledwith granulation tissue build-up - which my doc said was unusual, asthat type of tissue is usually seen immediately post-op. It took awhile, but seemed to clear up. Now, several months later, I had to goback again - acute fungal infection. As I am in the last weeks of mysecond pregnancy, he is only cleaning it out weekly and we are nottreating it yet with medication.However, and it may just be because I'm tired, hormonal, worn down,prone to over-reaction, I don't know, but I got home from my weeklyappt today, and honestly, I can't stop crying, I'm just worried, andupset and I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I just want to have astupid DRY EAR. Thank goodness my daughter is

asleep now - I'm just amess.Does anyone else have a super wet ear? My doc recommended I use ahair dryer on it, but I'm also thinking of trying either the Sahara orMac Ear dryer. I will also go back to using cotton balls and vaselinefor my showers - or do you guys just to baths now? I hate baths, butI am also just freaking out. Apparently the granulation tissue may beback, too, and that is NOT a good combination if you have a fungalinfection.Gosh, sorry this is so long. I'm just stupidly emotional right now. I just so desperately want to get better. Thanks for reading all this!

[Guest guest]

My doc told me to use Silly Putty, and that's what seems to work best.

I've tried everything, and keep it with me in a ziplock in the summer.

I use it daily for showers. There are some off brands, but the real

Silly Putty works best, and it's cheap. You might find it at just

about any toy store. Once you find it, buy about 4 or 5, and you'll

have a stash for years. You just break off a small piece that you'll

need, put another piece in a ziplock in your glovebox, and another in

suitcase or dobb kitt. You never know when you'll need it. I go

camping, explore caves, canoeing, so I need to remember to keep it on

hand.

Showers are best and really help clean out sinuses, and open

estasian tube.

> From: mamapicklejuice <emilyweb@...>Subject: Fungal

infections and keeping ear drycholesteatoma@...: Tuesday, October

7, 2008, 2:28 PM

>

>

> Hi guys -I haven't posted in a long time. I had surgery last year to

remove ahuge golf ball sized ctoma, and my recovery seemed to go

pretty well.Then this past spring I had a pretty bad bacterial

infection coupledwith granulation tissue build-up - which my doc said

was unusual, asthat type of tissue is usually seen immediately

post-op. It took awhile, but seemed to clear up. Now, several months

later, I had to goback again - acute fungal infection. As I am in the

last weeks of mysecond pregnancy, he is only cleaning it out weekly

and we are nottreating it yet with medication.However, and it may just

be because I'm tired, hormonal, worn down,prone to over-reaction, I

don't know, but I got home from my weeklyappt today, and honestly, I

can't stop crying, I'm just worried, andupset and I don't know what

I'm doing wrong. I just want to have astupid DRY EAR. Thank goodness

my daughter is asleep now - I'm just amess.Does anyone else have a

super wet ear? My doc recommended I use ahair dryer on it, but I'm

also thinking of trying either the Sahara orMac Ear dryer. I will also

go back to using cotton balls and vaselinefor my showers - or do you

guys just to baths now? I hate baths, butI am also just freaking out.

Apparently the granulation tissue may beback, too, and that is NOT a

good combination if you have a fungalinfection.Gosh, sorry this is so

long. I'm just stupidly emotional right now. I just so desperately

want to get better. Thanks for reading all this!

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks, guys - I appreciate the support! I've been doing an ear

wash after my shower the past couple days at the recommendation of my

doc (hydrogen peroxide diluted with water) and then drying it with a

hair dryer)...I actually think I've had less drainage the past couple

of days. I don't know if that means anything really, because

certainly the wash alone is not going to cure the fungal

infection...but just maybe it's slowing it down a bit??? That would

be nice if when I went back in next week it didn't look like I had 6

months fungal growth in a week. That just freaks me out, man. heh.

Anyway, what can you do but take it day by day, right? Okay, I'll

catch you all later! Take care everyone!

PS I haven't gone back to cotton balls and vaseline as I've been doing

the ear wash afterwards - I figure if I'm dumping water in my ear

anyway, I may as not waste time trying to keep it out during the

shower...unless you guys think that shampoo is a problem? I am pretty

careful about not getting water/shampoo in my ear during the shower,

and now, as I mention, I'm doing the wash plus drying it with the hair

dryer afterwards.

>

> > From: mamapicklejuice <emilyweb@>Subject: Fungal

>

> infections and keeping ear drycholesteatoma@: Tuesday, October

>

> 7, 2008, 2:28 PM

>

> >

>

> >

>

> > Hi guys -I haven't posted in a long time. I had surgery last year to

>

> remove ahuge golf ball sized ctoma, and my recovery seemed to go

>

> pretty well.Then this past spring I had a pretty bad bacterial

>

> infection coupledwith granulation tissue build-up - which my doc said

>

> was unusual, asthat type of tissue is usually seen immediately

>

> post-op. It took awhile, but seemed to clear up. Now, several months

>

> later, I had to goback again - acute fungal infection. As I am in the

>

> last weeks of mysecond pregnancy, he is only cleaning it out weekly

>

> and we are nottreating it yet with medication.However, and it may just

>

> be because I'm tired, hormonal, worn down,prone to over-reaction, I

>

> don't know, but I got home from my weeklyappt today, and honestly, I

>

> can't stop crying, I'm just worried, andupset and I don't know what

>

> I'm doing wrong. I just want to have astupid DRY EAR. Thank goodness

>

> my daughter is asleep now - I'm just amess.Does anyone else have a

>

> super wet ear? My doc recommended I use ahair dryer on it, but I'm

>

> also thinking of trying either the Sahara orMac Ear dryer. I will also

>

> go back to using cotton balls and vaselinefor my showers - or do you

>

> guys just to baths now? I hate baths, butI am also just freaking out.

>

> Apparently the granulation tissue may beback, too, and that is NOT a

>

> good combination if you have a fungalinfection.Gosh, sorry this is so

>

> long. I'm just stupidly emotional right now. I just so desperately

>

> want to get better. Thanks for reading all this!

>

> >

>

[Guest guest]

What a great tip!! (the silly putty!!) ---- I have been having tons of drainage - so I know getting my ear wet isn't going to help anything. When I was little, I had a special silicone ear plug - but since I haven't been in so long - I don't have one now. With the silly putty though, it's probably unnecesary - I really appreciate the GREAT tip!!

-- })i({ Melinda Kaye Spille })i({Very Proud Wife of Captain " Big Al " Super Blessed Mommy of Trinity, Emelia & TreyRomans 8:28, Ephesians 3:20(\__/) (='.'=) ( " )_( " )

[Guest guest]

hey mama

this may sound stupid but i first started getting fungal infections

when my kids were first born. my suggestion is dont ever fall asleep

with wet hair. it took me awhile to figure it out but when my kids

were babies i was always so tired at end of day i would often shower

and fall asleep with wet hair then i naturally slept with my ctoma ear

down against pillow so i would be able to hear if the kids woke up.

this left all that moisture right against my ear (perfect conditions

for fungus). i also found no time to mess with cotton balls, etc. so i

just wash hair under faucet in tub, then take shower with a towel on

my head which helps keep steamy moisture out of my ear.

good luck

cindy

>

> Hi guys -

>

> I haven't posted in a long time. I had surgery last year to remove a

> huge golf ball sized ctoma, and my recovery seemed to go pretty well.

> Then this past spring I had a pretty bad bacterial infection coupled

> with granulation tissue build-up - which my doc said was unusual, as

> that type of tissue is usually seen immediately post-op. It took a

> while, but seemed to clear up. Now, several months later, I had to go

> back again - acute fungal infection. As I am in the last weeks of my

> second pregnancy, he is only cleaning it out weekly and we are not

> treating it yet with medication.

>

> However, and it may just be because I'm tired, hormonal, worn down,

> prone to over-reaction, I don't know, but I got home from my weekly

> appt today, and honestly, I can't stop crying, I'm just worried, and

> upset and I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I just want to have a

> stupid DRY EAR. Thank goodness my daughter is asleep now - I'm just a

> mess.

>

> Does anyone else have a super wet ear? My doc recommended I use a

> hair dryer on it, but I'm also thinking of trying either the Sahara or

> Mac Ear dryer. I will also go back to using cotton balls and vaseline

> for my showers - or do you guys just to baths now? I hate baths, but

> I am also just freaking out. Apparently the granulation tissue may be

> back, too, and that is NOT a good combination if you have a fungal

> infection.

>

> Gosh, sorry this is so long. I'm just stupidly emotional right now.

> I just so desperately want to get better. Thanks for reading all this!

>