..Re: Surgery Set for May 18th

[Guest guest]

,

Which location in Mich for MEI are you having your surgery at, and

who is performing it? I lived on 12th and Gratiot many years ago

and still have family in that area. I checked MEI's location, and

they have an office on 13 Mile Road! Small world....and best of

luck in the double surgery.

Bettie

>

>

> After 2 hours of torture Saturday Morning at the Michigan Ear

> Institute, the specialist told me that the previous surgeon that

> worked on both my ears 4 years ago (left ear was a radical

> mastoidectomy with tympanoplasty) didn't do a good job

> (I overheard his associate say something like " man what a botched

> job " ).

>

> The doctor thinks the left ear (the one with the Choloresteatoma)

is

> repairable...he strongly believes that we found it in time and he

> should be able to save the bones. A pathology report on the tissue

> during the surgery will tell if it is cancerous or not (thanks to

> this group, I've learned that only 2 - 3 percent of this

type

> of condition is usually cancerous...but my concern is still there

> because of my family having a history of cancer). He plans on

going

> in and removing the tumor, doing a cleanup, then using a laser to

> tighten up the eardrum. Whatever the last doctor did, it looks

like a

> crinkled piece of wax paper and I can hardly hear out of it.

>

> The situation with my right ear (the one with all the pain) is

rather

> unique. This doctor does about 400 ear surgeries a year and does

the

> type of surgery I need only 1 or 2 times out of the 400. The ear

> canal has to be reconstructed - his short story is that it has

> developed a pocket, putting pressure on the nerves that is causing

> all my problems. About 4 years ago, Dr Botchjob (not his real

name)

> did a 7 ½ hour procedure and apparently didn't put me back

> together

> correctly. The MEI doctor is also having me get an MRI prior to

the

> surgery to check for Acoustic Neuroma. (I am claustrophobic; thank

> goodness he gave me some valium). Some have said I need my head

> examined...now they have the consensus of a professional. ;-)

>

> Fortunately he plans on working on both ears at the same time

> (unusual I know, but I am glad to get it over with). A surgery

date

> is set for Wednesday May 18th and I was told to plan on staying at

> least one night.

>

> Pain: Meanwhile I can no longer take vicoprofen after this week

due

> to it being sort of a blood thinner - I am going to ask for

darvoset

> (sp?), unless anyone can recommend something better.

>

> Good luck to those with upcoming surgeries - fear not, there is

> relief down the road. Take care all.