Re: Cholesteatoma Anxiety

[Guest guest]

>

> Well I had my 3rd follow up appointment today with my ENT to clean my right

ear to see if the infection had finally gone down and wasn't expecting the news

I got. The ear looks a little better but not much per my doctor. After 20 years

(1st surgery was when I was 15) the c-toma grew back. I am going for a catscan

tomorrow morning and I am scared to death! The last couple of weeks I have been

going to the ENT to get my ear cleaned weekly and have been on antibiotics (both

oral and ear drops). I wish there was another cure besides surgery. Can someone

tell me or ease my mind since I have a friend that has my anxiety level so high

right now I can barely think straight...is using a laser during a c-toma surgery

not a good thing? I am also concerned that the c-toma is to close to the brain

area (my doctor told me this today in the appointment) and may have damaged that

area making infection more prone and a huge cause for concern (meningitis) or

something else...has anyone else had a c-toma in this area and was there doctor

concerned like mine is? I am really scared right now.

>

I understand your anxiety about all this. When I was first diagnosed and had

surgery 7 years old the infection and c-toma had done a lot of damage and it was

very close to my brain. But they got it out without any damage or infection to

my brain. The thing is, if you don´t do something about it, it might get even

closer I guess. It is said it grows slower with adults than kids so it is more

urgent with kids to remove it. But I read about a lot of successful surgeries in

bad cases, too. I think some doctors use laser and some not and it might depend

on each case. You can always ask them. Try to relax and make sure you get

treated by a good doctor. It sounds like the doctor is taking this seriously, so

that is a good thing.

Good look, and keep us updated!

Best wishes from Wenche