Surgery — Hole in Ear to Relieve Pressure — Experiences?

[CrystalB]

So I have been diagnosed with ETD from my last hearing test back in December. I went to my ENT appointment this week and he said my hearing test showed negative pressure in both ears.

I have had tinnitus for 9 months now, and it's not going away! I also have ear fullness, cracking and popping, also in my right ear where it is worse and the tinnitus seems the loudest, at times when I talk to a certain loudness, I can feel air being pushed into my ear and my ear vibrates and hurts.

My ENT this week was telling me about a surgery he is wanting to do, he mentioned it may make my tinnitus go away if my ringing is due to ETD but he couldn't promise.

It's a surgery where he makes a hole in my ear to relieve pressure, and within 7 days it should heal back, but during that time before it heals I will be able to tell if it's going to help any, if it makes my tinnitus go away and all the pain and pressure, if it works after it heals up he will then go in and put tubes in my ears.

The down side is, I will lose some hearing due to the surgery, he said enough to where I will notice it.

Has anyone else had a surgery like that and did it help or make your tinnitus go away? And did the hearing loss affect you any?

He's seeing me in a few more months or even sooner, I have to make my decision then, so it would help to get other people's opinions on it that has been thru it or know anything about it!

 

[Tinker Bell]

What type of surgery would he do to create a hole in your eardrum? How large would the hole be? Would the hearing loss be permanent?

I had intratympanic steroid injections. Technically it was considered minor surgery according to my insurance, however it was a very quick and relatively easy procedure. I was awake and it was administered in my ear specialist's office. The first injection created a small hole in my ear drum. He used the same spot for the additional injections, and after a week the hole began to close. I had no hearing loss due to the hole, but the hole was no larger than a needle.

Given the link between tinnitus and hearing loss, I would be very hesitant to do anything that would cause permanent loss.

Are you seeing a general ENT or an ENT who specializes in ear conditions? For example, the ear specialist who treated me conducted weekly major ear surgeries like cochlear implants. He did not treat sinus infections or other minor conditions.

 

[GregCA]

What type of surgery would he do to create a hole in your eardrum? How large would the hole be? Would the hearing loss be permanent?

Probably a myringotomy (I'm guessing). Essentially a small incision in the ear drum so pressure can equalize.

This is temporary and should heal (it used to be done to relieve severe otitis media w/ effusion), with recovery of hearing I imagine.

I had intratympanic steroid injections. Technically it was considered minor surgery according to my insurance, however it was a very quick and relatively easy procedure. I was awake and it was administered in my ear specialist's office. The first injection created a small hole in my ear drum. He used the same spot for the additional injections, and after a week the hole began to close. I had no hearing loss due to the hole, but the hole was no larger than a needle.

Tympanostomy tubes are about 1.2 mm diameter and when they fall off, the hole also "closes up naturally" (well, if everything goes according to plan of course).
When I had my IT steroid injection, the hole in my ear drum wouldn't heal appropriately, so we took advantage of my stapedotomy to have a little surgical fix done at the same time while I was under.

 

[Tinker Bell]

Probably a myringotomy (I'm guessing). Essentially a small incision in the ear drum so pressure can equalize.

This is temporary and should heal (it used to be done to relieve severe otitis media w/ effusion), with recovery of hearing I imagine.



Tympanostomy tubes are about 1.2 mm diameter and when they fall off, the hole also "closes up naturally" (well, if everything goes according to plan of course).
When I had my IT steroid injection, the hole in my ear drum wouldn't heal appropriately, so we took advantage of my stapedotomy to have a little surgical fix done at the same time while I was under.

I'm so glad you responded, I was hoping you would see this thread since you have a lot of knowledge in this area!