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Cholesteatoma Cyst

by Elizabeth Fee
6 replies
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Well, just as things were gaining steam, I get struck with this unfortunate, but treatable ailment. I know I'm new here still, but for some reason I find solace in sharing this as I feel I've gotten to know a few great folks, and maybe, just MAYBE someone out there has experienced this same issue.

I'm going in for ear surgery on April 16th to have a cholesteatoma cyst (tumor) removed from my right middle ear. The good news is that it's small, but the bad news is that it's taken over my hearing bones, so those have to come out.

I'll lose 100% hearing in that ear until the next surgery (to take place in September) when they will reconstruct my middle ear with prosthetic bones. I should regain at least 90% of my hearing. This is actually really good stats considering I currently am at a 20% hearing loss with this tumor in my ear, so the way I see it, I just have to hold out until September when I'll have 10% better hearing than I do now.

Anyway.... I'm busier than ever with IM, and now this. Good thing most of what I do involves email and online work (thus not requiring good hearing), but I just want to be sure I will always be able to hear my children's voices.

If anyone else has gone through cholesteatoma surgeries, I'd love to hear from you! As you can probably tell, I'm a bit nervous!!

Thanks for allowing me to share.
  • Profile picture of the author thunderbird
    I wish all the best for you. It sounds like a challenging process but one that will produce successful results.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jonathan 2.0
    Banned
    Good that it's been recognized and is treatable. God speed. : )
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    "Each problem has hidden in it an opportunity so powerful that it literally dwarfs the problem. The greatest success stories were created by people who recognized a problem and turned it into an opportunity."―Joseph Sugarman
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    I can't tell ya about the surgeries or the cysts - but I have almost no hearing out of one ear. I put a bobby pin through it when I was a toddler and ripped the eardrum almost completely in half and left a hole in my inner ear.

    If your inner ear is disrupted by the surgery (or the tumor) you may find your balance is fudged sometimes. If you walk into a wall now and then or trip over things you normally wouldn't, that's par for the course. Also -- you will still hear your kids, not a problem -- but you might not be able to tell which directions sounds are coming from. You get used to that, though. You'll find yourself starting to look at someone else to see what direction they are looking in when you hear a noise. When I hear something I know my dog did, too, so I always look to see where he's looking for the noise source. Having only one decent ear isn't really much of a problem.
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    Sal
    When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
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    • Profile picture of the author Jonathan 2.0
      Banned
      I'm sure she'll be fine HeySal.
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      "Each problem has hidden in it an opportunity so powerful that it literally dwarfs the problem. The greatest success stories were created by people who recognized a problem and turned it into an opportunity."―Joseph Sugarman
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    • Profile picture of the author Elizabeth Fee
      Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

      If you walk into a wall now and then or trip over things you normally wouldn't, that's par for the course.
      I was warned about the balancing issue. As long as I will always know my children's voices, I'm fine with running into the wall every now and then.
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      Elizabeth Fee
      The Niche Mom - My personal blog to inspire and guide you towards earning an income online.

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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    LOL - yeah - your kid's nagging and whining will still come through loud and clear - you'll just look over your left shoulder sometimes when you should be looking over your right shoulder to tell them to knock it off.
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    Sal
    When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
    Beyond the Path

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