Hi all, any help would be welcome. I am feeling pretty anxious, so it would be good to have some advice.
I had my stapedectomy for otosclerosis on Wednesday. Afterwards I did notice some changes in my hearing. It wasn’t better but ‘different’, and I could faintly hear different frequencies I’d previously had trouble with. While still in the hospital I had pretty heavy bleeding from the ear. I also had very loud tinnitus - louder than before the op.
On Friday, I was feeling ok so I went and met some friends at the pub (stupid, I know). While I was there, I felt like I had fluid in the ear. I ‘popped’ my ear by holding my nose and blowing, perhaps three times over the course of the afternoon. This made it feel like the fluid cleared, and helped me hear a tiny bit better. But I know it was a stupid thing to do. I’m really worried that by popping the ear I may have dislodged the prosthesis.
Four days on, my hearing is still poor - perhaps worse than immediately after the op - and I have terrible tinnitus - worse than before the procedure. The dizziness has lessened but is still there. I am very anxious that I may have ruined the surgery by popping the ears. Does anyone have any advice or similar experiences? I know I just have to wait it out and see, but I’m feeling very annoyed at myself for putting myself in this uncertainty. I should have just stayed home and relaxed instead of getting in this situation.
Does anyone know if pressure changes can dislodge the prosthesis, and what this might feel like? Thanks