Ears and operations
Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2011 7:00 pm
Hi all,
I had my left ear operated on for removal of the dreaded exostosis. The operation started with the girl trying to give me an IVstart, it was only a 20gauge needle and she wanted to numb it with lidocaine(hmmm, why?) and while she was fishing around missing my vasculature and stabbing my muscle tissue, I broke into a nervous sweat and became outraged. I snatched the catheter from her, and told her that she needs to leave the room, and wasn't welcome back, and that I would start my own IV. I have ropes for veins so it really isn't that hard. I was about to go home and call it a day at this point. I don't mind blood or body parts as long as it's someone elses...So emotionally shot, i proceeded to gear up mentally for the operation , after watching way too many operations on Youtube the night before. The anesthesiologist came in and we chatted, then my doctor came in(Dr. Cyrus Torchninsky in SD), and we discussed the operation, and I was good to go, Layed down on the operating table anesthesia hit and I was out. I awoke in the recovery room after a SEVEN HOUR surgery. What normally takes 90 minutes to 2.5 hours took a little longer. 41 years of surfing in cold water, cold wind made for some crazy growths in back of other crazy growths, the exostosis growths were actually morphing and growing skin amongst themselves, while one was leaning against my eardrum, WITH AN INFECTION BEHIND IT!!! Geez, insult to injury. Dr. Torchinsky is a technician who took his time to delicately remove the morphed alien-like growths without any bone damage or facial nerve compromise. I feel pretty good and on the mend.So, on the 8th of December, I go in for packing removal, and the beginning of sucking out the sludge of my ear. Both ears were 99% occluded. The left ear looked the worst on the scope, but my right ear is by far my weakest. I am gonna attack that one in May or June after PUMPING spring swells that we have coming. my $5000 insurance deductable is getting a workout this year. After a almost deathly debilitating lung bacterial bout a couple of months back... I am in fighting form now. My ear got put back in the right place without any added obscure angles either. I felt compelled to share my experience, as we all are subjected to different degrees of cold wind and water, and some people are pre-disposed to get Exostosis(surfers ear) than others. It is no fun. I had it pretty bad in the 80's, but ear plugs held off surgery to the bitter end. I did a pretty diligent amount of research and felt very comfortable with my doctor. He has performed at least 60 of these surgeries SUCCESSFULLY, and he has a technicians prowess. I can relate. I also advised him that it only takes 13 pounds of pressure for my katana to remove his head from his body, so he was very motivated to perform a skillful job! (HAA!!! I didn't tell him that, but it's a fact just the same) ,;-)
I will advise you on my progress. It has been a long time coming, and I expect to have monumental hearing gain. A new lease on life.
Enjoy the surf.
Happy Holidays and good cheer, Joey Goodman
I had my left ear operated on for removal of the dreaded exostosis. The operation started with the girl trying to give me an IVstart, it was only a 20gauge needle and she wanted to numb it with lidocaine(hmmm, why?) and while she was fishing around missing my vasculature and stabbing my muscle tissue, I broke into a nervous sweat and became outraged. I snatched the catheter from her, and told her that she needs to leave the room, and wasn't welcome back, and that I would start my own IV. I have ropes for veins so it really isn't that hard. I was about to go home and call it a day at this point. I don't mind blood or body parts as long as it's someone elses...So emotionally shot, i proceeded to gear up mentally for the operation , after watching way too many operations on Youtube the night before. The anesthesiologist came in and we chatted, then my doctor came in(Dr. Cyrus Torchninsky in SD), and we discussed the operation, and I was good to go, Layed down on the operating table anesthesia hit and I was out. I awoke in the recovery room after a SEVEN HOUR surgery. What normally takes 90 minutes to 2.5 hours took a little longer. 41 years of surfing in cold water, cold wind made for some crazy growths in back of other crazy growths, the exostosis growths were actually morphing and growing skin amongst themselves, while one was leaning against my eardrum, WITH AN INFECTION BEHIND IT!!! Geez, insult to injury. Dr. Torchinsky is a technician who took his time to delicately remove the morphed alien-like growths without any bone damage or facial nerve compromise. I feel pretty good and on the mend.So, on the 8th of December, I go in for packing removal, and the beginning of sucking out the sludge of my ear. Both ears were 99% occluded. The left ear looked the worst on the scope, but my right ear is by far my weakest. I am gonna attack that one in May or June after PUMPING spring swells that we have coming. my $5000 insurance deductable is getting a workout this year. After a almost deathly debilitating lung bacterial bout a couple of months back... I am in fighting form now. My ear got put back in the right place without any added obscure angles either. I felt compelled to share my experience, as we all are subjected to different degrees of cold wind and water, and some people are pre-disposed to get Exostosis(surfers ear) than others. It is no fun. I had it pretty bad in the 80's, but ear plugs held off surgery to the bitter end. I did a pretty diligent amount of research and felt very comfortable with my doctor. He has performed at least 60 of these surgeries SUCCESSFULLY, and he has a technicians prowess. I can relate. I also advised him that it only takes 13 pounds of pressure for my katana to remove his head from his body, so he was very motivated to perform a skillful job! (HAA!!! I didn't tell him that, but it's a fact just the same) ,;-)
I will advise you on my progress. It has been a long time coming, and I expect to have monumental hearing gain. A new lease on life.
Enjoy the surf.
Happy Holidays and good cheer, Joey Goodman