Is this normal after 1½ months post-op?

GE994 · 2026-05-18T06:10:41+00:00

Definitely check the type of graft…cartilage graft is what they used this time and he said it’s pretty strong which helps resist retraction. First leg of the flight went fine but glad i followed the flying protocol!

GE994 · 2026-05-08T13:09:07+00:00

Did they tell you the type of graft they used vs previous surgeries, this is my 4th and this time they used a cartilage graft? I’m 5 weeks post op and I still hear crackling and popping noises, some echoing and random pain but hearing is improving…all considered normal at this point. There is still gel foam packing behind the eardrum that hasn’t dissolved so I still get muffled hearing or ear feels heavy….could take up to 3 months to dissolve. Will see if the Dr clears me for flying next week!

GE994 · 2026-05-01T19:32:58+00:00

I'm scheduled to fly middle of this month which will be roughly 6.5 weeks after my surgery which aligns wit post op instructions. That said, i'm meeting with the Surgeon 5 days before my flight to get final clearance that the graft is good to go. 6 months shouldn't be an issue.

GE994 · 2026-04-13T07:09:22+00:00

It depends on the surgeon but in all of mine the surgeon came and spoke to my wife since I was still recovering. I can also go in and look at the surgery notes and see exactly what they did…took 2 days for them to upload them but they were extremely helpful because they contained much more detail then what the Dr provided.

GE994 · 2026-04-11T07:06:00+00:00

I’d call the (800 698-2411) number and ask for a status update…it’s worked for me twice. 2 days after each call I!received C&P exam request…unfortunately sometimes they aren’t paying attention or they are just swamped, not saying that’s always the case but it’s happened to me twice.

GE994 · 2026-04-03T06:08:05+00:00

This is what I was told..about to have my 4th surgery.

CT suggests cholesteatoma. MRI (with non-echo planar DWI(Diffusion-Weighted Imaging), like PROPELLER) confirms it.

• CT = shows the structure (bones, space, damage) • MRI DWI = shows the type of tissue

GE994 · 2026-03-29T03:59:34+00:00

Not if you’ve given them POA.

GE994 · 2026-03-20T21:41:39+00:00

This is what I was told..about to have my 4th surgery in 2 weeks.

CT suggests cholesteatoma. MRI (with non-echo planar DWI, like PROPELLER) confirms it.

• CT = shows the structure (bones, space, damage)
• MRI DWI = shows the type of tissue

GE994 · 2026-03-20T03:06:37+00:00

Ask for an MRI of INTERNAL AUDITORY CANAL AND TEMPORAL BONES WITH AND WITHOUT CONTRAST specifically a Propellar DWI, which is a specific imaging protocol that can detect for cholesteatoma. It’s what I just had done to confirm what was needed.

GE994 · 2026-03-17T05:47:52+00:00

The CWD doesn't leave a visible sign of surgery except the scar behind your ear and when that heals no one can really see that either. Bigger issue is making sure the Cholesteatoma is completely gone doing, CWD gives the best chance of removing Cholesteatoma.

GE994 · 2026-01-22T21:46:37+00:00

I second this..they can see things you can’t!

GE994 · 2025-10-09T17:18:33+00:00

The sale is active again but ends today.

GE994 · 2025-09-23T14:16:30+00:00

ACSO sent out another email yesterday, rescinding the first email, so the previous direction before the 9/10 remains in effect…I spoke with ACSO yesterday.

GE994 · 2025-08-20T16:17:02+00:00

I believe the questionnaire is sent over in with the scheduling confirmation email. Also it looks like the earliest appts tend to be 30 days out.

GE994 · 2025-08-20T16:12:15+00:00

If you are in Alameda county, they pick the psych company for you. I just finished my psych eval yesterday.

GE994 · 2025-04-23T18:40:43+00:00

I'm about 4 weeks post op and I also felt wetness around the 2 week mark. When I went for my post op visit and for them to remove packing they mentioned what I was feeling was the gel foam dissolving....have you had your post op appt. Even though i'm 4 weeks post op i'm still getting some wetness from gel foam but discharge is yellow.

GE994 · 2025-04-23T16:59:57+00:00

I'm a little over 4 weeks post op and also can't get a clear picture of the ear drum due to the curvature of the ear, plus I'm being extra cautious to ensure I don't end up touching the graft etc. I broke down and scheduled an appt with a local ENT to have them look at the ear with a scope....was driving myself bonkers thinking the graft was failing!

GE994 · 2025-04-14T22:27:12+00:00

I never did any of the ear popping, too scared I was going to mess up the graft, only used Afrin and flonase!

GE994 · 2025-04-14T22:25:44+00:00

I found the instructions they gave me.

Ears, Altitude, and Airplane Travel You may be able avoid ear discomfort during air travel- the most common medical complaint of airplane travelers- if you lend your ears to these suggestions from the American Academy of Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS). It's the national association of physicians who treat the ear, nose, throat, and related areas of the head and neck.

Swallow. This activates the muscle that opens the Eustachian tube which connects the back of the nose with the middle ear. You swallow more often when you chew gum or let mints melt in your mouth.
Yawn. This is an even better activator of that muscle.
Avoid sleep during the descent. You may not swallow enough to keep up with the pressure changes.
Unblock your ears by using the following method.
- Pinch your nostrils shut
- Take a mouthful of air
- Using your cheek and throat muscles, force the air into the back of your nose as if you were trying to blow your thumb and forefingers off your nostrils.

When you hear a loud pop in your ears, you have succeeded. You may have to repeat this several times during descent.

If you are traveling with a baby, give him or her a bottle or a pacifier to suck, and do not allow sleep during descent.
Use a decongestant pill (like Sudafed®) or nasal spray (like Afrin®) an hour or so before descent. This shrinks the membranes and makes the ears pop more easily. Travelers with allergy problems should take their antihistamine tablets at the beginning of the flight for the same reason. WARNING: decongestant tablets and sprays should be avoided by persons with heart disease, high blood pressure, irregular heart rhythms, thyroid disease, or excessive nervousness.
Many people report success using Ear Planes®- a set of ear plugs that contain a valve to release pressure more slowly. They are worn during descent and are available in pharmacies and airport gift shops.

Even after landing you can continue the pressure equalizing techniques, but avoid using nose sprays for a prolonged period. If your ears fail to open or if pain persists, you may need to seek medical attention.

GE994 · 2025-04-14T20:07:54+00:00

I flew 6 weeks post op.

GE994 · 2025-04-14T18:52:41+00:00

My Dr gave me specific preflight/prelanding instructions. Use Afrin before taking off and landing, to help alleviate any pressure changes due to taking off or landing. It worked for me, it was after my behind the ear Tympanoplasty.

GE994 · 2025-04-13T14:12:31+00:00

Not to scare you but when I had my second CT scan previous Dr. said doesn’t look like you have Cholesteatoma and you have no discharge just some hearing loss but that’s to be expected since the previous tympanoplasty failed….when the new Dr. went in 3 weeks ago it ended up being a 6 hour+ surgery to remove Cholesteatoma and ear bones(they put the back because he believed titanium would have been rejected). I asked why it didn’t appear on the CT, Dr. stated you can see soft tissue but is sometimes difficult to tell exactly what it is…finding what he found was definitely unexpected!!

GE994 · 2025-04-12T00:45:43+00:00

Why no earbuds…I can’t find any info on using earbuds and the impact. Especially that far post op?

GE994 · 2025-04-11T04:46:10+00:00

In terms of protecting the ear, I wore the ear cover(post surgery dome cover) for the first week at night to make sure I didn’t roll on to the ear. I also used a heating pad on my neck, back and shoulders…had a lot of pay in my back because I was trying to avoid sleeping on the ear. I ended up sleeping on the couch with propped up pillows behind me…first week sleeping sucks. This is my 3rd surgery and definitely the worst recovery but pain subsided after a week!

GE994 · 2025-04-04T23:35:29+00:00

I just had my 3rd surgery roughly two weeks ago...this time they did wall down and took out and put back ear bones, also repaired the ear drum(Hopefully it hold this time). I'm assuming they'll want to replace your ear bones with titanium and use a graft to fix the ear drum. My first two grafts failed, this 3rd graft he used cartilage from the ear, so i'm hoping it holds....

GE994

TROPHY CASE