ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat)

So, a week has passed. I no longer feel the intense pressure (like a watermellon is trying to exit my head, via my ear). However, I still have pain, ringing and the sensation that my ear is "clogged."

I almost went the ENT clinic yesterday (Tuesday), since my ear was hurting a lot, but I decided to stick it out one more day.

Today (Wednesday), the ENT doctor said my ear looks better. He noted that, though the process is slow, there is improvement.

So, I get to...... "come back next week."

Meanwhile, I am done with the oral antibiotics and back to the antibiotic ear drops.

The hole in my eardrum is closed, much to my relief! (I suspect it closed last Thursday)

Doctors do not treat it as such a big deal, even if the hole does not close. The only thing it changes is you are not allowed to SCUBA dive. Now, it is true that I do not SCUBA dive.... yet. But that is one of the things on my "things I want to do" list....

And, since I am pouting, I will just say that this was supposed to be my week off!

Please daven (or send happy, healing thoughts) for RivkA bat Teirtzel.

With love and optimism,
RivkA

Ear Update

Today I went back to the ENT clinic at Sha'are Zedek.

Dr. T was on duty. She had seen me on Tuesday morning, but not since then. (When she saw me, she told me that she had just asked about me. Nice!)

She recommended lancing the ear (she used a fancy term for it). They basically use a laser, or very fine needle, to poke a hole in the eardrum and let the infection out of the middle ear. It basically ends the pain IMMEDIATELY. In most cases, the eardrum closes back up in a few days. (There is a slight risk that it won't close, and that's what worries me)

She says that without this procedure, it can take a MONTH for all the fluid to dissipate and for the pain/pressure/ringing to go away. That is unacceptable to me.

Even though I was impressed with her, I want a senior physician to give an opinion and do the procedure.

On Monday, Dr. S will be there (he saw my ear both on Tuesday and on the follow up visit on Thursday) and there should also be a senior physician.

So, I'm going back tomorrow morning.



Please daven (or send happy, healing thoughts) for RivkA bat Teirtzel.

With love and optimism,
RivkA