I am a 33 yr old mother of 3 & after a childhood of ear infection and sensitivity to pressure and water i thought i outgrew them but about 8 years ago i had an ear infection with a dark drainage that was actually draining onto my pillow at night and a foul odor so my dr prescribed me antibiotics which did nothing, so after a second round we tried anotger antibiotic then another stronger one and after 6 months of antibiotics and 2 hospital trips due to allergic reactions to 2 of the stronger ones, my dr finally referred me to an ENT dr who immediately ordered an ultrasound and diagnosed me with a cholesteotoma. I didnt realize how serious it was until my next visit when we scheduled my surgery and i found out my very long hair would be shaved and my ear partially cut off and the risks during surgery...i was telling my dr to cancel surgery and ill deal with the drainage until he explained the risks and fact of this being a progressive cyst that could eventually cause tremendous damage and death...i then realized my hair wasnt my biggest concern and went forward with my surgery. I had a total of 4 surgeries on my left ear in a pretty short period where all 3 bones ended up removed as well as my nerve to my tastebuds and almost the muscle to my face but my dr chose to attempt to only scrape it knowing how worried i was for my face to be paralized then my final surgery was to recobstruct with prosthetic bones and thankfully my facial muscles werent afftected. I did get about 40% hearing back in my left ear but after about a year of being totally deaf in that ear i am thankful of the little hearing i got back. Although its still tough daily living with this disability of not knowing where noises are coming from or understanding words being spoken if any background noise or constantly saying "huh?" My kids use to hide my phone and laugh at me when it rang trying to find it but would be scary when driving and kids had to tell me an ambulance was coming or which direction coming from. I have horrible sinuses and always get infections during allergy season and usually always ends with bronchitis which im fighting now...my otger ear has started screechi.g when i blow my nose every time and i know thats not a good sign for my only good ear but not sure if i should rush to ENT and uncertain of chances of a cholesteotoma in right ear too? Also asking for advise on hearing devices or aides suggested that are unnoticeable but affective. Any info or advice is appreciated. Thanks
