My Initial Tympanoplasty Operation

March 5, 2012: Today, I woke up at 0400H trying to ready myself for my scheduled elective ear surgery. I was instructed to be at the hospital's registration office at 0600H for some pre-op preparations. Today, my ear doctor will repair my right ear drum which I've been planning to have years ago yet my previous insurance won't cover for it. Now that I have a new insurance who is willing to shoulder it, I am glad that it will be done today. 

When I was growing up in the Philippines I used to swim at the river near our house and had noticed that the dirty water had caused infection in my ears ergo causing a hole called perforation which became a part of my growing up. I complained this to my mom and had it checked with an ENT doctor. He only prescribed me an antibiotic ear drops for my recurrent infections and had not recommended any operation at all.


Since then I have trouble hearing and was advised to cover both ears when taking a bath or shower. It's always a struggle having difficulty hearing and the use of a hearing aid had helped me so much to amplify sounds. It even drove me to depression at times because of the stigma of not hearing well but I know I am a strong person and never gave up. 


My handicap didn't hinder me to succeed at school and at work. I learned to adapt myself to hear better by asking "Excuse me?" or leaning towards my better ear when I have trouble hearing. This had helped me conceal my handicap and was never noticed by friends and co-workers but the thought of getting caught one day frightened me and I have to make a drastic decision to have it fixed.

Before I went to Mexico lately for a vacation, my ear doctor had scheduled me for an elective surgery for my right ear called tympanoplasty for March 5 and I am so happy that the new insurance had approved it. This will be my first operation in my entire life. I never had any operations done to me before. My nagging hard-of-hearing problems had kept a toll on me especially at work and at school and I had brought up the problem to my primary doctor who then eagerly referred me to an ear specialist. 

Dr. Smith (not his real name for purposes of confidentiality but if you needed my recommendation please message me under the comment section) had examined me meticulously and told me that both of my ear drums were perforated big time and required a much needed repair or surgery in order for me not to lose my hearing permanently, which I already felt was fading away as I grow old. I felt scared of the bad news and had asked him a lot of questions and also asked him what's the best way to prevent from losing my hearing. He told me that I needed a new ear drum by scraping a fascia or cartilage at the back of my right ear and place it on the busted ones.

He assured me that all the operations he did in the past were all 100% successful, and I believed him because I've read his extensive medical bio plus he's the most celebrated and recognized ear surgeon in the entire Southland. I have attended one of his seminar before and I've witnessed and heard his touching speeches. So I entirely trusted him my hearing repair.

Well, with my extensive nursing background I know how a tympanoplasty was done so I immediately okayed the recommended surgery and we discussed about the dates hence today was the day. He told me that he will do the weaker ear first then after five months depending on the prognosis of the first surgery he will do the other ear. I was ecstatic and very emotional about the good news and for me to at least see the brighter side of my life-long ordeal with hearing impairment which prompted me to give up when my first insurance declined to cover for it.

Last night after the birthday party at the park I went to, I refrained from eating and drinking as what I was instructed, to prevent further complications and delays during the surgery. I was NPO after midnight aside only for my morning medications wherein I am only allowed to take few sips of water just enough to down the medications.

Today, is the day of the first surgery. My landlord had dropped me off at the hospital entrance and he will pick me up after the surgery is done. I went to the second floor and lined for the pre-op registration at the out-patient department. There were a lot of patients lining there already. When I get through the registration process, had my bracelet on, signed the operative consent, and was instructed that the surgery will be at 0730H I went to the waiting room and waited. I felt nervous already so I started praying and it helped me a lot.

At 0730H I was called in to the pre-op room and a Filipino nurse had entertained me and instructed me to change my street clothes with the fresh gown, non-skid socks, and surgical cap placed tidily on the gurney and then she interviewed me for the pre-op history and assessment. After that she started an IV on me with at 18G (big pink) IV needle on my right wrist. She got it on a coup d'essai (oh thank God) but I can still feel how the big needle grated my vein. She immediately hydrated me with one liter Normal Saline.

After that the anesthesiologist came and spoke to me about the advantages and disadvantages of the anesthesia. He also told me what to expect during the surgery and asked me if I have any more questions. I asked him if I will be intubated and he told me he will give me an IV sedation then give oxygen via a mask and if I happen to stop breathing then he will intubate me. 

After thirty minutes Dr. Smith, garbed in green scrub and a surgical cap, passed by and asked me if I am okay and if I have any more questions. I smiled at him and said "hi". I told him politely that I don't have any more questions to ask. I thanked him for his patience and he bade good bye and told me to see him in the operating room shortly.

Then few minutes later, the anesthesiologist came back together with the operating nurse. The anesthesiologist injected the sedation med through my IV then they wheeled me to OR at around 0820H. I started to felt sleepy and then I never knew or felt any thing after that. I was totally knocked out the moment they placed me on the OR table. I never knew what happened next.

I woke up at 1140H in PACU and I heard the nurse near my bedside was very talkative and noisy instructing her orientee about what to do. I felt so groggy and my mouth was very very dry and numb. I felt that my tongue had doubled in size and I couldn't swallow my saliva because it was dry. I felt something was tied around my head and my right ear had a bulky cover. There was no pain but I am pretty much beaten up.

My nurse in PACU had noticed that I had awaken so she introduced herself and her orientee and I just smiled at them and groggily said "hi". She asked me how am I feeling and if I am okay and I just nodded yes. She also asked me if I have pain and I told her no. I told her I am thirsty and hungry so she offered me an apple juice and some crackers.

I started to eat but still I felt that my tongue was still numb and my throat was very dry. I chewed on the cracker slowly then chased it with a little sip of the apple juice. I felt good after that then I started to get up and had asked the nurse politely to raise the head of my gurney a little bit. I tried to push myself to stay awake and just sat down quietly there at the gurney to speed up my exit so that I can go home.

I then feel that my bladder was about to burst and felt the urge to pee so my nurse offered me assistance to walk to the rest room. She says it's good to pee out some of the anesthesia and she offered me more apple juice after I came back at the gurney. She also gave me my discharge instructions after that and asked me if I have any more questions which I declined. She then called my landlord that I am ready to be picked up and she instructed him where to wait because I will be wheeled down the lobby once he got there.

Thirty minutes later, my landlord was at the lobby and he was instructed to buy my pain medicine at the hospital's pharmacy, then after that I was wheeled down the lobby to meet him. I felt a little bit weak and groggy but I am ok. I walked towards the car and was glad that my surgery was been done and was a success. I had a good day and I am glad that the worse was over.

When I got home I thanked my landlord for picking me up with concern and care and I told him that I just needed to sleep the whole day. He asked me if I needed food and I told him that I had cooked some soup last night and I still have some fried chicken and fruits I bought yesterday in preparation for my post-op recuperation. He was smiling and told me that I am always prepared in what I do. I smiled back and just nodded my head.

I then ambled slowly and went in to my apartment to rest. I took one Vicodin tablet then slept like a baby the rest of the day. I woke up at 2200H and ate a cup of soup then started to blog. I felt good now and had felt a little improvement in my hearing while I was watching TV. Hopefully, everything will be okay for me for the next few days. 

I did not regret having this operation because I know it will benefit me bringing back my hearing even slightly. I know it's still early to make conclusions but I felt I have little improvement already even when the bulky dressing is still on. I am so thankful to Dr. Smith and is willing to recommend him to whoever would ask me for a second opinion.

And I am also thankful for all the nice surgical team and to my concerned landlord and to all the caring people who some way or the other had helped me make this operation possible. To my ever available DON at work for patiently arranging my schedule for my recuperation as well as to my understanding Dean at school. Thank you very much guys for your great help. I am also thankful to all my loving friends who some way or the other had offered their concerns, worries, and prayers. I love you all guys!

And most importantly, I thank you Lord for the guidance and for being there when I needed you most. You are indeed my refuge and my fortress. I love you, Lord!