Otosclerosis/Stapedectomy

[MCO Nurse]

Hello everyone. I am new to the board and wanted to share a personal experience with everyone. I am a 35 year old female and have recently learned I have been misdiagnosed with chronic otitis media most of my life. After years of experiencing ear pain approximately every 3-4 months I finally presented with left total hearing loss in January of this year. After 10 days of antibiotic treatmet by my PCP my hearing in my left ear did not return. She finally referred me to an ENT which in turn referred me to an OTO/Neuro specialist. This was only after failing my audiology testing miserably. Long story short he diagnosed me with bilateral otosclerosis and performed a left stapedectomy 9 days ago. I guess the reason I feel compelled to tell my story is because for many many years I was misdiagnosed with something as simple as otitis media. For years I have suffered with decreased hearing which could have been corrected if I was diagnosed correctly. My opinion is that if I am a nurse and have not had the proper treatment what happens to the non-clinical patients? This disease is more common in women, especially women that have had children. I was not aware of my hearing loss until my husband called it to my attention. Even after that I believe I was in denial for at least 2 years. I thought I was too young to be experiencing hearing loss. If any of these symptoms sound familiar to anyone I urge you to seek a specialist opinion. As I stated I am only 9 days post-op but this surgery has already changed my life. I have lived with tinnitis and ear pain for almost 6 months and these symptoms have basically disappeared.

Sincerely,

Sherry

[NURSEPATTY]

My spouse went through this surgery back in 1986, after being seen by EENT and stating that he had nearly total hearing loss in right ear. He had had years of chronic ear infections all the way from childhood up to and including adulthood. Dr stated ear drum was virtually all scar tissue. After the surgery, he was able to recover a partial amount of his hearing in that ear, but not 100%. I just thank the good Lord and that wonderful surgeon who made getting even some of his hearing back possible.

[MCO Nurse]

That is a great ending and I am glad your husband recovered well. I hope to regain most of my hearing in my left ear as well. Unfortunatly I will have to have the procedure in my right ear but probably not for at least 10 months.

Sherry