What to Expect After Surgery to Repair Your Ear Drum (tympanoplasty)
Wound care * Change cotton ball in the ear canal when it’s soaked. * Keep water out of ear canal. Before showering, put Vaseline on a cotton ball and place in ear canal. Remove cotton after bath. * It is okay to get the back of the ear wet the day after surgery. * If there are paper strips behind the ear, leave them in place and pat dry. * Do not pull anything out of the ear canal. If packing starts to come out, place a cotton ball over it.
Activity * Do not blow nose hard. This can move the eardrum before it’s healed. * Sneeze with your mouth open. * No sports or swimming. Your doctor will say when it’s okay.
What to expect after surgery * A small amount of bloody drainage in the ear canal is normal, for 2-3 days. * The ear may stick out. This goes away with time and healing. * Hearing is muffled after surgery. This gets better as the ear packing dissolves. The “popping” sounds you hear are the packing behind the eardrum going away. This is normal. * The ear feels numb and tingles a little as small nerves grow back. * For two days after surgery, an upset stomach and occasional vomiting can happen. * Pain is common and should get better with your pain medicine.
When to contact a physician If these things happen, contact a physician: * Pain that isn’t better with pain medicine * Fever > 101 degrees * Dizziness or upset stomach/vomiting that isn’t going away. * Drainage from the ear canal that is smelly or yellow/green. * Increased swelling or drainage from the incision.
ANMC phone numbers to call: Monday-Friday 8:00-4:30 ENT Clinic: (907) 729-1400 Pediatric Clinic: (907) 729-1000 ER/UCC: (907) 729-1700 |
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