Can anyone outline the process involved in this operation (meatoplasty)It’s where they drill the growths out, and you have to stay out of the water for 5-6 weeks.
I have heard that newer laser-based methods are available now…less intrusive. Related to this, about 7 (?) or more years ago, I spent 3 winters surfing New England. After I started having problems with cold water staying in my ears, I began wearing ear plugs, the soft silicone kind. I now wear them even in warm water in places like PR and CR. I feel wearing these has prevented my ears from getting worse. Pretty easy to wear once you adjust.
are you the one having this done and are you sure you need to???studies show that the growth, after an operation, comes back twice as fast as the original.in addition, unless you have severe hearing loss or are having constant ear infections,you can do without as long as you practice good protection and maintenance.
What if the Doc. says your ear has nearly closed up and the eardrum concealed?
my ears were said to be 90 percent closed 20 yrs ago by doc plug guy at a malibu contest.they are toast today as you can imagine!!BUT, they closed 100 percent about 7 yrs ago and went to specialist for operation.He gave me neomyicin cortizone drops and 2 weeks later they opened again!!! i was so relieved[smile] to hear again.I today, use those drops on occasion and those frankenstien plugs you get at savon.Still putting of operation after 40 yrs in cold water!!!Just turn up the radio a bit.hahaha
well, they drill the bone out, and you have to stay out of the water for 5-6 weeks. Ear canals should not be exposed to cold water and wind. If you decide to stay away from the surgeon, you’ll want to get plugs to keep your ears 100% dry. Most people get it done when they lose a lot of hearing, or have recurrent outer ear infections from water exposure. http://www.blakestah.com/fins/
The other thing I do is use Ear Dry or some other swimmer’s aid…a few drops after a session, very rarley do i get any kind of ear infection.
My brother has exostosis and only lap swims in a warm water pool. A friend was just diagnosed with melanoma. Take care.
Laser is the way to go…3 weeks out of the water, less chance of infection and longer grow-back as there is less scarring. A friend had it done last year in both ears and is really happy. Surfer and a sailer…I’m going in soon as the closure is causing tintanitus (constant buzzing like your head is full of cicadas). Should have started wearing plugs or a hood years ago…
My Ears are at about 98 and 99% closed- (smaller than a pin shaft width left open). The condition is no longer manageable- I have constant closures/infections with even sweating from light exercise- To surf,(and shower) I wear cotton Balls under tightly fitting Doc’s Pro Plugs. I Have worn the plugs for the past 10 years or so, which did help slow down the Bone growth- but it did not stop it. I have consulted with multiple doctors and researched some less intrusive treatments as well (see: http://www.health-freaks.com/surfersear.htm ) and have decided to go the Micro abrasian route- Its about 6 weeks out of the water per ear and they are doing them one at a time- Like any other procedure, I imagine the results will vary with the doctor, and I hope Im in good hands! I have been told that the possibility of a re-ocurring growth is there, but with proper management- I hope to get another 35 years in the water, at least, out of the ears. Not Dealing with the issue now could lead to a forced surgery to expose a serious infection, which would be a much worse scenario than what I am facing now- Two years ago it was a skin Cancer on the nose… Now its ear time. Problem is, getting older sucks! Gotta keep at it so I can surf with my son in a few years as he is old enough- (He’ll definitely wear sunblock and earplugs at a young age!- I can report back in another week or so with just how this all gos!- Steve
good luck and keep that maintenance going after the surgery.wear plugs even in the shower.i keep extras evereywhere around the house and in the car-never know when a hot tub opportunity or a quick bodysurf session might present itself!
also keep extras in your trunks for those mid-session blowouts
Had the surgery in both ears about 2 years ago after putting it off for a good 30 years. No lasers just the basic chip and grind. Still can’t hear all that well but then never could really. I’ve tried a variety of ear plugs and found Blu-Tack works really well. Totally keeps the water out. Seems to work better the longer you use it. Pretty sticky though - don’t put it in too far. Good luck.
I’ve had both ears drilled out, seems the left one closed about 95% first (usually the one that faces north, the cold side while waiting for sets on the East Coast). It was the drilling procedure, 6 weeks out of the water, right one was done 3 years later had some complications out of water about 8 weeks. I agree that plugs and hoods will slow these down. I hope don’t have t go through that again ! Definitely do research and find a doctor who knows what he is doing, too many chowderheads willing to get OJT on your head out there! Good Luck JN http://www.earaces.com
Barge, First, get a second or third opinion. Make sure the doctor has done a lot of them. If its not too bad use the preventive maintenance mentioned above religiously. I have 30 to forty percent closure in both ears. This was first diagnosed 25 years ago from doc of Dos’s proplugs. I use a hood or plugs every time I surf with no progression. Good luck. mike
I’m convinced, it’s time to start wearing plugs . . . can anyone comment on different brands and fit? Is there any advantage to Doc’s Proplugs over those generic silicone plugs from the drugstore? It shouldn’t matter as long as you’re keeping your inner ear dry, right? Thanks . . .
I’m convinced, it’s time to start wearing plugs . . . can anyone comment on different brands and fit? Is there any advantage to Doc’s Proplugs over those generic silicone plugs from the drugstore? It shouldn’t matter as long as you’re keeping your inner ear dry, right? Thanks . . .
I second that question… I liked the idea of the docs pro plugs because they dont affect you hearing as much. However I have tried three sizes (vented and not) and they all let in the water which is then stuck in my ear for the rest of the day.
I was having problems with water sloshing around in my ear and could not get it out. It was driving me nuts. Tried swimmers ear stuff and that did not help much either. Bought one of those blue squirty things at the drug store and started flushing each ear a couple times after surfing with warm water. No further problems! Roger
Extosis is caused by evaporative cooling in the ear. Water in the ear being evaporated by wind in the ear causes cooling that, over time, the body reacts to with a home-made barrier - of bone. The air temp and water temp are not primary factors - extosis is present in practitioners of a number of sports (swimmers, skiiers, surfers, …) and climates. Ear plugs do not need to stop water entry to prevent surfers ear, they only need to prevent wind and evaporation. As such the docs proplugs provide a good wind barrier, have a small opening that allows sound and pressure to pass through, and come with a leash (allowing a lose, comfortable fit without losing a plug every time you surf). Plugs that completely close the ear can muffle sound, but worse, if you are surfing big stuff and have to dive deep or get blasted to the bottom you may have to get a doctor to remove the plug - without pressure relief it can get blown onto your ear canal. I’ve been wearing Proplugs since 1981 when I was diagnosed with 40% closure in each ear (after a problematic ear infection caused by water, wax, and crud stuck in my ear). My ears are now no more blocked than they were 20 years ago. Meanwhile all of my friends (who shunned plugs) are either dealing with ear problems or have had the drill job done. I think the $7 for a pair of plugs that usually last me several years is well worth it. And I dont have to miss 12 weeks of surf.