My Ear surgery experience

I have been a little quiet on the computer front of late as I went in for day surgery last Thursday to have the large hole in my right eardrum repaired. This involved taking a small graft and placing it behind my eardrum. They place a gel packing in first, then the graft...the gel packing holds the graft in place and eventually dissolves. My ear was then packed with heaps more dressings on the outer ear. I was pretty anxious before the surgery, so they gave me some Valium, which I now wish I didn't take as it made me so drowsy afterwards. I asked the anesthetist not to tell me when he was putting me to sleep, so I don't remember anything after being wheeled in to theatre. I was in a fair amount of pain in my ear after surgery, so they gave me some pain killers. My blood pressure was also really, really low, (78/47) so they kept me there for some time until it came back to normal. On getting home I felt quite sick and went straight to bed, clothes and all. Little Stella kept coming in and sleeping with me and stayed with me pretty much all the following day. They say they can sense when things aren't quite right and I believe she knew I was sick, as she's not usually that cuddly...sweet little thing. I was nauseous and had headaches all the next day as well, and Damian went up to my doctors and got a script for some stematil to try and ease it. I am still getting nauseous though off and on, so I will be glad when that stops. My ear isn't too bad, but gets a bit of a stabbing pain and a swooshing through the ear as well. I am hoping I will be feeling much better tomorrow. Day 3 - 5, still quite nauseous and headachey, I haven't been eating much at all. Damian went back up to the farm on Sunday, I was going to follow him up, but I just didn't feel up to the 4 hour drive so I stayed in Brisbane for an extra day. Kasey and I headed back up to the farm on Monday. My ear has been achey, but not agonising, just achey. Strong pain tablets every 4-6 hours keeps the pain manageable. I returned to work today, finishing up the office setup and running a couple of errands for Damian. I have to keep the dressing on the ear for 3-4 weeks, and then I will return to the specialist mid Sep to get the dressing removed and ensure that everything has been a success. This is my ear after the surgery, (a little graphic, sorry)  it has been dressed with a top dressing and covered completely in a plasticky film to keep any moisture out. This has to stay in place for the entire 3-4 weeks. My ear is getting quite itchy right down near the eardrum, but I can't scratch it.....arghhhh....very frustrating..

 

I am hoping that is the worst of it over for now, unless something happens with the surgery not taking...crossing my fingers all is well.