After Your Stapedectomy

NORMAL POST OP COURSE:

1. Pain or discomfort. Pain is general minimal after surgery. Occasional shooting pains are common.
2. Some soreness or stiffness of the jaw is also common.
3. Pink or blood tinged, clear or yellowish drainage from the ear.
4. A slight watery discharge, often blood tinged, is common for 1-2 weeks.
5. Dizziness, lack of balance, or feeling light headed. You may need someone stay with you for 24 hours.
6. Some unsteadiness may persist for a week due to swelling in the ear, and irritation of the inner structures.
7. In first few weeks after your surgery, you may have popping, clicking, pulsations and other sounds in the ear.
8. Tinnitus, or ringing of the ears, may last 1-2 months and decreases as hearing improves. You may notice some hearing improvement immediately, but most occurs within 2 months, and maximum hearing gain may not occur for several months.
9. Slight metallic or salty taste in food.
10. Slight loss of hearing.
11. It is safe to sleep on the side of your operative ear.
12. Temporary numbness in and around the ear is normal following surgery. This may last 6 months or more.
13. Narcotic pain medication may have been prescribed for you to take as needed. If you decide not to take Narcotic pain medication, you may take Tylenol or Ibuprofen for any discomfort and pain control.
14. If antibiotics have been prescribed to you, take the full prescription until it is finished.
15. If you experience increased redness, drainage or odor from the incision site or if you develop a fever of 101.5, notify our office.

WOUND CARE:

1. You may have packing in your ear, which needs to remain in place for 7-10 days. If the packing should fall out, call your doctor.
2. Schedule a follow up appointment in 7-10 days for packing removal.
3. Begin using 3 drops of antibiotic ear drops, if prescribed, directly on the packing in the ear canal. Continue the drops even after your packing is removed for a total of 14 days after surgery.

ACTIVITY:

1. Do not allow water to enter your ear for 6 weeks. Use a cotton ball with Vaseline (Petroleum jelly) applied to it when showering or you can also use standard ear plugs.
2. Avoid blowing your nose for 2 weeks. Try to sneeze with your mouth open.
3. You can return to normal activities usually within 2-3 days.
4. Refrain from activities that may put a large amount of pressure on your ear for 2-3 weeks. This includes strenuous activities, such as lifting weights, running, jogging and contact sports. No lifting greater than 25 pounds for 4-6 weeks.
5. You may shower and wash your hair the day after surgery, using precautions above.
6. If you develop a cold, you may start an over the counter decongestant. If you have heart disease or high blood pressure you should check with your primary care physician first.
7. Ask your surgeon when air travel is ok.

DIET:

1. You may resume your normal diet.
2. You may find liquids, crackers and toast more tolerable at first.
3. Avoid heavy, greasy, or spicy foods for the first 12 hours.
4. Staying hydrated after surgery is important. Please make sure you are drinking at least 8, 8oz glasses of water a day.

PROBLEMS: If any of the following occur, call the office.

• Pain not relieved by your pain medication
• Increased sleepiness
• Decreased level of consciousness or alertness
• New Visual changes
• Inability to stand because of dizziness, severe dizziness or vertigo
• Persistent bloody ear drainage
• Prolonged, profound or permanent hearing loss
• Uncontrollable nausea and or vomiting
• Watery discharge from your nose or ear
• Pain in the legs
• Shortness of breath
• Fever greater than 101.5 degrees Fahrenheit for more than 24 hours.

You should have a post op appointment for 10 days after surgery for packing removal.

For questions, problems or refills, call the office at (425) 775-6651.

Pain medications require a written prescription, so call for a refill before you run out of medication.

Medication or refill requests must be made during office hours.

There is always a doctor on call for emergent problems after office hours: (425) 775-6651