Patients commonly face some problems after an ear operation like pain, swelling, dripping sensation, numbness of the pinna, and altered taste, and have questions like diet, dressing, medicine, and follow-up. I am going to answer these queries in this video.

I shall tell you about the precautions you should keep according to day 1, day 2, or day 7.

If you have undergone ear surgery, then do leave all your doubts as whatever your surgeon had to do, he must have done that

You follow up with your doctor as and when he has asked you to do so and keep taking medicines as per the discharge summary.

The patients usually complain of dripping sounds in the ear on day 1.

This happens because of a special cotton supporting graft from inside and outside, known as GELFOAM, which is kept moist by putting an ear drop, which sounds like dripping.

As you swallow your saliva, you may feel a tak-like sound which is normal in this situation

and those who have undergone mastoid cavity operation which may be having some discharge even,

Even your doctor might have kept a small drain through an incision behind the pinna, then this may also sound, for which your doctor may call you on day 1 or day 2.

If you keep your head end slightly elevated while sleeping, then your face will swell less.

there may be slight pain which should be easily controllable with the pain medicine prescribed by your doctor.

If your operation is performed under general anesthesia, then you may be having throat pain and a slight cough

and these should be controllable with the medicines already prescribed by your doctor for the ear operation.

As time passes after the operation, your pain and discomfort will lessen day by day.

When I shall get rid of the ear dressing?

Usually, you should feel better on the 7th day when your doctor will remove the dressing.

Few doctors even remove the ear pack and others remove the same after 2 weeks depending upon personal preference and experience of the doctor.

If your operation is performed by an incision behind the pinna, then you may feel the pinna numb. This touchless sensation may persist for a few days after the surgery.

Change in taste and slight dizzy sensation in the head

you may feel slightly altered or bitter taste in your mouth.

and

you may feel your head spinning after the surgery.

Do discuss these things with your surgeon and he or she will make you comfortable with the medicines

When to take a bath after the operation?

You are not supposed to take a head bath for 7 days after the surgery.

but you can have below neck level bath from the 2nd or 3rd day.

Diet options after the ear surgery.

It's better to take a semisolid diet like porridge or gruel (Khichdi) for the first 2 days after the ear surgery which does not require much chewing.

then you can switch to normal home-cooked meals.

Avoid any infection

Please refrain from visiting relatives and friends after your surgery at home.

Especially avoid meeting the small kids who usually have colds or sore throats going on

Do take covid like precautions.

Wear a mask. maintain social distancing.

wash your hand frequently.

Do take care of your personal hygiene.

so that you don't catch any kind of infection.

If you catch an infection then infection does not respect even the greatest surgeon's work on your ear.

Infection nullifies even the good work done by your surgeon.

Despite all this information, if you have even a slight doubt, then do contact your surgeon immediately.

your surgeon may check after opening the dressing if you are harboring any wound collection or not.

If your pinna is not developing an infection which is known by pressing the pinna it elicits tenderness.

So these problems may arise after surgery which needs to be taken care of.

Especially cold drinks or any cold food item which may provoke allergic colds should be avoided as well.

Upset bowel after antibiotic use

Antibiotics are usually prescribed after the ear surgery which may upset your bowel.

In my view, you should have fresh curd as a probiotic to nullify upset bowel caused because of antibiotics. Don't take cold curd.

Work from home and how to use spectacles.

After the ear operation, most people can start to work from home.

You may face difficulty in wearing the specs because of ear-dressing.

you can approach an optician to remove a support stick of the glasses on one side So that you can straight away see clearly after the surgery.

Weakness and giddiness after the surgery

Better take a rest if you are feeling giddy. If you are using the toilet, then take care of sudden vertigo while using the toilet.

Don't bolt lock the toilet door from the inside and use washroom wall support to sit or stand while using the toilet.

So, I expect that you will take care of all these things after the surgery


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#EarOperation
#tympanoplasty