Hi all,
My health anxiety is through the roof >_< For 2 weeks I had been suffering from a bunged up ear (I got it wet in the bath) and the water wouldn't clear. I saw my GP a few months ago and he said there was a lot of earwax. I tried to make an appointment with the ENT doctor but they were on holiday. Then I was traveling and thought I would leave it until I move back to UK (I'm temporally in Germany and due to move back in March).
But I recently had a cold and had been flying a few times, so I thought it was either an earwax build up, infection or swimmers ear. Anyway, last Friday the ENT told me it's a perforated ear drum and that I've had it for years. I was shocked. He said it's so bad it needs surgery. In the last week, it has caused a lot of pain - I think it's infected and he prescribed me antibiotic drops, which I've taken for 2 days now. The pain is lessened but still there. Any mid/ loud noises are hell. Yesterday I went to the supermarket and left in agony - I felt like my ear was bleeding (it wasn't) and was really tired.
I have a CT scan on Tuesday to check on the bones around the ear. I understand this is to help the surgeon do his job but I am scared of the cancer risks. I had a CT scan about 7 years ago on my abdomen and many xrays on teeth since.
I'm scared about the operation itself. I don't know much information about it yet, but there's a risk of taste changes, hearing loss, pain, bleeding etc. It takes a while to recover from what I've read.
I'm constantly needing reassurance from loved ones at the moment. It makes me feel better but it's never enough. I am SO scared. I wish my eardrum would heal like everyone else's seems to... I feel very unlucky and upset right now. I expect my plans to move back to UK will also have to wait.
Has anyone else had this surgery? Am I being silly about the CT scan? Ugh. I wish my mind would just relax :(