Myringotomy: How long til the ear feels normal?

I had a bad flu over Christmas holiday and ended up with clogged ears. On 1/3/23 went to an ear specialist at the ENT practice I used occasionally for wax removal about every 6 months. I am 83 and living alone so slightly diminished hearing due to aging didn’t interfere with quality of my daily life. That was my situation before the post-flu clogged ears. However the new situation was much worse. I heard myself speaking inside my own head and could barely hear others when they spoke. So I agreed to a Myringotomy then and there on 1/3. She made the incision and tried to suck out whatever was behind it. Not liquid but more mucous and said she couldn’t get it all out as it was “too high” and hard. When she was done with right ear she seemed surprised that I had absolutely no improvement in hearing. When she went to do left ear with no anesthetic I jumped because of the pain and she cut inside the ear which filled with blood and she was unable to continue. Now I see that as a blessing. It’s been almost 3 months since the Myringotomy. I just went to a second ontologist who said the 1/3 right ear incision had healed as had the left ear accidental cut. However he also said that in my case the only hope was that in time my right ear hearing would continue to improve. It is still clogged but the muffling has lessened. I am so frustrated. Guess I expected a lot more from agreeing to the procedure in the first place. And the attitude of the first ontologist was so cavalier and uncaring didn’t help. I’m resigned to this bad outcome, but have a slim hope of maybe more improvement. Then I’ll have to see what if anything will be available to me. Just won’t go back to first doctor who didn’t level with me and wouldn’t answer my questions about what I am facing now.

@chelmsford@sueinmn I had the exact same procedure (myringotomy without tube placement) in my left ear. I had allergies and my head was congested (I was taking Claritin-D for relief). I ended up flying cross country and during the descent my ears clogged up. Before this episode the ears would pop or clear up within 2 to 3 minutes. This was a Monday early morning. By Thursday the left ear still was clogged and went to my ENT. He stated I could do 3 things. (1) Do nothing (2) Prescribed antibiotics and steroids [he stated they don't really do anything] or (3) the myringotomy without tube placement, which I chose. It has been almost 3 weeks and no change, my ear is still the same. My ear did drain for about 4 days which is normal. I message my ENT on MyChart and told him my concerns, especially after I started doing the Valsalva maneuver after the procedure and wanted to know if this caused any damage to the eardrum. He answered the draining is normal but did not address my other concerns and has since not communicated with me after sending more messages asking for answers. I have another appointment with another ENT on April 10th and I hope I get relief and answers, I hate not being able to hear out the left ear.

I doubt if anyone has stats. on all this; e.g. how many myringotomy's are successful and also wondering if age plays a part in condition; treatment and results. I never was a "fast healer" for anything whereas people I knew had very similar treatments and were fine. Should xrays or mris be done before myringotomy's I wonder... it's as if they (some drs.) think all our ears are identical and while very similar, perhaps each case is a little bit different and therefore results different?

I'm sorry you ran into "one of those docs" - the ones who ghost you when they don't have an answer. I hope you have a better experience with your new doctor.

By the way - the story about flying when congested reminded me of doing the same many years ago, and ending up in the ER in St Louis on a Sunday night with a ruptured ear drum. It took a long time to heal, and several months for my hearing to return to normal.
Sue

Please ask your new ENT about Ciprofloxacin/Dexamethasone .It cured my ear problems,if you do try it,get the one made by Sandoz.Good luck

Thank you, @khurshid123 I will definitely mention them to my new ENT!

...hope my comment isnt out of line but when I see Cipro anywhere I am cautious - I think a quinolone drug and I took Norfloxacin 2016 (Canada) and got p.n., feet and area and hands and area..... is there not a caution about quinolone drugs still? just wondering.... J.

Is it back to normal now?!!! Had this done a couple days ago and am freaking out.

How are you doing now??! I got mine done a couple days ago and have the same issue. Please help.

Anyone have any update on how they are doing? I had this done this morning and have yet to feel any relief