5 Days Post-Op (Left Ear Stapedectomy) – Packing removed and feeling positive!
Hi everyone,
I wanted to share my experience so far, especially for those who are nervous about the surgery. I’m quite young (20-25) and I just had my stapedectomy on my left ear 5 days ago.
Surgery & Hospital Stay: I stayed one night in the hospital for observation. Right from day one, I noticed that noises felt very "vibrant" and loud, almost overwhelming at times. I had internal packing and compresses inside the ear canal, which made everything feel very heavy and muffled, but I could tell even then that something had changed.
Recovery: The first few days were a bit of a rollercoaster. I had some itching (the healing process kicking in) and occasionally a "pulsing" sensation or high-pitched tinnitus, but keeping my head elevated and resting made a huge difference. I even managed to do some light walking the day after the surgery, which helped with the cabin fever.
The Turning Point (Today): Today was my 5-day post-op appointment. My doctor removed the external dressings and suctioned out the packing. I know I’m not at 100% yet—there’s still some internal swelling and I need another cleaning next week—but man, what a difference!
Even with the ear still healing, I can already hear so much better. Sounds are a bit "metallic" and sharp, but the clarity is definitely there. I knew it wouldn't be a "perfect 100%" fix immediately, but the improvement is already life-changing.
For anyone waiting for their surgery: hang in there! The first few days of feeling "plugged up" are annoying, but once that packing comes out, it’s a whole new world.
Happy to answer any questions!