Ear Protection During Surgery

valeri

valeri

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May 5, 2014
1,898
Australia
Tinnitus Since
09/2011
#1
I'm due to have surgical procedure so I would like to ask if ear protection is required/recommended during surgical procedures?

If so what should I use?

Maybe I'm overreacting but one just can't be sure that there won't be tray full of instruments flying to the floor or some other unwanted noise.

Thank you!
 
#2
@valeri sorry about you needing surgery.

Are you going to be put under a general or be awake during the procedure?
 
#4
valeri said:
I'm due to have surgical procedure so I would like to ask if ear protection is required/recommended during surgical procedures?
Click to expand...

I doubt it, unless you know for a fact that you will be subjected to loud noises as you are asleep.

Have you talked to your surgeon?
 
#6
I'm an operating room nurse. I work in the operating room everyday. Some procedures are definitely noisier than others. Some orthopedic cases do involve the use of metal mallets on metal parts. That can be quite loud. I don't think anything is going to happen that will cause you any damage. If it's something that's going to cause you stress then you should wear the plugs. Anesthesia will have to remove them at the end of the case to wake you up, but wearing them will not be a problem.
 
#8
I have been through a general anesthesia surgery (dental) and it didn't affect my tinnitus either way.
I was sort of out of it for a few days though.

Will you have to be in the hospital for very long?
 
#9
Starthrower said:
I have been through a general anesthesia surgery (dental) and it didn't affect my tinnitus either way.
I was sort of out of it for a few days though.

Will you have to be in the hospital for very long?
Click to expand...
No, I was told I will go home few hours later. Very concerned about general anesthesia :(
 
#10
GregCA said:
I doubt it, unless you know for a fact that you will be subjected to loud noises as you are asleep.

Have you talked to your surgeon?
Click to expand...
I have raised my concerns regarding tinnitus but not much was said. It felt as they don't have time to talk about something "so insignificant".
 
#11
valeri said:
I have raised my concerns regarding tinnitus but not much was said. It felt as they don't have time to talk about something "so insignificant".
Click to expand...

Did you ask if there was going to be any particularly loud sound during the procedure? (drilling? other?)
 
#12
I think a reasonable question to ask would be about the antibiotics they plan on giving you prior to and after surgery.

Where I work all patients are given IV antibiotics immediately before surgery as a preemptive measure against infection. Most of the time Ancef is given IV. It's dosed based on the patient's weight. I think many of the ototoxic effects of antibiotics are due to large doses through IV infusions over time.

I don't know what procedure you are having, but antibiotics will definitely be a part of it. Not a huge risk here, but I think it's worth an ask.
 
#14
valeri said:
No drilling, it's to remove very large dermoid ovarian cyst.
Click to expand...

I doubt it's going to be loud (barring any accidents like trays dropping and such, but even then, it's probably fairly limited in time). Many ORs have classical music playing during the procedures. It's not something I would personally worry about.
 
#15
valeri said:
No drilling, it's to remove very large dermoid ovarian cyst.
Click to expand...
Ah. I sure understand and found this link that explains the types of surgery for this. Yeah it is scary thinking about surgery. But it appears that both types have a very good rate for the dermoid ovarian cyst.

http://womens-health-advice.com/ovarian-cysts/dermoid.html



I have been dealing with painful fibroids but after a lot of research and medical opinions I have decided to go a natural route and it seems to be working. After my last ultra sound the fibroids had not grown in five years and actually shrunk a bit. With time this can go away on it's own. I am hoping for that.

From what I have read your cyst probably should be removed. Do some research on the procedures and always get a few medical opinions. Never settle. Never. You have to be your own advocate with this by researching options and making an informed decision.

When are you supposed to have the surgery @valeri?
 
Last edited:
#16
Starthrower said:
Ah. I sure understand and found this link that explains the types of surgery for this. Yeah it is scary thinking about surgery. But it appears that both types have a very good rate for the dermoid ovarian cyst.

http://womens-health-advice.com/ovarian-cysts/dermoid.html

I have been dealing with painful fibroids but after a lot of research and medical opinions I have decided to go a natural route and it seems to be working. After my last ultra sound the fibroids had not grown in five years and actually shrunk a bit. With time this can go away on it's own. I am hoping for that.

From what I have read your cyst probably should be removed. Do some research on the procedures and always get a few medical opinions. Never settle. Never. You have to be your own advocate with this by researching options and making an informed decision.

When are you supposed to have the surgery @valeri?
Click to expand...
I've deferred twice already but the pain is getting worse and worse and it's constant nearly every day for over a month now.

So the next time I end up in emergency they will do surgery, no more going home with painkillers.

I'm interested in alternative ways you used to help fibroids, what was it?

Dermoid is bit more complicated so I'm not sure if there's an alternative for this.
 
#17
@valeri I understand the intensity of the pain. It can cripple you over at times. With your particular situation I do understand that the surgery will be necessary to remove the dermoid cyst. From my research for the removal of fibroids the two different surgical procedures are very well established for successful outcomes for the women with ovarian cysts.

The alternative things I chose were a change of diet, supplements and castor oil treatments for the relief of pain which would be so severe I couldn't sit or do anything. Warm castor oil treatments helped the pain by reducing the inflamation in my situation.

You soak a damp wool piece of material (I bought that from Whole Foods) with castor oil. Heat it up in the microwave or oven for a minute. Make sure it isn't too hot. Place it on your pelvic area cover it with plastic of some sort and use a heating pad. This is used for about 15 minutes at a time.

Do some research on the two different procedures and print it out and write down questions you have. Don't let them talk you into an unnecessary hysterectomy. That operation is the one most used on women and is in most cases not necessary.

Thank god I did my research first and found a doctor to understand and help me.

I am so very sorry you are having to deal with this. It is painful but treatable. I don't think that the surgery would affect your tinnitus levels. The absence of pain for me made the noise a bit more tolerable.
 
#18
Starthrower said:
I have been dealing with painful fibroids but after a lot of research and medical opinions I have decided to go a natural route and it seems to be working. After my last ultra sound the fibroids had not grown in five years and actually shrunk a bit. With time this can go away on it's own. I am hoping for that.
Click to expand...

@Starthrower. I last week got diagnosed with fibroids too and will be given an appointment to remove them. Can I ask what natural route you took please? Thanks x
 
#21
@Vicki14 this is such a long story journey and I had a very difficult time finding information and other women with fibroid issues similar to mine.

The only solution that was given to me was a total hysterectomy. They stated that because I am not going to have kids I don't need my "parts" so let's just gut you. I found out this surgery is the number one WRONG choice given to women for this issue. And the surgeons make a LOT of money for each surgery.

Fibroids can shrink as @DebInAustralia wrote above.

Changing the diet to more natural or organic and staying away from dairy and meat helped a lot.
Women who are going through menopause find that the lack of estrogen got rid of their fibroids.

So I chose the waiting game since my only symptom was extreme pain. I managed this with the warm castor oil treatments which is a pain in the ass. But it worked for me.

I also started the Apple Cider Vinageer with mothers by drinking a glass of warm water mixed with a tablespoon of AVC. Use a straw to protect your enamel on your teeth. I also added a teaspoon of Black Strap Molasses. This mixture is suppose to help cleanse the liver of estrogen.

I tried some suppliments that did not seem to help.

I opted not to remove the fibroids because they gave me the ONE choice of a total gut job. There are two other surgeries that can remove fiborids but the evidence showed they can and usually grow back.

I so wish you well Vicki. Hope I answered some questions. And help you chose the right method for yourself.
The surgeries for the cysts are very successful from all the information I had collected.
 
#22
Vicki14 said:
@Starthrower. I last week got diagnosed with fibroids too and will be given an appointment to remove them. Can I ask what natural route you took please? Thanks x
Click to expand...
Hi @Vicki14 -- Have you considered Iodine supplementation? Below is a link to the best book I've read on it. The author talks very specifically about cancers and fibroids that can result from lack of iodine, and how iodine can very often make it all go away. Here's a LINK to a 50-Min. YouTube video by the same author.
 
#23
Sounds like you need the proposed surgery.

That surgery, in general, should not be particularly loud. It is hard to predict, and there are factors like many ORs tend have tile on the walls so that the sounds reverberate. Also hard to predict alarms, and sounds of equipment. Wear earplugs if you want, but most times would not be necessary for that type of procedure.

While many antibiotics have ototoxicity, ancef to cause T is quite rare. The FDA reports 1 case of 2769 patients with ototoxicity, which was in 1998 with tinnitus and deafness.

Good luck with your procedure.
 
#24
@valeri
@Starthrower
@Vicki14
@DebInAustralia

I am having a biopsy of my fibroids tomorrow. (And I'm scared about the anesthetic.)
When I was young I was told they would shrink after menopause.
Well, here I am postmenopausal and when I had my ultrasound, the doctor said my uterus was big and my fibroids are probably calcified.
I'm not sure what this all means because the doctor is in and out of the exam room in a flash.
But he did say something that scared the crap out of me. He said I should leave them alone if they aren't bothering me. (This after two visits where I told him they are bothering me.)
Then he said no one would save my uterus because I am postmenopausal.
Starthrower said:
The only solution that was given to me was a total hysterectomy. They stated that because I am not going to have kids I don't need my "parts" so let's just gut you.
Click to expand...
Just because we aren't going to have babies doesn't mean we don't need our "parts." They're OUR parts for goodness sake!
 
#25
@SugarMagnolia I sure hope you will report back tomorrow or when possible about how you are doing after the biopsy procedure. I would think they are doing it on the uterus?

I don't think there is anything to worry about regarding the calcified fibroid here is some info for you:


https://www.livestrong.com/article/30973-calcified-uterine-fibroid-symptoms/

"The calcified fibroid is the end stage of a degenerative process. Thus, there is hardly any other disease progression here. There can be no increase in size nor any new, otherwise painful, developments in a calcified fibroid. In fact, a significant number of fibroids treated with uterine artery embolization end up as calcified fibroids much later down the line."

I did so much research about this issue. The pain is sometimes unbearable but I push through. I just didn't like the answer that gutting me was the only option because I don't want kids. Now, if there were serious issues I would not think this way.

But women must take power by getting opinions and doing research!!

@Vicki14 how are you?
 
#26
@valeri

You will be ok Val. Dont be afraid.
I will be praying for you.
Here if you need me.
Once
 
#27
Starthrower said:
@SugarMagnolia I sure hope you will report back tomorrow or when possible about how you are doing after the biopsy procedure. I would think they are doing it on the uterus?
Click to expand...
I got home an hour ago. The doctor did hysteroscopy and removed a polyp. He gave me a prescription for antibiotics and I'm afraid to take them and afraid not to take them. I probably will take them because if I get an infection it will mean more and maybe worse antibiotics.

I think the anesthesia was valium but I'm not positive. I was not aware of anything once the needle went into my arm. I think my tinnitus is unaffected, but I'm still a bit fuzzy in my head.

Hi @valeri I hope your procedure goes smoothly. :huganimation:
 
#28
Hi @SugarMagnolia I am so glad you are home now. Please do take the antibotics as directed. Take them with food. And if you feel they are making you feel bad than talk to the doctor about changing prescriptions. I found the Z-Pac to not cause any problems.

Hope this removal of the polyp will help with your pain issue...

Glad you reported back because I was thinking of you today.

@valeri how are you doing?
 
#29
@SugarMagnolia Hey lady, I am glad you are comfortable at home.

Not to scare you, but coincidentally, today one of my friends on FB posted the following link:


health_painkiller0921.jpg


FDA warns azithromycin "Z-pack" antibiotics could lead to deadly heart rhythms for some
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fda-wa...4sRbxD69rEmd7mclTByGj7OFx0IBSwHlpBtlsaFd-5knk

Is this what you were prescribed?

Feel better soon ok.
Once
 
#30
Starthrower said:
Hi @SugarMagnolia I am so glad you are home now. Please do take the antibotics as directed. Take them with food. And if you feel they are making you feel bad than talk to the doctor about changing prescriptions. I found the Z-Pac to not cause any problems.

Hope this removal of the polyp will help with your pain issue...

Glad you reported back because I was thinking of you today.

@valeri how are you doing?
Click to expand...

Still waiting for surgery date (public hospital so things don't move quickly).
Ended up in emergency on Sunday morning but was only given pain killers and sent home to wait.
 

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