Second opinion... and surgery

This is a good thing. Jeff and I talked to another Dr. who specializes in Meniere's to get a second opinion.

We knew that my doctor has a certain course that he recommends. It just was not working. And the next step in his treatment would be destruction of the inner ear. But I still have some hearing left in my left ear, so I was not looking forward to that. So we saw another Dr. His recommendation is a surgery.

Step 1) Simple mastoidectomy: Surgical removal of bone from the mastoid area behind the ear to allow visualization of the inner ear.
Step 2) Either:

• Endolymphatic sac-to-mastoid shunt: After a simple mastoidectomy , one end of a tube or strip is inserted into the endolymphatic sac and the other end in the mastoid cavity, where excess endolymph can drain.

or

• Endolymphatic sac-to-subarachnoid-space shunt: This is similar to the sac-to-mastoid shunt, except that one end of the tube is placed into the endolymphatic sac and the other into the area containing cerebrospinal fluid surrounding the brain.

This is a simple surgery. I will be in and out in one day. It will not further destroy the hearing in my ear. Recovery time is about a week. It works for about 70% of the patients.

We are waiting for insurance authorization. When that comes through, the surgery will be scheduled. Currently, surgeries are being scheduled for January.

Please keep us in your prayers. We are all learning humility and patience from this. Most of all, pray for my family- they are getting mighty tired of me. I am too.

Also, insurance pays 80%. This has been an interesting year with medical things and expenses. Many things in the family have required medications, then the meds don't work, so we try new meds..... and each time there is a tidy little copay. It is amazing how the money always comes though. Nice how it works out in God's time, isn't it?