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Mula
Super Nomad
Posts: 1663
Registered: 8-16-2011
Location: San Nicolas y Lopez Mateos
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Well, if you want to look into it SOB, there are 2 ear, nose and throat Dr.s that I know of.
Both are excellent.
1 is in LaPaz and the other is in Ciudad Constitucion.
I have had friends use both of these Dr.s with excellent results - for noses.
U2U me if you want more information.
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Lee
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3603
Registered: 10-2-2006
Location: High in the Colorado Rockies
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The only way to prevent exostosis is to wear ear plugs when you're in cold water. Couple types out there. I have both. Wear a cap with flaps
over the ears or a hoodie -- both will keep them in place though I see surfers without caps/hoods wearing the ''moldable'' plugs. The problem for
me with this type is it's so water tight, my tinnitis is actually amplified.
Not sure if BCS water counts as cold water. The water is about 62 (and going to get colder) at San O and that's cold enough to wear plugs.
US Marines: providing enemies of America an opportunity to die for their country since 1775.
What I say before any important decision.
F*ck it.
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windsurf14
Newbie
Posts: 8
Registered: 11-19-2010
Location: Chico, Ca and La Ventana
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Mood: Breezy
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I have surfers ear also. Nasty operation. The only guy I would use is Dr. Hetzler in Santa Cruz. Has developed a different procedure and has done
many.
He pretty much only operates when its severe. Good sign for a Doc.
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magentawave
Junior Nomad
Posts: 51
Registered: 11-14-2012
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Dr. Hetzler is the guy I was thinking of going to. The "different procedure" he uses is with a chisel instead of a drill, right?
| Quote: | Originally posted by windsurf14
I have surfers ear also. Nasty operation. The only guy I would use is Dr. Hetzler in Santa Cruz. Has developed a different procedure and has done
many.
He pretty much only operates when its severe. Good sign for a Doc. |
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magentawave
Junior Nomad
Posts: 51
Registered: 11-14-2012
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I tried all three sizes of ProPlugs and they didn't fit my ears so I'm using some others that are actually a lot cheaper. I wish I had started wearing
ear plugs in the water a long time ago but I didn't know any better then so now I'm paying for it.
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15940
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
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Mood: Everchangin'
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my doc just told me i'm going to be needing one soon.
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captkw
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3850
Registered: 10-19-2010
Location: el charro b.c.s.
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Mood: new dog/missing the old 1
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Santa cruz doc
They call him the mikle angio of ear work or some thing like that..he has done a lot of surfers from around the world....
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landyacht318
Nomad
Posts: 247
Registered: 7-28-2007
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Dr. Hetzler is the guy who pioneered the technique with the chisels.
I used this guy:
http://www.eardoctor.org/
No pain. No complications. Quick recovery. Professional staff. Told me a cash price for the surgeon and a guestimate for the surgical center's
charges.
Would totally recommend. I called other local docs, and the phone went dead when I said I had no insurance on several of them.
When he sticks the otoscope in your ear, there is a 50 inch flat screen on either wall showing you in HD what he sees inside the ear canal. The
before and after on my chiseled ear was astonishing. He was able to remove some wax from my still obstructed ear which made a huge difference.
Watching him do so in real time was satisfying, i was cheering him on,:
" What about that stuff up there too?" as I watch the tool move there and feel and hear the sluurrp of wax being sucked out.
"Whohooo!!!!!! I can hear!!!!!!!!!"
I just spent 3.5 hours out in the water. Sooooo much fun. I use regular audio "triple mushroom" earplugs, not inserted so deep as to keep all the
water and sound out, but placed lightly at the canal exit to keep the wind from whistling around inside my ear canals, and keep them warmer. I lost
so many pairs of proplugs at 15$ a set, even with the "leash" that I gave up on them early.
No issues since before the surgery on my left, and my right ear is still 99% shut but is behaving with the vinegar and rubbing alcohol post surf ear
maintenance..
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Marc
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2802
Registered: 5-15-2010
Location: San Francisco & Palm Springs
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Mood: Waiting
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Ears? Chisels? Come to Hawaii
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oladulce
Super Nomad
Posts: 1625
Registered: 5-30-2005
Location: bcs
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I've had exostosis (surfer's ear) surgery 3 times on my Right ear- '82,'92, and 3 years ago as part of a pre-retirement tune-up. Dr Jack Shohet
(previously mentioned) did the most recent surgery and I'd highly recommend him.
I was a hospital-based RN and had the benefit of getting the inside scoop from anesthesiologists, OR nurses, and other ENT docs when deciding who to
go to. Not many ENT surgeons perform the surgery and even fewer utilize the direct approach in the ear canal.
Dr Shohet was highly recommended by a couple of great ENT docs who said the surgery is a specialty niche that they didn't have experience with. One
told me "If I did your surgery I'd have to make an incision and flap the ear to expose the area to work on. Jack Shohet works directly in the canal
and has lots more experience than I do. Matter of fact, you're one of my favorite nurses so you don't want me to do your surgery!"
Because of these comments by some very excellent ENT surgeons, NO I would not consider having ear canalplasty/exostosis surgery in Mexico where you're
even less likely to find a surgeon with experience in the least invasive and most effective technique.
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magentawave
Junior Nomad
Posts: 51
Registered: 11-14-2012
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Does Dr Shohet use the chisel method like Dr Hetzler does?
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landyacht318
Nomad
Posts: 247
Registered: 7-28-2007
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Yes, Dr. Shohet uses the chisels primarily, but also a little grinder when needed if the growths do not shear off cleanly at the base, as would
Hetzler. Every ear is different.
You now have 2 surfers on this board highly recommending Dr. Shohet from personal experience, not hearsay.
No pain, no complications, no hearing loss. My initial consultation was deducted from the surgical costs, and the followup and hearing test was also
included in them.
I was given the go ahead to surf 1 month after the surgery.
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Lee
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3603
Registered: 10-2-2006
Location: High in the Colorado Rockies
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Can't find the water temp defining ''cold water.'' Anybody know what it is?
Hawaiians don't get exostosis do they?
US Marines: providing enemies of America an opportunity to die for their country since 1775.
What I say before any important decision.
F*ck it.
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landyacht318
Nomad
Posts: 247
Registered: 7-28-2007
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With enough time and wind in the wet ear canal, surfers ear can still develop in tropical waters. But obviously the colder, the faster the growth.
And apparently the growth accelerates as surface area increases and stretches the already too thin skin, even thinner. The exostosis also returns
more rapidly after the first harvest, so ear plugs are required to slow it as much as possible.
Genetics play a big part too.
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magentawave
Junior Nomad
Posts: 51
Registered: 11-14-2012
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Having spent some years in Hawaii, I consider Southern California to be cold water and Northern California insanely cold. Its not just the water
though, because the prevailing cool wind contributes to surfers ear too which is why the right ear tends to be worse than the left ear for anyone in
Southern California (prevailing north westerlies). I'm not sure but I think the years spent playing in Hawaii may have reversed it a bit.
| Quote: | Originally posted by Lee
Can't find the water temp defining ''cold water.'' Anybody know what it is?
Hawaiians don't get exostosis do they? |
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El Jefe
Super Nomad
Posts: 1027
Registered: 10-27-2003
Location: South East Cape
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It just makes sense that you should go to a cold water place to get this done in order to find a doctor with lots of experience. Mexico in general is
a pretty warm water place, other than the west side of Baja.
Ridiculous though that anybody's choice would have to be to go out of pocket thousands of dollars or go out of country to get this or any other
surgery done. Just sayin.
No b-tchin\' in the Baja.
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Islandbuilder
Senior Nomad
Posts: 555
Registered: 11-9-2011
Location: nob
Member Is Offline
Mood: bewildered
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After years of surfing in SoCal and northern California, I had both ears opened up back in late 1970's. Back then it was a big deal, 3 days in the
hospital for each ear, general anesthetic, weeks of recovery etc.
After that I used a hood and proplugs with leashes, but ended up with both ears closed up again. I had the right ear done again a few years ago, and
what a difference! Outpatient, local anesthetic, short recovery and no side effects.
I had the first surgery in San Diego, and the second in Bellingham, WA.
One interesting factoid is that Bering Sea Alaskan natives don't get sufers ear. Not a lot of surfing there, but they are constantly exposed to cold
air and moisture, yet they have some soert of genetic resistance to the problem.
Good luck on your surgery.
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landyacht318
Nomad
Posts: 247
Registered: 7-28-2007
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How often do Bering sea natives dunk their heads and get water deep in the ear canal?
I'd think multiple head dunkings in that climate is akin to a death sentence.
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Islandbuilder
Senior Nomad
Posts: 555
Registered: 11-9-2011
Location: nob
Member Is Offline
Mood: bewildered
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| Quote: | Originally posted by landyacht318
How often do Bering sea natives dunk their heads and get water deep in the ear canal?
I'd think multiple head dunkings in that climate is akin to a death sentence. |
I doubt that there are a lot of head dunkings, but cold is cold, so the low temps combined with winds and spray are the problem there.
I've seen guys surfing in the Bering Sea, but it didn't look to be worth the cost to me!! Not a place to paddle out just to get your head wet.
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pappy
Senior Nomad
Posts: 679
Registered: 12-10-2003
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i have been dealing with this problem since late 80's. i have 95% plus closure in both ears. started wearing plugs and a hood while in water. has kept
the growth at a standstill. couple times dr. wanted to drill 'em open, but i said no, it will only grow back in another 5-10 years(which studies have
shown and which i have friends expereince).
he said ok then , but if start having monthly visits due to infection i have no choice. that was about 20 years ago.
as long as i wear plugs and hood i'm good to go.
as for operation, that santa cruz doc is the go to guy from what i've been told. and yeah, definitely got to a doc where this issue is common.
wouldn't want a doc-anywhere- trying this procedure out on me for their first time and i suspect there aren't too many cases of this in mexico...
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