Please Read Before Surgery

This information is to help you care for your ear before and after surgery and to answer many of the commonly asked questions.

DAY OF SURGERY

- Please do not take any valuables to the hospital. This includes jewelry and handbags.
- Please do not apply makeup prior to surgery.
- Do not eat or drink after midnight before surgery, including water.
- If you put your hair up, please have it come off the top of your head.
- All work or school notes need to be requested prior to surgery (please see the document in the portal).
- Please ensure you have access to the portal (azhear.ema.md) and you have selected your pharmacy in the portal. Any prescriptions will be sent electronically to the pharmacy you have selected in the portal.

PRECAUTIONS
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1. You may anticipate a certain amount of pulsation, popping, clicking, and other sounds in the ear. There may be a feeling of fullness in the ear. Occasional sharp shooting pains are not unusual. Additionally, it may feel as if there is liquid in the ear.

2. Do not plan to drive a car home from the hospital. No public transportation may be used. Please arrange to have someone available to drive you home.

3. If a future infection occurs, we request you see your primary care provider. Please inform us via the portal (azhear.ema.md) if you need follow-up care for the infection. Please send the documentation from the visit with your primary care provider.

HEARING
Hearing improvement is rarely noted immediately following surgery. Hearing may even be worse temporarily due to swelling of the ear tissue and packing in the canal. Six to eight weeks after surgery an improvement may be noted. Occasionally this may not be noticeable for a few months.

DISCHARGE
A bloody or watery discharge may occur during the healing period. The discharge will often last a few days after surgery. A yellow or malodorous discharge is an indication of infection. If this occurs and does not resolve after a few days of drops, please contact the office via the portal (azhear.ema.md).

EAR DROPS
You may be given a drops at the time of surgery. The directions for the drops are 3 drops 3 times a day for 3 days. Tip the head to the side for five minutes and then place cotton in the outer ear if there is liquid running from the ear. Please remove the cotton ball a few minutes later. Do not place a cotton ball in the ear canal continuously.

PAIN
Mild, intermittent ear pain is not unusual during the first few days. Please take ibuprofen as needed every four hours while awake 48-72 hours after surgery.

POST-OPERATIVE APPOINTMENT
Post-operative visits are usually scheduled six weeks following surgery. On some occasions, the time interval will sooner. You will find your future appointments on the Patient Portal at azhear.ema.md. You will automatically be notified of your appointments. You can contact the office via text at 602-307-9919.

The Arizona Hearing Center wants all of your questions to be answered. Please send your questions via the portal at azhear.ema.md. You can contact the office via text at 602-307-9919