Care for the canal after Mastoidectomy

Ears, nose and throat
1

Hi all.  I am 47 and have had many ear issues since I was a child.  (tubes, infections, ect)  I have had 3 different surgeries to remove a cholesteatoma.  The last one in 2011 removed my tympanic bone as it was mostly destroyed.  I have titanium prosthetic and actually have decent hearing.  Just in the past few weeks, I have noticed a brown, waxy substance that smells just awful.  I realize the open canal may cause odors, but I think there may be more going on because of the stuff coming out when I clean it with a q-tip.  I am scheduled to see my ENT tomorrow (because my surgeon, who I absolutely love, can not see me anymore because I no longer have insurance and will not take cash) I am wanting to know how everyone else cleans that ear after surgeries?  Since I can no longer see my surgeon to have it cleaned out, I am terrified of infections or future cholesteatomas.

Thanks in advance!

2

A combination of rubbing alcohol 70% and a teaspoon of boric acid mixed in the bottle. Swimmers use this concoction. My ENT shoots boric acid in my ear after cleanings.  Do a few drops (5/6) before bed. I leave it in there with a cotton ball plugging my ear. Don’t be scared of boric acid, it’s a drying agent, non toxic to humans and pets.  It’ll clear everything up in a few days. 

3

Hi Mary,

One thing that happens is that you can get a fungal infection. This can occur due to antibiotics killing off the so called good bacteria. Ask you doc to test for fungal.