para>This is a series of images showing how to care for your wound. They include washing your hands, having the doctor take out your stitches or staples, not removing the small pieces of tape over the wound, taking care of your dressing, and watching for signs of infection like pus or redness around the wound.View Original
This is a series of images showing how to care for your wound. They include washing your hands, having the doctor take out your stitches or staples, not removing the small pieces of tape over the wound, taking care of your dressing, and watching for signs of infection like pus or redness around the wound.
View Original
What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Your doctor may give you ear drops or drugs for pain and infection. Apply or take all the drugs as ordered by your doctor, even if you are feeling better.
- Put 2 to 3 pillows under your head when you lie down.
- Talk to your doctor about how to care for your cut site. Ask your doctor about:
- When you should change your bandages
- When you may take a bath or shower. Ask if it is OK to get your ear wet or to get water in your ear.
- If you need to be careful with lifting things over 10 pounds
- When you may go back to your normal activities like work or driving
- Be sure to wash your hands before and after touching your wound or dressing.
- Talk to your doctor before you travel by plane or go scuba diving or swimming.
- Your doctor may leave a tube inside your ear to drain fluids. You may see yellowish or bloody fluid coming out of your ear.
- Do not blow your nose while your ear heals.
- Do not sneeze with your mouth closed or drink with a straw while you are healing. Ask your doctor when you can do these things again.
What follow-up care is needed?
- Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits.
- If you have stitches or staples, you will need to have them taken out. Your doctor will often want to do this in 1 to 2 weeks.
- Your doctor may have left a tube inside your ear to drain fluids after surgery. Your doctor will set a follow-up visit to check this drain. Do not remove the drain.
- Talk to your doctor if you have hearing problems after the procedure.
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain and swelling
- Fight an infection
Will physical activity be limited?
You may have to limit your activity. Talk to your doctor about the right amount of activity for you. ‚
What changes to diet are needed?
- Chewing may be painful as your condition heals. Eat soups or soft foods.
- Drink 6 to 8 glasses of water each day.
What problems could happen?
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Short-term dizziness
- Problems moving some parts of your face
- Loss of hearing
- Ringing in the ear
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, very bad sore throat, ear or sinus pain, cough, more sputum or change in color of sputum, wound that will not heal.
- Signs of wound infection. These include swelling, redness, warmth around the wound; too much pain when touched; yellowish, greenish, or bloody discharge; foul smell coming from the cut site; cut site opens up.
- Bleeding or drainage from the ear
- Numbness or a tingling sensation on the side of the face operated on
- Stiff neck
- Feeling disoriented
- Problems swallowing
- Numbness of the face or drooping around the mouth
- You are not feeling better in 2 to 3 days or you are feeling worse
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my procedure.
- I can tell you what may help ease my pain.
- I can tell you what activities I need to avoid until I am fully healed.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have a fever, chills, bleeding or drainage from my ear, numbness on one side of my face, or problems swallowing.
Last Reviewed Date
2015-07-14 ‚
List_set bdysylist
- Neuromuscular and Skeletal
- Otic
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care provider 's advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2016 Wolters Kluwer Clinical Drug Information, Inc. and its affiliates and/or licensors. All rights reserved. ‚