Mastoidectomy Treatment in India

Olivia Das, a 28-year-old graphic designer...

Olivia Das, a 28-year-old graphic designer and avid swimmer, had a history of recurrent ear infections since childhood. Over the past year, she developed persistent pain and pressure behind her left ear, accompanied by worsening hearing loss and intermittent foul-smelling drainage. Despite multiple rounds of antibiotics, the infections kept returning, severely impacting her work and social life. Her ENT, Dr. Mehta, diagnosed a cholesteatoma, a destructive skin growth, in the mastoid bone behind her ear. He explained that a mastoidectomy was necessary to remove the infected bone and cholesteatoma to prevent serious complications like meningitis or permanent hearing loss. Olivia was terrified of surgery near her brain and anxious about potential facial nerve damage. The procedure went smoothly, though the recovery involved weekly clinic visits for ear packing changes. Six months later, the infections have completely stopped, and while she has a permanent conductive hearing loss in that ear, it is stable. Olivia feels a profound relief from the chronic pain and anxiety. She has adapted to using a hearing aid and has returned to swimming with custom-fitted earplugs, feeling grateful to have reclaimed her health and active lifestyle.