Hi all

I've had a hole in my eardrum since I was a child, and it causes some problems to say the least (infections, pain, difficulties swimming etc). Last year I had a tympanoplasty to replace the ear drum, which broke down again, meaning after much pain and putting my life on hold awhile I'm back where I started.

What I'd like to do is find a natural remedy that can help in some way before signing up for another invasive surgical procedure. I've done a bit of research into this topic and there doesn't seem to be much out there - there's a substance called epidermal growth factor that may aid in cell generation in the ear drum, but I can't find any reference to human trials; furthermore, another paper referenced it as a carcinogen.

I know this is an extremely specific medical problem, and as such may be pushing the limits of natural medicine, but if anyone has any suggestions I would love to hear from them.

Thanks for any help you can give,

Andy (:

I think you made a huge mistake in having the ear drum replaced. Once you cut out a part of you and throw it away there is not much you can do about it.
You had too much faith in surgery.
We probably could have helped before.

__________________
Doctors give drugs of which they know little,
into bodies, of which they know less,
for diseases of which they know nothing at all.
Voltaire

I don't know. Have you looked into stem cell therapy?
I do know that people regrow fingers.

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Arrowwind - I think stem cells might have something to offer, but probably not for at least 10 years (and probably not on the NHS here in the UK). But thanks for the suggestion (:

Athletic - "You had too much faith in surgery. We probably could have helped before." Right... judgements aside, I'm in exactly the same situation I was in before the surgery: I have a hole in my eardrum. So if someone could have helped me then, they still can. Anyone any ideas? [For the record, a tympanoplasty doesn't involve throwing anything away, it's a tiny skin graft to attempt to cover the eardrum.]

Thanks in advance for any other help offered...

A (:

Stem cell products can be purchased and used at home. Its kinda hard stuff to fine. I will look around but it may take a while. I had links stored on my old comuter that I can't get to at this time. Some work is coming out of New Zealand. products that is.

I had a friend who fully regenerted her hips and knees when they were wanting to do replacements. I don't know if I can find her these days...It was a while ago now.

I also had a patient who went to the Dominican Republic for injectable stem cell work. Costly though and it appears that some of the oral products work quite well.
Don't give up on the stem cell idea just because UK insurance issues. There may be other ways. It will take searching. Even some doctors in the US are offering it.. wish i had access to those links. I will look around but today I have to go chop firewood cause we are out!

adredwood I'm sorry I misunderstood what the operation was that you had.
Give it a week and I think you will find that it has healed over.

Thanks arrow, I'll ask my doctor if he can recommend anything when I go there next.

Athletic - errr.... I said I've had a hole since childhood, and the operation was last year. So it's been quite a few days now... large holes in the tympanic membrane don't spontaneously heal; in fact even small ones can take several months.

A (:

Just wait a week! You'll see.

Hi Andy!
Sorry you've had so much difficulty with that ear! It's surprising a cyst hasn't formed... Do you have any hearing loss?

Did you happen to disturb the healing process from the tympanoplasty, like blowing your nose, getting it wet accidently or scratching it? Since they're using your own skin, it's probably worth having done again even though it's not something you look forward to doing.

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You're such the perpetual optimist!

Gimme 50 pushups, right here, right now! I'll count them out for ya.. 1, 2, 3, 4....

Thanks for the support Cookie - I probably did do something to disturb it, though no idea what that was; sneezing is high on the list though. If I get the operation again I need to lock myself away in a temperature / climate controlled room... (just kidding, folks.)

I think I'll ask my ENT guy next time I go to see him, find out what the deal is. I suspect he'll push for surgery again, and if I want to get over the constant threat of infections I should probably do that; but I'll ask for any alternatives he might know.

Thanks again,

A (:

Actually, that temperature / climate controlled room sounds VERY inviting!!



May I? Your own body has everything it needs to repair itself without using foreign stem cells which require anti-rejection meds. Adult stem cells are already found in the UK and in many organs and tissues of your own body. They're in the skin, skeletal muscle, bone marrow, blood vessels, peripheral blood, testis, ovarian epithelium, liver, heart, and gut. Trying to think of more.....And they've even found them in teeth and the brain.

There may even very well be enough adult stem cells (pericytes- outermost layer of small blood vessels) contained within your own skin they're using to do the patch job.........

I also grew up with a hole in my eardrum and have had numerous surgeries to close it up, including tympanoplasty, and not one has done the job.
It has been 6 years since my last surgery, and I think I am due back for another one now.
Yesterday water hit the spot and the constant throbbing pain is back

Did your ENT suggest any alternatives?

Thanks