Double Surfer's Ear Surgery Success & Waves are BACK!

John Mc reveals TIPS on how he coped with Surfers EAR. Filmed at CRAB Island, June 2023.
SURFER'S EAR INFO:
This is a little bit more info on how I broke free!! From Surfers Ear. The original (by far the worse) problem I had with my right ear saw the ear completely close over. Prior to that the ear was 90% closed over with 2 exostosis (bone growths/mounds in my ear). The infection just shut the door, so no amount of ear drops from my local GP was going to help the infection. The doctor who really helped me with the infection was in the Galway Clinic (ENT Doctors - I can let you know his name if interested). He would get the ear open a tiny amount and get some anti-biotic into the ear so it could start to heal. At one point he managed to wedge something into the ear to hold it open. This whole procedure was torture over a longish period of time.
The doctor I went to in Cornwall was 'Dr David Whinny'. I was delighted he used the chisel to take out the exostosis. I recovered quickly and flew back to Ireland a day or so later. For the check up that was needed, 3 or 4 weeks after the surgery, I went to the local doctor (Ear Nose & Throat (ENT)) doctor in the galway clinic hospital, so I didn't have to return to the UK for a check up. I had tried to get in contact with lots of doctors in Ireland but most weren't interested or were very busy. If I had health insurance, I may have been able to get it done in Ireland.
My surgery in University hospital Limerick was a great success. The waiting lists are so long in Limerick, so they seem to bring in a surgeon/doctor for a few days per month from Europe. My doctor was from Belgium and who worked with the local Doctor in Limerick, who is a legend and been doing it a long time!
I was glad that they didn't cut behind my ear (as the heal-time is probably longer as the wound is bigger) but were able to do the same as was done in the UK. They cut a small hole on the outside of my ear and were able to go in from that angle. The plan was to use a chisel but both doctors saw it best to do the old fashioned drill to take out my exostosis. In that ear (my left ear), I only had one large mound of bone (exostosis) to be extracted. The right ear which was done in the UK had more than one, so it was maybe a bigger operation. My hearing recovered perfectly a month or so after the surgery.
If you have any questions, just send me a comment below and I'd be glad to answer. Final point was the pain I went thru on before my first surgery was so shocking. So I'd definitely prefer to have one surgery done, that should get me by for at least a decade or two (if I continue to use ear plugs), rather than an ear infection that could have me out of the water for 2 to 4 months (as was the case with my right ear). Both surgeries were done with general anesthetic, so out was asleep.
Hope this helps someone out there!! Shalom:) God bless jmc

[@brendanwalsh8132]

Great video, waves and message 🤙

[@korocam9137]

Hey mate, I got the surgery last year too. It gets pretty cold in this part of NZ, ear is heaps better. Now I’ll only surf in winter if it’s good, and I wear earplugs and a hoodie. God bless!

[@CliffsofHope]

NZ sounds so beautiful & cold🤙🕊️💯🙌🇮🇪😀

[@surffreq1752]

Cheers John , hope the ears are good , fun looking waves !🤙🙏

[@hurlburt808]

Brother I feel this is a silly question but have you been to Hawaii?

[@CliffsofHope]

A handful times. Usually to north shore. Is that where you are?? Thanks john 🤙👍🇮🇪😀

[@daveflanagan4213]

Got bleach on my navy Lahinch surf school hoodie I got only T the tail end of last summer. Shall replace it T some point. Gutted.

[@CliffsofHope]

Let me know when u down next🏄‍♀️🤙😀💯

[@daveflanagan4213]

Will absolutely. Small possibility end of September. Met Stuart from ZA who graciously waited for me to make up my mind before he had to rush off somewhere else! Was delighted someone just happened to be there end of season.