I'm not a good writer, let alone a story-teller but I'll try my best to convey mine. Sorry it's a bit long. Just wanna share with all of you.

I started having earache in my left ear in January 2007. Thought it was something harmless but it did not go away until the next day. First doctor, a local GP diagnosed me as having otitis externa and prescribed me ear drop. Dunno how she can make that diagnosis because my external ear looked fine and I had congenital anomaly i.e. atresia of the external auditory canal and microtia of left ear. Meaning, it was impossible to see in side of my ear upto tympanic membrane (eardrum). Pain wasnt relieved by the ear drops. Went to see another doc at another clinic. Same medicine. As expected, not working. I ended-up seeing a lot of doctors from place to place until March 2007 - no one gave a definite diagnosis or successful treatment. I was about to further my studies abroad by the time when I think the disease had become fully blown up. I had this big swollen area over my mastoid process (behind ear); so tender that even if a hair touched the swollen area I will feel an excruciating pain. On the day of my departure, I went to the nearest hospital to the airport which allowed me to fly only after they made an incision to release the pressure from the swollen area. If not, due to pressure imbalance in the aeroplane, the abscess might burst into my brain - sudden death! And, they also made me promised that I'll go to the hospital as soon as I reached my destination. Which I did - even a bit late. There, I was admitted and thorough investigation were carried out. Guess what? I had to be operated on the very next day. They had diagnosed me as having Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media (CSOM) of Attico-antral type (with cholesteatoma)and Acute Mastoiditis. After I recovered from the operation, they told me luckily I had came to see them quite soon. Because, in the operation, they found out that the c-toma had started eroding the bone separating middle ear and my brain. If I were a bit late, maybe the damage will be more extensive. All the three ossicles are affected too. I had to visit them for follow-up every 2 weeks. But, one fine day, my doc told me that he was worried because the operation site had not completely healed even though it had been months. So, he scheduled me another operation; which was almost exactly 2 years after the first. It was meant to reduce the persistent discharge that I had been having all this while. But unfortunately, even after this 2nd operation, no positive improvement was seen. And my hearing becoming worse and worse. Pity those who sit on my left side because I cant hear what they said to me. I can only see the movement of their lips but no sound. Luckily my right ear is still intact and functioning well.

Just last month (late Dec'09 to early Jan'10), I had been having otomycosis (fungal infection of the ear) due to the persistent ear discharge. Even now, my affected ear always bleeding and I had to put cotton ball inside my ear every now and then. I'm not shocked if later my doc told me that I have recurrent cholesteatoma. Wish me luck, mates.

Conclusion: I think what's important is an early diagnosis and treatment. Being a medical student myself, I was always turned down by doctors and specialist because they think I'm a hypochondriac. For those out there whose having the same problem, you deserve the best treatment. Because wrong diagnosis and late treatment will lead to  devastating complications.