As is widely known, I’m very good at growing bone in my head.
This includes my inner ear, where bone has come to surround the stapes bone
so that it no longer transmits sound. The remedy is a stapedectomy, surgery
that replaces the stapes with a metal prosthesis.
I just had this done yesterday on my rt ear at Mercy Hospital here in St. Louis, by a superb surgeon,
who told me this morning (I spent the night in the hospital) that I can’t play flute
or whistle for two weeks. Blowing can move the prosthesis.
Oh gee…
Jim,
That’s too bad, but you will survive. I had surgery on my left thumb/hand for arthritis - a procedure called LRTI, or CMC joint replacement - back on Feb. 4 (3 months ago). I’ve been unfluted ever since: my wrist still won’t let my left hand bend back enough. I have been assured that it will get there as long as I do my stretching exercises. In the meantime, I have been able to play whistle for a while, so I’m not completely cut off… but I self-identlfy as a flute player and I’m really missing it 
I hope you won’t have to wait this long! Good luck.
Hang in there Jim. I had to stop playing for 3 months last year to let my tendonitis heal which wasn’t nice but worth celebrating when it was done.
I hope you have a speedy and pain free recovery.
Bob
Commiserations, Jim, but also congratulations on successful treatment, I hope.
Since you’re still in St. Louis, get over to Mike’s and try your hand at some pipes! 
Speedy healing to you.
Now your wife knows you can hear her. Just sayin’…
Congratulations on a successful procedure.
Yes, I think it worked but I won’t know for awhile, the ear being inflamed and packed with bandages, etc.
One problem was that the rt ear was hearing notes about a half a pitch lower than they sounded to the left ear,
so that I was perpetually hearing myself as playing flat. This drove my busking cronies to distraction, because
I thought it was my instruments and was forever adjusting… They insisted we sounded fine; for me it
was horrible noise.
I’m not a believer but the surgeon, who people come from other states to see–he’s so good–is totally Christian
and in the best way. He’s 68, looks like a billygoat, and when he came to check on me 5:30 this morning and I
greeted him ‘How are you, Doctor?’ answered ‘Blessed!’ There is a sign in his office saying God bless everyone who comes
here. Tough, gruff, funny, kind and maybe the best guy in the country. 1 in 100 people are deafened by the
procedure…standard risk. For him it’s 1 in 200. When I see him I think ‘Here’s a successful life.’
BTW, that’s hilarious. I might have to borrow it sometime.
Hope you heal quickly and well! On rare occassions, unfortunate accidents, acts of God or just plain stupidity can have a positive outcome, I guess. A week and a half ago today, I caused a front bottom tooth to become loose and I immediatly contacted my local Oral and Maxillofacial surgeon for a recommendation. He advised that I have it removed and receive an implant. Well, I went through the surgery and now I’m waiting about 3 to 6 months for the jaw bone to attach itself to the post, then I will get my new tooth. I’m healing well; however, I have a gaping hole where the tooth used to be. I was able to play my flute for the first time this evening and much to my surprise, I sound better without the tooth; others thought so to. I’m so excited that I’m thinking of having a couple more bottom teeth removed (just kidding–really). Hasn’t done much for my overall appearance however, I look like an aging Meth addict. 
Again, best of luck to you.
Thank you. May all our wounds heal.
This embodiment gig was a vast blunder on the Almighty’s part, IMO, unless s/he has a morbid sense of humor,
along with the whole rational-animal oxymoron. If you’re going to realize consciousness, do it in silicon,
in something stable and durable, for crying out loud!
On the other hand the nurses in the hospital gave me ice-cream, lots of it. They had a whole freezer full of it,
were dying to unload it.
I’ve learned something from my experience there.
I will go through ANYTHING for ice cream.
Jim, that’s truly funny .LOL
Jim - what a bummer, but it sounds like your surgeon couldn’t be any better. I hope the time passes quickly for you, but nothing would be worse than playing too soon and getting to do it all over again.
Good time to pick up banjo!
Eric