A question for anyone whose toddler had ear tubes

[LoveBWVVBR]

If your toddler required ear tubes for ear infections/fluid, I have a question for you. Did your child's sleep improve significantly after the tubes were inserted? If so, was this change immediate following the surgery? My DD is having tubes inserted and her adenoids removed next week. She has never slept for more than a couple of hours at a time at night, and that is on a very, very good night. This is not a behavioral issue. There is clearly something medically wrong. She is 16 months-old. I am looking for any hope at this point.

 

[lecach]

With my DS I think it was gradual but his sleep did improve. He still has night where he wakes up for water once or twice. And some mornings he gets up early (5 or 6) instead of 6:30. But he definately sleeps better. Good luck.

 

[qtwns]

We've had tubes, tonsils and adnoids done for various DSs at various times. I don't remember specifics b/c its been a while, but I do remember that they all took care of all the problems and relief was rather quick--maybe not over night, but the improvements were great. Good luck!

 

[BethanyF]

I had tubes put in my ears and had my adenoids removed last November. I started sleeping and feeling a lot better within just a couple days.
for your dd

 

[connorsmom911]

Our ds had ear tubes put in when he was almost 2.5 yrs old because of recurring infections and hearing problems affecting his speech. That right away improved the hearing and 12 wks of speech therapy was all he needed. The tonsils and adenoids were a seperate issue (should have probably been done at the same time, but the first ENT we had was a dork and didn't even check them!!) and the second ENT really recommended taking them out as they were really large, ds was a snorer (so loud I had to sleep with earplugs if he was in the same room) and would actually stop breathing at night. Once the surgery was done at almost 4 yr old and he recovered (about a good week or so of sore throat, crying at night etc) it was instantly better...no more snoring or stopping breathing. In fact, he was so quiet I kept checking on him to see if he was still breathing!! He sleeps solidly through the night now, although he was a pretty good sleeper before. And at his follow up check-up, the doctor checked his ear tubes and pulled them out, as they were practically falling out on their own anyway.

Now, the "selective" hearing is still a major issue...you know, the kind where you call their name or tell them to do something and they "pretend" they can't hear you?!?! Wish they had a cure for that!!!!

 

[KirstenB]

Not so much after the ear tubes, although her eating improved and she gained some much needed weight. She was sick so often, and you know how that kills their appetite.

DD had 3 sets of ear tubes, adenoids and tonsils removed. Her daycare teachers used to make fun of how loud she snored. Once her tonsils were removed, she was a totally different kiddo. She immediately seemed more rested, no more snoring, etc.

Now we did notice her speech improved with her first set of ear tubes, at 11 mths.

 

[Rafiki Rafiki Rafiki]

I'll be interested to hear what happens with your little one.

My daughter had tubes at 10 months. Her ear infections/acid reflux were constant when she was a baby. The tubes helped some, but she never did sleep thru the night until we put her on an anti-anxiety medicine and prevacid at age 7 1/2.

I believe that some little people have bodies that are WAY more sensitive than others, and that was the situation with our daughter. We also believed that her sleep/sensitivity issues were driven by medical issues, not behavior.

The good news is that you will eventually see the other side of this. The bad news is that you have to go thru it.

Please keep us up on what happens with her.

 

[poohandwendy]

My son was 6 when he had his tubes, so I can't recall a sleeping difference.

But, one thing that strikes me is that you are saying that she always has had these sleeping issues. If that is the case, I would not think this was the main culprit because it is unlikely she has had infections continuously. I guess it is possible, though. But, at her age, it could just be her normal sleep patterns. I do think her comfort level will improve, after she is healed from the surgery. So, maybe it will help.

Ok, so I am not helping very much. I hope it goes smoothly and she heals quickly!

 

[ceiligh1]

my son is 21 mo and he had tubes put in at 19 months. He had more than 7 ear infections between October and when he had the tubes put in. He was always a pretty good sleeper except when he would have infections. He would kind of cry while he was still asleep due to the pain of the infections that motrin didnt really cover. That stopped with the tubes. He sleeps from 7 or so until around 5:30 or 6 and will wake up happy and play by himself in his room for a while.
The biggest change for us has been he suddenly started to babble and talk, something he had not been doing before as he had hearing loss due to the fluid in his ears.
It was one of the best things we have done for our son. But it is not a perfect fix as he has had ear infections since they went in. With so much puss in his ear that it actually blocked the tubes which I didnt think was possible.
Good luck to you I hope everything will get better for your family soon.

 

[frndofpooh]

DS5 went through 3 sets of ear tubes in 2 years (they kept falling out) and during that time his sleep was erratic. After two years of dealing with the tubes, we had his adenoids and tonsils out. He has slept beautifully since then, ten hours a night, continuous. The change occurred within the first 3 days.

He also eats a lot better, and rarely gets sick. I'm a believer!

Good luck with your little one!

 

[LoveBWVVBR]

A lot of you are posting about the tonsils being removed with the adenoids. As far as I know, DD's ENT is just removing the adenoids. Why were the tonsils also removed, and is that something that I should be pushing for at this time? I'd hate to have to have DD put under twice.

FWIW, we think that she's always had fluid in her ears and that this has affected her sleep. This is her first actual infection, though.

 

[frndofpooh]

They removed DS's tonsils with the adenoids because they thought they were trapping and holding onto a lot of bacteria that ended up in his ear canals and because they did not want him to have to have another surgery.

Some docs are more conservative, though, and won't take out the tonsils unless they have had recurrent strep infections in the throat. I asked them to be more proactive because he had already had 3 surgeries.

 

[DisneyDizzy]

My son had a set of tubes at 1 year old. I didn't notice much difference in sleeping but it was probably because he was so young.

HOWEVER, he had a second set put in at 3 and had his adnoids removed. He was like a different child. He slept more, ate more and he has not been sick since (he is now 5.5). Our ENT told us that the infection just lives in those adnoids and until they take those out the tubes wouldn't help except to relieve the pain. I can't believe what a difference it made in his sleeping and eating habits.

Good luck to you!

 

[LoveBWVVBR]

My son had a set of tubes at 1 year old. I didn't notice much difference in sleeping but it was probably because he was so young.

HOWEVER, he had a second set put in at 3 and had his adnoids removed. He was like a different child. He slept more, ate more and he has not been sick since (he is now 5.5). Our ENT told us that the infection just lives in those adnoids and until they take those out the tubes wouldn't help except to relieve the pain. I can't believe what a difference it made in his sleeping and eating habits.

Good luck to you!

Were his tonsils removed also, or just his adenoids? Would you believe that DD's (well respected) ped. told me that it was a "common misconception" that the infection could live in the adenoids?! What the heck??? DD's ENT said that exact opposite, and obviously so did your son's ENT.

 

[DisneyDizzy]

Were his tonsils removed also, or just his adenoids? Would you believe that DD's (well respected) ped. told me that it was a "common misconception" that the infection could live in the adenoids?! What the heck??? DD's ENT said that exact opposite, and obviously so did your son's ENT.

My son still has his tonsils. We haven't had any trouble with them! He was always SO SICK when he was little. I really can't tell you the change and relief once he got that second set of tubes and adenoids removed. He really has not had a cold, runny nose, sore throat or anything like that since they came out. It seemed like he was always on some sort of cold or allergy medicine there for a while.

Other than catching the occasional stomach bug he is SO much better.

 

[LoveBWVVBR]

My son still has his tonsils. We haven't had any trouble with them! He was always SO SICK when he was little. I really can't tell you the change and relief once he got that second set of tubes and adenoids removed. He really has not had a cold, runny nose, sore throat or anything like that since they came out. It seemed like he was always on some sort of cold or allergy medicine there for a while.

Other than catching the occasional stomach bug he is SO much better.

It helped with the runny noses and allergies too? That's so awesome! My DD has been suffering off-and-on with what we really thought was allergies. Her nose runs SO bad for a few weeks, then she has a break, then it starts back up. I wonder if this is also related to her adenoids. I feel like we are forever giving her allergy meds, Benadryl, Motrin, Tylenol, etc. for all of her symptoms

Oddly, she wasn't sick at all in the first year. She only had like 1 cold the entire time. I kept her inside the house 24/7, though. Now she's in lots of classes and playgroups, and she's had a few colds. It's the "allergies" and the neverending ear infection that really cause her to suffer, though. I really hope that this clears up with the tubes/adenoid removal. I hadn't even thought that that might be a benefit to the surgery. Awesome!

 

[DisneyDizzy]

I hope everything works out for you!

My biggest worry was what to do with him while he was miserable after the surgery. After a couple hours watching a favorite video he asked for a Hot Dog and started playing like normal. I noticed he drank a lot more and said his mouth was itchy (I assume it was scratchy from having the adenoids out). That lasted for a couple days. You really couldn't tell he had anything done after he was home for a while.

Good luck!

 

[Kimmumum]

My DS was 3 1/2 when he had tubes put in. He never had any problem eating or sleeping before so I didn't notice anything after. He didn't have his adnoids or tonsils taken out either.

 

[BethanyF]

It helped with the runny noses and allergies too? That's so awesome! (snip) It's the "allergies" and the neverending ear infection that really cause her to suffer, though. I really hope that this clears up with the tubes/adenoid removal. I hadn't even thought that that might be a benefit to the surgery. Awesome!

According to my ENT my adenoids were so enlarged that they were causing my ear infections and poor sinus drainage. The sinus drainiage couldnt get past the adenoids, so it went in to my ears causing 40-50% hearing loss in both ears becuase of chronic fluid in my inner ear.
Since the surgery I have not had a stuffy nose, runny nose or a cold. Maybe it was coincidence and I just didnt catch a cold this past winter, but allergy season is starting and I havent had a complaint. My hearing came back within a week and I havent felt a twinge of pain in my ears in 6 months.

 

[kthom]

My oldest son (now 7) had ear tubes put in at 11 mo. old. Didn't notice any difference in sleeping better or worse. Youngest son had tubes at 18mo. no difference in sleeping, just no ear infections any more for both. My oldest just had surgery in Feb. for new tubes, adenoids & tonsils ..best thing we ever did, it's like having a new kid. Sleeps much better (no more snoring, apnea issues which made him look worn out all the time). I have to stand over his bed to hear him breathe, when I used to be able to hear him snore/heavy breathing from our room down the hall. I've heard from friends that recovery is not bad for just adenoids 2-3 days and getting tubes is like nothing ever happened to them in my experience. Best of luck to you and know that your child will eventually feel better because of the surgery, and the younger they are the faster they heal!!