DS may need tubes AGAIN. Ugh!

[skuttle]

DS had tubes put in his ears right before he turned one. He'll be 3 in July. Friday night he kept waking up and then saturday morning one of his ears was oozing. yuck! Well, the tube in that ear fell out that day but the ear kept oozing. DH brought him to the doctor yesterday and he has a double infection and the other tube is also about to come out. He's on antibiotics and ear drops...hopefully it clears up! She mentioned the possibility of DS needing tubes again. Ugh! I knew this was a possibility all along, and I suppose I should be thankful that DS never had any infection as long as he had the tubes in, but I can't imagine preparing him for surgery at this age! I know there are tons of kids with much bigger medical problems...I don't know how they do it!

 

[MdmMim]

My DD had 4 sets of tubes--she'd be OK for awhile, then the infection would return. She really didn't mind, though--she knew that when the tubes were removed the Tube Fairy would visit during the night! (The doctor placed them in a tiny case to put under her pillow.)

Hope your little guy is better soon! It can be very frustrating!

 

[slo]

Lots of PD and hugs for you!!!

My oldest DD had tubes put in, tonsils and adenoids out at the age of 3 1/2, so I can understand your concern about his age. I hope it all works out for you. For us, my DD was so sick when it was time for her surgeries that she didn't really care what happened to her - she was such a brave little girl!!!

My youngest DD had tubes put in her ears at age 8 months, and I'm nervous about hers falling out and having them put back in again. I'm hoping not, but I'm prepared mentally if that happens.

Please keep us posted on how everything goes with your son - I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers!!! God Bless!!!

 

[MsDisney23]

Oh he is so handsome. I hope he feels better soon!

 

[skuttle]

Thanks. DS has been very good with taking his meds and ear drops this time around, so if he needs surgery hopefully we can talk to him about it and he'll understand. He doesn't seem to be in too much pain, so that's a good thing. He's a tough little man.

 

[janette]

My DD was lucky and only had to have tubes once. I hope he does okay with the infection and doesn't need them put back in. Since there usually aren't any needles or anything too horrible (at least while they are awake) the surgery probably wouldn't be too bad at this age. Just let him know it's going to make his ears not hurt.

Poor little guy Hope he gets better soon.

 

[luvflorida]

Skuttle- to you and your little guy. That picture of him reminds me a lot of my 'little guy', (he's 25 now), at that age. He's adorable!!

 

[Dan Murphy]

He's a trooper, Allison. And that picture is too darn cute.

 

[kimwim8]

MY DS4.5 just had his 1st set of tubes removed the other day. They were sitting in his ears (not attached to the drums) so the Dr. kind of scooped them out along with some wax (sorry, it's gross). We're in the "wait & see" phase to see if he starts to get infections again or not.

He was 18 months old when they put them in & initially they told me they prefer for them to stay in until at least 4 because the eustacian (sp?) tube is more vertical at that age and less fluid should sit there. So we're hoping that he won't need the tubes again, but if he does - we're ok with that too. He had NO infections in the 3 years he had them. If they work that well, then we're game to getting them again if needed.

Hugs to you and your son. If the tubes are what is needed to help him avoid infections, then I'd recommend going for it.

Another short story - I had tubes twice growing up. I had many many many infections, even when I had my tubes. I now (at 32) have a hearing aid in my left ear because of all of the scar tissue and general scarring in my ear from soooo many infections (at least that's what my ENT says). So I guess that's why I'm all about getting the tubes instead of living with the infections.

Take care, and keep us posted.

 

[skuttle]

Oh, we'll get more tubes if that's whats recommended. I just hate to see DS have to have that surgery again. He didn't have a single ear infection during the time the tubes were in so I'm all for the tubes.

 

[Froggyswife]

If he has an infection most likely as soon as they can they will probably recomend a second set of tubes to be put in. As they grow the tubs get pushed out of the ear drum that is why they come out in a year or two and a second set usually has to be inserted if they still have problems.

My dd had to have 2 sets once when she was an infant and then again at age 3 they also removed her adnoids while doing the second tube insertion. It was tough on the second set because they are more aware of what is going on and understandably more scared but remember love is a very good cure for scared little ones. Hugs to you and the little one

 

[Tiffann4k]

We are sort of facing the same thing. My DD had tubes put in at 10 months, the first set lasted until she was 3 years old....she got them put in again at 3 and she will be 7 in June so they have lasted close to 4 years....anyhow she went to the dr yesterday and it looks like one of the tubes went back into the ear drum instead of coming out it went the other way so right now she has a big hole in her ear drum and may have to go back in for surgery to pull the tube out and either get it back in place or put a new one in. The tube in her other ear is doing fine