Ear infections/ ear tube surgery

[disneychick05]

Poor little DS (7 months) has had four ear infections already in his short time here. His doctor is sending us to a specialist to have him checked out. I know this is a common condition so I was hoping to hear some experiences from others who have gone through it with their children. Is the surgery always the answer? Is the surgery effective? What can I do for DS to make him more comfortable. Any advice would be welcomed.

 

[janette]

My DD now 11yo was referred to a ENT at about the same age. At first I thought it was a little premature but by the time we had been the ENT and scheduled the tube surgery she'd been on antibiotics for almost 5 months straight and was still getting ear infections some severe. It was scary because they use anesthesia but they are only out of your sight for about 10min. After she had the tubes the ear infections stopped, I was very glad the Dr referred me when she did and it was the right thing for my DD.

 

[rascalmom]

My older dd had tubes placed when she was about a year old. She still got a few ear infections, but never as severe as those she had before the surgery.

Younger dd had ear infections, but we were able to deal with them with antibiotics & she eventually outgrew them. One of the tips the ENT gave us was to slightly raise her crib mattress so that her head was higher than her body. It really seemed to help her.

Good luck! I know any procedure on a little one is scary, but he will be fine.

 

[lillygator]

My DD had tubes put in when she was 18 months...it was the best thing we could have done....I don't remember the amt of ear infections she had in her first year but it was many!! She only got one ear infection with the tubes and we knew right away because it drained....the rubes have come out...she's 3 and she has grown into her ears....meaning the ear canal isn't as flat as before.


She was in the room less than 5 minutes and they came to get me. Both DH and I were scared but we were more scared to mess with her hearing to not get it done.

 

[Rafiki Rafiki Rafiki]

Tubes were the best thing I could have ever done for my daughter. She had 16 rounds of antibiotics by 8 months...and I knew that I was putting her in jeopardy of building antibiotic resistance.

Anesthesia always has risks, but that's nothing compared to antibiotic resistant staff infections. If I had to do it again, I would have asked for them earlier!

 

[staci]

there was a long thread on this awhile back with tons of opinions; dont remember if it was here or on the family board but you might want to do a search.


DS had them at 17 months. It was the best thing I have ever done for him. And the best spent 700$ too.

 

[staci]

Found it!
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=948762
Just thought that might give you some info as well

 

[disneychick05]

Found it!
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=948762
Just thought that might give you some info as well

Thank you! We have been really worried about this so this gives me some new persepectives to consider. I appreciate all of the responses.

 

[DawnCt1]

DS#4 had tubes at 7 months. I felt the same way that you do, but not only is it essential in helping him to feel more comfortable it is absolutely essential for speech. The first two years of life are emmensely critical for speech. If a child doesn't hear words clearly, he will be speech delayed. DS#4 had his first hearing test in the hospital at birth, (born with cleft palate) and subsequent testing during the early years. Because we had the PE tubes inserted for ongoing ear infections, his hearing was always intact.

 

[MdmMim]

DD started with ear infections at about age 4. She had tubes inserted, but had to have the procedure done 4 times, as her infection would go away, then return.

She didn't mind though--when the tubes were removed, the doctor placed them in a tiny case for her--and the Tube Fairy (sister to the Tooth Fairy) was able to easily find them during the night!

 

[lecach]

I was the OP on the ear tube surgery thread. My DS had the tube surgery in late November (he was almost 1) after about 8 ear infections. So far he's been doing great. 2 whole months with no infections. January was the first month since he was born that we didnt go to the ped. at all. He is a little more sensitive to noise (hates the hair dryer now) but he's "talking" and walking and just doing great. Im glad we chose the tubes. I heard they have a new kind now with a membrane so you dont have to plug their ears for baths and splashing. Its not fun plugging their ears - DS hates that.

 

[Christine]

My son had it done when he was 10 months old. In his first 9 months of life, he had 12 ear infections.

The surgery was a godsend and I do not regret it. He did get two other ear infections since then, but that's not bad for a 10 year period!

 

[Tiffann4k]

My DD had tubes put in at 10 months old. It would of been sooner but they thought they would try every antibiotic known to man to try and clear them up The first 3 months she screamed because of colic, then after that she screamed because of her ears. She spent the first 10 months of her life literally crying and screaming every day, I thought I would go nuts especially since #4 was born a week before she had the tubes put in. It was a godsend because she stopped screaming.
At 2 they fell out and she had them put back in and they have been in ever since and she is now 6 1/2 . I dont think surgery is always the answer but in our case it definatly was

 

[Pooh's Pixie]

My DD had tube surgery when she was about 15 months. It was the best thing I could've done for her. She ended up having a reaction to amoxicillin (severe hives) and was having trouble with other antibiotics working for her. When we finally resorted to ceftriaxone, a nasty, thick antibiotic shot which really hurts and has to be done several days in a row, we knew that was the end of the road for antibiotics. We did the tubes and she never had another ear infection (knock wood!). She's 3 now and the tubes came out in June. No ill effects at all. It felt like we were really doing something to relieve her suffering too.
Also, I agree with previous poster and make sure you have his hearing tested...there can be some damage due to scarring from the infections, etc. Thankfully my dd is fine.

Good luck...the surgery is more painful for the parents than the kids!!!

 

[minkydog]

My nephew started getting ear infections at the age of 6wks. He kept a constant ear infection and was on antibiotics for over a yr. His ped suggested tubes, but my sister wouldn't hear of it. Finally, after a hearing test showed 50% hearing loss they had the tubes placed. Thankfully, the hearing recovered, but it took a while to catch up his language skills. It makes me sad to think they put off this valuable treatment out of fear.

 

[GeorgiaAristocat]

Since I wasn't in on the original thread . . .

My son started getting ear infections right after I stopped breast-feeding him (@ 10 mos.) He then had an ear infection every month for six months, we'd clear it up, it would start right over again. I don't think they EVER actually cleared the fluid behind his ears. I FOUGHT HARD against tubes, I was really hoping we would figure out what allergies were causing the congestion, but after trying every medicine in the world, I finally gave in and agreed to tubes. As nervous as I was about the surgery, it really is incredibly quick and easy. As young as he was (and yours is), they will probably do them first in the morning, which makes it that much easier. He was only a little groggy the day of the surgery and was back in day care the next day.

We had the surgery in November, (yes, the ear infections were all summer, imagine what winter would have been like), and no infections since then. He has also started talking a lot more (a combination of age as well as the fact that he no longer hears like he's inside a balloon!) and is a lot happier. He had bad, ucky drainage one time, but called the ENT and used the drops prescribed and it cleared it up w/in 3 days.

I still hate that I have to put earplugs in just to give him a bath, and I will probably do the earplug and headband combination during the summer for water play and pool, but it is a very small price to pay for his better health.

It really is a very easy surgery and more stressful on the parents than the child!

 

[disneychick05]

Wow, it is great to hear all of these stories. DS is also very sensitive to loud noise and as someone also posted earlier he sort of shakes his head like there is fluid he is trying to get rid of. My in-laws are very loud at their house and whenever we go there DS screams the whole time. It is awful but it had made my MIL and FIL not even attempt to hold DS. I have an appointment today at the EMT so I will post back when we get home. Thanks everyone!