Ear Tubes

[mommyofboys]

We just returned from my ds (3) ent appointment. His right tube is still in place (I removed the left one last month-it was sitting in his ear canal in a hard ball of wax for 1 1/2 years). The ent was in an odd mood today and not real helpful with my questions. I am questioning the fact that his tube will have been in place for 3 years in November. She says that I have 2 options - 1-surgically remove the tube and have a patch put on his ear drum to close the hole. We just have to hope the patch works and the ear drum heals and he doesn't end up needing tubes again. 2-leave the tube in place and there is a 50/50 chance that he will need to go back to the OR to have a patch close the hole. She said that the hole will be larger if it comes out on its own. There is also the concern that scar tissue could develop around the tube. I am torn on what to do - dh says lets just schedule the surgery and hope for the best. Anyone have similiar experiences?

 

[3AUTigerFans]

My ds has had 5 ear surgeries. He has had 3 sets of tubes, the first when he was 6 months old.

After his last set of tubes, we went for almost a year after one of the tubes fell out before he had surgery to patch the hole in his ear drum. So, one tube was in and one was out. The ENT said that it would be best to keep the hole in for a while because his ear would still be able to drain if needed.

When he had the surgery to patch the hole in his ear drum, the ENT only patched the hole on the ear that the tube had falled out of. He took the other tube out and left the hole open because that ear had always been worse than the other in the frequency and severity of infections. The ear that was patched has done well. The hole in the other ear eventually healed itself.

Luckly, ds has not had any problems with his ears since the surgery. He had this done when he was 5 and he is 8 no.

I hope this helps some, let me know if you want more information from me. I would be happy to share my experiences. DS started having ear infections at 2 weeks old, and had limited hearing for the first year of his life. We went to several ENT's before finding one that was able to get his ears straightened out. Ear infections are terrible for little ones, and parents too!

 

[mommyofboys]

Fortunately the ear drum has closed in the ear where the tube has fallen out. I am confused as to why she would patch it and not wait to see if it closes on its own. I guess maybe to avoid another possible surgery. He has his tubes put in when he was 9 months old - it was a horrible 9 months with constant ear infections. The scary part is just wondering if we are removing it prematurely. He too has had hearing problems. He would fail his hearing tests up until a year ago.

We know of someone who had tubes and now has a hole in his ear that they cannot close (same dr actually). They have tried several times to close it and it keeps reopening. He is now going to a specialty hospital to try and close it.

 

[Christine & family]

My son had a hole in his ear after the tubes fell out but the ENT's we saw, including a specialist at Children's Hospital in Boston, recommended waiting until he was older (about 10 years old) before patching. He had the surgery there and all is well now. Hope it all works out for you!

 

[Aristomommy]

DD9 had tube put in when she was 18 months. One tube came out at 6 months, the other one was there for almost 3 years and then came out on its own. As long as DD didn't have any issues with it, our ENT didn't want to take it out.

 

[NeonArmadillo]

When I was three I had the chicken pox. It was such a bad case! I had them on my ear drums, in my mouth ect, it ended up causing damage to my estation tube. Because of this my doctor said that my estation tube is about the size of a child's (maybe five or six years old?) so my ears do not drain normal and I had tubes put in I believe three times between the ages of three and eight. Each set of tubes feel out. The last time the hole in my right ear did not close and at the age of twelve i had to have the hole fixed. There was a risk of the patch rejecting but it healed up fine. I'm twenty five now and have very few issues with my ears. I just need to be extra careful when and if I get a cold that it does not back up into my ears because my ears do not drain properly. Good luck with your son, I hope all turns out well.