Not Sure What to Do......

[Queenbillabong]

We are supposed to be leaving for Seattle tomorrow and then fly to LAX bright and early Saturday a.m. The problem is my DS now has infections in BOTH ears, is on antiobiotics orally and drops in his ears. He is in terrible pain, we have not slept in two days because I can only get the pain to go away for a couple hours at a time. Now, he may (hopefully!) feel a bit better by tomorrow or Saturday, but flying? He would be on antibiotics the whole time we're there.......

What would you do??? My husband is a "go, he'll be fine" type guy and I'm more "I think we should postpone, it's a bit risky". He normally has funky ears flying and needs to take Tylenol Sinus before takeoff and landing as his ears will not pop and the pressure is really intense and painful. I think adding the infection, it may very well be a nightmare for him.

BTW - the main reason for this trip is DS got really sick last time we were in DL and ended up in the hospital. This does not sound the best way to start off.....

 

[disneyleslie]

usually once the antibiotics kick in the pain gets relieved - if you have all day today - by tomorrow he should be much better. Maybe you could give him something so he might sleep on the way up or down - that was the only time my kids had a hard time when we flew. If he is fine outside of that with no fever, I think i would go. I'm like your hubby!

Leslie

 

[TiredX2]

Not knowing how your DS reacts to/recovers from ear infections, I would go.

When DS was very small and we were flying (small plane) the doctor was able to give us some "numbing" (pain reducing) drops. Can you get some of those, too. It sounds like he needs them generally anyway. Can you get a mild sedative (even Benadryl)?

That said--- how hard would it be to postpone? Air, hotel, tickets...? How old is DS and what does he say?

 

[Hofmanns4]

Ask your doc about some pain relieving drops for the ears. I think it numbs the inner ear and that may help for the flight. I think I have even seen them over the counter at Walgreens.

Also, bring a drink for him and let him take lots of sips on the way up and down as the elevation changes.

DS2 had both ears infected on his first trip to DL when he was 6 months old. The antibiotics had kicked in and the fever was gone before we left and I was just so thankful that we caught it before we left. At that time, doc told me to have him drink a bottle during the flight. Unfortunately, I was BF and that would not be too easy to pull off while DS was in a car seat.

 

[BraMax]

Hey there!
My niece has a real problem with flying and her ears so my sister uses these things called. Earplanes. Her friend used them on her kids as well and they had never flown before and they had no problem. I am looking for some in my small town myself for my kids. I guess you use them on take off and landings only. You can remove them once you are at your cruising altitude. I would check them out.

Oh and I know how you feel we have been in and out of emerg with my oldest all week and yesterday got confirmation that he is at the start of bronchitis/pneomia so he will be on antibotics for the next week and we fly out on Saturday morning aswell for DL.

I hope all will be okay!

 

[trodrigue]

Tough decision! Ear Planes are available at Walgreeens, by the way. I have used them myself, and they do take away the pressure and also help with the noise of the airplane. They do feel sort of wierd, and hurt my ears after a 5 hour trip, but would probably help even just for take off and landing.

When my kids had ear infections, they did get immediete relief from the antibiotics. If you son is feeling better by tonight, I would think that was a good sign that he was responding and was on his way to being over it.

Good Luck!

Smileys from my 5 year old:

 

[JaneJetson]

After having my husbands eardrums rupture after a flight in December 2006.....I'd probably postpone the trip. It's really not worth it. If he's in pain now...and he ruptures his eardrums...multiply his current pain by about 50.

We almost had to change our WDW trip because I had ear problems in January. I went to a doctor (an ENT...not just a general family practice person) a couple days before the trip and he said I'd be okay. I had a little pain but I was okay. I didn't have an infection though.

If I were you, I'd take him to an ENT and get a professionals opinion. Because trust me...you do not want his eardrums to rupture. Especially right before a vacation.

 

[Brady's Mom]

In March my DS 3 had Pneumonia and Croup and Strep, we had our trip all planned and couldn't change it. We were flying and had hotel and everything set up. We had a package deal and couldn't change without a penalty. Plus I was the planner of the group and we went with a group of 12. So we took him and just knew that he would be a little down. You know, a little tired and needing to rest more. We took our stroller and he spent a lot of time in it. He didn't ride all of the rides that he normally would, I made sure he had lots of fluids and snacks to help him keep his strength up. By the end of our week there he was doing much better and enjoyed himself. I just tried to take extra special care of him, even in DLR, so he would be okay. I also made sure that he had a nap and as early bedtime as possible with the group we were going with.

It was hard to decide what to do, but the Dr. gave me an antibiotic that he only had to take once a day and didn't need to be refrigerated. I made sure to bring the ibuprofen and always use gum on the flight with my kids so they don't have any problems with their ears.

Good luck deciding what to do and hope you have a good trip!!

 

[JadeDarkstar]

i hope he will get better and i hope you all have a grate time.
I had lots of ear infections. I know once i started taking the meds it started imeditly. Id say go and make sure not to miss a dose.

I hope he will be well enough to have fun and im so sorry for you

 

[heatherleigh]

I'm so sorry to hear that! Like someone else said, he has today and all of tomorrow on the antibiotics, so it will probably make a big difference. I hope he feels better and you guys have a great trip.

 

[DahliaRW]

And if you have antibiotics for him he needs to take at DL and they need refrigerated you can keep them at the first aid station, or so I've been told.

 

[Quest4fun]

Keep him on the antibiotics but be sure to consult your physician before making the trip.

If he's not fully healed he will be more prone to rupturing an eardrum. This happened to me and it was anything but pleasant. Here's what to expect if they do rupture.

First and foremost the pain can be unbearable. Vomiting is not uncommon if it's severe. He will also experience bleeding and discharge during the 24 hours following. He's not going to want to do much because of the pain and drainage. After about a day or two the pain should subside and he'll be able to enjoy himself though his hearing will be very muffled. Mine came back fully after about two weeks.

I can't stress the importance of consulting your child's doctor before flying with an ear infection.

 

[Queenbillabong]

We've decided to skip this trip - it's not worth it when he's feeling so crummy! We were lucky and will only lose about $75, so it's not financially a problem - although his health is much more important any way! I don't think he would enjoy himself and after ending up in the hospital last time, I want this one to be so much better (and healthy!).

We'll be going in October still, so he still has that to look forward to. If we were driving, it might be a different story (not sure, but....), but flying is too risky for the ears.

Thanks for all your wishes for his health - he's a bit better right now, so hopefully the worst is over.....

 

[IBLarsen]

I would agree with checking with your dr, and see if you can even get his ears looked at again to see how well they are healing. My dd (3) has been prone to ear infections and sometimes has to have 2 rounds of antibiotics to get fully over them. Every kids is different of course. Her's just don't clear up so fast. I have flown with ear infections myself and I swore I would never ever do that again, it hurt so bad I thought I needed to go to the ER upon landing.

Obviously if you think his ears are healing and not in so much pain, then try to keep his ears popping as much as possible to relieve the pressure, ask your dr about giving him decongestants (I do as a precautionary with my kids), have him blow his nose (gently) while you kind of pinch it off, was one thing I've been told to do by a pilot, and drink, chew gum, whatever you can think of to keep the pressure down. Getting through the flight will be the hardest part, as I'm sure he will start feelings better within a few days, even if the infection isn't totally gone.

BTW, my daughter also uses the numbing ear drops. Works great for some immediate relief. We keep a few bottles on hand at all times!

Good Luck! I know it stinks having a sick kid at vacation time! Poor little guy!

 

[JaneJetson]

We've decided to skip this trip - it's not worth it when he's feeling so crummy! We were lucky and will only lose about $75, so it's not financially a problem - although his health is much more important any way! I don't think he would enjoy himself and after ending up in the hospital last time, I want this one to be so much better (and healthy!).

We'll be going in October still, so he still has that to look forward to. If we were driving, it might be a different story (not sure, but....), but flying is too risky for the ears.

Thanks for all your wishes for his health - he's a bit better right now, so hopefully the worst is over.....

Sounds like you made the right decision. No trip is worth risking a child's health. Hopefully he's better soon and I'm sure your next trip will be wonderful!!

 

[dalepool]

I had my left ear drum replaced back in 1975-- oh I am so old--I can say you are doing the right thing by replanning. Flying plays havoic on "WELL" ears let alone one that already hurts. Did you know there are lots of ppl that have holes in the ear drum? Yep but it usually only affects hearing if the hole is in the middle area. I am glad you have another trip to look forward to . It is so hard to out guess kids and illnesses they get but for sure it is better to rest at home then at a hotel. At home mom's chicken soup can make anything better.


Happy Planning
Patty

We've decided to skip this trip - it's not worth it when he's feeling so crummy! We were lucky and will only lose about $75, so it's not financially a problem - although his health is much more important any way! I don't think he would enjoy himself and after ending up in the hospital last time, I want this one to be so much better (and healthy!).

We'll be going in October still, so he still has that to look forward to. If we were driving, it might be a different story (not sure, but....), but flying is too risky for the ears.

Thanks for all your wishes for his health - he's a bit better right now, so hopefully the worst is over.....

 

[arliepooh68]

Patty how is your ear nowaways?? I ask cuz about 4 years ago my oldest had one hear partially reconstructed and he pretty much has most of his hearing back in that ear.. his was not an ear infection issue, he was just born with crappy crappy eustacion tubes. . . went from hardly hearing with numerous surgeries to pretty much hearing, well as much as a 14 year boy hears. . . .

as for the original poster, I am glad you are postponing your trip. . . had a coworkerr who was miserable before she got on a plane, took her a few weeks and lots of meds to clear up, but at one point she could hear nothing out of the one ear. . .

 

[avalon451]

Ohhhhhh Billabong, I'm so sorry! What a disappointment to you and your family. I sure hope DS is feeling better soon, and is not too disappointed about the missed trip. Poor thing!

Here's hoping October is all the more magical for you!

 

[Tinkerbelle1952]

Sorry you have had to cancel your trip, but I do want to thank you for posting this thread. My DD has inverted ear drums and was advised by our Dr. to use a decongestant for herself and DGD (2) who suffers in a vehicle when coming down any mountain passes. I was not aware that you could buy numbing drops for ears, had never heard of ear planes either, but will do some research. We leave in just under 2 weeks, and I am sure this info will help others as well.

Hope your son is doing better.......