OT: Tubes in ears? **Updated in post 31**

[Schrute Farms]

Our son went from averaging an ear infection a month to having exactly zero in a year because of tubes.

The only bad part was when our son was in recovery. He was hysterical and incosolable. It took a good 15 minutes for him to come too. Eventually we were able to get him to drink apple juice which calmed him. We got him home and he took an hour or so long nap and after that he was totally normal.

We have the molded ear plugs for him, but only use them for swiming. Alot of doctors say they are only needed if the ears are submerged for greater than 18".

 

[miss missy]

My DD (15) had them in when she was 6. It helped a lot The procedure was day surgery in the hospital, they put her under. She also had an additional surgery, her upper lip and tounge needed to be cut as they were grown too close, limiting her tounge movement. She did wake up a bit ill, but she was running around that night, like nothing happened So that was easy. I did bring a lil prize for her that we gave her after the surgery.

As far as the ear aches, she didnt get much of them after that. They fell out on their own years later. I wish we did it sooner!!

 

[DavidandLeahZ]

So, we were all set up for surgery next week- we had a hotel room booked for the night before(the hospital we have to use is 1 1/2 hrs away and we have to be there at 6:30 am), I had taken off work, my in-laws were coming to watch our other son. This morning the nurse calls and says, "oops, I booked his surgery at the wrong hospital. We have to move it to this Thursday." Oh my goodness. I'm glad to be getting it done earlier, but I now had to call and change the hotel reservations(luckily they didn't charge me), my father-in-law had to back out of a commitment, I had to find someone to work for me. Unbelievable. How do you call the wrong hospital???
The only part I'm worried about is the nurse said that I wouldn't be able to be in with him when they put him under. He doesn't even like the tongue depressers going in his mouth- he's not going to handle this well. He had some health problems when he was younger and after some scary testing, was scared of doctors for a long time. We've finally gotten him to enjoy going to the doctor - this won't help. Hopefully I'll be able to talk them into letting me come in.

 

[sherabby]

My son has had them inserted twice. He did awesome for his first surgery but he came out of his second one very sick from the anesthesia. His first set of tubes was around age 3 and they lasted well over a year. His second set only lasted 6 months. He is now 8 and we are still dealing with fluid issues....not ear infections. So far he has avoided his third set because his ears are growing and able to drain that darn fluid!

When they took my son when he was 3 they gave him vallium to relax him. he was so drugged up it was kinda funny. I was in need of some of those meds because I was a nervous wreck. They took him and it was only about 5 min and the doc came out and said he was done!

Our doctor required him to wear ear plugs and an ear band it when swimming.

 

[wishspirit]

So, we were all set up for surgery next week- we had a hotel room booked for the night before(the hospital we have to use is 1 1/2 hrs away and we have to be there at 6:30 am), I had taken off work, my in-laws were coming to watch our other son. This morning the nurse calls and says, "oops, I booked his surgery at the wrong hospital. We have to move it to this Thursday." Oh my goodness. I'm glad to be getting it done earlier, but I now had to call and change the hotel reservations(luckily they didn't charge me), my father-in-law had to back out of a commitment, I had to find someone to work for me. Unbelievable. How do you call the wrong hospital???
The only part I'm worried about is the nurse said that I wouldn't be able to be in with him when they put him under. He doesn't even like the tongue depressers going in his mouth- he's not going to handle this well. He had some health problems when he was younger and after some scary testing, was scared of doctors for a long time. We've finally gotten him to enjoy going to the doctor - this won't help. Hopefully I'll be able to talk them into letting me come in.

That must be really hard! When I had a quick surgery when I was younger (4 I believe), they told me very early on that my mom couldn't be in the room with me, and that when we got to a yellow line on the floor, mommy wasn't allowed to go any further, but a nice kind nurse would show me the way. I, of course, was more than a bit scared, but usually the paediatric nurses are so used to this kind of thing, they know exactly what to say to help! In the UK, I don't think I have ever heard about a parent going in with, but it might be different there. It must be really hard, but hopefully it will work out for the best!

 

[sherabby]

I stayed behind the bed when they started rolling his bed away for his second surgery. He was 5 almost 6. The nurse told him that I was right behind him.....I hate lying but it seemed to work for him.

 

[zulemara]

I had my tonsils out at the same time as tubes being put in my ears, so I don't remember much when it comes to dealing with the tubes. I think I remember getting sick afterwards, but that was probably linked to the meds with the tonsils.

My parents gave me a little stuffed dog to take into surgery with me. When I had my jaw broken and reset when I was 17, they had found the dog and I went into surgery with it. I just thought that was cute

 

[miss missy]

So, we were all set up for surgery next week- we had a hotel room booked for the night before(the hospital we have to use is 1 1/2 hrs away and we have to be there at 6:30 am), I had taken off work, my in-laws were coming to watch our other son. This morning the nurse calls and says, "oops, I booked his surgery at the wrong hospital. We have to move it to this Thursday." Oh my goodness. I'm glad to be getting it done earlier, but I now had to call and change the hotel reservations(luckily they didn't charge me), my father-in-law had to back out of a commitment, I had to find someone to work for me. Unbelievable. How do you call the wrong hospital???
The only part I'm worried about is the nurse said that I wouldn't be able to be in with him when they put him under. He doesn't even like the tongue depressers going in his mouth- he's not going to handle this well. He had some health problems when he was younger and after some scary testing, was scared of doctors for a long time. We've finally gotten him to enjoy going to the doctor - this won't help. Hopefully I'll be able to talk them into letting me come in.

Oh and just to let you know, I was able to go into the OR with her till they put her out. I was dressed in gown and mask and all. They put a mask on her and she just breathed, then she was out- BUT they didn't tell me her eyes stayed open I asked what do you mean she is out, her eyes??? and they closed them, which freaked me out totally, since I have only seen that done before in movies when someone was ... so that put me in not a good state to leave her at. I got through it, but never forgot how that felt. So beware if you do go in, the eyes might be open after they put him out.

She woke up a little ill, but it went fast and after that- good to go!!

Best luck!

 

[LisaNJ25]

This was long ago 30 + years but when I had mine they made molded earplugs out of rubber that filled my entire ear. Do they do this still? If so it is impossible to get water in the ear while wearing these.

They still do but my daughter had them made and they didn't work good at all. I bought the wax ones that you just mold into the ears.

I had 2 in ear tubes at the same time. My now 3yo got them in at 2. He spent the night in the hospital. He also had his tonsils and adenoids out at the same time. My now 9yo was 7 going on 8. This was summer/fall 2007. They are both out now. neither had a history of ear infections but did have fluid build up. My younger one now goes to speech therapy because of the hearing loss with the fluid.

 

[pal-mickey]

So, we were all set up for surgery next week- we had a hotel room booked for the night before(the hospital we have to use is 1 1/2 hrs away and we have to be there at 6:30 am), I had taken off work, my in-laws were coming to watch our other son. This morning the nurse calls and says, "oops, I booked his surgery at the wrong hospital. We have to move it to this Thursday." Oh my goodness. I'm glad to be getting it done earlier, but I now had to call and change the hotel reservations(luckily they didn't charge me), my father-in-law had to back out of a commitment, I had to find someone to work for me. Unbelievable. How do you call the wrong hospital???
The only part I'm worried about is the nurse said that I wouldn't be able to be in with him when they put him under. He doesn't even like the tongue depressers going in his mouth- he's not going to handle this well. He had some health problems when he was younger and after some scary testing, was scared of doctors for a long time. We've finally gotten him to enjoy going to the doctor - this won't help. Hopefully I'll be able to talk them into letting me come in.

It's upsetting when you are ready for something to happen on a particular day and then something changes. When my son went through it the first time, he was given a drug called Versed in the pre-op room. This made him silly and as the nurse carried him into the OR he was laughing. That medicine also has an amnesic(?sp) effect.
In my experience the kids go thru everything OK and the parents need some medication.

 

[DavidandLeahZ]

The procedure went great! We got to the hospital at 6:00 am, he went back to surgery at 7:30 and was out by 8:00. We went home an hour later. The nurses were great with him and gave him the job of reading his blood pressure and oxygen numbers every time they needed to write them in his chart. He loved this. He was very proud of his little scrubs and even got to keep the slipper socks. The best part was that he got to take his little stuffed frog into surgery with him. He did tell us that he cried when they put the mask on his face, but he also says "I didn't go to sleep! They put the mask on and then they brought me right back to you!" That's really the part I was worried about- that he would freak out with the mask. But, he did great and he could hear us whispering when he came into the recovery room! He hasn't heard anything above a yell in a long time!
We didn't have fun with the ear drops we had to do for the next two days, though. He screamed and screamed with pain. I had to hold him for about 30 minutes afterwards. Our doctor says we don't have to cover his ears in the tub(only if we go swimming), but won't the screaming and pain happen if he gets ANY water in his ears, even in a bath?
Thanks for everyone's help and advice! We really appreciate it!

 

[miss missy]

The procedure went great! We got to the hospital at 6:00 am, he went back to surgery at 7:30 and was out by 8:00. We went home an hour later. The nurses were great with him and gave him the job of reading his blood pressure and oxygen numbers every time they needed to write them in his chart. He loved this. He was very proud of his little scrubs and even got to keep the slipper socks. The best part was that he got to take his little stuffed frog into surgery with him. He did tell us that he cried when they put the mask on his face, but he also says "I didn't go to sleep! They put the mask on and then they brought me right back to you!" That's really the part I was worried about- that he would freak out with the mask. But, he did great and he could hear us whispering when he came into the recovery room! He hasn't heard anything above a yell in a long time!
We didn't have fun with the ear drops we had to do for the next two days, though. He screamed and screamed with pain. I had to hold him for about 30 minutes afterwards. Our doctor says we don't have to cover his ears in the tub(only if we go swimming), but won't the screaming and pain happen if he gets ANY water in his ears, even in a bath?
Thanks for everyone's help and advice! We really appreciate it!

YAY!! great news! Glad it is done!

My DD used plugs that molded in. I used them in the tub too, any water. I even had a spare pair kept at the hair dressers for when they had to wash her hair. They just gave them back to me at the last visit LOL she is 15 now But hey, it worked! I don't remember what I was instructed with water, I just know I used them whenever she was in water. The plugs were cheap enough and came in different colors and where in little cute holders. I also remember using a headband that was made for water and covered the ears, we used it for the bath but I think it might have been a swimming thing.

Here is to NO MORE ear aches!!

 

[safetymom]

I am glad to hear he came through with flying colors!!! I am sure you are glad the procedure is over.

 

[I<3EvilQueen]

I had tubes in my ears all my childhood, starting at age five and then pretty much had to have them in every year afterwards till I hit puberty. The only real pain I remember is when I got water in my ears and then the pain was horrible. So I learned to be careful in the tub, shower, and pools were the worst with other kids.

The best thing to use as ear plugs for the pool or water parks, is silly putty. Honestly...my doctor told me about it. It is cheap, it molds, and it is flesh colored so it doesn't draw attention.

Trust me your son will come to appreciate Silly Putty. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

 

[aGoofyMom]

I am so glad it went well.

 

[DVCJones]

I'm so happy to hear everything went so well. You will be amazed with how quickly his hearing will improve.