Please tell me what is involved in getting ear tubes...

[Chelley00]

We went the chiropractic route first as well. It did nothing. DS finally went in for tubes right after he turned 2, and he hasn't had an EI since. I love my chiropractor and he has helped me so much, but for our son it was worthless and a waste of money We were convinced that chiropractic care would work, as was the chiropractor and the pediatrician, that we waited to have his surgery. In the meantime, DS's speech got farther and farther behind and more muffled and muted because that's how he was hearing things. Plus, he fell a lot and the ENT said it was because his balance was off because of all the inner ear infections. He actually had to get stitches at 18 months because he fell and hit his head.


Anyhow, to the OP, be prepared for a complicated wake up from the anesthesia. I wasn't and it took me off guard, but the nurses said it was very common for younger children to have a hard time waking up because they don't realize what is wrong with them, why they feel so groggy etc. We stayed in recovery a little longer than usual just because he was crying so hard and so long. They actually had to give him something to help him relax, and after that he was fine. They took out his adenoids at the same time and it still only took a total of 20-30 minutes from the time they came to carry him back until they were paging us to recovery.

He did throw up all over me as we were waiting to get his presciption filled, so be prepared it can happen. He threw up one more time at home, took an hour long nap, and was up chasing the cat 10 minutes later.

As we were walking to the car after the surgery, he popped his head up and said "Choo Choo". We stood and listened and heard the train from the tracks that are about 1/2 a mile away. We couldn't believe he could hear that! After 6 more months in speech therapy, he was discharged! I kick myself for waiting so long.

 

[sacall]

My oldest dd had them put in twice. Once when she was about 14 months and then at age 2 1/2. She was put under, it took about 10 minutes and she was fine afterwards. I am so glad we had them done. She was starting to suffer from hearing loss with all the fluid she had in her ears.

Per our ENT, she never had to cover her ears when swimming in a pool or bathing. She ONLY had to cover her ears if we were going to swim in a lake or ocean.

She used to have constant infections in her ears when she didn't have tubes. After her tubes, she had one infection that we cleared up using drops. I am so glad we did tubes for her ears.

I think the whole surgery thing was harder on my dh and I than on my daughter.

Stacy

 

[Disneyvirg]

My daughters have both had tubes. DD5 had them when she was 9 mos & again at 3 yrs. She had her adenoids removed the second time. She suffered so much with ear infections before that it was like a miracle after her first set. She seemed to be completely pain free!!! The recovery from the anesthesia with the first set went better than with the second set. As they get older they have a bit tougher time coming out of anesthesia. DD2 was about 9 mos too. Went pretty much the same way as first DD. It's such a relief for them to get the pressure taken care of. It's like magic - they were suddenly able to sleep at night.

I should have had tubes as a child, but my mom was worried about the surgery. I wish she would have done it anyway. Ear infections are horribly painful! I'm glad there's a way to keep my daughters from experiencing that for years to come like I did.

Good luck!

 

[pigget74]

All of my kids have had them. DS #1 at 1 yr, DD #1 at 17 mths along with adnoids out and tubes again at 2.5. She also had to have major speech therapy--could not hear from about 4mths to 17mths--we just did not know how bad it was--did therapy 4x a week for 2 years and now she is fine. DS #2 had them at 18mths and again in April. DD # 2 had then on June 6th when she was just 9 mths old. She was not sleeping through the night--started sleeping that night. Was not rolling over--started whithin 2 days and is now crawling for about 2 weeks. She is even babbling like crazy.

Our ped. joked with me one day when I was in near tears after another resp. infection and double ear infection--she had pneumonia at 8weeks--so I asked if this could all be related--her body and all-- he said mom you have two things against her--the early illness and just face it your genes--you do not make good ears.

 

[teresajoy]

Looks like we are heading down this road with DD. She is 19 months old and is being referred to an ENT Dr.

Will she be put under?

How long will it take?

Will she be in pain after?

Thanks, I know there are some parents on this board that are much more experienced here than me

I haven't read the other replies yet, but I'll tell you what happened when we did this with Lydia.

She had been in constant pain from earaches from the time she was about 8 or 9 months old. She had continual ear infections, it was just horrible. So, her doctor scheduled her for tubes when she was 18 months old. She would have done it sooner, but we were leaving for Florida right after we could have scheduled her, and we din't think that was a good idea (wish we HAD done that now though!) Her ENT was suprised that she didn't have bad balance and that she could talk so well, since her eardrum was not moving at all.

From the time they took her to the operating room to the time she came back to the recovery room was REALLY REALLY quick!!! It was about 15- 20 minutes! They made us stay in the waiting room for a little while with her. I nursed her, and they checked her and we were on our way home within an hour or so. I was shocked how quick it all was!!! They did put her under, but she came out of it really quick. By the end of the day she was absolutely fine, and since then she has only had one ear infection!!!! (She is 5 1/2 now). It was the BEST thing we ever did for her! I just wish we had scheduled it for before our trip, because she got an infection while we were gone, (or more to the point, the one she always had got worse) and she was fussier than normal. She would have had a much nicer time if we had done this before the trip.