Sick Toddler - please help w/ timeline

[mommyrants]

My son is 18 mo and has been fighting an ear infection since Dec. We are on round 4 of antibiotics (including the shots). We are being referred to an ENT, and I foresee him getting tubes. (I've been at my pediatrician every Saturday for the last 6 weeks. I wish I was exagerrating)

So. We are to fly to MCO on Feb 11th. 20 days. What can I do? Should I try and reschedule? Should I drug him? My ped hasn't said to cancel, but I don't want to take a kid with bad ears on a plane. Even if i can get him in right away, his tubes will have been in for less than a week...

I also have a 5 year old and this trip is planned around her have a few days off of school.

Any advice is welcome.

 

[snoopy5386]

We took my DD on a flight a few weeks ago with an ear infection and she was fine. Similar situation, she had at the time just started round 2 of antibiotics which thankfully cleared it up. Doc suggested I give her a dose of motrin and a dose on decogestant about 30 mins before we got on the plane. We did and it was fine. Ask your doc or the ENT for advice next time you see them.

 

[Sillyminny40]

Have they done a cat scan of his head to make sure it is not a tooth issue as well? You would be amazed to see what is going on.
I did have a child with chronic ear infections and wish I had done tubes sooner than later.

 

[mejkjj97]

We had the same issue with my DD earlier this year. A double ear infection and walking pneumonia. We were told to cancel. My doctor said a lot of parents do not listen especially if they kids on antibotics. But she highly suggested that we did.
I was on the fence about what to do but we cancelled and rescheduled. In the end it worked out best for us.
But I would talk with the doctors and get their opinion.

 

[RyJMom]

If it is just an ear infection I would not cancel. 20 days is a lot of time to get it under control. If you do end up doing tubes I would not hesitate to fly even a few days later. The tubes give instant relief. Ask your Dr's advice and the advice of the ENT - I bet they tell you to keep your plans. I hope your little man is feeling better soon. I've been there and its no fun!!!!

 

[mommyrants]

Thanks to all for the feedback. This was my instinct as well. Hopefully we can get in w/ an ENT by the beginning of next week.

 

[Leajess99]

My son is 18 mo and has been fighting an ear infection since Dec. We are on round 4 of antibiotics (including the shots). We are being referred to an ENT, and I foresee him getting tubes. (I've been at my pediatrician every Saturday for the last 6 weeks. I wish I was exagerrating)

So. We are to fly to MCO on Feb 11th. 20 days. What can I do? Should I try and reschedule? Should I drug him? My ped hasn't said to cancel, but I don't want to take a kid with bad ears on a plane. Even if i can get him in right away, his tubes will have been in for less than a week...

I also have a 5 year old and this trip is planned around her have a few days off of school.

Any advice is welcome.

I would be very careful if you do fly because it can be quite painful. My older dd had an awful time the last time we flew with the pain and she was 9. She was fine until we landed the first time and that was it she was in so much pain. I had packed the tylenol and she was chewing gum but she was miserable. Even the Flight attendents tried to help. Check with the ENT as well as they may want to get tubes in his ears immediately.

 

[2cutekidz]

From my understanding flying with ear infections is rather painful and there's the posibility of rupturing an eardrum. One of the families on the WISH boards had 2 of their 3 kids have tubes put in days before their trip. Here's the TR she is sweet and will probably be more than willing to answer any questions. Her TR is amazing - they went through an unbelievable amount of complications weeks/days before their trip! And unfortunately, are going through even more right now.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1880798

 

[LilGMom]

As someone with constant ear infection (as a kid and even now as an adult) I personally would not fly while fighting an ear infection. I have enough trouble with my ears and when you add in the pressure and pain with an infection - no thanks. But.... if your child gets tubes put in prior to going I would think that would alleviate the pressure and the pain. Check with the ENT about it. Good luck! We had to get tubes for our youngest a couple of years ago and it really helped him out.

 

[bumbershoot]

If you're interested, you might step away from the western medicine, and see if gentle chiropractic could help your kiddo. Ear infections are one of the first things that disappear when kids get under chiro care, and it would be great to find out if that could help your kiddo before having tubes put in (I had them, I have a hearing loss, and I can't help but think that having holes punctured into my eardrums for them was part of the reason for it).

 

[Tiffa]

My son had ear problems forever! He finally got tubes in and full sinus surgery, the ONE thing that helps is an antibiotic ear drop (Cipro) he helps immediatly - We keep it like drops of gold!! Ask your Dr it was amazing at how fast it worked If I had only known before all those antibiotics it would have saved us from him going resistant to most drugs!

 

[DISNEYFOS]

I would run it by the ENT but tubes would actually help on the plane as they wouldn't allow the pressure to build up. My niece has flown with tubes and has no troubles. Even without the tubes..I agree with others that 20 days should be enough time to clear things up?..

 

[mommyrants]

Our pediatrician got him into an ENT this Friday.

I'll be traveling for work, but DH can take him. Hopefully he'll get tubes next week.

 

[MickeyMom2Boys]

We were in the same situation as you last year. My son was fighting ear infections and we had at trip scheduled to be there on his 1st birthday (Feb 11). I was so worried the ear infections and/or tubes surgery would get in the way and I was determined to spend his b-day with the mouse! We had his tubes put in in late January and left for disney on Feb 9th. He was a completely different kid - ears didn't bother him at all and he had a great time. In addition, when he had the surgery there was virtually no recovery time. Once the anesthesia wore off he was as good as new that very same day. I just found out both tubes have lifted and will be falling out soon. Now we start the watch for more ear infections and hope that the problem has been resolved.

Good luck. If you can get him scheduled to have the tubes put in before you go, I would highy recommend it. They made such a big difference for our son!

 

[madamimadam]

Our daughter had tubes put in for recurrent ear infections. It was 6 mos before we flew but she was totally comfortable by the next day. I'm sure the ENT will have a rule of thumb. It certainly makes flying more pleasant for her. She didn't have any ear discomfort at all on the plane.

Plus after going through the ear infection lifestyle as you've been, you will feel so amazing when you don't have them to deal with anymore.

 

[hmacmahony]

We see a chiro every week, and it started because we were battleing ear infections. It has absolutely worked for us (and no more migranes for me as well!)
We also have started using garlic oil in the ears if my little guy seems a little off. We have been ear infection free since October (and we had 6 infections, back to back between july and September)
Good luck, hope you find what works.

If you're interested, you might step away from the western medicine, and see if gentle chiropractic could help your kiddo. Ear infections are one of the first things that disappear when kids get under chiro care, and it would be great to find out if that could help your kiddo before having tubes put in (I had them, I have a hearing loss, and I can't help but think that having holes punctured into my eardrums for them was part of the reason for it).

 

[Leajess99]

As someone with constant ear infection (as a kid and even now as an adult) I personally would not fly while fighting an ear infection. I have enough trouble with my ears and when you add in the pressure and pain with an infection - no thanks. But.... if your child gets tubes put in prior to going I would think that would alleviate the pressure and the pain. Check with the ENT about it. Good luck! We had to get tubes for our youngest a couple of years ago and it really helped him out.

Have they considered putting tubes in your ears?? They tried to do one in my left ear and that was awful as they do not put adults under like they do kids. The tube only lasted in my ear for 3 days and then they decided not to put it back in so my hearing was muffled for months. The good news is that I no longer get ear infections in that ear but my right ear is still bad and I am even losing hearing now. I refuse to let them do the tube unless they put me under.

I hope you can find help for your ears.

 

[mommyrants]

My son saw the ENT Friday and will have tubes put in the 9th, two days before our trip. They didn't hesitate and even gave me earplugs and a band so he can go in the pool.



Thanks to all for the feedback!!

 

[mejkjj97]

You must be so relieved. Have an Awesome Trip!!

 

[Binnie]

I had tubes as a child and now my dd has them. Once they're in, it's immediate (or almost immediate) relief, so the 2 days shouldn't be a big deal. Be sure to stock the suckers, though!

I have had to fly with her during an ear infection. It wasn't too bad. It wasn't ideal, but she was a trooper.

Good luck--and have a good time!