Ear tubes need advice

DS had 4 ear infections in a row so ped recommended we see an ENT. We did and he had a lot of fluid in his ear and didn't do great on the gearing test. He heard at 30 decibels while hearing at 20 decibels is passing. We agreed to do tubes which is set for next Friday. It's been almost a month since that visit and DS has not had an ear infection since and his fluid has all drained. I'm so hesitant to go on with this surgery now. The ped says we should still do it since he is prone to ear infections but I'm just not sure since he is healthy now and only 9 months. any advice you can offer?

Thanks!

Re: Ear tubes need advice

Hey sweetie.. John got the tubes.. it really was the best decision for us. Now...it is becomeing Spring.. so i can see your hesitation.. no colds.. no ear infections.. but what if he has allergies.. then BAMN back to ear infections. He could possibly grow out of it by next winter too.. the ear canals could change shape and be fine next year.. you just dont know.. but.. as far as the surgery:

By the time I left the OR when the put him out.. to the time they called me and said he's up.. it was about 15 mins!! By the time he got home.. he was eating and playing like NOTHING happened!!! while the anticipation is THE WORST THING EVER.. the outcome is worth it and the surgery was a piece of cake!!!!

If you have any questions.. let me know!!

Re: Ear tubes need advice

Honestly- I would hold off. He did bad on the hearing test bc he had fluid in his ears. Also- a lot of children get ear infections during the winter time. Maybe you can see how he does after the winter and cold weather ends? Hopefully he does better with warm weather and by the time winter comes around next year- he Weill be a little older and not get infections as much. Hope this helps!

Re: Ear tubes need advice

Posted by Linda1003

Hey sweetie.. John got the tubes.. it really was the best decision for us. Now...it is becomeing Spring.. so i can see your hesitation.. no colds.. no ear infections.. but what if he has allergies.. then BAMN back to ear infections. He could possibly grow out of it by next winter too.. the ear canals could change shape and be fine next year.. you just dont know.. but.. as far as the surgery:

By the time I left the OR when the put him out.. to the time they called me and said he's up.. it was about 15 mins!! By the time he got home.. he was eating and playing like NOTHING happened!!! while the anticipation is THE WORST THING EVER.. the outcome is worth it and the surgery was a piece of cake!!!!

If you have any questions.. let me know!!

Ear tubes need advice

Tube supporter here!
Just saying it up front.

I only wish I could have gotten tubes faster into AJ. The antibiotic slurry she took for each of her infections was bothersome. Plus most times AJ showed NO SIGN OF ANY INFECTION. No fever, no sniffles, no pain, no crying, no pulling on her ears. I would take her in for her 6m or 9m visit or anything and guess what? She'd have a RAGING double ear infection. Once they said her ear drums were actually extended due to the pressure. The times we took her in with fever or crankiness it was an ear infection as well. They put us off for so long. They even tried to scare me with "do you want your child put under?" etc. I get it.. i do but honestly it was THE BEST THING EVER.


ETA: oh and tubes are great as an automatic depressurizer so flying was a breeze!

Like others, it was so fast its crazy.

Now AJ did not have the rainbows and flowers recovery that others had only because she had an infection when she went in and altho they THOUGHT they sucked all the fluid out, they didn't. It got reinfected quickly after so after two days of screaming we had to put drops into her ears to recover.

That said, drops in her ears... directly to the source of infection was way better than constantly drugging her body with antibiotics (in my mind) so it was a win. She had them put in at 17m and other than that infection at time of surgery she only had one other infection. They fell out naturally between 3 and 4 and she's been infection free since.

Message edited 2/28/2013 10:55:59 AM.

Re: Ear tubes need advice

Thank you so much for all the responses. DS had ear tubes put in last Friday and I'm so glad we did it. He seems happier to me and the doc said one ear was ver clogged with a thick pastey fluid that he really needed the surgery. Once we were home he was crawling, playing and eating no problem. We had to insert drops in the ear for 5 days and that was it! For anyone contemplating the surgery I have to say it was the best thing for DS who is 9 months.