tubes in the ears

[Honeysmom]

About a month ago I posted about my 2 y/o DD and her ear/medicine problems.

They are all back again. The left ear is so bad that the doc said if we would have waited another 24 hours it probably would have ruptured. Why do they always get sick at 10 PM on Saturday night???

So now they put her on 500 mg. ammoxicillian pills 3 x's a dayfor ten days, which I am sneaking into chocolate milk. (until I get busted by her) Then they want her to take 500 mg. per day for the next 3 MONTHS! If she is not significantly better by Wednesday they are going to give her those shots again. If she gets another infection after the shot, or in the next 3 months, then they will put the tubes in.

Does this sound stupid to anyone else or just me? We have been batteling the same infection since Christmas. She has been on 4 oral persciptions and shots once and she can't kick it. I also do not want her taking meds for 3 months like that. For heavens sake she is only 2. I wish they would just put them in and get it over with. Honey had them and it was so easy, 45 minute surgury and he was a new kid.

Today the doc (the one on call of course) said that all we have to do is get to summer and this will pretty much disappear. Sounds fishy to me. Then she said with luck she will grow out of it by next winter. I need some input or advice on this one. My votes goes to tubes now, no more pain and we all need some sleep.

At least this time they did give us the ear drops for pain. So that is helping, but I did get the big "Get away from me!" When she saw the next box of Tylenol suppositories. She is too smart for her own good!

[anneke]

why they dont just put the tubes in. it is gona be nececary probabely anyway. my brother had them too and never got sick after it

Anneke

[Amsmom]

Hi Becky,
I don't understand that dr! Is it the same one who put tubes in Honey's ears? 3 months-plus on antibiotics is
certainly questionable at best. My ds has had tubes (4 times, actually, because every time they fell out, his ears filled with fluid again.) My ds's ENT would do a tympanogram to see if there was fluid in the ears in between ear infections. Can you get a second opinion?

[Honeysmom]

No, this is a completely differnt Doc and clinic than I had with Honey. With Honey they resisteed doing it also, but he was 9 months old and had had 9 ear infections so I just insisted for a referral to the ENT. Once he saw him even he was annoyed that the other doc's in the clinic were so stubborn about giving me the referrral.

This was not our regular doc. Everytime the the kids get sick it is hard as heck to get them in to see any doctor, let alone their own. We are supposed to follow up with him in 3 weeks so I will be able to talk with him about it then.

What is a tynpanogram? I think Honey many have had one, but DD never has.

[finnmom]

Honeysmom
I vote:tube´s ;D
In here the rough rule is over 4 earinfection´s in a year, and they get tube´s. Sound´s reasonabel that way.
Good luck, hang tough
Marja

[loveforeric]

Honeysmom;

I am sorry you and your darling are having a hard time. I have to agree that it seems fishy. That is too long to try to get something to work... I vote for the tubes too.

Don't you just love the Doc's and their 10 different opinions. Why should you all suffer, you are right. I would say something about it. Go with your gut.. This is your child and you know better than anyone if it is working or not.

Just a thought... I hope she gets better soon.. Will keep you all in my thoughts
Have a peaceful day,
Christina

[tridlette]

I have had more go-rounds with ear infections, antibiotics, and tubes than I can even count between the three boys.

Patrick had his first infection when he was 8 DAYS old. And his first set of tubes at 9 months. Shaun waited until 15 months to get his first tubes.

Patrick has had tubes 5 or 6 times now, I lost count. I don't even have my coat off yet... just took Shaun in for yet another infection! He is back on Augmentin.

Anyway... we have used every known antibiotic, every know method of treating or not treating infections, and the kids still get regular infections. I heard a study just in the last month that says that women who have had more than 10 (or was it 25?) rounds of antibiotics in their life time have a significantly greater risk of developing breast cancer. What it also said though, was that it is unclear whether the risk is because of the antibiotics or because of a natural predisposition that caused both repeated infections and cancer.

That having been said... I found the boys had fewer break through infections while on long term preventative antibiotics. Tubes in the summer are really a pain, trying to keep ears dry. I actually put off Patrick's most recent surgery until October so that he could have spontaneous water gun fights with the neighbors.

The TYMPANOGRAM, is a simple test that checks to see if the ear drum is moving well (cushioned by air on both sides) or if it is dampened with fluid behind it. A flat "tymp" shows that there is still thicker fluid, which will also dampen sound waves causing hearing difficulty.

I can't recommend for or against the tubes, it is definitely a personal choice. I chose to do it every time, but Patrick has decided at his age he should have some say in the matter. He is frustrated that he hasn't had good results. Michael had tubes twice (one came out in the pool when he was just 2 yrs old) and has not had a single ear infection since. Shaun was fine for about 5 years, but has had multiple problems again this year. I think it is absolutely seasonal.

I hope that my experiences have given you some window into the issue, and I hope it hasn't clouded your thoughts. If you aren't finding positive results or communication with the current doc, remind him that you DO have insurance that will allow you to seek another viewpoint, if he will refer you.

Also, I have had insurance companies that will make a referral for you with out the regular doctor if call and explain the situation to them. They have the information with codes to see how many visits you have made for the same problem and they know how many prescriptions have been filled as well. It may be worth calling them and asking for a little help!

Get some sleep~ Laurie

[AnneM]

I am another one who votes for the tubes ... Sam had tubes at 5 years old after being told he should "blow up a balloon through his nose several times every day" ... (OH yes sure ... we are really going to get a 5 year old to do THAT every day!!!) ... it was a battle to get the tubes ... it was considered a "last resort" but in fact the operation was soooo simple and sooo quick (in hospital in the morning - home in the afternoon) ... and it made a huge difference for years.... however, of course it doesn't last forever and he had further ear fluid problems when he was a bit older ... at 15 he "seems" (knock on wood) to have finally knocked ear problems on the head although if he has had a cold it still seems to hit his ears for a few days afterwards!! ...

[Honeysmom]

I know that they did this thing where they blew are across her ear drum and they said that there is fluid behind it, which is why she can't kick the infections. As soon as she gets a little sniffle it is back.

Honey also had ear infections all summer. I swear he was born with one.

As soon as I see our regular doctor I am going to really push for the tubes. I think some doc's are more apt to blow ear infections off b/c either they don't remember the pain themselves, or they don't remember thier kids screaming at 3 AM.

[catseye]

Please be aware that tubes can go wrong... As you may remember I am a step mom, my sd had tubes put in her ears before I came around (sd was 2 when I met her)... Other than my dh saying that sd had alot of ear infections I dont really know what led up to the tubes...

After 6 months of me being involved in my sd's life, sd developed a boil on her chin that had to be lanced... The dr who originally put in sd's tubes did the lancing... Dh and I were informed that sd had never been brought back in for any follow up care after the tubes were put in (sorry I dont know how old she was when they were put in)... At the time that the boil appeared, her tubes had fallen out previously and sd was left with holes in her ear drums... Which the dr said attributed to the boil...

The dr attempted a typnography (or something like that) to correct the holes in her ear drums.. So far sd has had 3 attempts to correct the holes, and now has to have hearing aids until the dr's feel sd is old enough to attempt again...

I dont have all the in's and outs on sd's case since I wasnt involved till after the damage was done... I just thought you should be aware of this possible scenario with tubes, and remember to do all the follow up visits! I believe that is what hurt my sd so, was the fact that her mom never took her back to the dr who put the tubes in... Good luck!

cat

[Honeysmom]

I was warned that the same problems could occur when Honey had his, but they had us come back several times to check on them. In fact, they told me that they would stay in for about 6 months. I found one in his crib 5 months later and one 7 months later. When they fell out they wanted to see him about 2 weeks later so that could be monitored during the healing. It is too bad that her follow up care was not taken care of. I suppose that would have saved her a lot of the ear trouble she has now.

Just curious, since so many of the other kids had tubes in, did they have thier tonsils and adenoids removed also? Honey did and I have never regretted it. It was done 2 years ago last November. That really made a huge difference in him, the surgery was hell on him, but he was only 3 at the time. Even still, I would have it done again.

[Amsmom]

My ds8 had his adenoids removed at age 4 during tube insertion # 3. Those tubes fell out after 8 months and he had the "permanent' ones inserted. They will still fall out eventually, but last longer.

[catseye]

No sd has never had her tonsils out... She never had throat trouble.. Its about the only thing she hasnt had trouble with!! I hope I didnt just jinx myself

cat

[tridlette]

Patrick had his adenoids out on #3 also, about 5 yrs. old. Never really knew why, just a clueless young mother at the time.

What are permanent tubes and where can we get them?

Patrick's last attempt was Oct 8th. We went for his one week post op check, and the tube was already out.

He seems to compensate just fine with the hearing loss he has as a result of the goop in his ear for so long keeping his inner ear bones from growing.

[AustinsMom]

When my dd had tubes put in, she had them in because she developed an ear infection that wouldn't clear with 3 rounds of antibiotics, and that was a criteria for putting them in. One issue you might bring up with your doctor is having her hearing checked. If the fluid in her ear is causing hearing loss, it's critical that she hears well while her speech is developing. Hope you get this all worked out, and that you all get some sleep....