Ear Tubes

kellyrn9956

Well, we are on ear infection # 6 - in 6 months. Yep. One per month since November. We saw an ENT last month. During the appointment he discovered another ear infection and put James on round 3 of Omnicef (he had two previous Amoxicillin rounds). At the appointment he wanted to wait to get out of cold season because 1) perhaps the chronic infections wouldn't occur if he doesn't keep getting colds and 2) switchout of the tubes would need to done around the holidays. I agreed that we could watch and wait.  So just 10 days after finishing his last round, he spiked a temp of 102.7 this Saturday night and was literally digging in his ear and screaming. So now we're on Augmentin by the pediatrician and I'm waiting for the ENT to call back. I could kick myself for not just insisting on the tubes. 

Anyway, the purpose of the post. Anyone's LO have tubes? How did you survive emotionally through the surgery? I'm terrified of the anesthesia. 

Mr. & Mrs. Woodtick

DS got tubes at 14 months. He was the same way, he got his first ear infection in December and never cleared for more than two weeks until he got the tubes placed. He even had ear infection when his tubes were placed.

The surgery went REALLY fast. I cried when he went back, but he was done so quickly I really didn't have time while he was back there so think about it. MH walked across the street to get us coffee and DS was out before MH came back.
I'm sorry that your LO has to get tubes but it sounds like he would benefit from having them placed. ((HUGS)) mama!

ccam

DS had tubes put in when he was 17 months old.  He had 11 infections in less than a year and was constantly on antibiotics, or at least it felt that way!  He had one the day of surgery as well.

I think the surgery was harder for us than it was for him.  The anesthesia scared the crap out of us.  I was able to go back with him and be there while he was put under, which made him much more calm.  By the time, we were walked out into the waiting room and grabbed something to drink, the Dr was already done.  It was so quick.  Recovery was a little rough for DS but by the time we were home, he was a different person. 

He has had infections since tubes, but he isn't in pain from the pressure and we know right away since they drain instead of sitting there wondering like we did before tubes.  We use the drops they gave us so no more oral antibiotics (which led to an awful diaper rash every time!).  It's made a huge difference.  I wish we didn't wait as long as we did. 

TJ1979

I'm sorry, poor little guy and poor mama. The tubes should really help though. I don't have experience, but will offer my T&P.

Eve_Angelique

My LO does not have tubes. But I had a million ear infections as a kid, and that was before the days of getting tubes early. I finally got them when I was in 4th grade. I have permanent hearing loss and constant ringing in my ears due to all the damage. So I definitely suggest getting them!!! For my friends that have had LOs get them they all say the process is super quick, I think the procedure only takes like 15 min! It is scary sending your LO back for surgery, I have gone through a surgery with LO, and it is terrifying, but like others have said its probably harder on mom and dad than LO. 

KayteeGee

Hi!
I didn't read the PPs just jumped in because I would HIGHLY advocate for tubes.
DS got them when he was about 19/20 months and honestly, we tried everything NOT to get them (chiropractic etc...).  Literally we got them on a Friday, he had a language explosion that weekend and we have not had an EI (or any other sickness that requires missing daycare) since.
My only regret is that we didn't get them sooner.
The worst part was when he came out of anesthesia (he also had adenoids removed)... he was scared and disoriented and his crying made me cry... but seriously he was fine by that night.
BEST THING EVER.

mnj05

H had 8 ear infections within 3 months and we got tubes in early January at 10 months old. Best decision ever. He's been infection free and fever free (other than one bout with teeth) since then. Surgery was literally less than 10 minutes. We barely had to time to be taken to the recovery room and sit before he was brought to us.

Anesthesia for H was more like the twilight sleep, similar to what I had during ER for IVF. He had no IV and no general. He didn't cry when they brought him to us and ate right away. I wasn't nervous for that one since it was so quick, but his circ two weeks ago was a different ball game.

Mr. & Mrs. Woodtick

I just wanted to add DS hasn't had an ear infection since. Honestly, we would have had the tubes placed sooner, but our pedi was hoping that we could make it out of cold/flu season also but that didn't happen. He was a bit "drunk" when he came out, but he was fine by the time we got home.