Anyone's LO had tubes placed in the ears to help drain fluid???

marukagmb

My little Angel will have surgery next Thursday to place tubes in both ears

He's 9 months old now and has had more ear infections than we can remember (he's also at daycare and at this point, why fret over that too! ) and originally the problem ear was the left, now it's both and at his pre-op hearing test, he was orienting more to the right so I guess that means his hearing in the left isn't that great... So I had a horrible ear infection in December and can only imagine what pain he must be in this last bout was really bad so on that bright side the tubes should be good for him but he's our first and I'm a little anxious about his being put under for theprocedure..so I was wondering if any other Mommies have gone through this and what it was like and should I just stop worrying about it..Thanks!

SoontobeSavino

I can totally relate. My older son, hes only 3 now, had tubes put in his ears when he was 8 months old. By that point he had had over 9 ear infections. The procedure took all of 10 minutes and I was able to see him after 15 minutes, it was harder on me than him. They made a tremendous difference. Right after his second birthday, he had to have them done again as they had fallen out. It was weird, we didnt know they had fallen out and he had started to complain that his ears were bothering, low and behold, it was almost like the minute that they fell out, the infections were coming back. Its been over a year since he had them done the second time and he hasnt had any infections since. In my opinion, its the right thing to do for children who are so prone to ear infections. I can remember being up so many nights and the horrible cries from the pain. Its so worth it for them and for you. Please feel free to email me if you have any more questions or want to chat. mzguido23@hotmail.com

TayLynn

I had tubes in my ears when I was 7 yo.  The procedure itself wasn't bad and that was 31 years ago.  Yikes, I'm old. 

I remember having to keep my ears dry with cotton balls and wearing a swimmers cap during the summer.  I didn't have any further problems with my ears.

Good luck to you and your little guy. 

MellyMelB

My DD had them inserted a month after her 1st Birthday on Halloween of last year after non-stop ear infections and then a penicillin allergy which limited the antibiotics she could be prescribed.

The worst part of it all was the anticipation of the surgery and then when its over - the wearing off of the anesthesia. Within an hour of the surgery we were home and she was playing as if nothing had happened at all. It was really amazing.

She did have 2 more ear infections after the surgery which drained the fluid out. They say the first 45 days or so that may happen if she got another infection. They cured it with drops and antibiotics and she has been ear infection free for the last 3 months which is the longest she has gone ever without an ear infeciton.

GOOD LUCK TO YOU!

MariM

I had them in MY ears when I was around 3 years old. Not a big deal. I actually remember going to get them put in and not being allowed to get water in my ears... Mari

marukagmb

SoontobeSavino:

I can totally relate. My older son, hes only 3 now, had tubes put in his ears when he was 8 months old. By that point he had had over 9 ear infections. The procedure took all of 10 minutes and I was able to see him after 15 minutes, it was harder on me than him. They made a tremendous difference. Right after his second birthday, he had to have them done again as they had fallen out. It was weird, we didnt know they had fallen out and he had started to complain that his ears were bothering, low and behold, it was almost like the minute that they fell out, the infections were coming back. Its been over a year since he had them done the second time and he hasnt had any infections since. In my opinion, its the right thing to do for children who are so prone to ear infections. I can remember being up so many nights and the horrible cries from the pain. Its so worth it for them and for you. Please feel free to email me if you have any more questions or want to chat. mzguido23@hotmail.com

Thanks so much for the information....he's had about the same since he started daycare at 3 months..and I've been a little anxious about it (like you said, I think it's worse for me than for him).  May take you up on the offer to chat...thanks!

marukagmb

Thanks to everyone who replied... I appreciate it!

marukagmb

Just closing the loop on this thread:

He did great yesterday! Dr. said it was a good thing we did it now since he found his ears to be worse than he thought...lots of pus and fluid build-up in both ears - drained alot of stuff. He should be hearing better now and will probably start baby babbling more. It was worse on us than him. Thanks again for your advice and support..

MellyMelB

marukagmb:

Just closing the loop on this thread:

He did great yesterday! Dr. said it was a good thing we did it now since he found his ears to be worse than he thought...lots of pus and fluid build-up in both ears - drained alot of stuff. He should be hearing better now and will probably start baby babbling more. It was worse on us than him. Thanks again for your advice and support..

 That is great to hear! I hope the ear infections are behind him now. Thanks for the update.