Tubes- not feeling the need yet.

thatoneredhead

We were sent to an ENT after pedi tried 2 rounds of antibiotics and 3 weeks of watching him without his ears getting back to looking good. As soon as I expressed my wish to be conservative about his treatment, the whole visit became "tubes vs. speech delay." I had about a million questions, but stopped asking because I was getting really annoyed with his rushed, generic, "why risk your child's development?" answers. My only question was, "but what if he can hear just fine?" Well. He will- because he WILL have tubes.

He also said something that really bothered me- "I would do them right now (3 weeks after his 1st ear infection), if I could convince your insurance it's medically necessary."

Needless to say, we didnt jive. He said to check in with our pedi or him at 7 months and this is "our last chance." My LO responds to whispers, and his ears are getting better, just slowly. ENT swore up and down that it would get reinfected. We went through 2 colds since then, and still no infection. Just fluid. 

I know tubes are not a big deal, but putting my baby under is a huge deal to me. A big ol' IV in my baby's arm is a big deal. And paying for half of this out of pocket is a pretty decent sized deal if it's not really all that necessary. I am going to go ask my pedi all the questions I didnt want to ask him and see what he says.

Am I over-reacting or would you feel this is a little over-zealous?

 

mylittlesunshine

I think it is good that you are waiting as well. DD1 had ear infection after ear infection starting when she was around 3 months old. We noticed around 12-14 months old that she wasn't "talking" as much as other children her age so we contacted our local EI. Maybe contact them if you start getting concerned when your child gets a little older.  For DD1 she had so much fluid that she couldn't hear and basically was not getting a reading on this thing they used to measure what she could hear.

We did end up having DD1 get tubes when she was around 20 months. If it helps to reassure you, they didn't put an IV in her arm. The surgery is so quick that they just gave her some gas. I had hadn't even finished half my bagel and they came out to say she was done. She was up and moving around like nothing happened later that day. So far after having the surgery she has only had maybe 2-3 ear infections and she is now 3. Her speech is doing just fine.

anonsouthernbell

I'd research natural remedies, stop using a pacifier (if you are) & get a second opinion.