tubes in the ears?
Erin0922
member
With Bug's palate issues, we were initially told fluid build-up was likely. He failed part of his hearing exam in August, so they've decided to go ahead with tubes during his next surgery (Dec 28).
Well, we went to the pedi today because he is refusing to feed. Every time he swallows he grabs his ear, and twists away from bottle - even though I KNOW he's hungry. He's averaging 30oz a day - and no solids/cereal. She pretty much told me to try benedryl and a humidifer, and that he was just in pain from the pressure build up.
MY QUESTION:
In the past week, we've had to really TRY and get his attention. Banging, yelling, stomping (the vibrations) etc. I'm thinking he needs these tubes sooner than 3 months.
Do I just keep an eye on, or should I go ahead and call his ENT team and schedule another consult?
I hate him being in pain until the end of Dec, and we've already been told he could end up with permanent hearing loss...?
Re: tubes in the ears?
I would schedule another consult and see if the behavior continues. If it looks like things clear up in a few days then you could always cancel.
I guess you need to weigh the pros and cons of two times under anesthesia and two recovery periods from surgeries vs potential hearing loss. If permanent hearing loss is a given regardless of the timing then you might as well wait. However, if he is in pain every time he eats, you could be asking for trouble in terms of him developing an eating aversion. Tough call.
My other thought is that it could be teething. My youngest oftens pulls on his ears when he is getting a new tooth & won't eat "as" much.
My oldest never complained about trouble from fluid in his ears. He is going in for a surgery (cleft related) in two weeks & most likely getting tubes put back in his ears because he has struggled with fluid in his left earing with moderate to severe hearing loss in that ear over the last year and a half.
But I would still schedule an appointment with his ENT. IF you are concerned, that is enough reason & he is not eating.
I would still try to combine surgeries this close together - maybe the other one could be moved up. Maybe he is just going through a food strike. Can you introduce solids? Nothing wrong with getting a second opinion.
No teeth yet, and we were told that because of his tongue-lip adhesion, there was no chance of a tooth breaking through until after his surgery.
We "can" introduce solids, but its a losing battle. He can't do tongue-thrusts with his tongue sewed to his lip, so the food mostly goes up into his palate. That causes him to sneeze, and everything comes out his nose. Which obviously isn't fun for him.
Palate repair/adhesion removal cannot be moved up because his chin needs to have moved forward a certain amount to ensure he has an open airway and won't choke on his tongue.
He's been under general 3 different times already, and is a champ. Obviously I know its not something we want to do unnecessarily, but I'm also not concerned about adverse reactions.
Anyways, thanks ladies! We are calling our plastic surgeon and ENT team on Monday to see about getting a second examination!!!?
I don't think you should ever question whether or not you need to call! I would call in a heartbeat.. even if it is just a food strike.
Is your little guys eating any better?
As far as the hearing issue, how come they have waited so long to put tubes in, since he has already had three surgeries? (hoping that does not sound condescending - just curious). I know with my sons craniofacial team we discussed that tubes would be put in at 3 months if there was fluid in his ears. But I do know that some ENT's prefer to wait until 10+ months.
He's not fussing as much, and he's back to STTN. Still down about 4oz from normal, but thats much improved!
He didn't even see the ENT team until 6 months. So, at that point it made sense to them to go ahead and wait on the tubes until his surgery (he'll be 9.5mos). I wasn't pushing the issue because I was trusting their judgement, but if he's in pain... well, my judgement kinda overrules theirs. Haha?