Ear Tube Complications

willy_gert · March 2014

The ENT said after the placement of her tubes that he had to pull a lot of fluid out of her ears when they placed them, but it wasn't infected, just fluid. About a week ago, I noticed discharge from her ear and she was pulling on them again, which is virtually our only sign of an infection. So we called the ENT and she was put on both ear and oral antibiotics. We have been giving them and she seems better.

Well, yesterday we went for her follow up and she still has fluid in her ears just sitting there. He said that the fluid isn't infected, but it is indicative of an infection somewhere. So he had to suction her ears which was painful for everyone involved and we are on another round of oral and ear antibiotics. He said there is an infection in her head somewhere that is causing the fluid and he can't have the audiologist test her hearing or give her a clean bill of health until the fluid is gone.

So, I am frustrated and wondering if anyone else has dealt with this. A major reason we went with the tubes was to prevent her from being on so many antibiotics and relieve her distress. Now it seems that it was all for not. So, does anyone have any experience with ear tubes and fluid that isn't infected being on the ears pretty much constantly?

opaque1997 · March 2014

I don't have this EXACT experience but I can give you some more information that might be going on and I can sympathize - we had tubes placed in November and she's had discharge (though ours is NOT clear) and been on ear drops more then not

(We also went through Rsv and mega antiboitics last month.. lets not get me started)

A few things - have you had her allergy tested? We were told point blank that if they continued to see clear fluid in the ears the first thing they do is suggest removing her from milk. We had her allergy tested and she is positive for eggs - we removed eggs and it was literally an overnight difference (this isn't always the case - skin testing for allergies is notorious for false positives so be prepped for that)

We are actually gearing up to take her adnoids out as her tubes aren't fixing our issues and the ent believes our issues are stemming from her adnoids - she has constant infection - we are talking green / yellow NASTY

If we were seeing clear but constant out of ears, eyes or nose we would be doing more diet restrictions (we've tried grain free recently - do not do this unless you are really committed - its been a complete diseaster for us - whoever said a toddler would get over it LIED a LOT)

Cheenomae · March 2014

So I basically have no real advice and only anecdotes to give, but we have gone through the same thing. Kenleigh's tubes were placed when she was 14 months old and hadn't had a single infection after that. Mason's were also placed at 14 months old and we've had multiple problems since then. Every ENT is just different in how they view things, which also differs from Pediatricians. Mason has had two double ear infections since having his tubes and now has one in his left ear that we are treating. Each time we started with the antibiotic drops and had to move to the oral antibiotic, which has usually relieved the infection.

Other times we've taken him him to be seen because although we can't see fluid coming from his ear, he is pulling on them and acting a little more agitated than usual (which for him is pretty agitated) and the pediatrician says there is fluid in his ear, but not infected so it can go either way. Meaning become infected or drain on it's own and never actually get infected so they hold off on antibiotics. It's 50/50 for us on the outcome.

Needless to say our experience with Mason has been much more difficult, but I feel confidant that with time the fluid and infections with lesson over time.

Good luck!!

Eta - All of the fluid coming from Mason's ears is green/yellow gunk. Never clear fluid.

pharmer78 · March 2014

I think I told you about this before, so sorry for the duplicate info, but Cruz had his first ear infection after tubes about 2.5 weeks after getting them placed (secondary to a respiratory bug) but his resolved with antibiotic ear drops. The ENT did have to suction out a lot more fluid and had us continue the drops a little longer than a week since he thought the fluid in there might have made it more difficult to get the eardrops where they needed to be.

Cruz actually had bacteria in the ear fluid that they pulled out during the surgery and obviously in the infection afterward. The way I see it, he most likely would have had the same amount of infections regardless of whether or not he has tubes, but this way they can actually drain like they're supposed to and we can identify the infections a lot easier.

I hope she's feeling better soon!

Cheenomae · March 2014

Wanted to come and give an update Willy for another experience. Went to the Pediatrician tonight to check the latest ear infection. He said the infection is completely cleared up, but that there is still fluid behind the ear. He said there isn't further treatment required, no more antibiotics.

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