eAR iNFECTIONS

C., My daughter had a lot of ear infections when she was young also. She actually got tubes for her 9 month birthday and has had no long term affects from the anesthia. She is not a beautiful healthly girl of 14 going on 15.

My son had tubes in at 5 months after constant ear infections and break through infections on maintanace antibiotics. He suffered no ill effects but had to have them removed (they didn't fall out) at 2 1/2. By the way, he still had ear infections but not the horrible pain that went with them because the ear could drain. Good luck

My son was 5 months old with his first set. They only use gas to put them asleep for a very brief time to get the tubes in. The tubes are a lesser of two evils. Chronic ear infections can lead to permanent hearing loss.

When my sister was @1 year she was having ear infections and the pedi wanted to put tubes in. I rolled a pick-up and needed chiropractic, my aunt suggested taking my sister, her son had the same ear problems and after being adjusted was fine. We did, he was an old fashioned crack and pop, when he adjusted her neck she let out a little cry and fell back to sleep shortly after. The next visit the pedi was amazed, her ears were clear, what did you do? He wasn't pleased to hear the answer, but she never had anymore ear problems and no tubes. I have the best chiro if your interested. My son has gone for wellness checks since he was born. He has hardly ever been sick and they give us plenty of natural ways to heal! D.

I dont' know about this procedure and my kids only had occasional ear infections as babies. HOWEVER, if you are considering a non-invasive treatment, you could look into chiropractic. This is how my kids were always treated and they never took antibiotics. The doctor did a quick "tug" on their ear, which released the infected fluid. He said the fluid would run down their throats, into their stomachs, so they should drink lots of water that day, and take motrin for the pain. This worked for my kids and they did not take antibiotics. BUT if your child has them chronically, you may need the tubes. I just wanted to offer an alternative. You can always speak to a chiropractor even if you decide not to have your child treated by one. Good Luck!

C.,
My oldest had ear infections quit often as an infant. It turned out that she was so allergic to milk that when I would drink milk while nursing her that she would get ear infections and upper resp. infections. Please consider taking your daughter off of milk products and see if she gets better. My prayers are with you. I know that there is nothing worse than having a sick child. S.

It is a very common procedure. Tubes will help. My son had them put in at 11 months. He had ear infections one after another continuously starting at 4 months. We would finish a round of antibiotics and start another infection. Once he had the tubes put in, the ear infections stopped completely. Surgery is harder on the parents than the little ones themselves. It was a good decision for him. We found something great to help after his tubes fell out (at 2 yrs. old). I wish we would have known about it first. His tubes fell out and the ear infections came back. The doctor wanted to put a second set a tubes in and remove his adnoids as well. But first, he wanted us to try this device called "The Ear Popper" (go to www.earpopper.com). It is a device that pops their ears and in turn, releases the fluid. It is easy to use and cost us $300 about three years ago. IT IS WORTH EVERY PENNY - My son did not have to have a second set of tubes put in or his adnoids removed because of this device!!!! We popped his ears everyday, and his ears cleared up. When you push the button, air flows out. You hold one nostril with your finger, and place the ear popper to the other nostril. The child takes a drink of water (we used juice too) and holds it in his/her mouth. The parent pushes the button (with air flowing into the one nostril), the child swallows the water, and the ear pops. You do this for both sides. I know it might be hard for her age, but if you can get your little one to swallow on command, it would be worth it. Even if she needs tubes now, you can always consider this for the future. It was a great investment for us. We still use it occasionally as a preventative measure. Good luck :).

Don't worry about it. I totally stressed about it when my son got tubes - stressed so much it hurt. But, as one of the others said, my son started talking immediately afterwards.

My daughter just got her tubes in December (at 12 months) and I didn't stress about it at all. It was such a nicer experience because I wasn't worried this time. And, my daughter starting standing up that night.

Ear tubes are a miracle. I highly recommend them - you will be amazed at the change in your daughter. My daughter was solidly sick from August until December (when she got the tubes) and hasn't been sick since then. She has had a runny nose a few times and before December, all of those would have turned into an ear infection. Now, they just stay a runny nose and she stays pretty healthy.

My daughters were getting ear infections once we started school.....after several rounds of antibiotics, I got a second opinion with Dr. Bain in Frisco. She is a wonderful pediatrician and right off told me 95% of ear infections are due to a food intolerance, we tested the girls, removed the offending foods, and have not had ANY ear infections since. It has been about 14 months since our last one. I recommend Dr. Bain if you are interested in a new pedi or Dr. Shepherd if you just want the testing.....contact me if you have questions. It has not been easy but I feel we got to the core of the issue....and we have add all the foods back into their diets except the two main ones.

K.
http://www.healthykidspediatrics.com/html/Home.htm
http://mountainhealthchiropractic.com/

I didn't read other responses, but I can tell you from first hand experience that the anesthesia (they will probably just give her laughing gas) does NOT have any long term effects. My daughter (almost 15 mos.) has been "put under" 3 times already in her short life. Twice for a stent in her eye to help with a blocked tear duct, and once to get tubes in her ears. It is tough when they first come out of it, because they are so disoriented. Most babies thrash about and scream a lot. It really sucks to see, but they usually calm down after 5-10 minutes. One thing that really worked for my daughter was having a bottle or sippy cup ready and filling it with Pedialyte - they have to drink clear liquids right after and wait an hour or two before solid foods, so the Pedialyte seemed to calm her down more than water, just cuz it was something with flavor. But other than her being a little more tired the rest of the day, it did not have any other effects. I know with some kids, they might have trouble keeping food down the rest of the morning, but other than that, I don't know of any serious side effects. Good luck with your decision, hope this helped a little.

Hey, C. :)
I have twins (one boy & one girl) who will be three in May. My son had recurring ear infections about every other month for his ten months, and our doctor recommended tubes when he was just a little younger than your daughter. I was apprehensive about it, but we had spent so much time and money in the doctor's office and at pharmacies (not to mention that I couldn't stand him hurting anymore) that we were willing to give it a try. It was AMAZING! He has not had one ear infection since, and he began speaking so much more clearly and communicating more after the surgery. Our doctor was GREAT (sorry - can't remember his name off the top of my head, but he is based in FT Worth), and we have not had any post-surgery issues. That surgery changed our and his lives dramatically - I recommend it to everyone! :)

Having been in the medical field I have seen young children that need tubes before they got them. It was amazing to see the diffrence when they came out of surgrey. they would see mom in recovery and they would light up when they heard her voice. The only way to explain it is like when you have a cold and your food taste funny. Then you get better and you can taste the food. Well tolders are in the midst of learning to speak by what they hear and if they cant hear it clearly they wont speak them clearly. Some of the children I saw you could not understand before surgrey but after you could in recovery. As for anesthiologist most of them will call you the night before surgrey to see how you and your child are doing, and answer any questions. and then again before the procedure.

My son had this same problem, and he had tubes put in his ears on his first birthday and again when he was 2.5. The second set is where I saw the most improvement, because he was starting to talk, but never did I think that he couldn't hear that well. Afterwards, loud noises bothered him, and I really felt bad, because I used to get so upset with him because I would always have to repeat myself time after time and I thought he just didn't want to follow directions and then I realized he just didn't hear me half the time.

I know it's hard handing over your baby to go have this procedure, but she really does need it. Her speach should get better very rapidly afterwards. And she will feel lots better too once her ears don't hurt anymore. I hope this helps and good luck.

Yes, this does seem like to early for tubes to me. Be sure to get a 2nd or even 3rd opinion before subjecting your baby girl to surgery.

Both my boys had chronic ear infections as babies/toddlers as well. We were able to avoid tubes with one but not the other. How I wish I had known about the nutritional product my family uses now and that I love so much I have chosen to market! I had no idea back then the direct connection between nutrition and health. I thought I knew alot about nutrition but really barely had a clue!

Private message me if you'd like me to send you some info on an all-natural kid-friendly product that may help steer your daughter away from the antibiotics and surgery path.

Blessings,

M.

My son also had frequent ear infections and failed several hearing tests due to fluid in his ears. He had tubes in his ears 3 times. The first time he was 19 months old. He threw up when he came out of the anesthia but the next 2 times they gave him some medicine to prevent that. I would highly recommend getting it done. The tubes made a huge difference for us. Every time they fell out he would start getting ear infections again. Now he is old enough that he doesn't need him and is doing very well. Good luck!

My son had tubes put in when he was around 2. It was a very simple procedure. The anethesia didn't have any lasting effects. I remember that when he woke up he was very cranky, couldn't please him, etc. and his eyes had that "glazed" look to them. After about an hour or so, he calmed down and was fine. We went home around noon. The procedure itself only took about 20 minutes or so. It seemed that we had just seated ourselves in the waiting room when the dr came out. I had both my children allergy tested at 2 because they were sick all the time. We couldn't get off of one antibiotic before we were on another. It took some time to get them regulated to their shots, but they were hardly ever sick after that. Just something to think about.

My son was 10 months when he had his tubes and it changed our world! It was wonderful. He slept better and we were all so much happier. The anesthesia is barely administered, just enough to barely knock them out, and they're out of it in less than 1/2 an hour, so no biggie. I definitely recommend it!

C.,
My daughter is 8 now and had tubes in her ears at about 13 months old. she was always getting ear infections. I lost alot of work time, money and just was tired of seeing her so sick. Once we got the tubes in, it was like I had a new kid. she was up and playing the afternoon of the procedure. It only took about 10 minutes and the results were wonderful. She did get 2 infection after that, but with the tubes in, the infection was easier to catch and treat. I didnt loose so much time away from work and she did not run those high fevers that she use to. I really felt that it was the best thing that we did for her. I wish I had taken her the an ENT dr sooner. She had been getting infections about once every 3 weeks. The tubes fell out on their own when she was about 3 and she hasnt had a problem since then. I wish you the best of luck.

I went through the tube thing twice. With the last one he started talking the next day. It was as if the ears were no longer blocked and he could hear everything. I say it that way cause he could hear really well before the tubes, just not the sounds of things and the lower pitched things. Your little girl will be fine. Maybe they will give her silly juice, if they do bring a camcorder or a phone with one on there. It's the funniest thing when they have the silly juice. Waxahachie hospital has the silly juice & DR Webb is the ENT doc.

My son has had two sets of tubes and adenoids removed. His first set was when he was 10 months old and second set/adenoids removed at 21 months old. He has not had any long term efffects and I was told of any when having the surgeries. It is so fast he was maybe under for 10 minutes the first time and about 15 the second time. They will give her some medication through her nose so she will very drowsy when they take her back. She will not even know that you are not in the room. Best thing we ever did he did not get another ear infection until they fell out. Then we had to redo and get the adenoids removed. If you have any questions call the surgery center they can answer all your questions. Best of luck.

I am 32 and had tubes put in my ears when I was younger because of chronic ear infections...I have no side effects from the treatment and that was 30 some odd years ago! I'm sure the treatment is even better today!

My son had tubes put in at 11 months old and again at 2 1/2 years old. It was the best decision we ever made. He had no effects fron the surgery. In fact, the day he had tubes put in at 11 months, he walked across our living room. Before that, he would take a couple of steps and then fall. Once the tubes were put in, it helpped with his equlibrium. We used Dr. Theilan in Irving and loved him! He is very good and he even called to check on him once we were home. Another great part is that your child doesn't have to be on antibiotics for the ear infections!

Dr Alan Murray is our pedi ENT. We put tubes in my youngest when she was 9 mo old. I was amazed at how quick the proceedure was. I held my baby while they gave her the meds, handed her off to a nurse, went out to the waiting room, and in less than five minutes they put my baby back in my arms. We waited a few hours for the meds to wear off, and it was all done.

She is now four and still has the same tubes in, we are running into the opposite trouble now and are looking at having them removed, water is going through the tubes back into her ears. Dr Murray has said the removal is almost as quick as the insertion.

my son had his first set of tubes put in when he was 13 months. He threw-up in the car on the way home, but honestly it was the best thing ever! He was barely walking before he had the surgery and the same night he was up running around! Plus his language skills improved drastically! I was really worried before too. Just know that this is really very common, and is much better for the child. She will likely be tired after the surgery but up in running after she wakes up from her first nap.

My kiddo had tubes put in @ 14 mo old. The don't go under general anesthesia, they just get gased for the 5-10 min it takes for the actual procedure. Then they sleep for most of the day and that is it. Of course with everything there are risk, but the benefits of a well child well out weigh those risk.

My son had tubes put in at 11 months and he did just fine. It is such a short amount of time that they are under. The procedure takes 5 minutes total. I was only away from him for 10 minutes max and he was already coming out of anastesia. There have not been any long term affects on him. Hope this helps.

Both of my children have had tubes and it is the best thing I could have done for them both. They were also both young around 11-15 months. Their ear infections were so chronic they were almost constantly in the Dr office and on some sort of antibiotic which in turn upset their stomachs really bad. They are so much healthier. If they happened to get an infection after the tubes it was super easy to treat with ear drops, instead of treating their whole system with antibiotics.

They were completely themselves by the time we got home from the surgery and did not suffer from the anesthesia when they were young. A very quick recovery.

My daughter had tubes put in when she was 18 months due to chronic ear infections. She didn't have another ear infection until she was 6 years old! Definitely worked for us.

My son had tubes twice, the first time was just the tubes the secon time included removing his adenoids. The first time they just sedate the child with oral medication. At Children's they call it goofy juice. The second time he had to have an IV and actual anaesthesia. Both procedures take less than 15 minutes. Trust me you will be more phased by this than your daughter. She will be fine and you will be thankfor for less ear infections.

Tubes in my opinion are awsome ! Both my boys had them - 1 at 18 months (with adneoids removed) and the other other at 9 months. No ear infections afterward and none after the tubes fell out either. No complications with the anesthetic either. Very quick. And both kids acted like nothing happened by that afternoon. If you are really concerned about doing this - check with your doctor and see if the ear infections may be caused by severe allergies. If he thinks so, then maybe treating your daughter with allergy meds might work. Just a thought.

We had it done at 13 months old as well and we had no problems at all. The tubes fell out on their own and every since, my daughter only had one ear infection period. I definitely recommend it. I was the one freaked out about the anesthesia, but all was well. Good luck!

This is a very routine procedure and only takes a few minutes to do. I have never heard of any child having long term affects from the anesthesia at all most are jsut a little out of it for a day or so. Although the thought is scary for you just think that in the long run it will be far less painful for your daughter than continuing to get ear infections.

I would try getting her adjusted at a chiropractor. My daughter had almost 20 ear infections and we tried tubes (twice) by the time she was 18 months. When we started getting adjusted the ear infections were GONE! Your daughter will feel so much better! While tubes do work for many, for us, they didn't. One fell out of her ear the day after surgery so we had to do it again the next week and they never fell out of her ears and finally at 2 or 3 years old our pediatrician had to pull them out of her skin in her ear because they had become inbedded in the skin. It was horrible. Hope this helps.

Ear tubes are no big deal. I am sooo glad we did it. My son had ear infection after ear infection. When he was 28 mo old we had the procedure done. It's been 6 mo and we haven't had a single ear infection. The anesthesia wasn't a big deal either. They give him something to make him sleepy and he was awake before we even got to recovery. An hour later he was outside playing with his tractor on the driveway. I know every kid is different but I've never heard any horror stories from this procedure. Good luck and don't worry. It's not a big deal and I bet you'll be glad you did it.

Personally, I would wait to see if she grows out of it. I got ear infections a lot as a child, but I eventually grew out of it and I have had no side effects - perfect hearing and no issues with antibiotic use. You might also see if she has any issues with acid reflux. Even if she doesn't spit up, if she's getting reflux into her mouth (especially when she's laying down) then the stomach acid and stuff is also going into her ear canals, which can then get infected. I was a "colicky" baby, which might explain the ear infections. If she gets to the point where she's 2 years old and still having lots of infections, then I'd consider tubes.

I agree with Kelly K. that the ear infections could be coming from a food allergy. I don't think that tubes are a big deal but if you can find the cause of the ear infections, then why put your little one through a surgery that maybe could have been prevented. I also know a mommy that went through this and her daughters ENT doctor put her on a small daily dose of an antibiotic to help prevent the ear infections and that completely ceased them. If you haven't spoken with an ENT (ear, nose, throat doc), then I would get a referral and have some questions answered. When my son was about 6mo to 18mo, he was getting pretty regular ear infections, and so we started taking him to a chiropractor to help prevent them from even starting. They adjust kids and babies differently and more gently than adults....my son didn't even really know what this doctor was doing to him but my son was not in any discomfort. I would just do a little research first if it was me. Good luck with whatever you decide!

We did not have to have tubes in our ears but, my son had to have 2 surgeries before he was 3 months old. I was really worried about the anestigia to. Everything went off great and he is now a happy healthy boy.

We haven't done tubes (yet!) but feel we're on that path. I think they're pretty commonplace...so many kids I know have them and their parents say their lives changed after having them.

One note - my pediatrician casually mentioned one day not to let my daughter lie down in any form or fashion while drinking...to make sure she's sitting upright. This causes ear infections. Wish they'd told me that before! Giving her a bottle lying down was the only way (for a while there) that I was able to get her diaper changed without a fight!

I have an 18 month old who had the same problem. I started doing some research on ear infections and common causes. One MAJOR mis-diagnoses is a milk allergy. It is more common than you think. It is not lactose intolerence, just an allergy to the protein in cow's milk that most children out grow by age 2 or 3. It is not that the cow's milk causes more mucus (as most doctors may say), but that the allergy causes the tubes to swell and then the fluid in the ear cannot drain and then becomes infected.

I put 2 and 2 together and figured that my daughter started getting ear infections shortly after her first birthday when I switched from breastmilk to whole cow's milk. Her ears stayed infected and she went on 3 different antibiotics that would not work. I had had enough and her doctor did nothing else but keep the prescriptions coming because "it is a bad cold/flu season". Well that did not seem natural to me. And sure enough when I switched her to goats milk, we have been infection free now for 2 months.

Just my experience. May not be the case for all, but it is more common than people know. There is a test that can be done, which we never had, but through my own experiment I gave her cow's milk again and she started flaring up the very next day. I hope that this helps and hope your little one gets well again real soon.

You can also check online, just google ear infections and cow's milk. It is very informative.

Two of my kids had tubes put in. One becuase of fluid staying built up behind the ear, and it would not drain or dry up with medicines. My duaghter had tubes at about 20 months and it was a blessing. She suffered chronic ear infections since 4 months old.She has never had an infection since her tubes were put in over two years ago. Their tubes have since fallen out and have no need for them to be put back in.

Children who suffer from chronic ear infections have troubles with speech and hearing sometimes. I would really recomend that you have it done. You sometimes find an amazing difference afterward.

I have never heard of troubles with anesthia or long term effects. That type of surgery only last about 20 mins. They spend more time going to the room and coming back and I believe the anesthia is inhaled and they are woken up immediately. If you still feel worried about it, I would do some research on the internet.

Good luck with your decision. I hope you daughter gets better.

My son had chronic ear infections too. We had tubes put in his ears a week before he was 13 months old. He was a bit combative waking up from surgery, but I'm sure it is because he was confused and felt funny. We were home by 8:30am and he went right to bed, woke around 5pm for an hour, back down until 7:30pm when he was up until 9pm and then he slept all night. After all that sleep he was perfectly fine the next day.

Good luck with your decision. It has been 11 months since he got his tubes and hasn't had an ear infection at all in that time.

Hi C.,
I have heard that chiropractic care can help with ear infections. Dr Kristi Corder in Irving specializes in children and pregnant women. I take my 2 month old to her and will start taking my 6 yr old this month.
http://family1stchiro.net/default.aspx
I hope your baby feels better soon.
S.

Take your child to an allergist. Find out WHY the fluid is there in the first place!