My Son Needs Tubes in His Ears

My Daughter had tubes in her ear when she was 1 and 1/2 years old. She is now 3 years old. I was concerned about the anesthesia too. All around it was the best thing i could have ever done for her. After the tube she had only two after the tubes. Plus, she wasn't in pain all the time. I'm glad I had it done. It helped a lot.

Hi S. -

My daughter just had a second set of ear tubes put in in January. She is two. Her first set was when she was eight months old (she had already had six ear infections by that time). She did really well the first time, but was a lot more cranky this time - that's because they removed the adenoids as well so she was under a little bit longer. She recovered her crankiness really quickly though and has been doing very well.

We use Dr. Scott Thompson in Columbia and he's been just great both times. My son, who is now five, had ear tubes plus a tonsilectomy/adenoidectomy when we lived in Cary, NC and we used Dr. Stephen Boyce of Raleigh Ear Nose Throat. Have really liked both of the doctors we have used and both of my children are doing great now. Good luck!

C.

One of my twin boys has had tubes put in his ears. He was about 8 or 9 months old when they were put in and he didn't have any trouble at all. It will all depend on the child. You shouldn't really worry.....the hardest part is not being able to be there when it is being done and when they wake up. Good Luck and if you would like to chat somemore please feel free to email me.

Have you tried a chiropractor?? My daughter had several ear infections early on in her life and a couple of people recommended I take her to the chiropractor...keeping things aligned...I wasn't too sure about it - but she has only had one since we started going and seems to be doing much better...I am not 100% a believer in chiropractic care, but it has helped her and helped me when I had pregnancy induced carpal tunnel syndrome...

My son was a little over 2 when he got his, they are well worth it knock on wood he has not had another infection but we will see with the up-coming summer season. He had an infection every 2 weeks befoe it seemed like it. He would not talk before the tubes seemed like he couldn't hear to pronounce words to talk so he was delayed until the tubes. Then anesthesia is a quick sleep the whole procedure took about 30 minutes and he woke up groggy but was fine after a nice nap when we got home. No worries....

My daughter that is 2 years old just had tubesand adenoids out about a month ago. We went to see Dr. Clarkson with Raleigh ENT. He is GREAT!!! They don't use anesthesia per say. The give them blow by gas that is flavored with whatever their favorite is. I picked bubble gum for my little girl. So, if they don't need to take the adenoids out they just use the gas to make them sleepy. But if need adenoids out they will put the IV in when they are sleepy with the gas. The surgery took about 30 minutes to have tubes in and adenoids out. If just tubes it will be 15 minutes. My daughter was fine after the surgery just sleepy. I gave her some motrin when she told me her mouth was hurting. She never complained with the ears hurting. I hope everything goes well. I hope this helps you out some. I know how you feel I was a little frightened about my child having anesthesia.

Oh, now this is where I can truly say I am experienced! My son had this procedure back in November, and it was great! First off, get it done at CHKD, they are the best! If you haven't picked a doctore yet, I would say Dr. Shroyer, I cna't remember where he's located, but if you go to the CHKD website, you'll find him. By the time we got checked in (5:30am) he was up and playing with the other kids, and didn't even ask for a drink or something to eat, which is good, because I couldn't give itto him anyways. Then, a little while later, the nurses came to get him (which is the hardest part because you can't go with them), but then, we went downstairs, got something to eat (they let you bring it up back up to the waiting area), before we were even finished eating, the doctor came out, said it went great, my son was ready to see me. Then you go back to the recovery room, and you sit down with them, and just wait for them to come out of the anesthetic, once that wears off, and he drinks at least one cup of juice, they let you go home. We bought him an Elmo balloon, his favorite, helps them cheer up! When we got home, we all took a nap, and by the time he woke up from his nap, you would have never had guessed he even had surgery, and not only did he have tubes put in, he also had his adenoids taken out. And he pulled through like a champ! They do give you something for the pain for them, but I only gave him some that first night, just in case something would start hurting through the night, but nothing happened, he slept fine, woke up fine, everything was fine!
So, I hope this helps put your mind at ease, I'm so glad I did it, his colds have been heaven, because he used to catch an ear infection everytime he got sick, but not anymore!!
So no, don't be worried, he'll be fine, you'll be fine, everything will be fine!

Good Luck,
T.

Sorry, I don't want to offend anyone, but I don't know why people put their children thru this kind of surgery when it can be avoided with chiropractic care. Adults will often seek this kind of care when they hurt, but never consider it for their children. Chiropractic care is so much more than just for hurt backs.

My daughter is getting ready to get her 4th set of ear tubes. When she got the last ones we were at the hospital at 6AM and at 9:30 we were at Burger King eating breakfast. The anesthesia is generally very light and my daughter's doctor doesn't even use an IV, just a mask.

My son is 3 1/2 and just had his tubes removed. He had them put in a year ago and did just fine. The procedure is very quick and he had no pain. When he woke up from the procedure he cried a lot. The anesthesia makes them feel disoriented so they just cry. Once we got home he took a nap and when he woke up it was like he had nothing done. Good luck.

My son had it done. And it work out great. And he will do great also.

I have an 11 year old and am again a new mom of a wonderful 3 month old. We had tubes put in my oldest's ears when he was 3. We had ear infections, what seemed like every 2 weeks....Tubes were a god send!! The ear infections disappeared after that was done. Hopefully I won't have the same problems with my youngest, but if I do, I would not think twice about having it done again. ((per what you wanted to know....oldest was a little cranky on the way home after the proceedure....but was back up and he regular self by the time we got home))
FYI..I live in NC and also used Dr. Stephen Boyce of Raleigh Ear Nose Throat

My sons now 3 & 4 both have tubes in their ears. My youngest son was 3 months when his tubes were put in after his ear drum ruptured. It was extremely scary for me but they have not had an ear infection since. My older child was 1 & half when his were put in. It is hard to handle them going into surgery (just the thought) but it is a very common procedure and it really doesn't take that long at all.
The child is usually a little cranky for the first day or two, your ENT may tell you not to have your child around loud noises at first. This is mainly because they can hear sounds without it sounding muffled.
It is hard on the parent than it is on the child. Good luck and I hope everything works out for you.

S.,

My little boy has had 2 sets of tubes and my little girl had to have her tonsils and adnoids removed. Plus I know several other children whohave had tubes put in. The anesthesia is relatively light and you have nothing to worry about. The worst part is that when he wakes up he may be a little angry.

Don't put off the tubes. You don't want to risk his hearing anf he will be a much happier baby once those ear infections are gone.

Hi Samatha! My son also had persistant ear infections and had tubes put in both of his ears twice! The first time he was a year old and the tubes really helped a lot. His ear infections were few and far between. Unfortunately, they do not stay put in the ear canal. After they came out, his ear infections kept coming back no matter what antibiotic his pediatrician would put him on. The doctor recommended tubes again, so we had it done again. This time, the tubes stayed in his ears about two years. Once they fell out, his ear infections finally stopped. He never had a problem with anesthesia, but please follow the doctor's/hospital's instructions. Every person has a different reaction to anesthesia. Should you be worried? Of course! This is your baby we're talking about! You'll be worried no matter what =] Good luck!
M. - Summerfield, NC

Hi S., both of my boys had to have tubes out in. They did fine with them. It's just like other ladys said they wake crancky ,but about an hour or so they are fine.Your son will sleep alot that day. My son had his done at Charleston ent in west ashley. I don't know where you are having his done. It will be fine and Good luck.

S., My son has had this surgery twice. It is very scary, but he did wonderful both times and this is a very safe procedure now. On his second surgery, he had to be intubated because he also had his adenoids out. The anesthesia is always a concern, but they are very careful. I wish you the best of luck with your son and hope that you have a great outcome, once the ear infections are gone, it will be well worth having the surgery.

Hi S.,
One of my children had tubes, she's 14 now, so I'm sure things have improved since she had them. The anesthesia went well, she woke up a little groggy/cranky, had to eat soft food the rest of the day, and that was about it. She was about 20 months. I think it would be a bit easier with a child not walking/talking yet.... the y let me hold her as she woke up.
One thing I would look at in a child with chronic ear fluid is allergies - dairy, dust, mold, pets. That may be a root cause of the ear fluid. Just my thoughts.
A. W

My DS had tubes put in his ears a few weeks before he turned one. The anesthesia they used seemed to be pretty light because the procedure itself only took 15 minutes. When we went back to see him in recovery, he was awake, but groggy. They told us he might be groggy for the next couple of hours, but by the time we drove home, he was back to himself.

My daughter had tubes put in when she was 6 months old. I wasn't as worried because my other daughter had had it done previously so I knew what to expect. The only difference was my 6 month old was out of surgery ALOT quicker than my other daughter because she had to haver her adenoids taken out also, but even with that she wasn't gone anymore than 30 minutes. With my 6mo old they took her back we went to get breakfast, and we had not even finished eating and the Dr was calling us-that's how quick it was. Also they do not give alot of anethesia-only enough to make them still for just a few minutes. He will do fine, and it's ok to be worried because I was also the first time about the anesthesia. I did like you and asked other moms who had had this done to help alleviate my fears. Moms told me there was nothing to it, and that's what it was. hope this helps, and you will love having ear tubes!!!

tubes is the best thing you could do if your child is like mine was ear infection after ear infection my son got his tubes last feb he has just recently had an ear infection one year later so it is a painless procedure that honestly takes less than 15 min your son will love you for it and you will be glad that hes not in pain anymore he will be happier

My sis-in-law has twins that required tubes in their ears. Both had tubes and were not affected by it at all. The little girl woke right up and acted as if nothing had ahappened at all. So did her brother.Although he was a little cranky at first, but got over it quickly and was back to himself with an hour or two. Hope things go well for you!!! Take Care.

Hello,
My daughter had to get tubes in her ears at age 4 .She had no problems at all.And by the time she was 7 one of them came out on its own and the dr went in and removed the other one. She was in surgery for about 5-10 minutes.She done very well. I wish you all the luck in the world. Just keep some tynol near by just incase a little pain may arise. God bless you.

My daughter had tubes in her ears at 6 months and she did great, the doctors were wonderful about explaining everything and like you I was worried about the anesthetia but she did great and was hereself as soon as she woke up. Good luck and he will be better than ever. A.

I thought they could not do tubes until they were one
I wish you well

my oldest had them inserted when he was 3, he had absolutely no problems and it only took like 10-15 mins to do it i sat in the waiting room and when they were done he was laughing and eating a grape popsicle, the surgery is relatively simple and takes very little time to complete so they rnt under long

My son also had tubes put in his ears at 1 year of age. He seemed to do just fine with the procedure. You shouldn't have anything to worry about with the surgery. I can tell you that although he has tubes in his ears he still gets ear infections. Not as often but when he gets a cold or stuffy/runny nose he seems to get one. He is now two and has had them for one year. And I would say he has had a total of 6 ear infections with the tubes in. Where he was getting an ear infection montly now it is every other month or so that he gets one. So keep that in mind also that it won't totally make the ear infections go away just make them not as often. HOpe this helps.

I went through the same thing with my son. He was 13 months when he got his tubes put in. Since the surgery is so quick (only took about five minutes) they give him a sedating medicine before they go back and in my son's case they didn't even intibate with the tube down the throat, they just used the bag to pump the air in his lungs the whole time. It was scary for me not knowing what to expect but everything turned out fine.

My youngest daughter had tubes in in July. As far as the anesthesia goes, they just wake up REALLY crabby and tired. They give them liquid medicine to relax them before they even go back to prep them and then they act silly. I was super worried before, but she did really good and we were discharged after about 1 1/2 hours. Good luck!

Been there, done that....My oldest is 6 now, however, she has had 4 sets of temporary tubes since 8 months old. We finally moved onto a permanent T-tube and she is doing well. My middle child has had two sets and so far so good with her second set. The procedure itself takes about 15 minutes, once they use the anesthesia, etc. We use Dr. Wallenborn in Asheville, on McDowell Street. He is wonderful with children and came highly recommended to me.
J.

I'm sure you've gotten plenty of responses already! I just wanted to tell you real quick that my son had tubes in his ears when he was a year old. And it was a very easy procedure. Not just the doctors telling you that, but as a parant, it was very okay! The recovery was practically nothing - much different than how i thought it would be. I think i was freaked out much more than anybody else. But this is really an easy procedure, and they helped w/his ear infections tremendously. Best wishes and I hope everything goes well!

I had tubes put into my ears when I was a child..thank God that they did..it fixed everything..and the same goes with my 3 year old nephew..and everything went well and he is doing very well now.

Hi S., we just had ear tubes done for my 2 year old son. I was concerned about the anesthesia as you are, but he seemed to do fine. We had the procedure done at a children's hospital, which is key...they really know how to make babies (and their parents) more comfortable. They say most kids don't notice they even had anything done...mine definitely notices, but he's ok. I am looking forward to hopefully no more ear infections and antibiotics! I wish I had done this sooner for him, since he has a pretty major speech delay at his age, which the speech therapist says is only because of the fluid that was in his ears preventing him from hearing anything properly. Best of luck!

I have one year old identical twin nephews. They both had tubes put in about 3 weeks ago. They did fine with the anesthesia. They gave them something to make them a little sleepy before they went back, so they were calm by the time they were ready for surgery. They went back to school the next day. They actually felt better because the fluid was gone. Hope this helps.

HI there S.,

My baby boy had tubes put in @ age 3. He is now 4. It was not bad at all. The surgery was really quick and as soon as he came out of surgery they called for me and my hubby to go back and be with him. He is great and the surgery helped 100%. He couldn't/wouldn't talk before the surgery and with in 1 month he was talking. Now he won't be quiet.:o) You will be worried because your his mommy , but you have nothing to worry about.