Needing Advice for 3 Year Old- ENT Dr Suggests Tubes and Adenoids Removed

I would most certainly get a second opinion if you have any questions about the diagnosis. I had a great experience with the ENTs at Children's Hospital.

Have you tried eliminating all dairy for a few weeks?
You may find that has amazing results.
Good luck.

My son had reoccuring ear infections as a child and the doctors kept putting him on antibiotics, then wanted to put tubes in his ears. A friend of mine suggested putting him on soy milk. The ear infections completely went away. My ped. would barely acknowledge that it could have been the milk products. Needless to say, I changed pediatricians. Few doctors are taught or practice using diet. It would not hurt to try....

M.

So instead of surgery has anyone (doctors) thought about seeing what causes the inflammation in your boy?!?!?! Of course a doctor is going to say yes to surgery and prescriptions. That is their job.

How about starting with a simple blood test that checks IgG antibodies for food allergies and then removing those foods. Very simple and it works. Chiropractic also is another thing that will help with the drainage of the ears.

When you say he was tested for allergies, I really don't believe they did enough. Go through ImmunoLabs in Florida with the one that tests for 110 food and other environmental items. Also, remove ALL dairy /casein from his diet and substitute with almond/rice/hemp ingredients. Try it for just two weeks and see what happens. Lots of times even if a child does not show a reaction in a test they do respond when this and gluten/wheat are removed.

For more information on diet and how to substitute foods I love the www.tacanow.org section on GF-CF Diet. Done by parents of child with autism. Check out the book I've listed below by Dr. Kenneth Bock as well. Very informative.

Also, please make sure YOU have done the research on vaccinations for YOUR child. The AAP recommended schedule of shots for children is too many, too soon. Here are sites and books that I always recommend for people to start their research:

www.909shot.com
www.tacanow.org
www.generationrescue.com

Healing the New Childhood Epidemics: Autism, ADHD, Asthma, and Allergies: The Groundbreaking Program for the 4-A Disorders, by Dr. Kenneth Bock
The Vaccine Book, by Dr. Robert Sears
What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Childhood Vaccinations, by Dr. Stephanie Cave
Evidence of Harm, by David Kirby

I recommend getting a second or third opinion from a chiropractor. The issue may be resolved by simple adjustments that align the ear tubes so they can drain properly.

Ditto on the second opinion.

In most medschools/nursing schools the school of thought is actually to leave the adenoids IN whenever possible (except in extreme cases, like they're making it difficult to breathe). In large part this is because the trend is that when you pull adenoids, the illness tends to just move lower in either the respiratory or GI tract. Those illnesses also tend to be more difficult to treat. Older docs are still pulling them as frequently as they used to, though.

That said...adenoids are not discrete organs, and they regenerate if any cells are left. Takes about 15-20 years on average for a full adenoidectomy to regrow. So even if you do pull them, it's not something that will be lifelong. Some docs are even leaving in tissue on purpose, to facilitate the regeneration process, to speed it up and leave at least part of that line of defense still within the system.

Tubes are super common though, for the very good reason that many of the "holes" that are found in our body take several years to close AND that being able to drain the fluid away from the inner ear is something that many children's ears are quite simply not capable of doing (size/structure issues) until they're older.

So for myself, personally, I would be much more sanguine about the tubes then the adenoidectomy. Regardless, I would get second opinions on both.

You may try Dr. Jerold Boyers. He has done surgery on both my kids and when I had to have the tubes placed in the ears for the baby, I had all the confidence in the world with him. Warning: Not a big people person ~ a bit dry

He is on the corner of Shadow & Goldring ###-###-####

My situation was my 18MO (at the time) had infection after infection and it would not clear up. I took her into Boyers and we planned a surgery after her PED prescribing all 3 prescriptions for her. It was my understanding there are 3 levels of meds that may be given (someone out there help with accuracy or completeness who is med field). After no reaction to the highest level, an ENT is suggested. I walked in with that history and was more than willing to do the surgery at that point, as her ears were oozing outside the ear.

With that said, it doesn't sound like your son has had 3 infections that didn't clear completely and then re-occurred. So, I would think the infection is extreme if the doc wants to order tubes.

Keep in mind, my oldest daughter had plenty of ear infections and I was told to leave it alone and allow the ear to drain. When the ear can't drain, the drum bursts and that is what happened to her. She has a permanent scar on her ear drum and did lose a little bit of her hearing in that ear.

Ease everyones mind and go on the second opinion. Boyer's is a great doctor. I wouldn't mention him if I had any reservations. However, there are plenty of other great ENT's out there. Boyers is certifed and that is something I have been looking for in all my doctors.

Best of luck.

Hi there... I don't have any experience with tubes, but my nearly 10 month old had his adenoids removed about 2 1/2 weeks ago. He snored horribly from the day he was born, and had developed sleep apnea and was always puffy and red around the eyes due to lack of good oxygen. SO.... we had them removed and I was so scared for him. The surgery was super fast, and we brought him home the same day. From that day on, he has slept so peacefully and quiet. His eyes have cleared up and he know longer wakes in the middle of his sleep due to not breathing properly. I think you are smart to get a second opinion. You should always feel confident in the care your child receives. My niece had tubes put in her ears, but she had chronic ear infections; we're talking 4 or 5 every year. She no longer has them..

Good luck!

Have you tried eliminating all dairy from his diet? My son was sick constantly until we did. It is a pretty low risk thing to try...

T.

google this stuff called "serrapeptase" it's cheap and natural and can help

good luck..sorry to hear your son and you guys are having this trouble

Try removing dairy products from your son's diet first. My son had constant ear infections and too many rounds of antibiotics. It turn out to be a dairy allergy. My son's symptoms vanished when dairy was removed from his diet.

D. Merlin
Mother/author
www.victoryoveradhd.com

That sounds a bit extreme..... I had tubes in ears 2x and adnoids removed once when I was a kid, but I was a mess!

As a child I had ear infections, constantly and nose stuffed up always....
I would definitely get a second opinion...seems to soon to do surgery!

Hello,
I don't have experience with ear infections, but I would definitely get a second opinion on this one. Also, a study was just released (I heard a news segment on NPR this last week) about children that are given general anesthesia and the great potential for future learning difficulties for those that have gone under. I don't know if the doc would use general for this procedure, but it is definitely a question to ask and then ponder. My girlfriend's two daughters have both had the ear tube surgeries, but they have had many, many more ear infections than 3. Good luck to you!

I'll admit that I like my ENT to the point of a minor crush. He's Dr. Warren Line at East Valley ENT 191 S Buena Vista St,Burbank, CA 91505.###-###-####

Definitely get a second opinion. I don't have any recommendations for an ENT and I haven't heard anything about Dr. Schroeder. All I know is that my pedi doesn't even give antiobiotics for an ear infection unless it is really severe. My son had an ear infection and it went away on its own. In your son's case, it sounds as if it was bad enough to warrant antibiotics, but surgery still seems excessive. If he has only had 3 ear infections that doesn't seem like much.

I'm not sure how you feel about your pedi, but I love mine. Maybe you could go to him or ask him for a referral to an ENT. His name is Dr. Michael Levin at Henderson Pediatrics on Horizon (near the 95). He has been awesome about giving us more natural home remedies before he writes out a prescription.

Also, if you are looking for a chiropractor (who can probably help as well) Dr. Anderson is wonderful. He is off of Eastern and Tropicana. He deals with both adults and children. He helps with all areas of health, not just joint issues.

Both of these doctors take most insurance plans, but if yours doesn't cover them, they really work with people on cost as well.

Good luck to you and your little one!

I would completely get a second opinion. My daughter just had the tubes in/adenoids out surgery last week and although it's day surgery ... it's surgery. She did have some post-op complications that landed us back at the doctor's office, on antibiotics and a week out she's just starting to get back to herself again. Just the effects of the general anesthesia on her body were many - never mind the effects of removing her adenoids (between the horrible breath and what's come out of her nose - I'm not sure what's worse! :)
However, she IS sleeping better and I do think the payoff longterm is beneficial for her. She's 2.7 years and has had chronic ear infections since she was three months old. This consisted of periods of constant illness and then nothing for a bit - kind of a waxing and waning. I was waiting for her body to naturally regulate her ear infections (having the eustation tubes naturally drain) but with her that hasn't been the case. Before the surgery when she got a bilateral ear infection she would also develop a horrible sinus infection and bronchitis - multiple times.
Get a second opinion -- I would go to CHOC's ENT department and see what they say. Watch his diet and see if, with some changes, he also improves.
Good luck!
:) H.

I don't know the Doc, but I would definitely get a second opinion. When my son was born, we lived close to a freeway. My then 7 year old always had "allergies" for the 4 years we were there. Then the baby was chronically stuffed up and had asthma. Since we have moved, they don't have those problems anymore. I don't know if you ;ove in an area with air pollution, but sometimes outside sources irritate--cigarette smoke, air fresheners, perfumed soaps and lotions. I would rule these things out before putting my little one through surgery.

Getting a 2nd opinion is always a good idea. And, ultimately, the decision is yours, so if you're not comfortable - don't. My daughter had her tonsils & adnoids removed and tubes put in at about age 4. It was the best thing we ever did. She hasn't been sick ONCE since then and she's now 6-1/2. It was scary, and the first few days were hard, and the tubes were a bit of a pain, but I would definitely do it again. Good luck.

You could try to cut out dairy and or other foods and see if it helps. Get him on an organic immunity support like Nutrilite Twist tubes (we-us.mychoices.biz) and get some organic vitamins and food into him. I don't like antibiotics and you could find the probiotics on the site too. That would help. Good luck.

Please take your son to a chiropractor. I promise you it will make a big difference. Here are a couple of articles for you to read. He is not too young. A simple adjustment will provide the proper drainage. I can recommend two chiropractors, one in Long Beach just north of Seal Beach off the 405 and one in the Fairfax area.
http://www.hpakids.org/holistic-health/articles/33/1/Chir...
http://www.acatoday.org/content_css.cfm?CID=69

you have all the time in the world to cut something and absolutely no chance to "put in back". explore alternative therapies TCM, homeopathy, amarican botanicals... anythig! before doing somethig so drastic. i was in your shoes many years ago and did internet research, changed my sons diet for a year and now he is healty and intact: )
Good luck
V.

I am not sure where you are. But, in OC Dr Barretto or Ahuja are great. they share an office near CHOC. My kids LOVE Barretto. Ahuja wears a turban, so, he is like Aladdin, they are mystified.

I actually have the opposite problem!! My son has had lots of ear infections. We placed our first set of tubes before he was a year old. They have now fallen out (totally normal) and we will need a second set but my doc wants to put it off! He's a great doc who likes to make surgery the last option. He has always been able to get us right in. We've seen lots of doc's and I think DR Tolan is the best. He's located at Ft Apache near Russell. Dr Timmy Tolan.
You should listen to your own voice on this one. If you think the surgery isn't a good idea or necessary then you are probably right. Allergies might be to blame too and the surgery wouldn't eliminate that probelm. I'd try singular or other allergy stuff before I went the surgery route.

Hi-
I understand what you are going through. My daughter who is 3 had tubes inserted in her ears 2 years ago. That was after 6 ear infections. Once the tubes were in, we had no problems with colds or ear infections. 8 months ago the tubes fell out. We are now going back in for surgery to have her adnoids removed and to have the tubes reinserted. For us, the tubes were the best decision. But we also have been dealing with constant ear infections. Now our ENT wants the adnoids removed since that might be a cause of the harboring bacteria in her ear canal.
Also - I had my adnoids removed when I was 5 years old. I am now 37. My parents have told me that I was always "sick" with bad colds or sinus infections. We know now that it started with allergies. To this day, the best treatment I have found is to use a neti pot. I have used one on my three year old and have had success. I also know of other moms who have their preschoolers use one ( I thought they were to little to use- but they get the idea).
I would recomend the surgery. Please contact me if you have any detailed questions.
C.

If you'd like a referral for a second ENT opinion, i suggest Dr. Maher Sesi in Torrance ###-###-####. He recommended a more conservative "wait and see" approach with my son who has had fluid in one ear that won't clear up. Many kids just grow out of it as the ear structure matures. We need to keep checking his ears, but I'm hoping we can avoid surgery in the end.

My daughter went through something similar to this. What finally worked for her was help from a chiropractor. How Dr. Haas explained it, the ear tubes of small children are horizonntal and thin, not vertical like in us. When the lymph system can't drain the liquid the children get ear infections. It was a very simple, quick and relaxing. Dr. Haas was very gentle and effective. Our daughter's ENT made me feel wary. He got upset that I wanted a second opinion. Withing a few days after the chiropractor, our pediatrician didn't see any fluid. Our pediatrician was so impressed that she is recommending chiropractor care for ear infections. Dr. Haas is in Montrose, CA. Hope it works as well as it worked for my little girl.

Has your son actually seen an allergist? My son has not had any allergy tests come back positive (according to my doctor it's tough with kids to get a positive unless it's a serious allergy), but has always had runny noses and allergy like symptoms. His Pedi is going to give us a referal to an allergist if this continues through this Spring Season. But, my son's Pedi is also against invasive surgery if there is a way to avoid it and keep kids healthy.

In my opinion, if you son has only had 3 ear infections in 3 years, I'd say the surgery sounds a bit drastic. I agree with getting a second opinion and making sure that this is necessary. These kinds of surgeries are sometimes helpful and other times, like with my half-sister not helpful and make the issue worse or don't help at all.

Get that second opinion and then, go from there. Good Luck!