Tubes in Ears

My son had his tubes put in when he was about 10 mo and I was really worried also. He did super fantastic and the results are amazing. Since we had them done the ear infections have been nonexistant but one. And his speach has greatly improved all around I think that it was the best thing we could have done for him.

Hi K.,
We dreaded getting tubes for various reasons. And 1.5 years later all I can say is that they are wonderful and we have had no problems. Plus, my son, who had chronic ear infections and multiple doses of anti-biotocs (even though we often tried to avoid the anti-biotics) has been ear infection free and thus pain free. Its been a great decision. Good luck!

H.

I had 2 children have tubes in both ears, one was 11 mo, the other 22 mo. It helped a lot. The only thing that happpens after is if they got water in their ears, they may get an infection. Then they had ear drops and it was better. I'd recommend it.

I know you asked about tubes specifically and maybe you have already tried what I am going to suggest (in which case ignore me). I too had concerns when my son was recommended for tubes at 14 months after seven months of fluid/infections that no antibiotics would cure. I decided to give chiropractics a 1 month try to see if that would help. It cleared everything up and he never needed the tubes. I am so glad I tried that first. Many kids need tubes installed more than once, why put their little bodies through that if something noninvasive will work. My only regret is that we went through 7 months of antibiotic treatment before I got smart. I would only try surgery as a last resort. BTW, my son is now almost 5yo, he gets 3-4 chiro adjustments a year (which he loves), has only had 1 ear infection since then (it was just this winter) and the best benefit of all is that he almost never gets sick now...when he gets a cold it is only one day of sniffles and then it is gone.

i was just wondering if you have considered a different approch to the tubes? my son had cronic ear infection from 2mo until he was 12mo. to the point that the last 3-4 months he was on antibotics everyday as a preventive to getting them and he was getting immune to it so they had to keep upping his dose. they wanted to put tubes in his ears also. but a friend of mine her child had them and she lost part of her hearing from having to keep getting tubes put back in her ears.. it created scar tissue. i know ear infections can do the same. but for me i didnt want to risk it if it was not going to stop the infections.. just drain the infection out. i asked around and my grandma told me to take him to the chiropractor before choosing the tubes. i took ty to the chiro. two times a week for the first two weeks then once a week for two weeks, when we went back to the dr he had no infection in his ears for the first time since he was 2 mo! i took him to the chiro. one time a month for two more months just to be safe and he just got his first ear infection last year.. after 10 years of not having them! i started taking my other two children to him when i found out that they had an ear infection and it usually only took one treatment, then getting their ears rechecked after a couple of days and the infection was gone with out giving them antibotics. chiropractors are completely safe for children, as my chiro said with all the falling down and even the birth can make the neck bones move and pinch the ear tubes and the pinching of the tubes is actually the most common reason for ear infections, but dr's usually don't like to recomend them because it takes away from thier pocket. i would much rather pay the $30 for a chiropractor than the $100 plus the antibotics it would cost for the dr. if you look around you can usually find a chiropractor that children are free under a certian age. i know that's how ours is... under 14 children are free. he has worked on all 4 of my kids and helped each one!

good luck with your choice! what ever way you go i wish you and your son the best of luck!

Alternative thought:
What is causing your daughter not to be able to drain her ears properly? In normal functioning ears there will be a fluild drainage through the eustachian tubes to your sinus cavity. If there is any hypermyotonicity (muscle imbalance) in the suboccipital region (upper neck/base of head) then this could create blockages of the normal drainage flow. My husband is an upper cervical chiropractor and sees many children for this. I am not saying you should go to him (I do recommend) but you should first off see if this is an symptom (blockage of the eustachian tubes) rather than a problem. If the true problem is not correctly identified, you will be only setting up your child for many other symptom treatments in the future. If you would need a referral to someone more convenent, just let me know.
He will also be at the River Center this weekend for the Baby Fair and you could stop by and ask him directly. His name is Dr. Heath at Tree of Life Chiropractic. Actually bring you child along and he can screen her for potential spinal and nervous system imbalances.
Just remember that our bodies were created to be self-healing and self-maintaining.

My daughter was 18 months old when she got her ear tubes. The procedure it self took only ten minutes. The hardest thing was the time before the procedure. As always they tell you no food or drink before hand. My daughter was so hungry and she couldn't eat. So try to get the earlest appointment availialbe. As for complications there really wasn't any. They give you some ear drops to use for awhile that was the worst part you must message it into the ear. They will show you how if you ask. The out come is great beats going to the doctor every two weeks with a ear infection. My daughter is now six. The only problem we have now is with swimming lessons she doesn't want water in her ears. Even though the tubes have been gone for a few years now. Good luck!! Don't be afraid to stress any concerns to the doctor! That is what we pay him soo much for.lol

My daughter (now seven) had tubes in at two years because she had chronic infections. They were a God-sent. She was a little combative from the anestesia but forgot all about it when they brought her a popsicle! She had one more infection after that - but they are WELL worth it!!!

Tubes were a Life-Saver for us!! My son had one ear infection after another between the ages of 6 and 18 months of age. After the tubes, we've had no problems. He's a generally healthy little 3 year old!
The procedure was in an out-patient setting. They gave him some meds to help him get a bit drowsy. Then, the wrapped him in a heated blanket, put him completely asleep and did the surgery. I would guess that the actual surgery only took 30 minutes... They came to tell us he was done and after a few more minutes we were allowed to come back to his room to see him. He was still completely asleep... And really stayed asleep for a lot of that afternoon. We had to stay in the Surgery Center for about an hour just so they could observe him for awhile and then we were able to take him home. He was a little bit crabby when he woke up that day... But, was just fine the following day.
The biggest issue we had was keeping water out of his ears after the tubes were put in. We were told that he needed to wear ear plugs whenever he was playing in the pool, sprinkler, or taking a bath. He HATED the plugs! But, it sounds like not all doctors recommend this. We actually had better luck buying a cheap sun visor and letting him wear that in the tub. We were still able to wash and rinse his hair without getting the water in his ears.
Anyway, I think you'll appreciate the tubes in the long run... I really believe they were worth doing! Ear infections were SO painful and irritating for my little boy and now he's SO happy!! Best of luck!

Hi K.. My oldest who is now 7 had tubes in when he was 2. It was the best thing we did for him. He was always having ear infections. We both got tired of the antibiotics. They would work while he was taking them, but once he was done, he'd get another infection. Since the tubes were done, he hasn't had one since. My 4 year old just had them in last week also. The procedure only takes about 20 minutes. Once they are able to eat and drink something and no complications from being put under they are able to go home. My boys didn't have any complications at all. The hardest part is making sure that they don't get water in their ears. You can buy ear plugs anywhere if your doctor recomends them. I wouldn't hesitate to do it again if I had to. Good Luck.

There are a couple of positive outcomes: first, her eardrums won't rupture anymore from ear infections...thus reducing the scar tissue and the possiblity of her having a hearing loss; second, the fluid behind her eardrum will be allowed to drain which will allow her to hear and acquire language. I am a Teacher of the Deaf and many of my students are on my caseload because of recurrent ear infections that were not treated as babies. Its really a good thing that she is getting tubes....

My son had tubes put in shortly after he turned 1 and like everyone else says it was well worth it. Leaving them for the surgery was very hard but you just have to remember it is well worth it and they will be so much happier and healthier. He only got 2 ear infections over the next 2 years after his tubes were put in. Also with the tubes it is easier to tell they have an infection since you will see drainage. Our ENT said unless he is a swimmer you don't have to worry about getting water in their ears but my friends son, he wore a thing over his ears because his doctor didn't want water in his ears. My son is almost 3 1/2 and he is tube free. His tubes fell out on their own.

I have been thru this alot with mine and other peoples children and some adults.
Now worked and had to be repeated over and over sometimes up to six plus times.
All like me had to have or should have more surgery for holes and bone and or brain etc damage.

Plus the pain when the skull size changes and pressure when it pushes in the ear is not worth it.

The weird noises that come out of no where and cause you to collaspe and scream at times and ohhh the pain is so not worth it expectly with the cold and fireworks or even a micro wave you get pain.

It even m ade a child of mine go death awhile.

So I am no fan of this insurance scam the doctors and insurance cos and title 19 came up with to mKE MONEY OFF OF US LOVING PARENTS.

D.

Our bodies were made to heal themselves. I would recommend finding the root of the problem, rather than just following what EVERY doctor recommends - tubes. It isn't the only option.

First take your daughter to the chiropractor and get his or her opinion. There could be a pinched nerve or some kind of blockage.

Second I recommend natural healing products from Melaleuca. Their products have been wonderful for my family. The pharmacuetical grade tea tree oil mixed with olive oil is a natural remedy for swollen tissue and it is very, very soothing. This oil also kills bacteria.

Contact me for detailed information at:
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I am not a distributor, but I do educate and help families find wellness treatments and prevention.

This was 10 years ago now, but we had a very positive experience with tubes in my son's ears at age 15 months. The procedure went well and was very quick. He had it done first thing in the morning, he was very fussy coming out of the anesthesia, but then had a bottle and a nap. By lunch time he was fine and we played outside in the afternoon. It significantly decreased the number of ear infections he got (he used to get them 1x/month), but did not completely eliminate them. The best part about it was that when he did get another infection there was no pain and pressure because the fluid and pus drain out of the ear. Also, you can tell when they have an infection so there isn't all that guessing about why they are crying or not sleeping, is it an infection, etc. My son ended up allergic to several antibiotics so it was great to get the tubes and get him off of the constant rounds of antibiotics. We all got a lot more sleep afterwards too. He never had any complications. The tubes fell out on their own and the little holes healed up just fine. I had an ear infection about a month ago--it was awful! The pain and pressure made me feel so bad for my son and what he must have gone through as an infant. The fluid takes weeks to clear up afterwards and it feels like you are hearing underwater. For weeks I couldn't hear very well out of that ear. It is scary to watch your little one go under anesthesia, but it was a positive experience for us without any complications. Good luck to your daughter.

My Son had tubes placed last year. The procedure itself took all of 15-20 minutes tops and the hardest part about it was trying to calm him down after the anesthesia. We've had a few ear infections that were pretty gross and drain out due to the tubes being in place but there've been no complications thus far. Rest easy, this is a very easy procedure and should turn out just fine!

K.,

My son had tubes in his ears when he was 9 months old. The hardest part for me was watching him get wheeled to the OR. The procedure went very well and didn't take very long at all. Coming out of anesthesia was not the greatest but, we could stay in the room until we were ready to go. As soon as the anesthesia wore off he was the happiest baby in the world. We didn't have anymore ear infections after that.

T. R.

My oldest (now 7 1/2 years old) had tubes put in the week before he turned 1. We went through months and months of ear infections that led to the tubes. The procedure went very smoothly and there were no complications. He had the tubes for about 3 years and he only had 2 ear infections. It was great. The other thing that was great was how he kind of came alive after getting the tubes. He started trying to talk more and seemed to understand more.

It was the best thing we could have done for him. Since the tubes fell out he has had 1 or 2 ear infections.

Good luck!!!

K.,

My oldest daughter had tubes at 18 months after multiple infections. The procedure itself will last 10 minutes and your daughter will come back to you as if nothing happened. They bounce back very quickly. I can tell you from my experience and as an RN who has taken care of children post-op after the tubes that this is a very good and safe procedure. My daughter since her tubes has only had one ear infection since the procedure and she is now 12, almost 13. There are some risk of complications of course which the doctor should inform you of, such as the tubes not falling out in a timely fashion, or falling out too soon. The facility that does the procedure will give you discharge instructions as well as pre-op instructions. Follow them and don't hesitate to call the doctors office if you have any questions. Good luck, A.

It was the best thing we could have done for our littlest boy. He is now three, and has had maybe one or two infections since having the tubes fall out. The doctor's records showed that prior to that we were in almost every 6 weeks to the day. It was horrible for him and for me!

Both my nephews went through tubes successfully, too! I would do it again!
L. G.

Anytime surgery is involved it's scary. Our daughter had ear infection after ear infection and we put them off until she was 2 and her body had built up an immunity to antiboitics so the last straw was that she to get steriod shots because nothing else worked. She had just turned 2 and we are extremely glad we got it done. Our son started with ear infections that would rupture his ear drum because he didn't show any signs and has such a high pain tolerance. He was 2 also when he got his. He wasn't a talker before and after the surgery he talked like crazy. We figured out that he constantly had pressure and couldn't hear very well.

We have had a blocked tear duct surgery (son 10 months), each had tubes (2 years), and my daughter at age 4 had her tonsils taken out. It's never an easy decision since they tell you the complications that can occur, etc...but we have not regreted any of the surgeries they have needed.
I of course cried each time but after it was done and seeing that they weren't in pain anymore it was totally worth it.

My daughter had them when she was almost 2. They took her into surgery and the dr. was back out to see us 10 minutes later - the surgery is fast. She was fussy afterwards due to being tired from the anesthesia and hungry but had no pain. they let her sip apple juice right after, then she felt better. The worst part is not feeding them in the morning - they have to have an empty stomach for the surgery. A few hours later you would have never known she was in surgery that day. Before the surgery She had chronic ear infections - as soon as one cleared up, the second she was off antibiotics, another infection started - this went on for a year. After the surgery it was 2 1/2 years before she got another!!! We've had one or two a year since then. It was scary at the time but looking back we are so glad we did it.

My daughter had ear tubes put in when she was 11 mos old & she did just fine. The hardest part was not letting her eat before the procedure. It was early in the morning, thankfully, so she didn't have to wait too long to eat.
The procedure only took about 10 mins.

It did reduce her ear infections & made flying a lot easier.

Best of luck to you both!

K.,
My son just got tubes one week ago. He's 27 months, and has had more ear infections than we can count, and finally could not get rid of them. I was really nervous about my little guy going under general anesthetic, but he did great!! They only use just enough to let them sleep, and they wake up after only a 15-20 minute nap. He woke up flirting with the nurses, and back to his normal self. The hardest part for us was that we weren't scheduled to go the surgery center until 9:45 am, and so he had to go all morning without eating or drinking. It helped immensely once we got him out of the house and away from the fridge! The nurses, doctors and anesthetists do this all the time, and are wonderful with children. My husband was able to go back with him to the OR and hold him while they got him to sleep (I was too nervous!!). The procedure itself only takes less than 10 minutes. Post op care has been to give him antibiotic ear drops 3x/day for 10 days.

It's OK to be scared, but if your little girl is always having ear infections, this is the ticket. I was about 6 when I got tubes, and I went 30 years without ever getting an ear infection. Good luck, and have faith that everything will work out just great!! :o)

Hi K., my oldest (who is now almost 4 & on his second set of tubes) had them put in when he was 14 months the first time. It was the BEST thing that we could have done for him. He had 13 ear infections the first year of his life!! The recovery was not bad! He was back to daycare two days later. We had the surgery done at Children's and would tell EVERYBODY to go there!! The staff was awesome! Not only to us (parents) but to our son too! I actually held him in my arms as they put him under. Sound scary, but it was the best decision for us. I wish you luck and will keep you and your daughter in my prayers.

My son was to have his eye duct probed at 18months because of regular conjunctivitis. They were going to put him "under" and strap him down. I did not like this idea for such a small child, so I went to a gentle, Christian woman who was a chiropractor and worked with children. She would adjust David whenever he had a spill - toddlers have many spills. This regular treatment allowed the "lymph" system to stay clear (in addition to my giving him massages as she instructed around the face and neck areas, some where the lymphs were to keep things moving). It actually alleviated the conjunctivitis reoccurring and also kept his ear canals clear and even though he also had a few ear infections, this treatment also helped him not to have the tubes put in that everyone else I heard about was told would have to be done if they have regular ear infections. He had a few, not a lot, but then I did start him early with the adjustments and so he didn't get ear infections and have to have those unhealthy antibiotics as he got older, 2+. WE also gave him liquid Vit C when he was young and liquid Echinacea to help fight off colds when he got them. Hope this is helpful. I am new to this and dont' get on the internet often. So hopefully you can find a knowledgeable chiropractor. Maybe the Williams Integracare Clinic in Sartel, MN, can help you. They have a chiropractic clinic and also doctors that prescribe natural alternatives as well as conventional when necessary. For my son, we also took him off sugar (99.9% of the time) for several years and dairy since sugar weakens the immune system's ability to fight off a cold, etc., and dairy takes a long time to digest and if he had a cold it would slow down his body's ability to fight off the cold. Just recently we started eating dairy and more meat again, but have removed grains, esp. wheat, corn and soy (oats are okay and brown rice) that has helped in the digesting of the dairy since I think the tendancy for most people to wheat allergies taxing your system, but now that I have removed 99.9% of grains, esp. the above-mentioned, we digest the dairy much better now, no mucous that we have noticed anyway. I wonder now if it was the grains that caused the mucous because of the allergy factor. God Bless!

Hi K.,

Two of my children have had tubes put in with no problems. They both had chronic ear infections and it immediately alleviated that problem. It is a quick and simple procedure although of course they will be upset and cranky afterwards. They bounce back so quickly.

We had no negative side effects, but if you have great concerns you can always get a second opinion.

Good luck!

D. V

Our daughter had this done when she was 16 months old and it was actually a breeze....she was really cranky coming out of anesthesia but other than that, it was easy. AND the bonus has been we haven't had an ear infection since and she is back to her old self!! The hardest thing was to not let her eat or drink before the surgery, but usually they schedule the little ones early in the morning so it's not too bad. Good luck!

Hello K.,

I am a stay at home mom that is hearing impared and had tubes when I was young. In my experience and from what my mom has shared with me, it dramatically cut down on ear infections and future issues. My hearing imaparment does NOT come from the tubes but, it has helped in my adult life and being able to wear a hearing aide. I would say rest easy things will be fine. As with any proceedure she will need healing time and may try to pull her ears however, she will adjust, the only thing I notice is pressure while flying has intensified but other wise I have since had them removed and been just fine.
I hope this helps.
Sunny

Yes, my son had tubes put in just before his 2nd birthday. The procedure only took about 5 minutes. He was a little groggy for a short time after, had it done first thing in the a.m.. By lunch time he was eating and playing as if nothing had been done. It is just a temporary fix though. He just tuned 3 and had infections Oct-April this year, we go in tomorrow for a recheck of the last infection.

G.

K.,
All of my children (3) have had tubes in their ears at a very young age. They are now 25, 22, and 17; it was a very positive experience. Having worked in an outpatient surgery department for 5 years, Yes, they are crying and upset after they come out of surgery, but this doesn't last long. It helped tremendously! We didn't have ear problems again. At the time of my children they had to put wax in the ear to stop the water from going it when taking baths, showers, etc. but now they have the kind that you don't have to do that which is much nicer. Good luck

Yes this was a positive outcome for my daughter who was about the same age when I had hers done at Childrens Sst Paul. She was always getting infections. The whole process took 10-15 minutes and she only need 1 dose of pain medication when she got home. She is almost 5 now & has only had 1 infection since her tubes. Dr Liston did the surgery. He is an ENT and does these procedures all the time. He was great. No problem for follow visit and her regular doctor stated that they fall out on there own in about a year or so. That is long enough to keep ear open so reduces infection till they are a little older. Good luck. I hope your experince goes as well as mind did

My son was 18 months when he got tubes out in his ears and his adnoids taken out. He had nasty ear infections ever since he was born so the doctor thought this would be the best thing for him. He was so right since the surgery which was just this past november Joel hasn't been sick once. I was totally nervous about the whole thing but everything went great. He was only in surgery for like 15 minutes! The hardest part was leaving him with the nurse before they put him under and when he was coming out of it because he was a fighter. As long as you use the drops and keep the area around the ear clean you should have no problems. The surgeon explains everything to you before and after the surgery and are very helpful with any concerns that you do have. Its scary but well worth it.

Tubes are a piece of cake. My husband and I no, but got sat down in the waiting area and they called our names to come back. I was thinking oh no what happened, nope he was done, awake and getting plastered with stickers (for being so good in the 10 minutes the procedure took) and had a huge smile on his face. The drainage that comes out, was a little gross, but it didn't hurt him. True Blessing!

3 out 4 of my boys have had tubes. They do work wonders for my children. I do recomend putting them in. When your daughter has an ear infection, you will know and can treat it right at home with ear drops and do not have to make a trip to the doctor every single time. You should keep track of how many infections she gets after the tubes are put in and let your doctor know. One of my boys had to have 2 sets of tubes put in and I have twin 2 1/2 year olds that may have to have another set put in. Complications after surgery were very minimal. We had nothing we had to worry about. Hope this helps and Good Luck!!!

My older son had tubes four times, and my younger son had tubes once. It was no big deal. The one complication was swimming lessons -- they had to wear special earplugs and a neoprene headband to keep them in.

Every time, the tubes were worth it, in terms of ending ear infections. However, they don't last that long (6-9 months), so if the problems continue, back you go.

I've heard that this is a pretty common practice and very easy and text book procedure for the doctors, with relatively little health risks.

Just curious if you ever thought about trying a chiropractor first...I've heard great things about adjusting for ear-aches on young children and perhaps a surgical need may not be as neccessary. You probably already tried that though.

My son was two when he finally got his tubes put in both ears. We waited a long time to go ahead with the surgery and now we regret waiting. All I can say is that getting the tubes in his ears was a very positive experience. He is never sick anymore and is so happy. The precedure was fast and he didn't even have any pain. Don't wait like we did. It is really the best thing for them.

Julie

My daughter had teh same procedure at about the same age and it completely put an end to her ear problems. She never wore earplugs or anything for swimming or bathing; her doctor said that covering the ears really wasn't necessary, and he was right, she never had a problem. When the tubes fell out, one actually fell "in" and is on the inside of her eardrum now. She is a healthy 7 yr. old now, and it isn't a concern and probably never will be.

My son had tubes put in both ears in February 2006 when he was 20 months old. It was done at North Memorial. I was able to be with him when they put him under and the whole procedure was over in about 15 minutes. We cuddled in the hospital until he was cleared to go home. He was a little groggy from being put under. By the time we got home he was walking around playing like it never happened. Having tubes put in was the best thing we could have done. He had so much fluid in his ears that he couldn't hear very well and wasn't talking. After the tubes he was able to hear us much better and his vocabulary expanded dramatically. He wasn't as clumsy and he hasn't had a single ear infection since. The tubes fell out on their own about 18 months later. Now he's going to be 4 and so far no ear infections and his language development is right on track.

If you have not tried a chiropractor yet then please consider that. It may prevent the need for tubes. It might not, but it's worth a try as it's less invasive. I took my 8 month old son to a chiropractor/cranial-sacral therapist in St Paul named Dr. Carla Breunig. We really like her. Good luck.

Hi K.- my son had tubes at 1 year. He did great..it was literally a 10 minute procedure..I made my husband go back with hin whne they put him under. After the procedure we waited another 20 minutes or so until he woke up then took him home and he was back to himself pretty much immediately. We had to put drops in his ears for a few days after but it was overal a very positive experience..and a winter with only one regimen of antibiotics. Good luck!

Hi K.,
There's nothing to it, really. They aren't in the operating room very long...just takes a little while to wake up from the procedure. There may be a little drainage afterwards, but that will clear up...they may give you drops to put in her ears if there's any ongoing infection. My daughter has had them put in six times. The "T" tubes are best because they stay in longer. My daughter has extremely tiny ear tubes which is why she's had them so many times, they need that tube to keep their ears drained and clear, otherwise can lead to upper respiratory infection alot. Hope this helps!
Rhea

Two of my three children had tubes put in (don't know how my other way escaped, just lucky I guess). In fact, my daughter had 2 sets put in. My oldest was 3 when he got them put in and the only complication was he didn't feel like eating much for about 3 days. My daughter had no complications. The biggest thing I noticed was my son's speech pattern took a huge turn toward the better when he received them. The procedure itself takes very little time. I think the doctor came out in 20 minutes to tell me he was all done. One thing I do warn and I was told this was because of the light anesthesia they have to give the children and then bring them out of it so quickly, is that my daughter cried for half an hour the first time as she was coming out of anesthesia.

My daughter had tubes put in her ears about a month and a half ago. She just turned 1 last week. She did absolutely fine. It only took about 15 minutes. She was talking and laughing right afterward. My niece had them put in 2 weeks ago and is doing good too. You will see that there is some blood draining from her ears, but it isn't a big deal. The only problem we ran into was that some of the blood in her ears dried and blocked the tube. The doctor just had us use drops again for about a week and it cleared itself up. I just feel good knowing she can hear us now. I think sometimes as parents we are a little more freaked out than the kids will be. I am sure your daughter will do just fine. Good luck!

K., our oldest son is now 20, when in kindergarten, he had the tubes put in, it was amazing what he could hear, he could hear our fingers rubbing together, where as before he could not, so we were excited about the change and the difference it made, a few years later they wanted to put in another set, these fell out within a month, the stress of putting him through yet another surgery was too much, he has since learned to deal with the slight hearing loss in the one ear, and the scar tissue that the tubes have left, im glad we never went and did it again, for a while it helped, but then it seemed, that any more did not, i guess you have to weigh the pros with the cons, i mean they are cutting the ear drum to put this in there, to this day, he never really has ear wax, he has really small ear canals, and he has learned to flush out his ears, or do some candleing, although they say it is not a scientific study, it does seem to help him now that he is an adult, also with ear tubes, they cannot get their heads underwater, and if you want them to go swimming, it might be good to do it through the winter months, i believe with our son, it helped, and then it did not, so like every parent, you will have to decide what is best for your daughter, and her situation might be very different , our son never had ear aches, so this is why we never found out early like your selves, so it could be a way different story , being so young, well i hope for the best, smile and keep on mothering, D. s

Hi~
My daughter had tubes put in when she was 13 mos old and we wish we had done it sooner! She had had 7 ear infections between October and March before we did it.
She is now 2 yrs and has not had a problem since, and they are still in place.
The procedure itself was so fast I only flipped through a few pages of a magazine before they came out and told me she was done.She did have a reaction to the anestesia (sp,sorry!) but they said it was very common. What happened was she cried unconsolably for quite some time. When we got home I just walked up and down the sidewalk holding her and that seemed to help.She was eating like normal by the evening though still a bit lethargic but the next day you wouldn't have known she had surgery!
Also, my doc said that plugs for swimming,ect were not necessary, only to use them when there was soapy water, like bath time. Honestly we don't even worry about them at all now.
Hope this helps, I would do it all over again!
Good luck!

My son had to have tubes put in both of his ears when he was 8 months. It was a quick, easy procedure that didn't seem to cause him much discomfort. Since then we have had only a couple ear infections. I know it is scary to put your child through it but from my experience it wasn't too bad.

My son had tubes put in both ears (at the same time as having his tonsils and adenoids out) when he was 2 yrs old. He was having constant ear infections and hearing loss from all the fluid tapped behind his ear drums. The surgery was no big deal at all..he did great and since then, it has been 2 yrs now...he has only had 1 infection and his last hearing exam was perfect!! Dr. MacMurray ENT at UW Childrens hospital in Madison was wonderful!

My son had tubes in his ears at 10 months. He was in and out of surgery in no time and we had no complications. The hardest thing was the waiting because they wouldn't let me be with him, they didn't want him to see me as mean!! The other was remembering to put the band over his ears when he swam that summer. Hope all goes well.

Hi K.,

Our daughter had them put in three times. She ahd a probelm keeping them in. The last set were flanged tubes. And they came out too.

She was fine though. There were no complications at all.

It was really cute. We took her when she was about 2 years old for the first set. The clinic that she went to put her in a red wagon and she had her favorite stuffed animal and her blanket and was in her own pajamas and took her for a ride to the room they performed the surgery. They staff was great!

Hope it works out well for you and your baby girl.

J.

My son had tubes in both ears in March 2007 at 11 months and he has been ear ache free ever since. Our procedure took about 15 minutes and it was the worst 15 minutes of my life but once he came out he cried for about 45 minutes straight then fell asleep and that was the last time he cried, no medication or anything. Now he is two and is doing just great. I think this procedure is harder on the parents than the kids. Good luck.

3 of my children had tubes put in the ears - no big deal. The only problem we had was that one of the sets of tubes came out too early so he needed to have surgery again to get new ones put in. It was a tremendous help to my kids. I definitely recommend them.

My son had tubes put in around the same age as your daughter after suffering through many, many ear infections. I would do it again any day! His hearing improved and he started talking a lot more. He no longer had all of the pressure and pain. He went in to surgery with a double ear infection but the surgeon cleaned and suctioned his ears during the procedure.

My son will be 3 in July. He has had a couple ear infections since the tubes (it's been 1 1/2 years), but hasn't really had much pain with them. Also, the nice thing is you can see when he has one because his ear(s) will drain a milky like substance. So even though he still has had a couple infections since the tubes, they have made him much more comfortable through it.

The procedure itself takes maybe 10 minutes! You will be surprised when they come and tell you they are done already. I was! My son was very cranky from the anesthesia but we went home and he took a nap & he was fine after that. If your daughter is suffering like my son did with ear infections, I think you will be very happy that you chose to put in tubes.

My daughter had vents put in her ears twice, once at about two and again when she was four with removal of her adnoids. Both times she handled the procedures well. The surgery usually takes only 30-45 min. She had hardly ant episodes of crying or pain. I did treat her with tylenol to prevent any pain. I also had a wonderful doctor that could get to her level and she felt quite comfortable with him. Hope all goes well for you. T.

Hi K.,

My daughter had her first set of tubes at the age of 5 months after having 15 ear infections. We were told she was the youngest patient, at that time, getting ear tubes in the Madison, WI area. Since then she had two more sets put in, her adenoids, and her tonsils taken out. She never had any trouble with the tubes, and rarely had ear infections when she had tubes in. It was when the tubes fell out that we started battling again with the ear infections.

Her last set of tubes fell out when she was 3.5 years old. She had ear infections on and off until she had her tonsils out at age seven (probably because of strep throat and other sinus/head colds). Since then, she's had only one ear infection in the last year.

The ear tubes definitely worked for my daughter, and they help enormously in cutting down ear infections.

The biggest difference with children vs adults getting tubes put in is that the kids get put to sleep for the minor "operation" (which really isn't more than a small cut in the ear drum with a tube slipped in). I know; I had a T-tube put in as an adult, and you have to be awake for it--and you can't move. Not much fun!

Your daughter will be just fine. She'll probably be a little disconcerted when she wakes up from the anethesia, but if she has her favorite stuffed animal/toy, she should do just fine.

A. C

Hi K....My son got tubes in his ears at 9 months old. It was the best thing we ever did. The procedure was quick and must have been relatively painless. My son acted normal the minute he woke up from surgery. We had chronic ear infections before tubes. I mean were talking he had one all the time...anitbotics never seem to help. After the tubes I think he got 1. He is now 3 and the tubes fell out about 6 months ago and we haven't had an ear infection so far. Knock on wood!! The Dr. seemed to think he would grow out of it and it seems to be true so far. Good luck...the hardest part is for mom when they take him to surgery. I cried but he was back in my arms within about 20 minutes.

Both of my children had tubes put in their ears at about the same age as your daughter. It is scary to know that they are being put under for the procedure, but both of my kids did wonderfully and had zero complications. In fact, they were so much healthier after getting tubes in and no more ear infections! It is a quick procedure too, so you won't have a terribly long wait. Good luck! I think you will be glad when it is all over with!

Hi K., all 3 of my children have had tubes in their ears :( 2 before the age of 1! Overall, yes, I think that the tubes helped decrease the amount of infections that they had as well as the preasure in the ear. It also seemed to help hearing as it helped clear out all of the 'junk' from the canal. The worst part of the surgery is when they come out of the anesthetic other than that, it is a piece of cake. Harder on us moms then the kids!

yes I went though this two time with my daughter and my son. I had no complication from ether kid. I was with them till thay went into surgury and then thay brang them back and I sat with them till thay wake up. It will be O.k.

Truely remarkable...... One maybe two infections after the tubes. My daughter was 13 months old and is now 6 years old. Prior to tubes we were at the Docs weekly it seemed . I so regret not being more demanding about somthing being done earlier, as we look back at pics she has her finger in her ear alot.... poor baby. Also a huge huge plus for us was hat my Daughters Heart condition was discovered by the anistegiologist SP.? She had been to the Docs office hundreds of times before and NOT ONE person ever said a thing about her heart. LONG story short , we have a great heart Doc now and is being closely monitored. so Yes I think Tubes were heaven for us.

We were so happy with the outcome. After five double ear infections in four months, my son had tubes put in at 9 mos. old. It was a fairly quick surgery. It was a morning surgery (I recommend because they can't eat 12 hrs. prior to) and he was sleepy afterwards and then felt fine that evening. We had one ear infection shortly after and I thought oh, great, they didn't work. But we took him to the ENT and they said the tubes were doing their job and that he could still get infections, but he would not need the oral antibiotic anymore, just the ear antibiotic. He's been fine since. A few colds now and then but the tubes have really helped with the drainage. We went the to ENT Specialists on Regency Park Drive.

Good luck!

WE have been through this a few times because the tubes fall out on their own normally. My daughter is now 14 and they are taking her large T-tubes out on Monday. Hopefully the small hole the tube creates will close afterwards, otherwise there is a potential for corrective surgery to close the opening. Make sure to ask your doctor about swimming, etc and if you need to make sure ear plugs are worn. My daughter has to wear earplugs and it can be a real pain at times, but fewer infections over her lifetime and less hearing loss has been worth the small inconvenience.
C. Louise H. - disabled mom and part time Latasia Jewelry Designer

Hi K.,

My daughter had tubes put in both ears at the age of 3 yrs old.. At first I was afraid of the procedure but once she came out and had them in her ears for the 8 months that she had them in.. I had no ear problems with her for that amount of time until 1 fell out and was bugging her then i had to have them removed and now she needs them again... My daughter is a Chronic ear infection child... Everything will turn out good.. No Conplications... She is now 6 yrs old

P. B.

We went from one ear infection a month to one between the time she had them put in (3 and 1/2) and her teenage years. Best thing I ever did. Easy surgery to, we arrived at 5 am and were home by 11:00

We were a rare case in that the tubes took years to fall out. She was in 3rd grade when one came out and in junior high before the other fell out. The doctors would always comment on the fact the one was still there but since it didn't bother her aad wasn't causing problems they left it. The doctor who did her 7th grade physical had trouble believing the tube had been in that long until she read the records.

Dear K.,
I saw one piece of advice concerning Chiropractic and being a Chiropractor, I have had great success in treating ear infections. The most stress that occurs in the spine comes from child birth, natural or C-section and predominantly happens in the upper neck which is responsible for the ears, eyes, etc. If their are misalignments in the upper neck, the ears won't drain properly, thus causing the ear infections. I recommend that you try Chiropractic first and the tubes as a last resort. There can be complications with this surgery, as with any surgery, so do it as a last resort.
If you have any further questions about what a chiropractor would do or recommendations on a chiropractor, please feel free to email me.
Good luck,
Dr. T. R. Fleming

K.,

I have a 22 year old son that had six different sets of tubes when he was young and the procedures were simply and very beneficial for him.
I wish the best but I think you will be more than happy when she can hear her world again.
L.

My son had tubes put in his ears at 18 months and the procedure itself was extremely fast, they did "put him under" he woke crying and was inconsolable, ever since then he had night terrors. It may have been a coincidence, but you may want to ask your doctor if he/she has heard of this as a result/side effect of anesthesia. The tubes themselves worked fantastic and he never had another ear infection.

Both my children had tubes put in at 6 months of age. My son is now 2 1/2 and has only had one infection since his tubes fell out at about 1 1/2 years of age. He has been very healthy since! My daughter has only had them in for about 3 weeks and seems to be getting along quite well. I still find she tugs on her ears, but doctor has assured me everything looks great and it is just a habit! Both babies were only out of my arms for about 10 minutes...the procedure is super quick. They both cried after surgery for about 20 minutes. By the middle of the day you would have had no idea that they were in surgery earlier that morning! Another bonus....they fly REALLY well. No pressure in their ears when the tubes are in! Good luck!

Tubes are the most wonderful thing. We had nothing but problems until we had the tubes. It is a very fast procedure and they snap right out of it. Your daughter will be very sleepy but later that evening she will be running around like nothing happened.