Tubes or No Tubes?

My daughter never got an ear infection when teething, but she did get them a lot and she got Tubes back on July 2. She hasn't had a single touch of an earache since then.

Hi B.,
My daughters started getting infections last year, so I took them to another pedi for a second opinion. I learned that 95% of ear infections are due to food intolerance. That still leaves 5% for other reasons, but we had the girls tested for food intolerance from Immuno Labs, eliminated the offending foods for four months, have since added all back except milk and wheat (most reactive foods), and since February have had NO ear infections. It is a lot of work, but I feel I have hit the core of the issue. There is peace with that. For more info you can call Lisa from Immuno Labs; we only used them since they guarantee their results for ear infections. She is at 1-800-231-9197 x 6251
She can answer questions, tell you what doctors will order the test for you, etc. If you have other questions, I don't mind helping as well.

My son is 2.5. He was only in part time programs - not regular daycare and was constantly getting ear infections. Unfortunately, he would never cry or show any signs, except he'd get a green nose (usually). Right after he turned 2, my ped said she's referring us to an ENT. I was hesitant because I didn't know much about tubes. Dr. Matheny at Collin County ENT was wonderful! At the first visit, they did a hearing test and it turns out he had 30% hearing loss! No one could tell, he spoke so well for his age.

Ear infections are not caused by food intolerance - at least not the majority. Children's tubes are not curved (or straight I can't remember) enough when they are this young, which doesn't allow for proper drainage.

My son has not had an ear infection since. The procedure was SO easy! Dr. Matheny is wonderful and kind. We weren't at the hospital for longer than an hour and a half, and when we got home my son acted like nothing happened. The dr. said that he would feel almost an immediate relief from the pressure, and it was obvious in the way he acted after the surgery!

I'd do it again in a heartbeat. He still gets sinus infections and coughs occasionally, but guess what? NO ear infections since!

My daughter had so many ear infections I lost count, it was ridiculous. She got tubes at 13 months, she is now almost three and has not had an ear infection since. I would do tubes again in a heart beat, it is the best thing that I ever did for her.

My son had back to back ear infections too. We would just finish the antibiotic and then another ear infection. I finally went to an ENT and had him checked. He had a 35% hearing loss in one ear and a 25% loss in the other. We decided to have tubes put in when he was almost 13 months old (that was April 2008). He hasn't had a single ear infection since. It was the best decision!

When I was searching for an ENT I came on here and the overwhelming majority of moms recommended Dr. Mehendale ###-###-#### in Frisco. He is amazing and awesome. He is the dad of two youngsters and gave me a great parent perspective.

Good luck with your decision.

My kids thank God had maybe one ear in fection a piece. But everyone I have talked to whose kids had problems said that life was wonderful with the tubes, no more infections, period. There is always a risk of complications but this is a very old standard surgery and it is rare for something to happen. The upside for your child, no more suffering, is worth it.

My youngest had numerous of ear infections as a infant. He had one every time we turned around. We finally had tubes put in his ears at 13 months. Since then he has only had 1 very mild ear infection w/no fever. he is now 3 1/2 yrs old. If we had to do it again. I wouldn't hesitate to do it again. It beats all the pain for him and mommy w/fever, antibotics,sleepless nights, motrin.

Hope this helps.
Blessings
M.

Have they tried different antibiotics? Or always the same? When I was a baby, I had constant ear infections like this, and they tried a different antibiotic, and it finally worked for me. I still had a few ear infections, but they weren't so back to back. They were considering tubes when they tried the different antibiotic as a last resort.

A.
www.greenbabydiaperservice.com

Go for the tubes. I did not take them for my son, and to this day he has speech issues. It's the timing... they learn speech when they're young and if they can't hear it correctly it's very hard to get it right later on.

Tubes are well worth it. My son had them constantly, and was always on antibiotics which is not good. He got them around 16-18 mos. He'll be 3 next month and one tube has fallen out and the other one is on its way out. But we have had no more ear infections since then. One thing the ENT will check for is earing loss. They did the hearing test with my son, and they said his pressure was off, so it was like he was walking around on an airplane all the time. Instant relief for him.
Go for it!!
Good Luck.

i would get the tubes, its a very simple "surgery". my son hasnt had an infection in months! all the infections can cause hearing loss / speech problems. my son is now in the normal hearing range in both ears. totally worth it!

If your peditrician recommends tubes, I say go for it! Best thing we ever did!

B.,

I was reading your post and would like to know if you did the tubes my daughter is 16 mos and I took her to the ent and she has an infection right now in the right ear but just finished the meds and today they did the hearing test and she has no movement in her right ear drum and very little in the left I go back monday and talk to the dr I did my appointments in two visits so I could get in sooner but I know what he will say I was just wanting to know how things turned out please let me know my son who is 15 now how tubes when he was 2 and he has only had a few infections since then so I know it will be worth it...