Ear Tubes?

Jonah is getting over his third double ear infection in 2 months. This last ear infection, we visited an Ear, Nose and Throat. He suggested that Jonah get tubes if this last round of antibiotics didn't clear it up. I don't think the antibiotics are doing much. And, when I called doctor back on Friday to say that Jonah was still screaming some at night when I put him down and pulling at his ears, he said let's schedule surgery for tubes this coming Friday.

Has anyone's kids had the surgery? Summer is so close. I guess I'm
wondering if it's really worth it or if I should wait. Having him in
pain is absolutely miserable for him (and for us). I've heard that
getting tubes means absolutely avoiding any water in the ear. That
means ear plugs all summer for not only baths but for the pool. And
there's also the possibility that he wouldn't get any ear infections
over the summer since he wouldn't be getting colds from all the kids
at daycare.

What do you think? Should I just do it? Are there any other options?
As I mentioned above, I don't think the antibiotics are doing much.
Will the tubes help prevent ear infections next winter? Do they stay
in that long?

Help! Shannon

 

Hi Shannon!

My oldest got tubes at age 4, after many years of chronic ear infections, and non-aggressive docs. In my experience, the sooner, the better. My son had an ear infection for 4 months, and went through many different antibiotics, all to no avail. I never put the ear plugs in for baths, but did for the pool. The tubes allow the fluid to drain out(it's really gross at times!)so it is less likely to get infected. He has only had a handfull of ear infections since the tubes, and he is now 10. Good luck with your decision.

 

My six year old was an ear infection boy. He was on antiobiotics most of the first two years of his life. He was 2 years 3 months when we had the tubes put in - in the last four years since then he has only had four ear infections.

With Gabe, he was on so many antiobiotics that it did damage to his intestines - and the damage is permanent. He now has leaky gut syndrome because of the antibiotics.

With Gabe, he started having infections at about 6 months of age. He would have an infection in one ear, they would give us an antibiotic. We woudl go in two weeks later and it would be in the other ear. There was no point from six months of age until he had the tubes put in that he didn't have an ear infection. That was one of the reasons they waited so long - they kept saying he only had one ear infection - it just kept jumping from one ear to the next (hmm one ear infection that lasted almost two years???)

For us, we only had them put in once. One tube stayed in about 9 months , the other was in almost a year and a half. They did wonders. He was a little older than your guys, but we noticed within one month of having the tubes put in Gabe's articulation was better - thus we know the infections were interfering with his ability to hear. I was really against it and waited as long as possible - I now wish I had it done sooner - much sooner.

We tried to put plugs in Gabe's ears - but he hated them. We just made sure when we washed his hair we got as little water in his ears as possible. Same with swimming. Gabe never had a problem with it

 

Both of mine got tubes 6 weeks ago at 7 1/2 months. Since then Emily has not had any problems, but Sam got a horrible ear infection two weeks after the tubes, and I think he has one now. We have an appt with the ENT this friday, but I went ahead and started back on his antibiotic drops. That is one great advantage to the tubes, if they do get another infection it can usually be treated with drops in the ear since the tubes allow for the drops to get behind the ear drum where the fluid builds up and gets infected. They do have lots of yucky drainage though, but if it didn't drain we would have the constant ear infections. My ENT said that he is not such a stickler on using plugs in the bath or pool, but said absolutely no swimming in the river/lake. As long as the water is treated (like a pool or the tap water in the bath) that we sould be okay.

The procedure is quick, and the recovery time is short. With in about 30 minutes of waking up Sam was crawling around and playing like he had just woken up from only taking a nap. I hope the tubes help with the ears, it just horrible to see them suffer. Good luck and I hope your guys feel better soon!!

 

Thanks so much! I think I'm going to do it. It scares me to no end having to put him under, but I just can't imagine more ear infections. He's had them in both ears at the same time THREE times now. he's only 5 months old. I also worry about giving him antibiotics all the time, plus they make him have disgusting poops. He doesn't complain like his tummy hurts him, but it can't feel good.

Ya'll are making it a much easier decision for me.

Thank you! Shannon

 

My first DS had ear infections a lot as a baby - they started around 1 yrs old when he started going to day care. Over and over again he'd get ear infections during cold/flu season.

I went to school for Audiology and Speech Language Pathology and was not looking forward to the possibility of him getting tubes in his ears. I read a study back when he was about 2 (he's 9 now so this was quite awhile ago) about a new treatment as an alternative to tubes. It's a laser treatment where they use a laser and create a tiny opening in the tympanic membrane (eardrum) of their ear(s). This allows all the fluid to drain out. The problem with ear infections is that most of the time, the antibiotics don't get rid of the entire infection, a small amount of the bacteria will sit in their middle ear (because their ear drum or eustachian tube is horizontal instead of angled down like ours) and then anytime they get exposed to something it will flair up into a full infection. By draining ALL this fluid out, they have a much less chance of re-infections. This doesn't damage their ear, the tympanic membrane will heal itself.

At the time, there were very few doctors who were doing this because it was so new. I don't know if that's changed or not.

I can say that when Alex was about 2.5 he again got another ear infection due an oncoming cold and he had a horrendous fever so we had to take him to the ER (weekend). Turned out that when we got there, we found that the infection had gotten so bad so quick, it created a lot of pressure and his eardrum burst (as in a small hole in it) and all that horrible bacteria drained out (it was awful and it was all over the outside of his ear and it smelled awful!). He never had an ear infection after that.

I would ask your ENT if there are any alternatives to try other than tubes and antibiotics, you don't want to put them through surgery and anesthetic if there is an alternative that may work. Just my opinion.

-Kim
Mom to Alex, Aaron & Aidan (who underwent heart surgery at 8 wks 1 day old)

 

I have permanent hearing loss/damage due to chronic ear infections.My father did not think tubes were necessary and very few people did get tubes when I was little. Anyway, I suffered with ear infections until I was over 5 years old and I remember the pain. My parents used sweet oil and other natural treatments along with antibiotics on me and nothing helped. I am all for getting tubes, the earlier the better! I actually had to push my first son's Dr to recommend tubes for him even though he had more ear infections that I can count as a baby. The problem with him was he never let on that anything was wrong. He'd suddenly have a fever and sure enough it was his ears. He had every antibiotic on the market prior to getting tubes. He was 15 months old when I had had enough and demanded tubes. Aaron suddenly was able to hear better and started talking so much more clearly within weeks of getting the tubes. The ENT said there was so much fluid in his ears it was a wonder he was talking at all. He was hearing things like he was under water and that's how he was talking! Anyway, because we waited so long to get the tubes put in, he has some damage to his right eardrum. We have no idea if it is permanent, but it is possible.

My twins have each had 2 ear infections so they don't qualify for tubes yet, but if they become chronic, I'm so doing it. I don't want my kids to have the hearing loss I have when it can be prevented so easily. You will be so relieved at how easy it really is. Yes, your baby will be put under and it's hard to a parent to deal with. However, he will recover so fast and he won't remember a single thing! Then if he gets more infections, all you do is put drops in his ears and it's gone. No more systemic antibiotics for ear infections! It's so much better for their little bodies. Good luck with the procedure, I for one think you are doing the right thing.


Kelly