What did your doctor do before ear tubes?

[BigDog]

So, I'm anti-ear tubes. I had 7 sets myself and now have a permanant hole in my ear drum because of it.

HOWEVER, my #4 is looking like a drunk man right after Happy Hour. She has conked her head 3-4 times a day for last 4 days just due to vertigo issues.

We have had ear infection, after ear infection, after ear infection with her. And she has snotty nose like crazy right now (for about 12 weeks). I just wish they would clear up her nose from the runny stuff. Seriously 8 weeks with a snotty nose, who wouldn't have an ear infection. And I'm told that they don't like to use antihistimines at thier age. So ear tubes are better?????? Or 4-5 rounds of antibiotics back to back? (Thank goodness Claritin has the dosage for 2 year olds on the back).

So, they put her on Singular, it cleared up a little bit. And they put her on Augmentin (again) for ear infection.

We have Laminate flooring (no carpets), we have vinyl matteress protectors for allergies, we have the most expensive Filtrete filters and change them out every 2 months (sometimes 1 month, during allergy season), we also have nice air purifiers in their rooms, slip covers on the couches to wash frequently, no pets, and dust regularly. (#3 has "weak lungs" so we made our house asthma friendly).


How far are they going to go before they "make" us get tubes for her?

ETA: Just got back from doc. We are to stay on the antibiotics and Singular. They are putting her on Bromid (3-1 snotty nose thing). If that doesn't work in by the end of the week, or she still is dizzy in 2 weeks (or gets worse before then). We are going to get a CT scan to make sure there is nothing else going on. It also will confirm fluid in inner ear. If it is there. Steriods for 1 week, if still bad. Then tubes. I guess I got my own question answered. Love this doc, didn't jump straight to tubes. I told him that I appreciated him trying everything before that, but, he reluctantly said, he is 'taking bets she will need them'. Oh well, at least we are trying other things.

[chriscree]

Wow your #4 sounds like my #2.

when his hearing started getting bad was when we caved and went with ear tubes. He had "lost" 40% hearing in his left ear. I use lost loosly because it was just swelling and fluid once that was gone his hearing was normal and let me tell you it makes a big difference. we only had ear tubes twice. He is older now so he can tell us when he is feeling clogged and we get him on a decongestant right a way to dry him up. I also found a small anti inflamitory helped a great deal, Like Motrin.

[Kcwalc33]

I had ear infection after ear infection when I was a kid. My parents opted out of the tubes because of that same reason..holes.. but now I'm 35 and have total hearing loss out of my left ear and now experiencing hearing loss in my right ear. And I still have ear infections to this day.
I don't know if tubes are the way to go nor do I have any answer for you. But I just thought I'd put my experience out there so you have an idea of what could happen and I don't mean to scare anyone. I've lived a normal life with only 1/2 hearing, yes I miss some things and ask for people to repeat themselves but you just kinda grow into it.

[Macaela25]

I would schedule a visit with a pediatric ENT if I were you. DS#1 had the same issues with back to back ear infections and croup from about 5 months. He had tubes at 13 months, and the ear infections were replaced with back to back sinus infections :/. Our ped did successively stronger anitbiotics for a while (pink stuff, then Omnicef, then Rocefrin shots) and nothing would kill those jokers. He finally underwent a series of three surgeries at 2 1/2 to drain and finally enlarge his sinus openings to promote drainage. He did not have a hint of congestion or issue for 18 months afterwards...he finally got a cold and croup a few weeks ago, right before he turned 4.

Is your ped trying stronger antibiotics? Our ped ENT told us that once some types of bacteria really get going over a period of time, nothing but drainage is going to get rid of it.

[BigDog]

I had ear infection after ear infection when I was a kid. My parents opted out of the tubes because of that same reason..holes.. but now I'm 35 and have total hearing loss out of my left ear and now experiencing hearing loss in my right ear. And I still have ear infections to this day.
I don't know if tubes are the way to go nor do I have any answer for you. But I just thought I'd put my experience out there so you have an idea of what could happen and I don't mean to scare anyone. I've lived a normal life with only 1/2 hearing, yes I miss some things and ask for people to repeat themselves but you just kinda grow into it.

Thanks for your input. I feel you on the hearing loss. I've gotten pretty good at reading lips.

I like to live a balanced approach at parenting in most aspects of life. But, due to all the tube experiences I've had (and the kids who used to make fun of me with the wax plugs during swimming), I'm a little partial to no tubes.

But, you brought up a very good point. There is a reason they made tubes....I just don't want her to be a repeat offender like I was. I would rather them consentrate on clearing up the nose. I don't think even the best of ears could handle this much of a runny nose.

[cupunlvr]

A consult with a pediatric ENT sounds like a good plan, been there, done that with my son when he was a toddler (now 23) We also had the repeat ear infections, then tubes, then continuous sinus infections. When he was five he had a sinus endoscopy which cleaned up the sinuses and was like a "reboot", after that he was much healthier. ENT told me to use saline nasal spray everyday and more frequently at the first sign of a runny nose to wash the sinuses. Bacteria cause a biofilm to form that needs to be washed away is how he explained it to me.

I understand your reluctance about the tubes but it is better than a perforated ear drum. Good luck with your little one.

[moxi]

I am glad you posted this. I have the same issues with my 20 month old. I think I will be taking mine to a pediatric ENT, good advise.

[dalton&riley]

My son was the same. He had chronic ear infections from birth as well as tonsillitis. When he was 4 1/2 he started a neverending battle with a continuous infection that would go immediately from the ears to the tonsils and back again. He had congestion, sleep apnea, and snored. Finally right after he turned 5, he had tubes put in and his tonsils and adenoids out. There has been an absolute 180 turnaround in his health. We were so happy that we did it. The ENT told us that his adenoids were so infected that it kept reinfecting his ears and tonsils and would not have went away with the antibiotics alone. He has only had 2 infections since.

[dalton&riley]

I also meant to say that he is almost 12 now.