Guest guest Posted November 24, 2004 Report Share Posted November 24, 2004 Well, as thought, has a double ear infection. That makes her third since starting Kindergarten 13 weeks ago. Add to that two GI viruses and three colds... sigh. Anyway, when I look at her ears with my handy dandy otoscope, even I can see they are a mess. Places where they are retracted, etc. I am amazed her hearing is still good. And it does seem to be. But I'm wondering how many ear infections you want to muddle through before you consider tubes? I read online that the least amount would be three infections in six months or five total in a year. Puleeeease, try three in three months! But that's the minimum, not necessarily the recommended amount before tubes. My gut instinct is that if she gets ear tubes she'll transfer to sinus infections instead, and those are harder to kick. I guess they don't do tubes, tonsils and adenoids that often anymore. Seems like that would make sense though, taking out some of the structures where those rotten bacteria can hide. So I don't WANT tubes (sheesh, it took more than two years to get her to be able to tolerate getting her face wet in the bath, as she had tubes from 9 months old to about 2-1/2 years old and never had water in her face) but I also don't want her hearing damaged. Any insight when I should ask for a referral to the ENT? Thanks. And SIGH again! (mom to , age 5-1/2, dairy intolerant-related GERD -- currently has polysaccharide antibody def, previously had transient IgG, IgA, t-cell & other defs... and also to Kate, born 9/19/02, dairy intolerant) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 24, 2004 Report Share Posted November 24, 2004 In a message dated 11/24/2004 2:55:44 PM Eastern Standard Time, amyjo4181@... writes: We also have never had any water restrictions with the boys after their tubes. I personally think that tubes is the way to go, all that gunk can drain out instead of sit in there and get infected. Neither did mine. They did wonders for Brittany she had them twice also. The first set came out in 6 months, so he put in a permant set. What a blessing those tubes were for her. They really helped her. If you don't get them they can have hearing loss. Janet, mom to Brittany, CVID, age 13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 24, 2004 Report Share Posted November 24, 2004 has had two sets of ear tubes. He got the first set at 6 months after a suspect case of mastioditis and then again because as soon as they fell out he got 4 back to back ear infections. Noah, my middle child, non PID, has had two sets also, his first set at age 3 and the second just this last June. At age three they also took his adenoids and in June they took his tonsils, because of sleep apnea. Nick had his adenoids out with his second set. Now I could be wrong but don't you want to keep tonsils in a PID kid unless they have tonsilitis frequently? I am under the impression that tonsils stop a lot of bacteria from getting in the lungs and such. We also have never had any water restrictions with the boys after their tubes. I personally think that tubes is the way to go, all that gunk can drain out instead of sit in there and get infected. Amy, mom to: , 22 months old. CVID, MSPI, GERD, Asthma.. On claritin, flovent, xopenex, and IVIG every 4 weeks (Carimune NF)and on prophalatic antibiotics, Allergic to Latex. visit Nick's website: http://www3.caringbridge.org/ne/nicholasb/<http://www3.caringbridge.org/ne/nicho\ lasb/> Re: When get ear tubes? Well, as thought, has a double ear infection. That makes her third since starting Kindergarten 13 weeks ago. Add to that two GI viruses and three colds... sigh. Anyway, when I look at her ears with my handy dandy otoscope, even I can see they are a mess. Places where they are retracted, etc. I am amazed her hearing is still good. And it does seem to be. But I'm wondering how many ear infections you want to muddle through before you consider tubes? I read online that the least amount would be three infections in six months or five total in a year. Puleeeease, try three in three months! But that's the minimum, not necessarily the recommended amount before tubes. My gut instinct is that if she gets ear tubes she'll transfer to sinus infections instead, and those are harder to kick. I guess they don't do tubes, tonsils and adenoids that often anymore. Seems like that would make sense though, taking out some of the structures where those rotten bacteria can hide. So I don't WANT tubes (sheesh, it took more than two years to get her to be able to tolerate getting her face wet in the bath, as she had tubes from 9 months old to about 2-1/2 years old and never had water in her face) but I also don't want her hearing damaged. Any insight when I should ask for a referral to the ENT? Thanks. And SIGH again! (mom to , age 5-1/2, dairy intolerant-related GERD -- currently has polysaccharide antibody def, previously had transient IgG, IgA, t-cell & other defs... and also to Kate, born 9/19/02, dairy intolerant) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 25, 2004 Report Share Posted November 25, 2004 , I would ask for a referral to an ENT now. The standard of practice is 3 ear infections in a 6 month time. igh has had three sets, got her last set in Sept of last year, and has done beautifully, finally. The tonsils need to be at least a grade 2 if I remember right. I asked to have kyleigh's tonsils out at the same time as the second set of tubes, but her tonsils were normal. she did get her adnoids out though. If you notice any snoring, etc. that is a sign that the tonsils are enlarged. I worry about hearing loss and the effects that has on speech. igh had what they called a " glued ear syndrome " as she had tubes by 6 months, basically that is a congenital ear infection.....at least what the ENT had said at that time. She had always passed part of her hearing tests, but had a significant speech delay, which is related to her motor delays, but I feel some of her speech is related to all the ear infections that she had....so...just my opinion....hope it helps. Hope you had a good Thanksgiving. Quoting " bunneegirl@... " <bunneegirl@...>: > > > > > > Well, as thought, has a double ear infection. That makes her third > > since starting Kindergarten 13 weeks ago. Add to that two GI viruses and > three > > colds... sigh. > > > > Anyway, when I look at her ears with my handy dandy otoscope, even I can see > > they are a mess. Places where they are retracted, etc. I am amazed her > hearing > > is still good. And it does seem to be. > > > > But I'm wondering how many ear infections you want to muddle through before > > you consider tubes? I read online that the least amount would be three > > infections in six months or five total in a year. Puleeeease, try three in > three > > months! But that's the minimum, not necessarily the recommended amount before > tubes. > > > > My gut instinct is that if she gets ear tubes she'll transfer to sinus > > infections instead, and those are harder to kick. I guess they don't do > tubes, > > tonsils and adenoids that often anymore. Seems like that would make sense > though, > > taking out some of the structures where those rotten bacteria can hide. > > > > So I don't WANT tubes (sheesh, it took more than two years to get her to be > > able to tolerate getting her face wet in the bath, as she had tubes from 9 > > months old to about 2-1/2 years old and never had water in her face) but I > also > > don't want her hearing damaged. Any insight when I should ask for a referral > to > > the ENT? > > > > Thanks. And SIGH again! > > > > (mom to , age 5-1/2, dairy intolerant-related GERD -- currently > > has polysaccharide antibody def, previously had transient IgG, IgA, t-cell & > > other defs... and also to Kate, born 9/19/02, dairy intolerant) > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 26, 2004 Report Share Posted November 26, 2004 In a message dated 11/24/2004 11:12:15 AM Pacific Standard Time, bunneegirl@... writes: Any insight when I should ask for a referral to the ENT? Hi , Bri is on his fourth set of ear tubes. What I can tell you is that his quality of life without tubes is terrible. The ear infections are nearly impossible to get rid of without them (he once had one for four straight months). So, for us, it's not even a question. It sounds to me like you're feeling the same way--three infections in three months is a lot for anyone to handle. She will still get infections, but they should be easier to treat--and she should get them less often. Let us know what you decide--it really is an easy surgery, but I understand that no one wants their child to have surgery in the first place. Most kids do so well with tubes. As a side note--I would ask the ENT about T-tubes to begin with. Bri can't keep regular tubes in his ears because of all of the infections. The T-tubes stay in so much longer. Some insurance's insist on " regular " tubes to begin with, but if you can--go with the T's. Sandi, Mom to , age 11. Immune Deficiency, Tetrology of Fallot, Pulmonary Valve transplant, Mitral valve stenosis, chronic ear, nose and throat infections, asthma, severe allergies (including meds), Carnitine deficiency, GERD, suspected Di syndrome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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