[Heidil87]

Mary Lynn has had an ear infection for almost every holiday and other major event since we brought her home. She also has enlarged adnoids that make her breathing a little labored. I know its hard to tell from her pictures but, the poor thing is miserable a large majority of the time, especially lately, and believe me when Mary Lynn is miserable EVERYONE is miserable!
Her new pediatrician here in Texas and even her old one in New Orleans have suggested we look into tubes and possibly having her adnoids removed. I have resisted thus far because Rhory had ear infections but we waited it out and they went away AND I do not like the idea of my baby having surgery. So many people have told me that it makes a huge difference. Now being at my whits end what with the constant yucky nose, whininess and clinginess and the fact that my poor baby seems miserable, I am considering it . We have an appointment with an ENT next week. Any thoughts from those who have experience in this area???

[KellyMigoya]

My Luke had tubes at 5 months after week and week of ear infections. He hasn't had one since. What a blessing.
I was a child with constant ear infections and at age 5 had tubes and my adnoids out and I am still thankful for it!
My sister's first son cried his whole first year of life. It turned out he had ear infections all the time. After the tubes, he was a whole new child.
Good luck.
Our ENT even let Luke go in th pool with the tubes. She said it wouldn't hurt them and it didn't .

[BebitosMama]

My daughter had chronic ear infections from infancy until kindergarten, when the ear specialist started telling me that she should have tonsils and adenoids out, but I was resistant to surgery, general anesthesia, etc.. Instead, I took her to an excellent traditional osteopath, who did osteopathic work on her (very gentle and easy).

After having her on antibiotics about 8 times a year until the age of 4, she has not had one ear infection in the 3 years, after I started with osteopath. It took about 5 bi-weekly treatments, and she never had to go back. It was marvelous.

My new pediatrician sends ALL chronic ear infection patients to this same osteopath, he has such wonderful results with children!

(This is the guy who also cured my "Post-adoption tendonitis" that I got from carrying 23 lb Bebito around all the time! -- in just 2 visits!!!)

I was also listening to NPR this morning, and they did a really fascinating story on a doctor who did studies at NIH and had incredible results with children who had chronic ear infections, using this new device called the Ear Popper. You can hear the story online at:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...toryId=5035622and they have link there to the EarPopper site as well.

Mary

P.S. Another thing to think about, if she has a constant runny nose, is to take her to a good pediatric allergist, and have blood testing done to determine her allergic sensitivities. I've known kids who had horrendous constant ear infections who went off milk, for example, or wheat, after discovering an allergy, and within 2 weeks, the congestion and chronic infections were gone.

[leaabc123]

My niece had her adnoids removed and tubes put in, at the same time. She was about 4 at the time.

Her recovery time was a week or so and she was fine after that.

[Vicki H]

This is something the pediatrician has discussed with me and dh . Alex has had many ear infections, even during the summer months.

We have decided that if he has one more ear infection in the next month we will definately have tubes put in his ears.

I am nervous, but we had Alex circumsized at 14 months and the pediatrician said that this surgery would take less time.

Best of luck in your decision and I hope Mary Lynn feels better soon.

Vicki

[jlcoffey1274]

I agree with Bebitosmom... we use a chiropractor and craniosacral therapist... for ear issues... my 5.5 yr old dd has had chronic ear issues since birth... and it relieves the ears and allows for pressure to subside. Earinfections are a common childhood problem. Cutting out dairy, sugar and yeasty foods will get rid of the infection naturally....its a tough diet if your little ones are picky, which mine is.. but 3 or 4 days of clean food and lots of loving....will benifit more than meds. I hate the thought of unnecessary operations... there are too many risks for me.!!! I have lots more advice if your interested.


best of luck, I know how hard earinfections can be.

julie

[JohnnaMJH]

After my son had constant congestion, sinus infections and pneumonia, we had his tonsils and adenoids out in first grade. The change was stunning. He has maybe been sick 3 times since then, after constantly being sick. (he is 11 now) He grew in height and weight constantly since then after being borderline underweight when he had the surgery done.

For us, it turned out to be a very good thing. That said, I would've tried the natural methods had I been aware of them at the time. That sounds like something to consider if you can find the right Drs in your area. Unfortunately where we live, there is nothing.

Good luck. Poor thing, it must be miserable for her!

[spidermanteache]

Parker had 10 ear infections from the time he came home in April of 2004 to Dec. of 2004. We got tubes put in and the adenoids removed in Feb. of this year. He has not been sick at all so far this year. (Knock on wood) He has had maybe a slight runny nose which I think was mostly allergies.

The surgery was so quick and he was back to normal the same night. It was very easy! I would highly suggest it! Does Mary Lynn sleep well? The tubes have allowed Parker to sleep better, too!

[ryleigh]

Hi Heidi,

It's Leigh. It was nice to see you last week.
Sean had the same problem! He had such a rough time with his ears. I resisted the idea b/c I did not want him to have surgery. However, after he had tubes, he was a different kid!!!!! It was hard at the time but now I think it was totally worth it! Give me call and we can compare notes and I can tell you what ENT we used in The Woodlands.
Take Care!
Leigh

[Niclayson]

My oldest daughter had chronic ear infections since she was 6 weeks old. She also had a reactive airway and apnea...she first stopped breathing at 9 weeks old and then spent 10 months on an apnea monitor. She had tubes placed twice and also had her adnoids removed. She remained sick with hearing loss and asthma.

I'm a nurse. I knew to have her allergy tested and had. She had tested positive for a few things(cats, dust mites). When we moved to Florida, I got a new allergist (our daughter was now 6 years old and delayed in school because of the hearing issues). The new Doctor suggested an elimination diet of common allergic foods. Well, 3 days into the diet my child stopped wheezing, nose stopped running, and after we eliminated all milk and corn from her diet...she had a miraculous recovery, including the hearing. She had tested negative to both scratch tests and blood tests to food.

I'm happy to report that she has not had an ear infection in 8 years, has needed a jet neb treatment for her asthma only once or twice a year, and with the help of tutors is now an Honor Roll student.

Investigate WHY your child is having these problems. I trusted too readily the available and standard medical treatment...which tubes are basically a band-aide approach...they only work while they are in. Children ARE prone to ear infections because their eutaschian tubes are shorter and flatter than adults, but there is also usually the underlying problem of allergies too.

Good luck!!!

[lotterino]

Heidi, I tried to PM you but your box is full.

[Niclayson]

Oh..and one more thing. Our Guatemalan grown children may be more prone to allergies because they were formula fed. Breastfed babies are much less likely to develop allergies.

My first daughter was formula fed. Her worst food allergies were CORN and MILK...guess what the two most common ingredients in baby formula are???? (They use corn syrup solids even in the soy based formula she used!)

If you child has frequent ear infections, frequent "colds" with a runny nose, and has any asthma symptoms...think allergy.

[crick]

I think the allergy points are something to really look into, especially for the runny nose and ear infections.

Regarding the adenoids though, an ENT will be able to tell you if they are simply swollen or if perhaps they are too big in size physically (without swelling). The breathing problems caused by this are so scary and can lead to sleep apnea as well as other problems.

My son had ear infections too and even with the tubes put in, he still had problems with breathing because it wasn't the drainage or lack thereof that was causing those problems. It was the size of his adenoids...they were too big and were constricting his breathing. He had surgery in March of this year to remove those and the difference has been night and day. He now can sleep through a whole night without waking up 4-5 times, he has an appetite and can actually taste his food which means he is not quite as picky as he once was, his colds are less in duration and severity as well as frequency, and his growth development improved drastically!

I would definitely see what the ENT has to say and mine at least was not one of those "let's do surgery" right away. We tried several different things first before getting to that point. Flonase, allergy treatments etc. And nothing improved...until the surgery.

One point I'd also like to make is that yes...antibiotics can definitely make a difference to get one over the hump etc. but if you don't get to the cause of the problem, it's likely to continue. My problem with so many antibiotics is that they then cause a person to build up a resistance to them and I believe that will cause even more health issues as they get older. Something to ask your dr. & ENT about anyway....the benefits of surgery vs. long term meds.

[qs mom]

My son had only 1 ear infecion in 2 years. However, he was deaf in his right ear for most of the winter months due to fluid build up. He failed 2 hearing tests in school and 1in the ped's office.

He also had sleep apnea. This was a real concern for me. After seeing the ENT, they didn't feel he needed tubes or tonsilectomy. But his adnoids where HUGE.

They came out. No more snoring, no more apnea. He's gotten so tall it's amazing.

I read an article that growth hormone is released during REM sleep. If a child doesn't acheive REM throughout the night due to apnea or other causes, then not enough growth hormone is released.

I found the article interesting, but I was a little skeptical. Well, he's grown about 2 inches in 2 months, and his focus at school has improved because he is more rested and centered.

Before you decide, research, explore options. You need to be firm in your decision, your child will pick up if you aren't and it will scare her.

If you decide, tour the hospital. Ask how your child will be put to sleep. When will you be able to see her? In recovery?

Our hospital has the parents hold the little ones in a rocking chair, while they put them to sleep with a mask. All IV's and such are done after they are asleep. I was called to recovery just as my son started to stir. He woke up to me. I walked with him to his room.

[oldbear]

Why not wait till you've seen the person that has had years of training to understand the conditions and get the explanation from someone that knows the answers and how things relate to one another.

Google "adenoids" and find a ton of medically informed comments