[w8ting4Thomas]

I think I know the answer, but I will ask anyway...

If your child got tubes what do you wish you knew then that you know now? Any downsides?

Poor Thomas has had 5 ear infections since coming home in mid-Jan 2008. The ENT suspects he has really had 'issues' since being born (long story!). He, amazingly, does not have even temporary hearing loss at this time, but they believe this will make him healthier and happier.

Words of wisdom/advice?

Thanks!

[Mindybeth6]

It was the easiest thing we ever did. It was 50 times less traumatic then when Mikayla had all that blood drawn when she came home for the post-adoption bloodwork. She had tons of infections and has not had once since. She is healthier, happier, and her speech is really coming along now. It was simple, easy, and truly a piece of cake!

[hol332]

Piece of cake for you & your baby. It will make a world of difference and you will be so glad you got them. There are a lot of arguments about whether you have to keep water out of them once they are in place. With my bio DS, there were times when I let water get in them and lived to regret it (resulted in oozing, draining infection). So, with my DD (who got her tubes in June) we absolutely keep the water out.

Good luck!!

[w8ting4Thomas]

Whew!!!! I was a wreck for his circumcision but know a little more now. DH is going to be out of town for work the day they do it. But I am looking at it like I will be able to give him 100% of my attn.
I just want to make sure we know any issues on the front end.
THANKS!!!!!

[redru2004]

Lucas had tubes put in last December...truly a very easy procedure and he was running around 2 hours after surgery like nothing had happened. We've not had any infections since until last week. He started slapping his ears again and putting his fingers in his ears so I took him straight to the Dr. Sure enough he's got a full blown infection in both ears. The tube in the right ear fell out, the left was still there but Doc suspects it's about to come out and isn't functioning. Most likely we're going to need to put a second set of tubes in.

[LadyTink]

Gabriella had about 7 ear infections within the first few months she was home. I put off the tubes for as long as possible, but once I finally decided to do them, I was so glad I did. They helped tremendously and she was ear infection free as long as they were in. My only wish is that I'd had them done sooner.

[RGirl]

My daughter got them this Thursday morning. By Friday morning, she had 10 new words! There was no indication that she was having trouble hearing, and her receptive language was phenomenal, but I think her own voice sounded *off* to her with having fluid in her ears most of the time.

So far, no complications (knock on wood, as it has only been a couple of days) and truly remarkable results.

I am paranoid about getting water in her ears, and I want her to wear ear plugs in the bath. So far, I haven't found any small enough to actually stay in her ears. I am going to ask an otiologist friend to order some.

[Hopingsoon]

No problems, except with water getting in the ears. Any little bit, and the drainage and oozing starts again. Our ENT gave us medicine to have on hand at all times since my little guy seems so sensitive to it. Other than that, no problems.

[MamaS]

Spiderman got tubes in December and had no problems. By summer his tubes had fallen out on their own and he was able to take swimming lessons with no ear plugs and no infections. Medically we went from one ear infection each month before tubes to one ear infection in twenty-four months after tubes!

[angieandstever]

Gabbie got tubes right before she turned 1 and we had no problems at all. Coming out of the anesthesia she was quite crabby and disoriented but once she calmed down things were fine. She was back to herself the next day. I am so happy we got them. One tube has fallen out now and she has been ear infection free so I am hoping she has outgrown the problem and we won't need a second set. Good luck!

[dspakowsky]

What I wish I would have known... the reason my daughter had one ear infection after another is because she is HIGHLY allergic to cows milk and egg whites - something we ate nearly every day! They drew her blood during the ear tube surgery and found out about the allergies. That explains why she was ALWAYS congested. That explains why antibiotics NEVER worked and the ear infection always came back. Now I feel like I put my daughter in surgery for nothing. But... now she has tubes, eats the right foods for her, and she feels GREAT! She talks all the time now too. No more congestion. So who knows, maybe she needed tubes and a change in her diet.

[kimbo1]

Our DD came home in Jan. 07. By May of 07, she had had at least 7-8 ear infections. We had tubes put in that month. Since that time, she has had ONE ear infection. The doctor thinks she only has one tube left in, but so far, she has been SUPER healthy inspite of loosing the one tube.

One thing I wish I had known ahead of time was that she had a TERRIBLE time coming out of anethesia. She SCREAMED for about an hour and a half. Miserable time. I don't know if there is any way of knowing whether or not your child will have a hard time with it, too or not.

I think it was the best decision we could have made, though, & I'm so glad we did it!

[ohiovirginia]

Our daughter came home at 11 mos last December. She repeatedly had ear infections and the doctor rotated the antibiotics. At one point my husband took her 3 days in a row to have injections of antibiotics. Finally she had tubes put in her ears in July. Her tubes are waterproof and we have not had any problems. We have been to the beach, the pool and bathe every night without ear plugs or headband. Doctor said we do not need to use anything since they are waterproof. We only wish they would have been able to get her in sooner to have the tubes put in. Since she has had the tubes she has starting talking more and she took off walking! She is much happier and feels a lot better!

[carolynpep73]

Tubes are the BEST decision I ever made for my daughter. They kept her happy and healthy. Something she wasn't for a long time. I don't regret it for a second and if I had to do it again, I would.

[mommytoEli]

washing hair and swimming become pains....but we did it twice, so it wasn't enough to outweigh the positives. ears drained so he could hear, no more infections, flying was awesome because his ears never plugged. the only "bad" that i wish i would have known is that *sometimes* when the tubes do not fall out on their own, they can attach to the ear drum. this happened on our 2nd set. ds had to have it removed, and it did leave a hole in the ear drum which they guessed would close....but i need to take him back and have it checked again. i wish i would have known this, bc i would have fought for them to take it out earlier. (it had been in 2 years...and they kept swearing it would be fine....should have listened to my mommy gut.) but even with all that, still, HANDS DOWN, the best decision we ever made to get those in x 2.