Tubes...

[jrrsmom]

It's for sure. She's getting tubes. They will let me know tomorrow a date and time.


Thanks again everyone!!

 

[Lissa]

You will be so happy when she gets tubes. NO MORE EAR INFECTIONS!!!

 

[jrrsmom]

I'm so tired of going to the doctor.

 

[Lissa]

I know the feeling. We went through the exact same thing.

 

[Kaytee]

You will be so happy when she gets tubes. NO MORE EAR INFECTIONS!!!

thats not true at all. It does not prevent ear infections, it auses the ear canal to be open more so that when they get ear infections its able to properly drain without causing harm to the ear drum

 

[Lissa]

thats not true at all. It does not prevent ear infections, it auses the ear canal to be open more so that when they get ear infections its able to properly drain without causing harm to the ear drum

False. The ear drum is slightly punctured so that the ears can drain. It DOES prevent ear infections. And it also improves a child's hearing, which is very important. That's the whole point of getting tubes.

 

[Dadu2004]

That's absolutely true Kaytee...Tubes don't prevent ear infections. The fluid in the ears are what causes the infections. The tubes re-route the fluid away from the ear drum/canal so that it's not sitting there causing bacteria.

 

[Lissa]

Then tell me why my son for 15 straight months had ear infections and after getting tubes he hasn't had ONE single infection.

Enlighten me with some alternatives. I've tried everything and NOTHING worked. Tubes were a godsend!

 

[Dadu2004]

I think we're all getting to the same point but taking different roads. The tubes themselves do not stop ear infections...the fluid being drained by the tubes prevent the infections. We're saying the same thing, but in 2 different ways.

Tubes were a godsend for Delaney too! I'm very happy that we had it done...we were in the same boat, and never found an alternative that worked nearly as well!

 

[Kaytee]

exactly wihat sar said. I am not saying your son does not need tubes. Some kids do and they are great. BUT they will not prevent them they just help the build up from getting bacteria in it.
My friends dd had tubes put in about 3 months ago and she still has had 2 ear infections (build up in the ear) the docs have already told her that it is normal the tubes just keep the pressure off of the eardrum and allow the ear to drain properly.

 

[1dayatatime]

tubes are debatable....cool. :grabs popcorn and has a seat:

 

[meow_173]

<r><B><s></s>Tubes for ear infections<e></e></B><br/>
<br/>

<B><s></s>Surgery Overview<e></e></B><br/>
<br/>
Ear tubes are plastic and shaped like a hollow spool. Doctors suggest tubes for children who have repeat ear infections or when fluid stays behind the eardrum. A specialist (<COLOR color="#0000ff"><s></s>general anesthesia<e></e></COLOR> for this surgery.<br/>
View the <COLOR color="#0000ff"><s></s>slide show on ear tube insertion<e></e></COLOR> <IMG src="http://www.bchealthguide.org/kbase/media/interface/slideshow.gif"><s></e></IMG> to see the steps that are performed.<br/>
Tubes can help with ear infections because they:
&lt;LIST&gt;&lt;s&gt;<LIST>

• <LI>&lt;/s&gt;
  &lt;LI&gt;&lt;s&gt;</LI><LI>
• &lt;/s&gt;Allow air to enter the &lt;COLOR color="#0000ff"&gt;&lt;s&gt;&lt;/s&gt;middle ear&lt;e&gt;&lt;/e&gt;&lt;/COLOR&gt; &lt;IMG src="http://www.bchealthguide.org/kbase/media/interface/camera.gif"&gt;&lt;s&gt;&lt;/e&gt;&lt;/IMG&gt;.&lt;/LI&gt;
  &lt;LI&gt;&lt;s&gt;</LI><LI>
• &lt;/s&gt;Allow fluid to flow out of the middle ear through the tube into the ear canal.&lt;/LI&gt;
  &lt;LI&gt;&lt;s&gt;</LI><LI>
• &lt;/s&gt;Clear fluid from the middle ear and restore hearing.&lt;/LI&gt;
  &lt;LI&gt;&lt;s&gt;</LI><LI>
• &lt;/s&gt;Prevent future buildup of fluid in the middle ear while they are in place.&lt;/LI&gt;
  &lt;LI&gt;&lt;s&gt;</LI><LI>
• &lt;/s&gt;Decrease the feeling of pressure in the ears, which reduces pain.&lt;/LI&gt;&lt;e&gt;</LI>

</LIST>&lt;/e&gt;&lt;/LIST&gt;&lt;B&gt;&lt;s&gt;&lt;/s&gt;What To Expect After Surgery&lt;e&gt;&lt;/e&gt;&lt;/B&gt;&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;br/&gt;
Tubes can be inserted in an outpatient surgery clinic. Children usually recover quickly and have little pain or other symptoms after surgery. Children can usually go home within 1 to 2 hours after the surgery. Your child will probably be able to return to school or child care the next day.&lt;br/&gt;
Follow-up visits to the doctor after a child has tubes inserted are very important. The doctor checks to see whether the tubes are working and whether the child's hearing has improved. &lt;br/&gt;
While the tubes are in place, the child needs to take extra care. Keep water from getting in the ear when your child takes a bath or a shower or goes swimming. The ear could get infected if any germs in the water get into the ear. If your doctor says it’s okay, your child may use earplugs. Or your doctor may have other advice for you. He or she can tell you when the hole in the eardrum has healed and when it’s okay to go back to regular water activities. &lt;br/&gt;
Tubes normally remain in the ears for 6 to 12 months. They often fall out on their own. If the tubes don't fall out on their own, your child may need surgery to remove them. After the tubes are out, watch your child for ear infections and fluid behind the eardrum. &lt;br/&gt;
&lt;B&gt;&lt;s&gt;&lt;/s&gt;Why It Is Done&lt;e&gt;&lt;/e&gt;&lt;/B&gt;&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;br/&gt;
Placing tubes in the ears drains the fluid and ventilates the middle ear. Tubes may keep &lt;COLOR color="#0000ff"&gt;&lt;s&gt;&lt;/s&gt;ear infections&lt;e&gt;&lt;/e&gt;&lt;/COLOR&gt; from recurring while the tubes are in place. They also keep fluid from building up behind the eardrum. Doctors consider surgery to insert tubes:
&lt;LIST&gt;&lt;s&gt;<LIST>

• <LI>&lt;/s&gt;
  &lt;LI&gt;&lt;s&gt;</LI><LI>
• &lt;/s&gt;If a child has had fluid behind the eardrum in both ears for more than 3 months and has significant hearing loss in both ears.&lt;/LI&gt;
  &lt;LI&gt;&lt;s&gt;</LI><LI>
• &lt;/s&gt;If a child has repeat ear infections.&lt;/LI&gt;&lt;e&gt;</LI>

</LIST>&lt;/e&gt;&lt;/LIST&gt;&lt;B&gt;&lt;s&gt;&lt;/s&gt;How Well It Works&lt;e&gt;&lt;/e&gt;&lt;/B&gt;&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;br/&gt;
Ear tubes often restore hearing. While the tubes are in place, they often prevent buildup of pressure and fluid in the middle ear. And they can reduce pain. &lt;br/&gt;
Tubes may keep ear infections from recurring while the tubes are in place. But infections may return after the tubes are gone.&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;B&gt;&lt;s&gt;&lt;/s&gt;Risks&lt;e&gt;&lt;/e&gt;&lt;/B&gt;&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;br/&gt;
Minor complications occur in up to half of the children who have tubes inserted. Usual complications include:
&lt;LIST&gt;&lt;s&gt;<LIST>

• <LI>&lt;/s&gt;
  &lt;LI&gt;&lt;s&gt;</LI><LI>
• &lt;/s&gt;A thickening of the eardrum over time, which occurs in about half of the children. These changes in the eardrum may affect hearing in a very small number of children.&lt;/LI&gt;
  &lt;LI&gt;&lt;s&gt;</LI><LI>
• &lt;/s&gt;Discharge of pus (otorrhea) from the ear. This is common and can become an ongoing problem in some children.&lt;URL url="&lt;/s&gt;1&lt;e&gt;&lt;/e&gt;&lt;/COLOR&gt;&lt;e&gt;[/URL]&lt;/e&gt;&lt;/URL&gt;&lt;/LI&gt;&lt;e&gt;</LI>

</LIST>&lt;/e&gt;&lt;/LIST&gt;Other possible complications:
&lt;LIST&gt;&lt;s&gt;<LIST>

• <LI>&lt;/s&gt;
  &lt;LI&gt;&lt;s&gt;</LI><LI>
• &lt;/s&gt;The tube may become blocked, allowing ear fluid and infections to return.&lt;/LI&gt;
  &lt;LI&gt;&lt;s&gt;</LI><LI>
• &lt;/s&gt;The tube may slip out of place, possibly falling into the middle ear (rare).&lt;/LI&gt;
  &lt;LI&gt;&lt;s&gt;</LI><LI>
• &lt;/s&gt;Tissue may form behind the eardrum (cholesteatoma). This is also rare.&lt;/LI&gt;&lt;e&gt;</LI>

</LIST>&lt;/e&gt;&lt;/LIST&gt;&lt;B&gt;&lt;s&gt;&lt;/s&gt;What To Think About&lt;e&gt;&lt;/e&gt;&lt;/B&gt;&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;br/&gt;
Some children who have tubes inserted may need to have tubes reinserted.&lt;br/&gt;
Tubes may scar the eardrum. Scarring may lead to minor hearing loss.&lt;br/&gt;
After surgery, a child needs regular checkups to see that the tubes are working. In some cases, the child may need &lt;COLOR color="#0000ff"&gt;&lt;s&gt;&lt;/s&gt;antibiotics&lt;e&gt;&lt;/e&gt;&lt;/COLOR&gt; to prevent or treat infections.&lt;br/&gt;
​

&lt;/r&gt;

 

[jrrsmom]

So how many days will I need to take off work?

 

[Kaytee]

I know my friend Did the surgery on Friday so she could be home the rest of the weekend. But I am pretty sure that its only really needed that day.

 

[jrrsmom]

He only does surgeries on Monday/ Which...stinks! I was hoping we could do it tomorrow cause I'm off until Wednesday.

 

[Lissa]

The worst part of the surgery is when he came out of the anesthesia. It took him a long time to calm down. He was very scared. After that it was like nothing happened. I'd say take a day or two off because it can be a very scarey procedure for a child.

 

[granger_todd]

My son had to have tubes put in his ears when he was 1. He is now 3 and had what they call a "glue ear". He was not hearing anything. I felt bad for him too. He did not talk much before, the dr said the way we sounded to him was like we were under water talking. Now that he has them he talks all the time and one has already falling out. Before the tubes the dr gave him some kind of drops for pain. I really don't remember what it was called. It seem to help for a little while , like for about 1 hr or less, but at least he helped some. I feel your pain I remember those days.

Kim

 

[granger_todd]

Sorry I forgot to mention that I <U><I>AGREE</I></U> the worst part of the surgery is when he came out of the anesthesia. It took him a long time to calm down. He was very scared. After that it was like nothing happened.

Kim

 

[mmynedshlp]

When I was at my 3 years olds audio test i heard the people at the desk talking to a person who had called about getting tubes put in there childs ear. They did say that they could not even consider putting the tubes in until the infection was gone. She was wanting it done to get rid of the infection. I also heard him say no they could not drain the ear.

Yikes I am so glad i didnt have to take that phone call.

 

[jrrsmom]

In about 6 hours we will be on our way. I can't sleep....can you tell?