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BR: Frustrated with differing medical opinions
I know we've talked about ear tubes A LOT on this board lately, but I can't help it, I need to vent. And this is so long with all of the background, so if you actually get through it, you're a saint.
So, Nora has another ear infection. Her third one (possibly fourth) since October 10. She's been on four rounds of antibiotics in that time period--10/10 (amox), 10/26 (omnicef), 12/22 (amox), and now 1/9 (omnicef). Our pediatrician would say that between 10/10 and 10/26, she's not sure if it was the same ear infection that never completely went away, or if it was a different one. So she'd probably count October as one ear infection. But 12/22 was her left ear, and today was her right, so I think we're good in counting those two separately, even though they were so close together.
This is all in addition to two ear infections last winter/spring that we treated, and two other ear infections that we diagnosed (one last spring, one at her 12-mo visit) but we decided not to treat because she wasn't displaying any symptoms.
Our pediatrician first brought up tubes to me in October, which at the time, was a surprise to me, because I really didn't think she had had THAT many. But apparently, to get 3-4 within an 8-month period was considered a lot? At the time, she basically said that she was giving Nora 2-3 more ear infections between then (October) and April. If she exceeded that, we would need to discuss tubes.
Well, look where we are now, eh? Lots of ear infections all up in here.
The problem is that our usual pedi has been out on medical leave for several weeks, so on 12/22, we saw the male in the practice, and today, we saw the second female in the practice. I didn't talk tubes with the doc on 12/22, but I did bring it up today, because let's face it, I'm getting tired of my baby having ear infections. The pedi today was saying that she likes to be very conservative with tubes--it's surgery, it's a hole in the ear drum, there can be complications, yada yada. All things that I am obviously concerned about and not going to take lightly, but OMG SO DIFFERENT THAN THE OPINION OF OUR NORMAL PEDI.
I am just really frustrated. We have to go back in two weeks for the recheck, and I made that appt with OUR pedi--but apparently that's her first week back in the office and they don't know for sure that she'll be there and/or up to seeing patients yet. I really hope that she is, because I want to talk to her about all of this stuff.
I am not in any hurry to get tubes unless it's really necessary. But my two biggest concerns are 1) I hate having my kid on antibiotics so often, especially since they are now using the broad spectrum/stronger antibiotics to treat her, and 2) her hearing. I am still concerned that she could be experiencing some hearing loss/garbled hearing, which could be affecting her language development. So I guess DH and I are just thinking that at the very LEAST, we'd like to get her hearing checked--what's the harm in that? If it's not a problem, fine, we can wait it out a while longer before we commit to tubes, but if it IS affecting her hearing, we want to do something about it.
Now, we're forced to wait another two weeks before even discussing an ENT referral and it's just irritating. /vent
Re: BR: Frustrated with differing medical opinions
Not sure if you were looking for advice, but it sounds like you want the referral to the ENT, to at least hear what they have to say. Our experience was that the ENT "could fit us in tomorrow" - which I expect, since that is what they do, but also said to explore a chiropractor or anything else we wanted before surgery. At the appointment, he could see the fluid (we didn't have repeated infections, just one that didn't clear over 4 months), and said it was definitely impacting her hearing at a pivotal point in her language development. For us, that was enough - based on my own personal history of a childhood of ear infections and our parental style of minimal drugs if possible.
During this two-week wait, could you see a chiropractor or other alternative medicine, to get their opinion?
LOL, I don't really know what I was looking for, either--mostly just needed to type it all out in one place and vent--but I do always appreciate advice.
I didn't realize that the turnaround time for an appointment with the ENT could be so quick. My experience with most specialists has been drawn out longer than that, so I had this idea in my head that we'd be kept waiting for weeks and weeks. That, at least, eases my mind a little. I'm OK with waiting it out with another ear infection, I suppose--but it's just ridiculous because I just feel like she's just going to get another one once this is gone. So, at least I know that if we end up back at the doctor soon with another ear infection, we would be able to go to an ENT at that time.
As for the chiropractor--we have been toying with the idea of taking her to one for a while, because we keep hearing how it could be helpful with the ears draining. Our only problem is that we don't know how to find one who deals with small children, aside from Googling. We've asked around and no one has any recommendations.
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I would definitely try the chiro before getting tubes. I think I have posted on this board before about Jack's babysitter's son. He had ear infections constantly, until he went to a chiropractor, and then they stopped. The babysitter was telling me all about it and I was surprised b/c I had never heard of a chiro being able to help with ear infections, but apparently it works. Something about doing an adjustment that helps the ears drain better?
Anyway, could you ask your pedi for a recommendation for a pediatric chiropractor? Or maybe even your local Bump board?
Granted, we got tubes in July - but I was surprised how fast he could fit her in. Apparently, he does surgery two mornings/week and had a lot of availability. They also check again right before the surgery - so if they miraculously clear up, you could potentially avoid it up to the last minute.
I know it is different for every kid, but for us it was a really easy procedure. I had my mom come, and felt kind of silly afterwards for needing that moral support, it was so easy and she was so very fine and herself once she woke up. She has had fewer colds, and those she has had, have cleared up faster. Also, the amount of discharge out of her ears when she has a cold is unbelievable - I can't imagine what it felt like to have all of that trapped in there before.
i would ask for a referral to an ENT--it took us 2-3 weeks to get in and they will actually do the hearing tests and evaluation and then discuss with you.
I know it is a hard decision and our doc was really agressive about treating her infections and the ENT was also on the more assertive side especially with where she was in her hearing and speech development.
I sense you are more on the conservative side but a referral and meeting with the experts might give you the information you need.
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Thanks, girls. I do like to be conservative when it comes to medical intervention with some things, but I'm also one to trust our doctor's advice--which I guess is why I'm feeling so unsettled, because we haven't actually seen our doctor since Nora's 15-month well baby in early December. Not that long ago, but two ear infections ago, so... a lot has happened since then!
In the meantime, I am looking into chiropractors. I have Googled and found a few that are nearby and will work with children, but I would feel a lot better about it with a recommendation from someone I know. I'll check my local bump board, but last time I looked, there was no one on there!
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It always amazes me how pediatricians can have such a difference in opinions, but I guess that's what draws parents to certain ones.
((hugs)) I hope you can come to some decision and be at peace with it!
I do find it interesting how many kids on here have chronic ear infections. Abby has only ever had 1 ear infection, but gets colds quiet often, and then the twins have never had an ear infection and have also been sick many times! ((knocking on wood)). It's fascinating how every body is different!!
Cut the Crap - Weight loss journey of a Few Fat Chicks
Just wanted to sympathize.
FWIW, I researched chiros and their approach a lot before we made our decision and from what I understand, the child needs to be seen once a week at first (usually for a month or longer) and then it goes to every two weeks, etc. We decided to go with the tubes (he's getting them on Monday... insert weeping momma here) based on the recommendation of our pedi, the ENT, and the experiences from girls here.
GL Heather... I hope you get some answers soon!
Our crazy, wonderful life
OK, Tiff, you prompted another question from me--for you mamas whose little ones got (or are getting) the tubes... How many ear infections are we talking before that decision was made? Looking at Nora's history, is it similar to your kids? I know some of you said that once you found out hearing was affected, that made the decision for you. But I'm still curious to know what kinds of things led up to your pedi making the ENT referral.
And good luck on Monday, Tiff. Everyone keeps telling me (IRL and, of course, you've seen the notes on here) about what an easy procedure it is, so I'm sure you'll be back to sing the praises of tubes soon enough.
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Nolan has actually had fewer than Nora. He has had four double ear infections since April 2011, all of which required double rounds of antibiotics (so it technically "could" have been 8 EI's, but it's doubtful). He also had his left eardrum rupture twice with the last one.
So, I'd say that you are on track with at least wanting to talk to an ENT based on our experience.
Thanks for the well-wishes. I'm going to try not to think about it until Sunday... and then I may take some Tylenol PM before bed. haha.
Our crazy, wonderful life
OK, Tiff, you prompted another question from me--for you mamas whose little ones got (or are getting) the tubes... How many ear infections are we talking before that decision was made?
1 ear infection in both ears that was diagnosed in late March. The infection cleared, but the fluid did not. Our pedi wasn't at all concerned when the infection occurred or at the follow up, but was at the 9-month appt in June when the fluid was still there, requested another follow up in 4 weeks to check fluid, then made the referral to the ENT. It took 2 weeks to get into the ENT, tubes were 1 week after the appointment.
Had 1where both ear drums burst so it was probably a longer infection without symptoms, if not for my daycare ladies wouldn't have thought about it. It hadn't cleared by the recheck with out doc. Another 1 or it was still lingering 2 weeks later. Then we had the referral, her drums kept bursting and the discharge was so thick it wouldn't clear. 3rounds of antibiotics. The ENT said both ears were blocked and not draining when we saw him and her hearing was slightly affected. We did another round of meds and when we went back in it still was there. She really had few symptoms other than when they burst. The ENT was really concerned because they kept bursting. Our pedi referred us fairly quickly because she said it wasn't her expertise and wanted to watch her hearing. Our practice is really easy about referrals.
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For Mads, she had 1 ear infection right around her first birthday, and then nothing again until the fall. Then again, the girl had NEVER been sick (not even a cold) until she started hanging out at daycare this past fall when I went back to work.... she & the other kids seemed to go from one cold to another. Once she had the cold, she'd had 3 ear infections (all in the same ear) in just over 2 months before our pedi made the recommendation. He said that they generally go by the 4 in 6 months (or more) rule. He did tell us that if it were the spring, he might recommend waiting it out just a little bit more, but that since it was November and we were heading into cold/flu season he recommended that we see the ENT earlier just to see their thoughts. She ended up with another ear infection between the time we got the referral and ended up seeing the ENT... that, plus her temporary hearing loss were enough to convince us that it was the right move. We were all sick with colds over Christmas break, and for the first time, it didn't end with her having an ear infection which was amazing
I'm sorry you're dealing with this too! Seems to be more common than I thought!
Landon had 4 double ear infections between the end of August and November. At the 4th, the pedi recommended that we see the ENT. We did that (my ENT who did my septoplasty did Landon's tubes), and he got the tubes within a month of the 4th ear infection diagnosis (remember that all of this was between Thanksgiving and Chirstmas, so that was pretty fast considering all of the holidays).
Yes, there are potential complications from any surgery, but IMO those are minor to the potential of antibiotic resistance and hearing loss.
With all of that said, it's been less than a month and Landon's right tube is blocked with ear wax and he has another infection. FML.
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