Tonsils and Ear Tubes

[lmr1101]

My dd1, 3years old, had an ent appointment last week. She most likely will need tubes as there is a lot of pressure build up in one ear and fluid in the other. We've been tracking it since Feb and the fluid/pressure are still there.

We are going for a more in depth hearing text in about 2 weeks. Then we'll talk about treatments. I'm sure after that appointment we will need to do tubes.

The other part to this is that the ENT looked in her throat and said her tonsils are VERY large. He just mentioned it in passing that we may need to think about removing them down the line.

Is this something anyone else has had to have done?
All of this is coming as a big surprise to us. It is crazy because she has amazing speech/language development. And had only 2-3 ear infections over the past year.

I guess I'm just looking for any BTDT advice.
Thanks.

[TwoBees]

DD just had her second set of ear tubes in 3 weeks ago. She rarely had ear infections, but often had colds and had frequent fluid in her ears which was just not draining. We thought this might be affecting her hearing, although she was speaking pretty well. In just a few days after round 2, she had a total language explosion. It's a simple, 20-minute procedure and it was harder on me and DH than on DD both times. The second time was actually much better because she was a bit older and we skipped the versed. It's an outpatient procedure, and She was back to her usual self within a few hours.

FWIW, my brother has tonsils like boulders and has never had them out.

[Fairy]

Tubes/tonsils/adenoids are all very standard procedures. You've got your detractors and your supporters. Depends on where you fall. I'm a supporter. I got mine when I was 4, and they absolutely made a huge difference. DS got his at 16months, and I was a wreck, but it really is a big nothing, and he went from 10 ear infections in a year/no drainage, to like 3 in the following 6 years, and his drainage is great now. So, if this is being recommended, it's certainly not goign to hurt, especially if drainage is not working well. As for tonsils, you dont need them, and if DDs are not looking right, then might be worth it to just go ahead and remove.

[megs4413]

my DS has had many sets of tubes. Personally, I think it's better than the alternative. I guess YMMV depending on hearing/pain issues in your DD.

DS had to have his tonsils out because he was having obstructive sleep apnea. I would just caution you that very large tonsils like that can contribute to that particular problem. it was a big deal enough surgery (to me) that I wouldn't do it just because they're big. Unless there was some problem, I'd just watch and wait.

[katydid1971]

DS had his tonsils and adenoids out and tubes put in two years ago. His language instantly improved (he was missing like 15 decibels) he also put on 5 pounds and started eating foods he disliked before. He was very low weight (like 7%ile) and the tonsils made it hard for him to swallow. I'm glad we did it all at once because the fewer times a child is put under the better.

[BayGirl2]

My 3 yo DS had his tonsils and adenoids out just last month. He had never had any kind of infection but we noticed signs of sleep apnea. His tonsils were HUGE and he had very little room for breathing. Just before the surgery he started getting ear infections, which we wouldn't find out about until the eardrum burst and fluid was pouring out. He has always been on or ahead of target with language but I noticed his voice was getting kind of stuffy and his annunciation was muffled a bit.

We were told the surgery was optional but they would not get smaller, so it was better to do it at a younger age. Since he was under 3 they kept him overnight at the hospital, but otherwise it was fairly routine. The surgery went very well for him, except coming out of the anesthesia his oxygen levels dropped a few times. That was really scary for me, although he was never in any real danger, and the anesthesiologist was sitting there with us the entire time.

Two weeks of recovery time (1 at home, 1 back at daycare) during which we kept him on Motrin to relieve the pain, but he was fairly active after the first few days. He would be a mess when the motrin wore off, imagine a bad tantrum for a kid that doesn't have tantrums. But after he healed he was 120% his old self. He language and conversation skills have vastly increased since the surgery and he's getting more sleep so he's generally happier. Major difference that even his teachers have noticed. So totally worth the surgery, IMO.

[cindys]

My 20 yr old had tubes in his ears...best thing we did..Drs didnt think he could even hear out of his left ear with all the buildup and all the ear infections he had but luckily he was fine...he also had his adenoids removed at the same time...He was like a different kid..he went from being sick all the time to hardly sick.

My 6 yr old has had his tonsils removed...He kept getting severe infections and crazy high fevers that only IV antiobiotic treatments were able to help and those had to be done at the Childrens Hospital because the drugs were so potent they were only administered in a hospital...Sadly, those didnt really work either and he was admitted for almost 10 days on a constant IV drip and then after he was released he was back in a week later (after I had the last baby) and had his tonsils removed..he wasnt quite 3 and he had an overnight stay for his tonsils but did really great and has hardly been sick since.

My baby had several ear infections and had tubes put in when he was about 18mos...he has still had a couple ear infections and several throat infections...he is headed to the ENT next month.

Cindy
Mama to 3 boys...20, 6 & 3 :heartbeat::heartbeat::heartbeat:

[edurnemk]

I got mine when I was 4, and they absolutely made a huge difference.

I had my tonsils removed at that age as well, right after my 4th bday. It was the end of nonstop infections, I still have memory of being in intense pain from the EI's. After the surgery and the tubes I never got sick again, other than a normal cold.

I didn't have any speech or language issues, in fact I was always ahead. But I had nonstop infections, was always on abx.

I thought we were headed down that road with DS as well a year ago. Fortunately we consulted with an allergist, he diagnosed his chronic rhinitis and sinusitis and after a few months of treatment we didn't have anymore EI's in over a year.