Update in OP. Ear drainage?

[wendibird22]

Update 2: So she's had at least 3 bouts of drainage since Feb 14 (when the tubes were placed). Sometimes one ear but usually both. We'll use the drops for 4 days, it'll clear up and then it seems within a few days it's back to yucky drainage again. ENT can't see her until next week but the office said no need for oral abx just to keep using the drops. It just doesn't seem "right" to have a constant drainage from one or both ears for the month since tubes. This is not how I pictured this going.
I did mention dairy connection to the NP at DD2's 15mo check up last week and she said we could do a trial of dairy elimination. I'm wondering if I should....


Update 1: Well, it definitely is an EI. At bath time while she was playing in the tub I started peaking in her ears and as I gently tugged on the right ear you could see the slimy goop trying to make its way out like snot in a runny nose (TMI sorry!). And sure enough I could see some drainage, but not nearly as much, from the left ear too. Of course it took DH and me both to wrestle her down to get the drops in. So, I'd welcome any advice on how to do that with less force and drama. It's not like I can tell a 14mo to lay still a minute.

Also, I'm beginning to wonder if her EIs are at all related to a dairy intolerance/allergy. While she did have 3 EIs from May to Sept while BF, she's had almost non-stop EIs since xmas time which is when she started on cow's milk. I have also noticed mild eczema on her arms and thighs which has been getting worse lately but I had chalked that up to hard water, cold weather, and dry dry air. We have a routine ped appointment in a few weeks so I'll mention it. Anyone find that dairy was a contributer to their DCs EIs?

Oh and anyone else find that the ear drops cause nasal drip? Her nose is a faucet within a few minutes of the drops.

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DD2 had tubes put in 2 weeks ago and had a follow up check up just this past Friday. All was well. This morning I noticed green crusty gunk on the exterior of her right ear (on the lower lobe). She has had a bit of a cold. Would you consider this ear drainage from an infection? Wasn't sure what to look for and would hate to put a call into the ENT if is is likely she just wiped snot onto her ear LOL!

[ThreeofUs]

Look into her ear with a flashlight and try to see if there is the same stuff inside. When you're looking, see if you smell anything besides healthy ear, too.

GL!

[WolfpackMom]

DD2 had tubes put in 2 weeks ago and had a follow up check up just this past Friday. All was well. This morning I noticed green crusty gunk on the exterior of her right ear (on the lower lobe). She has had a bit of a cold. Would you consider this ear drainage from an infection? Wasn't sure what to look for and would hate to put a call into the ENT if is is likely she just wiped snot onto her ear LOL!

Ive been trying to figure this mystery out the past couple days as well and am tempted to put in the antibiotic drops they gave for his post op. I would watch how she acts, she has had enough EIs to warrant tubes so you are probably aware of the signs she gives when she has an infection....or she just likes to stick boogies into her ears ;)

ETA: Every time I read where someone else quotes me I catch a typo, sigh.

[wendibird22]

Ive been trying to figure this mystery out the past couple days as well and am tempted to put in the antibiotic drops they game for his post op. I would watch how she acts, she had enough EIs to warrant tubes so you are probably aware of the signs she gives when she has an infection....or she just likes to stick boogies into her ears ;)

LOL! I did put a call into the ENT and he's calling in drops to the pharm. Probably no harm in using them even if it's a boogie right?! I'll take Threeofus advice and to some closer looking and smelling (ew!). She did have quite a cranky night last night and didn't eat much dinner, but she constantly has her hands in her mouth (possible canines coming in) so I can never tell if it's her teeth bugging her, if she woke up a lot because she was hungry, etc, etc. But she's also notorious for sneezing and immediately sticking her hand up to her nose and wiping it across her face. :shake:

And here I was just thinking about how great the ear tubes have been and that they've eliminated the "does she or doesn't she have an EI" game. I guess I jinxed us!

[ohiomom1121]

I just got a Dr. Mom otoscope from Walmart for $17 and it's wonderful. I'm an audiologist and can't believe how well it works for the price. It would be nice for you to be able to monitor the tubes with.

[HIU8]

DD had ear drainage about 3 months post op when she got tubes. Turned out to be an ear infection (bad one). Glad it was able to drain though or it would have been very painful.

[wendibird22]

I just got a Dr. Mom otoscope from Walmart for $17 and it's wonderful. I'm an audiologist and can't believe how well it works for the price. It would be nice for you to be able to monitor the tubes with.

Hmm..I'm intrigued by this. Does it take any type of skill to use properly? Would I know what I was looking at/for?

[wendibird22]

So my next question is, if she has an EI, and it's draining, would she still get other symptoms of an EI like fever (which she only sometimes had with pre-tube EIs), pain, nighttime wakefullness, etc? I guess I was assuming that much of the discomfort of an EI comes from the pressure of fluid build up and that if this was no longer the case because of the tubes that an EI wouldn't be symptomatic or less symptomatic. No?

[ThreeofUs]

First, an otoscope is a wonderful thing and, with a little practice, will definitely help you with your children. I love mine.

I think your analysis is spot on.

If she has an infection, she will still feel it with the tubes. But as you say, the discomfort will be lessened as her body fights it. I think your instinct is right, given her other symptoms the night before, that she has something going on. It might be that it's low-level enough for a little feeling off, but not enough for a fever, you know?

[ohiomom1121]

It comes with pictures of a normal eardrum, an infected one and tubes, and I think there are more on their website. You could definitely figure out what you're looking at with a little practice.

[wendibird22]

Update in the OP. Thanks for any additional advice you can offer.

[ThreeofUs]

Sorry she has an EI, but good job looking!

Yes to the EI-dairy connection (it's pretty well documented) as well as to the nose running after ear drops.

Info on ear infections and dairy:

http://www.littlestomaks.com/2009/09/link-between-milk-allergy-and-chronic-ear-infections/

http://www.healthychild.com/ear-infections/ear-infections-alternative-solutions/

ETA: sorry, I had to literally run and these were the first decent links I could come up with. I'll look for studies later.

[wendibird22]

Another update in OP. The EIs continue....

[ThreeofUs]

Update 2: So she's had at least 3 bouts of drainage since Feb 14 (when the tubes were placed). Sometimes one ear but usually both. We'll use the drops for 4 days, it'll clear up and then it seems within a few days it's back to yucky drainage again. ENT can't see her until next week but the office said no need for oral abx just to keep using the drops. It just doesn't seem "right" to have a constant drainage from one or both ears for the month since tubes. This is not how I pictured this going.
I did mention dairy connection to the NP at DD2's 15mo check up last week and she said we could do a trial of dairy elimination. I'm wondering if I should....


Something certainly seems wrong.

Try the dairy elimination, but I'd also ask the ENT doc to call you back and discuss. (and tell the staff you want a call back, this is too long for an infection imho)

[AnnieW625]

Update 2: So she's had at least 3 bouts of drainage since Feb 14 (when the tubes were placed). Sometimes one ear but usually both. We'll use the drops for 4 days, it'll clear up and then it seems within a few days it's back to yucky drainage again. ENT can't see her until next week but the office said no need for oral abx just to keep using the drops. It just doesn't seem "right" to have a constant drainage from one or both ears for the month since tubes. This is not how I pictured this going.
I did mention dairy connection to the NP at DD2's 15mo check up last week and she said we could do a trial of dairy elimination. I'm wondering if I should....


I would not stop the drops if it is making her ears better. That is what we did with DD1. DD1 got her tubes in at 2 yrs. old. I didn't picture having that much drainage with DD1 either, but it eventually went away. I would try eliminating dairy starting with milk, but FWIW DD1 had been on soy milk since she was 18 mos. old to deal with a continual runny nose and she still had drainage. If she is already eating nuts I would try vanilla almond milk and see if she likes that (since there seems to be some contreversy in regards to soy, but I am SOL because DD1 doesn't like the almond milk so we are stuck with soy). We also tried rice milk first but she didn't like that at all.

[wendibird22]

I would not stop the drops if it is making her ears better. That is what we did with DD1. DD1 got her tubes in at 2 yrs. old. I didn't picture having that much drainage with DD1 either, but it eventually went away. I would try eliminating dairy starting with milk, but FWIW DD1 had been on soy milk since she was 18 mos. old to deal with a continual runny nose and she still had drainage. If she is already eating nuts I would try vanilla almond milk and see if she likes that (since there seems to be some contreversy in regards to soy, but I am SOL because DD1 doesn't like the almond milk so we are stuck with soy). We also tried rice milk first but she didn't like that at all.

Good to know Annie.

I keep hoping that with spring coming that the upper respiratory viruses will finally go away and thus so will the drainage. I knew to expect that some kids just keep getting EIs. I guess I just didn't expect that we'd see drainage on an almost weekly basis.

[Tinkerbell313]

DS had tubes put in at around 9 months old; he too still had drainage for about 3 months. We cycled through antibiotics. The drainage would seem to go away towards the end of the antibiotic treatment...but would then show up again.

Finally he was tested for MRSA...and it was positive:eek: This was about 4 years ago when MRSA started hitting the news.

The report comes back with a list of antibiotics that the MRSA is resistant to...he ended up going on a month long treatment of bactrim. We also had to see an infectious disease specialist.

We had no other symptoms for the MRSA...no boils, no rashes, no fevers.

We are not sure where he got the MRSA from (the out patient surgery for the tubes; the 7 day visit to the hospital for RSV; the many MD visits, etc)

He is now almost 5...and we are MRSA free.

I hope you are able to find out the cause of the frequent ear infections.

[wendibird22]

DS had tubes put in at around 9 months old; he too still had drainage for about 3 months. We cycled through antibiotics. The drainage would seem to go away towards the end of the antibiotic treatment...but would then show up again.

Finally he was tested for MRSA...and it was positive:eek: This was about 4 years ago when MRSA started hitting the news.

The report comes back with a list of antibiotics that the MRSA is resistant to...he ended up going on a month long treatment of bactrim. We also had to see an infectious disease specialist.

We had no other symptoms for the MRSA...no boils, no rashes, no fevers.

We are not sure where he got the MRSA from (the out patient surgery for the tubes; the 7 day visit to the hospital for RSV; the many MD visits, etc)

He is now almost 5...and we are MRSA free.

I hope you are able to find out the cause of the frequent ear infections.
:eek::eek::eek: Wow! That's scary. Thanks for posting this as I'll file it away as a question to ask the ENT next week...should we culture the fluid.