Lori

[Anonymous]

Hey

Just wanted to make sure that everything is OK… have not seen you around much so wanted to check on you. + i think you said that Hailey is getting her tubes today (maybe not, i am so confused with our own appointments)?? If it is today good luck!!!

[Anonymous]

Thanks for thinking of us, Thais. I haven’t been around the boards much these days because I was working full time this week (so that I could take today and tomorrow off for the surgery). I’ve been so busy that I haven’t even been able to make it to a computer.

The kids have both been sick so I wasn’t sure if they would go ahead with things, but Hailey’s guardian angel must have been watching out for her again, because she seemed to recover quickly. Sarah on the other hand has a seizure yesterday, so it’s been a stressful time for us.

As for Hailey, all went well, and the procedure itself was only about 15 minutes. We were lucky too because we got the anaesthetist who likes to use gas before the IV, instead of the EMLA patch. All the other kids were sitting with their patches, but I know that gas is easier on them, so I was happy about that.

I was pretty worried about managing myself (dh had to stay home and take care of Sarah), but Hailey behaved really well… of course, if I hadn’t lost my keys in the hospital things would have gone easier, but that was due to my own stupidity (though I like to blame it on sleep deprivation).

The ENT said her ears were completely full of fluid, which he drained, and then placed the tubes. He also did a surgical repair of an ear tag on her right ear. I asked him a few days ago if they could remove it at the same time, instead of having to do it under anaethesia again later on. So we went in on Tuesday and he said that he could remove it at the same time and that it looked simple. Right now it’s kind of puffy and red looking (which it wasn’t when we were at the hospital) so hopefully it will go down a bit. I felt a bit bad about doing it because the only reason to remove it was cosmetic, but figured it was easier to do it at the same time, and that she would likely want it removed one day anyhow.

She was absolutely hysterical coming out of the anaesthesia and finally I decided to leave the hospital even though she couldn’t calm down. They said we could stay, but the nurse kept trying to shove popsicles in her mouth every time she calmed a bit, saying that she’s never met a child who hasn’t calmed down and smiled when the popsicle touches their mouth. (I tried to explain the term feeding aversion, but she just kept saying, “she doesn’t look like she has trouble eating.”) After we left and the poscicle attacks stopped she was much happier and is now sleeping.

I was really surprised to hear after the surgery that she now has to wear ear plugs any time she’s in water, even in the bath! No one even told us, I just read it on a sheet that they gave us when we left, so I have no clue what kind of plugs they’re talking about. Hopefully the pharmacist can help us out with that one.

Anyhow, thanks again for checking up on us. Hope that Matthew is doing well. I’ll have to check for some updates.

[Anonymous]

Lori,

I’m glad the procedure is over and I hope Hailey recovers quickly. I would have had the ear tag repaired at the same time as well. I’m sure the swelling will go down soon.

I’m pretty sure you are supposed to have ear plugs made specially for your child, or maybe they make really good ones for kids with tubes. I’m surprised they didn’t tell you about that ahead of time.

I’m sorry to hear about Sarah. Hopefully it won’t happen again. How is she feeling now?

I hope everyone is healthy and happy soon.

[Anonymous]

Lori, you should be able to get the ear plugs at your ENT’s office. They have the size that will fit her. We had to do the same thing with my now 13 year old and he did great. The plugs didn’t bug him at all. If you don’t use them the water that gets in her ears can get pass the tubes. I am glad she is doing well.

[Anonymous]

Lori

Glad all (or almost all) went smoothly with the surgery. You have to love the gas (we do at least! it is so quick). Yes, i have heard the stuff about not getting water in the ears… but hopefully that is only temporary until the tubes fall off… what type of tubes did you get? The ones that last a couple of years and fall off on their own?

Sorry to hear that Sarah had another seizure – i hope that she is feeling better now.

Matthew is doing great – NO MORE TUBE FEEDINGS AT NIGHT!! That is so great. I was so tired after 16 hard months and now… he is able to handle all volume during the day. It took him 5 weeks i believe to adjust but this is it. And he drinks a full 6 ounces by mouth when he wakes up and asks for a croissant or some bread right after that?? He just walks everywhere with it.

Anyway – we also have another ENT appointment on the 10th of Jan. The speech therapist wanted us to check hearing etc because of teh big difference between receptive and expressive. I asked the ENT in Spain about tubes again. She said that she does not like them (and they are not popular in Spain) because they believe that the ears will drain all the fluid out by themselves with time…. she said that maybe yes, he will hear a little better and will make an improvement BUT if left alone (because he does not get infections) then at around 2 years old, when tested, the fluid is USUALLY much better… anyway – want to hear what the ENT says here and he is also doing a hearing tests at the same time.

Anyway – glad all seems fine… hope the redness/swelling disappears soon

[Anonymous]

Lori – I hope Hailey recovers quickly and feels better soon. Sorry I haven’t

posted to you much – I’ve barely been on the board at all…

Thais – so glad to hear that Matthew is doing well. I need to email you to ask

about your pediatrician – let me know if you don’t get the email, ok?

[Anonymous]

Hi Lori,
I was thinking about you and Hailey today, and I’m so glad to hear that everything went well with the surgery. I hope it really helps her. I know how you feel about the choice to have her ear tag removed. Bryce has a little skin tag on his lip that I’ve been wondering if I should have removed or not.

I’m sorry to hear about Sarah’s seizure. Those are so scary… and today of all days huh?

Well, good luck with everything! Hope your kids can get feeling better and you can have some peace for awhile.

[Anonymous]

Thais,

I’m so happy to hear that Matthew is doing well, and no more night feedings! That’s great news!

How’s he sleeping lately? I hope you’re getting more sleep these days.

[Anonymous]

I’m happy to hear that Hailey is doing well. In regards to the ear plugs, you can use store ones but they are not as comfortable and not the best in keeping water out of her ears. We actually had custom made ear plugs for Alexis. We had them made at the ENT’s office, they injected molding plaster/glue in her ears and molded them to fit her perfect, they go in and out very easy. Alexis is great at wearing them, if I forget to put them in, she reminds me since I think she does like not having water in her ears. The process of getting the mold done was horrible since she still was very emotionally scarred from her surgery since she not only had the tube placement, she had her tonsils and adenoids removed so she hated to go to the ENT’s office. The custom ear plugs are $100 and not covered by insurance but they are really worth it.

[Anonymous]

Karen i posted under the other thread…

[Anonymous]

did they show you how to put the plugs in??? When I bought Aidans at the ENT I had a mental lapse and forgot to ask, but I finally got it, tricky little things he hated them at first but now he’s gotten used to it! I’m happy to hear everything went so well!!!! Did they tell you that if they don’t fall out within 2 years that they have to be surgicaly removed? Just wondering b/c that’s what our ENT told me (but I haven’t met anyone who’s child’s tubes hadn’t fallen out within a year). Also, I finally figured out that the plugs have a R on the right one and a L on the left (THAT stupidity I’ll blame on sleep deprivation-LOL even my husband looked at me like umm duh) Hopefully she’ll feel better now that all the gunk is out of her ears!!!! Aidan’s Ped told me that his reflux would get better after the tubes, THAT however was a load of crap it’s still the same (but due to teething I think). I’m so glad you got to get her in so fast!!!! Aidan flipped out for a bit after waking up as well (ok for like 45 mins), and I didn’t lose my keys but I DID lose my car-totally forgot where I parked in the parking garage!!!!!!

I can’t believe that idiot nurse kept shoving popsicles at her-you’d think that being a nurse she would have heard of things like feeding aversions before, it amazes me how little some of the medical professionals know about some things!!!! I think ti’s good that you got the tag fixed while she is so young, there’s a huge difference in a baby/toddler going in for surgery and a child going in-much easier when they are little!!!

[Anonymous]

OK, our ENT said that we didn’t need the plugs with the tubes, because the precise reason for the tubes, is to drain what goes in or what is trying to get out. We were not to use them for Dylan or Carter, and Dylan’s stayed in for two years before one popped out and the other is still in. We have had no problems not using the ear plugs at all.

I guess it is just a different doctor’s opinion. Very interesting, though…

[Anonymous]

hmmm that is interesting, I decided tonight (when I forgot to put them in) that in my opinion it’s pretty impossible for enough water to even get near his ears (let alone IN them) when he’s in the tub-unless he for some unknown reason decides that at age 1 he wants to put his head underwater!!!!-I can’t even wash his hair a lot anyway-serious cradle cap issues. I know a lot of little guys who have tubes here I think I’m going to ask around about the plugs.

[Anonymous]

Alexis was 22 months old when she had her tubes and she loved to stick her head and ears underwater, very daring child when it comes to water. It doesn’t sound like Aidan a large enough amount of water near his ears, I would wait on the plugs until he is older if he loves to play with water as much as Alexis.

[Anonymous]

Jill,
Have you tried hydrocortisone cream for the cradle cap? Parker had killer cradle crap when he was a baby that nothing would take away. Our doc suggested this, and it took it all away within a few days.

[Author]

Posts