We’ve been at it for weeks now. Surfing the internet, visiting with doctors, specialists, and chiropractors… reading magazines, books, listening to family members… I have to say this has been the hardest thing to deal with so far. Do you get the tubes or not when your son (or daughter) has repeat ear infections?
I wanted to record our findings… feel free to add comments if you’d like, but our (admittedly temporary) decision has been made, to follow.
People that got the tubes have mostly success stories to tell aside from a few who had to have new tubes put in, etc.
Anesthesia is safer than ever.
Ian seems to get an ear infection with every new pair of teeth.
We are at the beginning of ear infection “season.”
Chiropractors are all different, some very skilled, some over-zealous about what they can accomplish; we talked to a very honest, very nice chiropractor who gave kind advice for Ian, and did that for free.
Some studies suggest developmental issues if there is persistent fluid in the middle ear. Some studies indicate no developmental issues for the “wait and see” approach.
Not allowing ear infections to clear up CAN cause some hearing loss.
Ian does, in fact, not have perfect hearing at the moment — in the same way that your stuffed nose may not be able to sniff cinnamon buns as readily as somebody who is not sick. It’s a symptom, and it should be temporary.
Tubes, like any procedure, have complications including some that may result in hearing loss, and require a water-free environment.
Ian’s last ear infection caused him enough pain to warrant our concern, but he is fine at the moment.
A gizmo that measures fluid in the ear using sonar is available and we purchased one.
While we have a great many opinions, we only have one specialist’s opinion at this time.
Almost every kid goes through this, to a certain degree, there is no reason to panic.
Based on all of the above, we’re going to take the wait and see approach. Ian’s fine at the moment, frankly we do not want to see Ian in the kind of pain he was in a few weeks ago. If we can’t control the pain he’s in, we will consider tubes again at that time, and likely with greater fervor. They are not off the table, just not something we’re going to jump into at this time.
And now I guess we can start thinking about Christmas! (nervous laugh…)
https://outoftheirminds.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/ootmd-logo-dark-wings-3Asset-15.svg00vrbfwhttps://outoftheirminds.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/ootmd-logo-dark-wings-3Asset-15.svgvrbfw2007-12-07 02:08:392007-12-07 02:08:39Down (with) the Tubes
I wanted to take a quick time-out to thank Ray, Barb, Ben, Mel, Connor and Kaylee for putting up with our middle-of-the-night antics and early departure in regards to sick lil Ian. I think Melissa and I have a lot of sleep to catch up on, and I’m hoping that everybody had fun none-the-less. I have to apologize to Connor in particular, I made a lot more excuses than I did time to play. Hopefully I’ll do better next time, but wow, has the pace of these holidays changed since we started inviting babies, eh? 😉
Thanksgiving’s hidden agenda. (Ok, they really weren’t all that pumped about the game, but it is a fitting caption, isn’t it?) See this image larger.
Almost the whole crew sitting down for a feast! (Sorry Mel, you get some great shots, but we need you IN some of them! I’ll do better next time.) A big thanks to the preparers of the dinner and the cleaners of the aftermath. See this image larger.
Pretty much the same as the football shot, but Dada (that’s me) liked this one too. Suggest looking at it larger by clicking here.
Ben, Kaylee and Ray brave the cold to watch Connor’s soccer game… Uncle D, Aunt Dis, and Cousin Ian were trying desperately to catch a snooze back at home base. See this image larger.
Ian shows off his 6.5 teeth. The new one is just to the right of the two on the bottom. See this image larger.
I love this shot, a happy accident. Brown eyes, and the shape of his head are more apparent here than in a straight-on shot. Please take a moment to look at this one larger by clicking here.
“Waiter, I ordered the Sweet Potato Puffs?” Fans of bald babies should take pics while they can… I swear even since this shot his hair has come in a bit more. See this image larger.
https://outoftheirminds.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/ootmd-logo-dark-wings-3Asset-15.svg00vrbfwhttps://outoftheirminds.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/ootmd-logo-dark-wings-3Asset-15.svgvrbfw2007-11-29 01:22:002007-11-29 01:22:00The Trooper II
Just Ducky
Too many words in the last entry… must be time for another bath!
Sink too small, tub too large? Send in the duck. See this image larger.
“Whazzat mama? EEEP!” Check this one out larger… cuuuuute.
“HEYYY.” See this image larger.
“Gimme.” (Really he was pointing. He loves pointing now. He said something that sounded like ball.)See this image larger.
He can also say something that sounds like cup, and, of course, duck. But only when he feels like it! See this image larger.
Click here to download all these images as a zipped file.
Down (with) the Tubes
We’ve been at it for weeks now. Surfing the internet, visiting with doctors, specialists, and chiropractors… reading magazines, books, listening to family members… I have to say this has been the hardest thing to deal with so far. Do you get the tubes or not when your son (or daughter) has repeat ear infections?
I wanted to record our findings… feel free to add comments if you’d like, but our (admittedly temporary) decision has been made, to follow.
Based on all of the above, we’re going to take the wait and see approach. Ian’s fine at the moment, frankly we do not want to see Ian in the kind of pain he was in a few weeks ago. If we can’t control the pain he’s in, we will consider tubes again at that time, and likely with greater fervor. They are not off the table, just not something we’re going to jump into at this time.
And now I guess we can start thinking about Christmas! (nervous laugh…)
The Trooper II
I wanted to take a quick time-out to thank Ray, Barb, Ben, Mel, Connor and Kaylee for putting up with our middle-of-the-night antics and early departure in regards to sick lil Ian. I think Melissa and I have a lot of sleep to catch up on, and I’m hoping that everybody had fun none-the-less. I have to apologize to Connor in particular, I made a lot more excuses than I did time to play. Hopefully I’ll do better next time, but wow, has the pace of these holidays changed since we started inviting babies, eh? 😉
Thanksgiving’s hidden agenda. (Ok, they really weren’t all that pumped about the game, but it is a fitting caption, isn’t it?) See this image larger.
Almost the whole crew sitting down for a feast! (Sorry Mel, you get some great shots, but we need you IN some of them! I’ll do better next time.) A big thanks to the preparers of the dinner and the cleaners of the aftermath. See this image larger.
Pretty much the same as the football shot, but Dada (that’s me) liked this one too. Suggest looking at it larger by clicking here.
Cute as a button! See this image larger.
“Say, we don’t have handles at home… Weee!” See this image larger.
Depth of field makes dada happy… now why isn’t anybody smiling? See this image larger.
Ian and Connor help Grandpa Ray with his homework. See this image larger.
Kaylee goes mobile completely on her own– wait… there’s a flag on the play… the ref calls “holding” on Grandma Barb. 😉 See this image larger.
“Cuteness contest… ready? GO!” See this image larger.
Ben, Kaylee and Ray brave the cold to watch Connor’s soccer game… Uncle D, Aunt Dis, and Cousin Ian were trying desperately to catch a snooze back at home base. See this image larger.
Funny how mature they can look sometimes… “How may we help you?” See this image larger.
Ian shows off his 6.5 teeth. The new one is just to the right of the two on the bottom. See this image larger.
I love this shot, a happy accident. Brown eyes, and the shape of his head are more apparent here than in a straight-on shot. Please take a moment to look at this one larger by clicking here.
“Waiter, I ordered the Sweet Potato Puffs?” Fans of bald babies should take pics while they can… I swear even since this shot his hair has come in a bit more. See this image larger.