My 10 yr old son's ears have been turning red and warm every night at bedtime for the past several days. He whines and cries and says that he can't sleep cuz his ears are on fire. I have no idea why this is only happening at bedtime. He has been on Depakote (seizure disorder) since November, Tenex (as a mood stabilizer) since January, and recently started Imipramine (as a muscle relaxer to help w bedwetting)..i've taken away the imipramine for 3 days now and it's not stopped the ear thing from happening. Could the Depakote or Tenex has this effect...why Months after being on the meds? I can't think of any changes like food, drink, or otherwise that have happened, so if this isn't an allergic reaction, then what the heck's up w this ear thing? i am tired of seeing him in tears every evening....any ideas?? i've spoken w the dr's office, she has no idea, but this isn't like ear infection pain...it's skin pain...his ears are hot and bothering him. dr said to give it a few more days then if he still has it to see dr, then maybe get referred to a dermatologist. i don't wanna take him to ER at 930pm when they're actually flaring up...I have 5 kids and this seems extreme, but if it persists and nobody can offer ideas during the day, then perhaps we'll resort to that later. but for now i'm probing you other moms...ANYBODY ELSE HAVING THIS PROB OR HAVE SOME IDEAS?? C.
a second update...
he went to the ER for neck pain from a PE incident at school, during which his BP was a lil hi and his ears were red while we were there and the dr's didn't think it was too big a concern. i've asked his primary dr as well, and nobody was overly concerned, and now it only happens i'd say once every two weeks or so and doesn't take over his bedtimes, so i guess he's doing better. i did have him taken off the imipramine since it wasn't helping.
while i had one of my other kids at the dr (she Does have an ear infection), i asked the dr bout my son and he suggested benadryl. he took that after dinner and he didn't whine bout them being hot, but one of them did turn red. part of me wonders if he's messin with them too much or maybe it's somewhat psychological, but we'll see how it goes again tonight and set up something for fri w our dr if things don't get better.
wish us luck. Ps...i would appreciate hearing from someone else who's experienced this more than receiving the same suggestions over and over about stuff i've already ruled out and lectures about medicating my child....i mean until you've walked a mile in my shoes, Save it. i'm sure you mean well, but i do have 5 kids and he's the only one medicated...i do think long and hard concerning my children's well-being every day as well as pray and i feel these comments are uncalled for and not the most educated of responses. i've tried the obvious things like pain reliever, cold compresses, checking with dr's, researching online, and ruling out ear infections, but thank you for ur suggestions.
Have you changed any soaps hair shampoo? Do you dry his hair with a blow dryer? Hey may sound silly but the heat can cause some damage to lil kids skin.I would read all the side effects on the medication bottles
I have heard this can be related to allergies - maybe consider allergy testing. Even if that means just ruling out another cause! Also - you might have already done this but you could also look up the medications he is on to see if anyone else has reported this as a side effect? I have had this in one ear here and there myself. It is annoying and uncomfortable - I feel better if I put something cool on it or take an antihistamine. It is worth a try to treat the symptoms at least! Good luck. I hope this resolves!
C., I am a nurse, I looked up Depakote, Tenex, and Imipramine for you, the only thing that I find is that Imipramine should be withdrawn gradually, just FYI, and what about Hormones? as a menapausal woman, that was my first instinct, is he starting puberty? also, does he take Niacin or a Vitamin B complex? That can cause reddened rash, burning skin. Good Luck, Hope he's already better.
I certainly wouldn't wait to see a dermatologist. No sense taking the "wait and see" advice when he's suffering so. I suggest your have a dermatologist test specifically for rosacea. This can also be caused by mercury poisoning (a likely culprit can be dental fillings). I would certainly investigate the possibility of rosacea first, and I wouldn't wait any longer that you absolutely have to. Good luck.
C.,
I too apologize for the lack of class that mom had in her response to you.
I have therefore reported her reply to mamasource as offensive.
I also am concerned about the lack of attention from your ped.
I would get a second opinion. I also like the suggestion to check on-line about side-effects.
I know a trip to the emergency room sounds rough, but what about an urgent care center--I think they are opened until 8 or 9pm at night??
God Bless, M. N.
First of all, even though I don't know her, I'd like to apologize on behalf of the previous poster for assuming that she knows you well enough to attack not only your parenting but your choice and your doctor's choice of medicating your child. That is NOT what this site is for - it's for helpful advice. And while we're all allowed to our opinions, that's all they are ... opinions.
**Mamasource removed "previous" post for flaming language.
That said, I applaud you for seeking out advice with this problem. I assume you've looked up his meds online to see what the potential side effects can be. If you've ruled those out, I'd see a dermatologist.
My best wishes for a healthy, happy child.
J.
Hi
Just a few thoughts
1) Have you tried www ? Webmd
I hear it is great for these kind of ?s
2) Ask your pharmacist
3) Allergies? What does he do different. Toothpaste soap laundry detergent. Use water only change. To non allergy like Clear All only use Dove soap
Is it when lays down. ? Is it 1 min or 5 min or 20 min once he gets in bed?
Great allergist for kids Dr Kocur ballas and 270
Great dermatologist (I have been to lots over the last 5 years) all great but Dr Jerome Aronberg in Clayton (Maryland ave)will figure it out won't stop
For years only when I laid down at night my feet would start itching.
I don't remember why doc said it only happened when I went to bed. I'll think about
Now I have psorasis on hands and feet only. Was told by many doc it was excema
Also pray about it ask God for answers then listen for answers. You'll open a book or magazine or hear on tv or radio. Pay attention for answer. Just Ask!! Try it
Try pharmacist
Try ears nose and throat specialist maybe when he lays flat fluid in ears ?? Different than upright position
Does he lay down on couch floor and watch tv or does he sit up
Does it happen then?
Did you use chemical in his room to clean or carpet vacuum anything new?
Do a headstand against wall and see if it happens (after school) before bedtime
Have you tried benadryl before bedtime give a few hours before of course ask doc or pharmasist if okay to mix w/ prescriptions
Just brainstorming. Thanks for listening to my suggestions
Pray about it!! And listen most impt. Those little thoughts in your head are probably right. Mothers intuition just stop and realize your own thoughts
I would use nontoxic products throughout house!!!
Do his ears hurt, like inside? My first thought would be an ear infection. I would get on WebMD or a similar site and see the side effects of the meds he is on. I would for sure take him to the Dr. I can not think of what else this could be. Do you have him put something cold on them when this happens to aleviate the pain and give him tylenol for pain?
take him to the doctor and have it checked out and THEN go to a specialist. don't just let the dr. tell you over the phone to wait.
I personally had a similar reaction, but for me it was my hands and feet. It was an allergic reaction to some medication and it didn't clear up until I took a round of steroids. I think you should plan ahead a bit and take him to an ER or Urgent clinic when it happens again.
My husband's ears did the same thing...we found out he has high blood pressure. I think your doctor needs to figure out what it is-thats her job. I would either get a second opinion from another doctor or go to ER when it happens. I'm sure with 5 kids it won't be an easy task, but hopefully they can fix the problem. Good luck.
Have you tried Benadryl? When I was a child I had this bizarre thing where an area, usually a hand or foot would become hot and inflammed, but one time it was my lips. I remember being prescribed Benadryl. The doctors never figured out exactly what it was, they called it "angioedema" which literally translates to swelling of the blood vessels. I eventually just outgrew it.
I would first look at the interaction of the medicine and get a second opinion. What is the last medication you give him for the day? That may be the culprit. I would get a blood test to help rule out any irregularities as well. They can test his thyroid and a few other things. I get hot ears 2 or 3 hours after eating a high glycemic meal. It is usually followed by a sore neck or headache. I eat a cracker or banana to elevate my blood sugar and the symptoms go away. You can try this quick and easy solution the next time he shows symptoms to see if that resolves it. If so, then I would modify his diet and have him checked out for a hormonal imbalance and/or hypoglycemia.
C., Red ears almost always indicate allergy or food allergy. In your case it could be meds interactions.... Have you tried any holistic or natural remedies?.... Melatonin is a great mood stabalizer, and excellent natual sleep remedy that could elininate 2 RX drugs already. P.S. Burning red ears mean extreame allergy!!!!!! Reintroduce each separately 1 week apart for an obvious result.
Hi it could be an allergic reaction to something - do you give him the meds at bedtime? My son's ears would get beet red and be hot whenever he had an allergic reaction. Hope you find the cause and this helps.
Also he only became allergic to something after many months of exposure - like he ate peanut butter from the time he could eat finger food but didn't develop an allergic reaction to it until many, many months later. Same thing with chocolate... Good luck
This may be a totally simplistic idea, but it was my first thought when I read your plight. As our bodies wind down for the night, they undergo some changes, one being that as the day goes on moving into night, our temperature begins to rise. If he happens to have cold ears during the day(I know it sounds weird, but my daughter's ears sometimes are freezing, even in the house), they might just be actually heating up with the rest of him at night. You know that feeling when you've been outside in cold air, and rapidly come into a warm building? Burning. It's awful. Does your son play outside in the afternoon after school, and does he have a bath/shower before bed? I don't think these would have to happen for this burning to occur, but I think it could make it worse. (No, I'm not suggesting that he not play outside or that you ban showers.) If you keep trying the Benedryl and that doesn't resolve it, and you're still feeling desperate, you might want to ask him to cup his hands around his ears at different points during the day to gauge how warm or cold they are. It would just take a moment, and then if he does happen to notice that they seem cold, I'd just take steps to keep them warmer if possible and to try to make sure they don't warm up too quickly. The weather has been crazy, and it's really difficult to keep building temperatures consistent. Our bodies are kind of in turmoil right now, I think, with these drastic ups and downs in temperature. I realize as I'm writing this that it might sound stupid, but I've learned the hard way in my life that I need to share the impressions that come to me. Best of luck. You are a good mom, why else would you be here seeking answers? Don't let anyone else tell you differently.
i have a feeling its blood pressure maybe the doc could give you one to borrow and take his bp when they get like this. I too had a lady belittle my views on parenting and Im sorry it happened to you, I also reported the problem maker. You are doing he best you can! I was a single mom for 4 years and I know of the struggles single life carries, I cant imagine with a child witha seizure disorder and 2 "bonus" kids, you are doing an amazing job! Parenthood comes with so many obstacles! Good Luck.........J.
WOW... a lot of medicine for a little guy. I can understand the depakote for seizeures, I have epilepsy. Maybe he is allergic to any one of the meds. I do not understand the mood altering drugs for a 10 year old. Shouldn't he be able to find his own way through the help of parents and prayer? Dr's these days will put a child on anything to get both parents and kids out of their offices as fast as they can. Try a different seizure medicine such as Lamictal - Depakote did strange things to me as well and I am 36 y/o.
Don't ever hesitate to take the kids to the ER especially in this case. Perhaps a second opinion is needed. If your 10 y/o says his ears are on fire and is crying, it is time to go to the ER. For instant relief, have you tried benadryl? This will help with the irritation. I get hives a lot, even on my ears too, so I know what that firely feeling feels like, it really, really hurts. Please, Please get him some help...he is in pain.
I hope you didn't take my medicine comment wrong, each person does what they feel is right, especially when it comes to thier kids, but in my humble opinion, I think it is sad to have kids on mood altering drugs that could ultimately make their behaviors worse. Good Luck and try the benadryl. M.
Hi C.,
I am sorry to hear that! It is so awful when you see your kids in pain and can't help them! Have you tried a lotion with moiturizer and or pain reliever? At least it should calm the pain until he falls a sleep....I don't kow, just a thought.
Hope you get an answer soon,
Mariana Abadie
www.MaiaCreations.ecrater.com
www.MyKidsFirst.com
Hi C., You caught my attention when you mentioned Tenex medication. My son has been on Tenex for I believe about three or maybe four years now. He takes his for Motor tic disorder (along the lines of tourettes). Anyway his ears used to get very hot too!! It would drive him INSANE!! I didn't know what to do either. I called the doc, pharmacy, read up on the internet, you name it. We were never able to get it figured out. The only thing were could really do that would somewhat help was little ice packs. He would put him on his ears for alittle bit (course not too long or your ears will get really hot when you take the ice off) or a cold wash cloth at times. It would usually make him happy enough that he was able to settle down. He went through weird things like that for a while. Hot ears, VERY cold feet (to the point he would wear two pairs of socks to school even when it was warm out). He finally got the feet thing to settle down, then it went the oppisate. We woke up one night (my creative child that he is) and he had bags of peas taped to each of his feet! He said his feet felt like they were on fire, and that's all he could think of to do at 3am. Anyway, I wish I had more to offer you, but that's all I know. We're still puzzled about that. His ears do still get hot, but not as bad as they did before (or maybe he just does not notice it as much now that he's older). I hope you find a better solution. Take care!!!
