Recurrent Middle Ear Infection

If you haven't already taken her to a chiropractor I would highly suggest it. There is plenty of research that supports using chiropractic to help otitis media (ear infections). Besides continuing to use lots of antibiotics is weakening her immune system. Feel free to email me if you want more info on this subject. Good luck

Hi, My daughter is almost three. She had the same problems with ear infections. She had tubes put in when she was a little over a year old. We had it done in Orlando at Arnold Palmers Outpatient off of Gore Ave. She never cried she was back there for 15 to 20 minutes. No problems since. She had so much fluid in her ears that finally she could hear normal. Sarah will be fine.

My 4 year old daughter had her 1st ear infection in the last year. We treated it with antibiotics. The 2nd time my she had an ear infection, 6 months later, I took her for a chiropractic adjustment, put some garlic oil drops in her ear and made her lay down with a hot (warm) water bottle on her ear. She had been screaming before her nap. She napped, woke up better, went to bed that night with more drops and woke up feeling "Great"!!
The next time we were at a hotel and all I had was a warm washcloth. I put it on her ear at the first complaint and put her in bed. That worked too. She was fine in the morning.
She hasn't had one since (knock on wood!)
I got most of this advice from a great book called naturally healthy babies and children by Aviva Jill Romm.
Hope this helps!

I would wait if you can. If she is eating dairy it is often linked to mucus and ear infections. You can buy immune boosters in your local health food stores like Sambucol, it is elderberry extract and worked wonders on my first child now 6.
There is probably an allergen in her diet causeing the issue. Get some books on food allergies and see what you find.
The other thing is after she get's off the antibiotics get her on Probiotics like acidopholus. It is usually refridgerated in health food stores. Her good bacteria in her gut gets killed with Antibiotics and needs to be replaced. All sickness comes from the gut.
I would personally avoid the surgery if possible due to the anesthesia.
There are also natural homeopathic remedies that can help. They have no side effects and are very mild to her system.
Good Luck and prayers.

P.,

My little girl is 5 and has tubes she got them on March 15, 2004 she wasn't even a year old yet and I to was worried about having her go under. Thing is she has had the same set of tubes most of the time they fall out with in a year. It isn't bad at all. Just make sure you have a real good doctor. I do know that if you wait my doctor said it could effect her hearing and speach. The tubes help with the draining of the infection they still get them but fewer. My little girl has allergies and asthma so that doesn't help either. If you want feel free to email me directly at ____@____.com luck,

M.

Hi P.,

My son had quite a few ear infections until I stopped using J & J baby shampoo and soaps, as well as many of the other baby soaps/shampoos. They all have formaldehyde, even in air fresheners. Here's what I found out . . .

The ear canal in infants and small children inclines upward from teh inner ear toward its exit in the throat. This incline makes children more susceptible to earaches and inner ear infections. You do not have to have an infection to have an earache. Milk can cause this problem. A cool breeze can set off ear canal muscle spasms. Using Q-tips to clean the ears can push wax and other materials to the back of the canal against the eardrum, causing damage. The American Medical Association has stated that formaldehyde in shampoos and air fresheners causes earaches. You should seriously considering converting your home to safer, healthier, non-toxic products. I did and have never regretted doing so. With it my son has been able to stop taking allergy medications, stopped having ear infections/aches, and doesn't have to use his inhaler any more.

I'm not familiar with the surgery for tubes but have heard that it is a painless and simple procedure. I know people who have kids that had the surgery and there was no issue. Afterwards you may find that your child's ear drains fluid from her ears. It's supposed to do that so don't freak.

My son's ENT is Dr. Saswata Roy at Nemours and I have had some experience with Dr. Brink (also an ENT) - main clinic at Jax Beach. Good luck with everything! Drop me an email if you want me to elaborate on the products.

K. Woodlief

I'm an anesthesiologist....a doctor who specializes in anesthesia. Ear tubes are a very short procedure and can really help your little one! It takes about 10 minutes to do, but time is added to get the baby under anesthesia and to wake her up. There are risks with everything, but generally it is very safe. This is a common procedure and they do thousands of them so people really know what to do. Choose a hospital that does a lot of pediatric surgery because those doctors have the most experience with children. Basically they put a mask on her little face and let her breathe a sweet-smelling gas that will make her very sleepy. They usually use a combination of nitrous oxide like you get at the dentist, plus oxygen and then they gradually add the stronger gas.....to wake her up they shut the gas off and she just breathes the oxygen until the sleepy gas is all gone from her body. This is an outpatient procedure meaning they send her home the same day. Afterwards the tubes probably hurt less than the ear infections! Really, if my own kids needed this I wouldn't hesitate to have it done. Your baby will not remember any of this....she will be much more comfortable and they will finally be able to treat the infection!

If the Dr. recommends tubes definitely have it done, your baby will feel so much better and you will have the added benefit of no more antibiotics due to ear infections. My DD had 5 sets of tubes starting at 7weeks up to 3 years, and she's almost 13 know. While the tubes were in we had absolutely no problems, as soon as they would fall out the ear infections would start again. The surgery itself only takes 10-20 minutes. (A couple of my little one's took longer only because she also had a cleft lip and had other work being done at the same time, the tubes insertion itself took only minutes.) General Anesthesia is fine for babies, though as with any surgery no matter who they are there is always a risk, there are never any guarantees. BUT, make sure the anesthesiologist (sp) is a specialized to work with pediatrics as they will know the proper dosage to use. Also, have you seen an ENT about your baby's ears? I would get a referral from your Peds. to see one as they specialize in the ear. The only drawback from the tubes is a possibility of some SLIGHT scarring in the ear canal and a very slight hearing loss (not noticable except on a hearing test), but that should happen if you need multiple sets like my DD did.

Good luck.
M.

I understand your concerns (and fears), since we went through this ever so many years ago. I would suggest that you definitely ask your doctor all these questions, because that should be an excellent source of good info...

They explained to me that children's eustacian tubes are so small that those who have frequent colds and/or allergies end up with chronic mucous trapped in the middle ear - and - trapped like that it's a perfect breeding ground for infection

Try all the things you can do to avoid surgery - but - the dangers of being chronically on antibiotics - or of having the ears plugged and causing developmental delays because your child cannot hear well - or - worse - causing permanent damage to your daughter's hearing need to be remembered, too...

IF/WHEN you decide to have the surgery, you may want to remember that it is possible you will not be able to comfort your child as she wakes up from the anesthetic. Mine screamed for her mommy, although I was trying to comfort her. This many years later I still recall how hard it was not to be able to get through her anesthetic fog. BUT, nurses assured me, she would have been much worse upset if I had NOT been available for her. When they came for me and ushered me into recovery they warned me not to expect her to respond normally and it would pass soon enough and they wanted me to be right there when she did break through the fog.

I'll leave it to more recent moms to tell you prevention / treatment alternatives to surgery. I just want to assure you that my then beautiful baby girl has grown into a beautiful M. herself and her hearing is just great. The last tube fell out somewhere between 5 and 10 years old (I can't remember so well). And, the holes filled in very nicely. (Until then, she will need to wear plugs in her ears to prevent water getting in when she swims / goes underwater.)

Hi P.,

I would avoid the surgery at all cost! Perhaps the only thing you need to do is eliminate ALL cow dairy from your baby's diet. I'm a nutritionist and 95% of infants with ear infections benefit from eliminating cow dairy which is the most common allergen.

The reason is that pasteurized cow milk (which is the base for infant formula) contains some very strong allergens which cause an inflammatory reaction resulting in ear infections, skin conditions, asthma, and gastro-intestinal problems. It's incredibly common. Your very best substitute for cow dairy based infant formula is RAW goat milk. If you live in Miami, I have started a Co-op to obtain it from an Amish farm. Read more details about raw dairy and safety for infants here: http://www.rockwellnutrition.com/Millers-Organic-Farm_ep_...

If you are not in Miami, and your health food store does not carry any, you can have it shipped to you from a number of farms around the country: www.realmilk.com/where.html

Your second best alternative if you cannot afford raw goat milk (which by the way lasts 2 weeks in a very cold fridge), is pasteurized goat milk found next to the regular milk at the supermarket. Here's what it looks like:
http://www.meyenberg.com/?action=prod2
However, due to the processing/pasteurization of this milk, it may also aggravate your baby's ears. Yet it's easier for infants to digest and more similar to breast milk.

Lastly, it is critical that you give your baby probiotics aka beneficial bacteria specific for infants. These good bacteria which keep your baby's immune system strong, have all been killed off by the antibiotics. Now, with much of the good flora destroyed and immune system weakened, ear infections can occur more easily. Here is a page of info on infant probiotics:
http://www.rockwellnutrition.com/HLC-Neonate-Powder-by-Ph...

You should also read about homeopathic remedies for ear infections. They are the safest way to treat them in infants, and proven effective in numerous scientific trials over the years. The best known one is Otoplex.
http://www.rockwellnutrition.com/Oto-Plex-by-Weber-Weber_...

In brief, if you do not address the underlying cause of her ear infections by removing allergens and building up her immune system, the surgery will only cause her unnecessary trauma since infections will continue to happen and your baby's health will always suffer in one area or another. The reoccurring ear infections are a sign that "something is wrong" and causing them. The tubes are not a permanent solution. They may not even work at all.

I highly encourage you to try removing all cow dairy in her diet for at least 3 months and supplementing with probiotics. Side note, do not use soy milk. It is a poison for babies and linked to some horrible health problems. You can read more about dangers of soy for infants and kids here:
http://www.westonaprice.org/soy/infant.html

Let me know what you decide to do and how she does!

A. R., CN

Hey P.,
The surgery is very quick and easy. My youngest daughter had her first set of tubes at 6 months old. The tubes really make a HUGE difference. Some kids just need help to keep the stuff in the middle ear from building up. The tubes help with that. Dr. Daniel Wohl is a WONDERFUL ENT. We just used him for tonsilectomy. We used Dr. Michael Loper for both of my daughters (youngest and middle) tubes. Both of these are great docs...Dr. Wohl is a Pediatric ENT.
Hope this helps. If not, feel free to contact me directly at ____@____.com

Hi P.!! My daughter was 11-1/2 months old when I put tubes in her ears and it was like night and day. I was taking her to the doctor's just about every month for ear infections and finally decided that, in my opinion, the long term use of antiobiotics were not good for a developing immune system and opted for the tubes. The entire procedure took maybe 15 minutes. She wasn't in pain and that entire day she was sleepy but played like normal. The next morning was wonderful. She started to talk more and was just a pleasure to be with. My daughter is now 3-1/2 years old and one tube is out and the other is still in. I take her every 6 months to the ENT Doctor just for a check up to see how the tubes are doing. Trust me, it will be the best thing for you and your baby.

I just have to add my 2 cents on the long term effects. I had tubes put in when I was 2 (I'm 30 now). They certainly helped with the recurrent ear infections, but I have some slight hearing difficulties which I'm pretty sure arise from the amount of scar tissue from the tubes. In fact, the first thing every doc who's ever looked in my ears says is "wow, thats a lot of scar tissue!"

P.,
My son had more than 10 ear infections over a 3 month time period. He had been on antibiotics so many times, I even took him to have acupucture (not sure about the spelling). Nothing worked! I finally caved and scheduled an apointment with the ENT. Noah was 13 months old when he got his tubes. It was done at a same day surgery center we went back with him, they gave him an oral med, then put the gas mask on him. He was carried back by the anesthesiologist (in his arms). That was the only hard part. About 15 minutes later they were calling our name to go see him. He threw up a few times after we were home, but other than that we had no problems. The kid hasn't had an ear infection since. After the tubes he began to talk and walk, which he hadn't done before. I could not have been more pleased. I wish I would have done the tubes sooner and caused my son less pain. Go for it mom!
I also wanted to add that my son is now 2 1/2 and has been infection free since the tubes!
God Bless,
R.

Hi P.! I have 11 month old twin girls and one of my daughters has the same problem. She's already seen the ENT(ear, nose & throat specialist) and if she gets another one they are ready to go. I know MANY kids who have had the ear tubes done, some of them numerous times(they fall out by themselves and sometimes the child still needs them)and I have heard only 1 story I didn't like. Everyone else has said they helped their child tremendously. The 1 child's tubes did work to keep her from getting infections but they didn't fall out like they were supposed to so she had to have them removed, also under anesthesia. What I''m trying to say without the book I just wrote you :) is they do work and the benefit is not having your child on antibiotics constantly or worrying about hearing loss from constant infections. Hope this helps!

P.,

I agree with other moms that it is the hardest thing to have your baby put under. When they come out of it they are in a fog and are crying for you but don't recognize you right away. It’s scary and you feel so helpless. We also did a lot of praying. Also if their tubes don’t fall out they will have to be removed.

BUT... having said that part, P., I honestly kick myself for not getting tubes earlier. I feel so bad that my daughter is struggling with speech delay. I feel it’s my fault because in my gut I knew she needed to see an ENT and I listened to my pediatrician and others who kept assuring me that she was fine and to wait and wanted her to get older hoping she would grow out of it. They ear canals change when they get older and some babies do grow out of it. She had ear infections for 6 months straight and several before that. Finally I had had enough and went to an ENT, who is probably the best person to talk to for a second opinion. They will not put tubes in if it is not necessary. He said I should have been there months ago and squeezed her in immediately for the surgery. It was so amazing the difference. That is how I know the whole thing was worth it. She could hear me and a whole new world opened up to her. She started getting ear infections when she was 6 months and finally got tubes when she was 18 months. The ENT said she has to unlearn all the garble she had been hearing and relearn what we are actually saying. Plus the ENT will do a hearing test which my daughter bombed. My daughter is now 3 and she still has speech delay which a speech therapist said that she may not actually catch up to her peers until age 5. I work with her everyday and she is catching up but still not where her peers are. I am actually taking her to see her ENT tomorrow. He is great and so down to earth. If you would like his number for an opinion let me know.

Hope that helps! Beth

My son had 4 ear infections by the time he was 6months old, so at 7 months we placed tubes, which was in april, since he has had only one infection and I was able to tell, because it drains due to the tubes. He did have a type of general anesthesia, but no iv was need and the did not intubate with a tube, they used and LMA which is like a tube in the throat, but not as rough to place. My son continues to use a pacifier, so I am not sure why they said it needed to stop, I was never told that. The surgery took about 20mins from the time they left the room to go to the OR and total time with recovery we were on our way home within 1hr 30mins tops, not bad, very quick. No anesthesia is not bad for babies, this was my son's third time under anesthesia and we have had no problems. I feel the tubes have helped greatly and glad we did them. Hope this helps.

My son used to get ear infections when he was a baby. One of the causes is allowing a baby to lie down with a bottle, especially milk. Once I stopped giving him a bottle to hold himeself, the ear infections stopped. I also gave him some water after the milk. I don't know if you give your baby a bottle to lie down with; but if you do, make sure her head is proped higher than the rest of her body when drinking from a bottle. Also, a friend's daughter had to have tubes in her ears years ago when she was a baby. The tubes allow the ears to drain. She went through the surgery fine and the procedure was successful. I'm sure the process is even better now!!!

Hi, my child had alot of ear infections and strep throat in the lst few years and we tried so many antibiotics. He struggled thru kindergarten and then finally my pediatrician sent us to a ent doctor who tested his hearing and he had a 40 percent hearing loss due to fluid in his ears and they scheduled him for a tonsillectomy and tubes in his ears the next week. No problems after surgery with his hearing at all. I wish I would have done this sooner. So I would say due the tubes. The only thing I have to be careful about is getting water in his ears as it could cause the tubes to fall out. He has to go back every three months for the tubes to be checked and the dr said they would eventually fall out on their own and not be needed anymore. Good luck!! S.

It is always to hard to have to put your child under for anything. My son was a little older when he had to be placed under & it was one of the hardest things to do as a parent. My husband & I did a lot of praying before this. As far as the tubes go, I have had a couple friends do these. They were not as young as your daughter, but they were needed & if your child is having a lot of ear infections, it could cause more problems in the future. The tubes will make her so much happier. I would question your doctor on the age just to see how many he has done on a child this young. My son was 18 months when the doctors wanted to do his. It didn't end up coming to that b/c I was waiting for that one more infection to do the surgery b/c he had about 6 in a year. That one more never came so I did not have to do it. It will be okay, just make sure you find out how many little ones the doctor has done it for that young. Good luck.

MY DAUGHTER HAD TUBES DUE TO EAR INFECTIONS. THE INFECTIONS STOPPED AFTER THE TUBES.iI NOW AT 56 HAVE TUBES DUE TO A SCUBA PROBLEM. I HAD WHAT THEY ALL CONSCIOUS SEDATION.
yOU DON'T GET PUT ALL THE WAY UNDER BUT YOU DON'T REMEMBER OR FEEL ANYTHING. TUBES RELEAVE THE PRESSURE ON THE EAR DRUM, WITHOUT THEM THE EARDRUM CAN BURST AND THEN CAN'T HEAR. THRE TUBES WILL FALL OUT ON THEIR OWN,IT TAKES ABOUT 15 MINUTES TO TUBE BOTH EARS.

Tubes will help out so much with ear infections.
I was going to the doc every month because my son had an ear infection. At 10 months the doc put in tubes and since then my 2 1/2 yr old has only had 2 or 3 infection and still has one tube left in a ear. He has asthma so they gave him a treatment before the tubes and anestesia along with some tylenol.
I never had tubes put in my ears but my mom said I didn't get them as much as my son did.
My son is a people person so he didn't have any trouble going to the nurses, especially since he was already getting sleepy because of the tylenol.
Ask your doc about the ear specialist he would send you too so you can talk to them before you fully agree. I'm sure they could tell you the process they take. We went to Nemours.

My son is 3 and he got tubes placed in April of this year. He had recurrent ear infections. He had 9 ear infections within a years time (when he started daycare).

Since he had the tubes placed he has not been sick since. He had a runny nose here and there but besides that he is doing great. Also as PP have said, having ear infections so often and fluid in the ear it can hinder her ability to hear. My son was a very late talker and I believe this may have had a hand in it.

Now he won't shut up. :-)

It is scary to think of your child going under anesthesia. they gave my son a little cup of syrup and he became "drunk" and they carried him away. When he woke up he was miserable. They said it was because of the anesthesia...he was confused and screaming and kicking and inconsolable. They said every kid reacts differently. We went home that afternoon and he was back to his usual self. We now have to place ear plugs on him whenever he takes a bath or is around water to prevent water from going in his ears.

I would definitely look into getting the tubes placed. It was a great decision for us.

P.,
If there is a smoker in your home, it can contribute to ear problems in children.
Here are some nutrients that can help (1/4 dose of suggested on labels): Colloidal Silver (natural antibiotic-can take orally or placed in the ear); Manganese (Deficiency has been linked to ear disorders); Vitamin C with bioflavonoids 100mg/day (Boosts immunity & fights infection-use an esterified or buffered form such as ester-C or calcium or zinc ascorbate); Zinc (research on dosage amt.)(Aids in reducing infection).
Here are some herbs that can help: To alleviate pain-place a drop of warm garlic oil or olive oil in the ear, then a drop of lobelia or mullein oil. You can plug the ear loosely with a small piece of cotton. (Eardrops containing garlic, mullein, and St. John's wort are available at health food stores).
Olive leaf extract helps the body to fight infection.
What to avoid: wheat, dairy products, corn, oranges, peanut butter, simple carbohydrates, including sugar, fruits, and fruit juices.
Also, introduce new foods one at a time and watch for any reactions.
Try switching milk to soy milk, rice dream, or nut milk instead of cow's milk or formulas.
Keep the baby's nose clean with nose spray. Do not try to have her blow her nose.
Put cotton in her ear when bathing her. Do not take her swimming until her ear is better.
There are also earache tablets from Hyland's Inc. that are homeopathic that reduce pain and fever.

Hopefully, some of these things will help. They are all safe and natural.
Take Care,
T.
(mom of 4)

P., any time a baby has to undergo general anaesthesia it's a concern.
My son also had recurrent middle ear infections, and antibiotics were not very effective.

Here are a few things you can do to see if you can reduce the number of infections.

Make sure she's eating yogurt w/ active cultures. This will help boost her immune system. Yo-Baby is good...

You could also try soy milk instead of dairy milk. Milk products can make ear infections worse in some children.

Make sure that your baby is hydrated (drinking plenty of water) If she's underhydrated this can make her mucous thicker and less able to drain easily from her ear canals.

When your baby is congested or starting to get a cold, try a saline nasal spray like Simply Saline; this will get her sinuses flowing and will help her ears to keep draining.

Ear tubes are very effective, from what I have heard, but I would try a few other things first...

My daughter had ear infection after ear infection and was constantly on antibiotics which never seemed to work so we made the decision to have the tubes put in. I was nervous during the surgery b/c of the anesthesia but I'm so glad I had it done. She came out of the anesthesia a little groggy but otherwise okay. And she never had another ear infection again and it's now 5 years later!! If I had to do it again I wouldn't hesitate at all.

I am practically an expert when it comes to middle ear infections. After going through 5 double ear infections in less than a year I took my son to the ENT (Dr. Spector- Winter Park). He said the only way to fix it was to insert tubes. They WORKED! My son was 10 months old and he has not had an ear infection since then (he is 7 years old). The whole procedure took 20 mins. I went into the back with him and they put him under. I left (crying I must admit). I walked into the waiting room my husband handed me a cup of coffee and as I was about to sit when the doctor came out to tell us everything went great and we could see him in 10 mins in recovery. He woke up crying (very common with a general) but otherwise perfect and he could hear so much better.
Hope this helps.

try going to a good chiropractor

Both of my daughters had tubes. My 20 month got her's this last Dec. She had an ear infection a week after she was off the antibiotics. We tried the Chiropractor to see if aligning her neck would help drain her ears. It didn't.
By the time we took her to the ENT (Children's Ears, Nose and Throat, Dr. Cotter she is wonderful) her earing was not good, because of all the fluid in her ears. The doctor was concerned about her speech that she set up her surgery the next week.
She is doing great 9 mths later.

When they took her to get the tubes in, the nurse brought us coffee and danishes. I did not even get to finish by coffee and the surgery was alredy done.

Hi P.,

I had a baby that had recurrent ear infections and I did not put tubes in her ears. I was able to avoid it and I hope you do to.

First of all, the antibiotics may clear up the infection but they also weaken her immune system and make her susceptible for more problems, like another ear infection. Tubes are a foreign object that can cause other problems and might not even fix the one you have. Doctors tend to jump at that as a solution when they can't think of anything else to do.

My first line of defense would be chiropractic. Chiropractors are not just for back problems. The immune system works properly when the spine (the control panel of the body) is working properly. I recommend an Upper Cervical Specialist if you can find one. They really understand the immune system. That's how I dodged the tubes with my first daughter.

Next, you need to remove the toxins that are breaking down her immune system. If you use any synthetic chemicals in the house, like Chlorine bleach or ammonia, her problems are being exacerbated. Simple Green is non-toxic to the environment but not to your child. Even Dreft laundry detergent is a synthetic chemical. Johnson and Johnson and Gerber products use Quaternium-15 as a preservative which is a known cancer causing agent. That's not good for the immune system.

A good absorbable multivitamin is also necessary. AND I stress absorbable. If she is not getting the nutrition she needs, her immune system can't work.

P., I was a kid that has been poked and prodded and put under anesthesia all my life. Don't believe people who tell you it doesn't cause damage. If you want to know who I am and why I am so adamant, you can take a look at my website, www.squidoo.com/ifyourbabycouldtalk. I also give nutritional seminars and try to educate when I can. If you'd like any additional information, please ask, I'll be glad to help.

God bless!

M.

Hi P.,

My oldest son had the same problem with he was little. He is now almost 21, and we did end up getting him the ear tubes when he was about 18 months. I wish I had known then what I know now! I have been a nurse for almost 15 years, and in the course of my career learned so much!
I didn't read all the responses, but by your follow up I see that you may have been given advice about allergens in the home. That is one of the best things you can do - remove the toxins from the home and the environment in general. As a matter of fact, I am now a Health & Wellness consultant with an International Wellness Company. I'd be happy to give you a free consultation to help you in your efforts to remove the toxins. I also know a way to treat ear infections naturally and help boost your family's immune system. You may help your baby to the point that she may not need the tubes...but of course, her ENT will be the one to determine that. I'm sure you're now aware of the possible dangers of anesthesia, and if surgery can be prevented it would be the ideal situation. So, please give me a call and I'd be very happy to discuss it all with you. ###-###-####
C.

My son is 7 now and he had to get tubes when he was a baby. The only drawback to me is that they are supposed to fall out by themselves and one didn't and it started to really bother him one day last year (imagine feeling something hanging out in your ear) so I had to get it taken out.

Hello
Both of my kids had tubes. They had recurrent ears infections and they were not done with one antibiotic and they were starting another one...They were always sick. My oldest one got the tubes when he was almost 2 yrs and my youngest at 10 months. Even with total anesthesia it is worth it...they never got sick again....and my second one was in daycare. The procedure does not take more than 15 minutes and recuperation is quick. They just wake up really, really mad. I do not know about the pacifier because neither one of mine used one, but there was thumb sucking instead and the doctor never metioned anything. The tubes come out by themselves. The only thing that you shoud be careful is with the water in her ears...use some type of protection.
I have heard other stories but for my kids it was the best.
To prevent ear infections....I did not give him a bottle to go to bed..they had allegies and asthma and that trigger some of them....

Good Luck

Im a mommy of a 3 1/2 month old baby boy..and I'm a speech-language pathologist, I work with many children that have recurrent ear infections. My experience has been that the tubes have helped kids not have or lessen ear infections. The tubes are inserted into the ear in order to drain the liquid and to prevent from any more liquid building up inside the ear. YOur baby is still very young and this is the most important time for speech-language development, which means she needs to be able to hear what you and family members are saying to her.
Best of luck and its a good thing that you are doing something early on....
if any more question feel free to contact me....

I feel your pain my son was on antibiotics atleast every other month for 2 yrs. He had ear infections and sinus infections every it seemed like every month. But when just had tubes put in and tonsils and adenoids out this past July. He went through it like a champ and he has not been sick once since the surgery. It has helped him alot. Hope this helps. You can email me ____@____.com if you have any questions or need a someone to listen. Our ENT was Dr. Maddern he was awesome.

It is very scary to think of your little one going under anesthesia. They gave my son asome medicine and he became "drunk" and they took him into surgery. When he woke up he was miserable. They said it was because of the anesthesia...he was confused and screaming and kicking and just very inconsolable. They said every kid reacts differently. We went home that afternoon and he was back to his usual self. He handled it very well.

PLEASE take your precious daughter to another Ped. for a second opinion! I think she is too young to need tubes already! Has this doctor tried various antibiotics or the same every time? Some children do not work well with certain antibiotics as my niece did get well with taking Amoxicil. I truly think another doctors advice will be helpful to you! God bless you always and may He guide you in this situation for the best solution in this matter!
Kathy N.

Hi P.,

If you're willing to try a more gentle approach...I find that to be funny because that should always be the first line of defense....but if you're willing to do it I'd take her to a chiropractor and/or someone that does cranialsacral. Sometimes it's as simple as tight muscles or rotated vertebrae that is preventing the ear from draining. Wouldn't you rather have your child try something soothing than go through the craziness of surgery when not needed? And I'd recommend probiotics since she's been on so many antibiotics, it may mess up her immune system.

Best of luck!
C.

My daughter had to have tubes put in when she was 2. It made a big difference. She only had 1 ear infection about a year later, and it healed much more quickly with the gunk being able to drain out. The general anesthesia is used instead of local anesthesia as a safety precausion. We all know how our young ones like to squirm around.

A friend of mine tried chiropractic treatment for her daughter as an alternative to tubes. That worked for her.

Take her off the pacifier first to see if her infections decrease, sucking forces fluid into the ear cannal and a change in pressure. My son had frequent ear infections and throat infections. The pediatrician just said it was normal for kids, it wasn't till I took him to a general, family physician, 2 years later and he checked his ears and pulled out a black shriveled up bean. He had, at the age of 2 stuck a small bean in his ear from his brothers bean bag toss across game. He didn't have any infections after that. Trie some other options first. A second opinion from a different doctor, etc.