Tubes/Adenoids

have you had him tested for seasonal and food allergies? My son was constantly getting ear infections. We then discovered (the hard way) that he had several food allergies. Since removing the foods from his diet, he is down to maybe 1 ear infection a year.
M.

My five-year-old had her 1st set tubes put in and her adenoids removed in June. The following day, she was perfectly normal, and outside playing. She took painkillers for a few days, but other than that, it was no problem. Our doctor told us that adenoids are a lot easier to remove than tonsils. Good luck.

Both of my little ones who are now 5 and 8 have had two set of tubes put in. My eight year old had her adenoids, tonsils and longer lasting tubes put in at age 6. I was beside myself. We had a rough week with the tonsils being sore, but it became easier. She very rarely have any more ear infections or strep issues. My five year old son who was prone to constant ear infections also had two sets of tubes put in. He had his adenoids removed the second times as well. He had no trouble bouncing back the first day. He did not have his tonsils removed. Unfortunately from time to time he still have ear infections. Although it's not as frequent, I can't see going through the surgery a third time. I take that back, if he had to be on a antibiotic twice a month, I probably would consider it.

Hi K.,
Years ago my daughter, when she was 2 years, had her adnoids removed because of sleep apnea. It was also because she'd had constant ear infections. While the surgery was scary for me, the good piece is the ear aches went away and she was able to sleep better.

My daughter, who is now 7, had tubes placed and her adenoid removed when she was 3 1/2. She had cronic ear infections, strep throat, bronchitis all because of the fluid that kept building up in her ears. The procedure is actually fairly simple, and went quickly. She complained of a sore throat for the afternoon she had the procedure done but we kept her on the pain medication the doctor gave us and by the next moring she was back to her old self. She had the procedure done on a Friday and was back in preschool on Monday. About 4 or 5 days after the procedure she woke up and did throw up this mucousy mass which the doctor said was the scab from where the adenoid was removed. Since the procedure I can probably count the number of times she's had an ear infection or any other related illness on one hand. If you have a good ENT I wouldn't worry too much about the procedure. We were living in Baltimore at the time and ours was excellent. Good luck to you and your son.

both my boys had this done. i really fought it, but the only alternative my pediatrician was pushing was prophylactic antibiotics which i REALLY hated. i wish now i'd found an alternative practitioner. but even if i had, this surgery may well have been a good thing. it was hard on both of them, coming out of the anesthesia was a nightmare. but they were both up and around within a day or two and the sore throats passed quickly. results were good too, big reduction in ear infections.
good luck!
khairete
S.

Hi! ((hugs!!))

First, adenoids out is not really considered "major" surgery. Just wanted to throw that out there for those responders who called it that.

My now three year old had two sets of tubes and his adenoids out. I will tell you that, while the surgery was only 20 minutes long, it was a lot harder on him than the tubes. He really had a hard time recovering for the first day, and the second day was not that easy. After that he was much better, though!

He still gets occasional sinus/ear infections, but now they're more like twice a year instead of three days after he went off the antibiotics from the last one.

Second opinions are fine, they never hurt, but after two sets of tubes haven't helped I'd sure want something done!!

Also, across-the-board allergy testing isn't a bad idea either. You have to ask your ped to recommend them so you can get the referral. My son came back allergic to absolutely nothing, though. Go figure!! But if it were to be caused by an allergy it sure is nice to find out now, so you might decrease those infections and therefore the amt of antibiotics!
I also highly recommend probiotics. The antibiotics clear an infection but can leave the body stripped of the good bacteria that fight infection. Probiotics are available in the drug store or any vitamin shop.
:)

Afraid I can't help with the specifics of your request, but I encourage you to seek a second opinion. No qualified doctor will be upset if you do this and should actually encourage it. Clearly you have concerns, and rightfully so - multiple major surgeries for a small child! It may very well be what's best, but you will rest easier knowing you have gathered all the info you can before proceeding. Good luck to you and your family.

My son had a few ear infections when he was a baby but they were not a constant thing. When he was 3 1/2, his tonsils swelled up enormously. He had no fever or any infection. They were big enough it looked like 2 huge marbles at the back of his mouth - he could practically chew on them. I took him to an Ear Nose Throat Dr. We tried shrinking them with steroids but as soon as we finished the series, they swelled right back up again. He was having trouble eating and breathing while he slept. So as soon as he turned 4 we had his tonsils and adenoids removed. He was sleeping and eating so much better with them out and he hasn't had another ear infection since then.