Looking for Any Positive Feedback to End My Apprehension and Fear...

I have been through 4 sets of ear tubes on my 2 young kids, and I felt the same fear you did the first time. By the fourth time, I was totally relaxed. Watchng them put the mask to sedate them is teary eyed for sure, but the operation itself is quick and safe. We have had excellent results with the tubes and with one of my sons I wish we had done it earlier, because he totally cleared up the day of the tubes (runny nose and all!) The other one had speech issues and his speech increased after the tubes. Good luck!

Hi L.,

I just went through a bad winter with my 2 girls. I have a 6 year old and a 2 year old. They both had constant ear infections and an ENT said that they needed tubes. I felt the same way you feel. I was so nervous that I couldn't sleep for days. I took my older daughter when she was about 2 to an ENT who wanted to try something else besides tubes. He gave her a nose spray, Nasonex, and after a couple of months of using it, it worked. Unfortunately he left his practice and is now in Columbia, so I went to a different ENT who wanted to use tubes. This time I was determined to try the nose spray again on both of my girls and it worked. My little one's ears are perfect and my 6 year old is on the way to recovery. With the approval of their pediatrician, I have been giving them Nasonex - 2 sprays in each nostril once a day and Children's claritin. But, if my girls needed tubes, I heard that it is very safe and very fast. My nephew had tubes when he was about 2 and it took about 15 minutes from start to finish and he never had an ear infection again. The ENT told me that it is as safe as going to the dentist.

Good luck.

try not to worry too much about the surgery. My youngest brother had 5 different sets of tubes put in his ears over a 10 year period. Every time the surgery went fine. This is a relatively simple procedure for a surgeon. I understand though how you are feeling, he's so little, and it is scary none the less. But take heart that after he gets the tubes you won't have to worry about all those ear infections! Are they taking his adnoids out too? That is suppossed to help even more! Good luck to you and your son. I'm sure everything will work out wonderfully!

my son had the surgery aug 06. he was 17 mths old .it really is a breeze. we took him to yale hospital. the doctors and nurse came in and took him to get ready. we didn't see him go under the anesthetia. the whole thing took about 20 minutes, the procedure is about 10 min. then you'll be in recovery for about an hour. he was a little tired from the drugs but that was it, no pain. he was in a good mood the rest of the day. just make sure you let him wake up on his own from the drugs otherwise they get really disoriented and will cry ALOT. he even got to take a present home from the hospital. the staff there is absolutely wonderful. you don't need to stress yourself so much, the tubes are a godsent for my son. he didn't get a cold again til jan and that's all it was. before that he was taking antibiotics about once a month. they really help the mucus to drain properly. he's even taking swimming classes now with no problems. just hang in there you, have nothing to worry about
hope that made you feel a little better

It's alright to be nervous. This will be harder on you than him. You're child will feed off your emotions so try and be calm and reassurring around him. My son had open heart surgery and procedures to follow. Expect him to not be himself. Bring whatever it is that makes him comfortable (blanket, binkie, etc) so that when they sedate him he will have that and you with him. He will probably be crying when he wakes up so just hold him and comfort him. Your prescence and comfort will be all that he ultimately needs. Since the procedures were different, not sure what to expect at home physically, but emotionally it will be the same. THe best toyou and your family!

One of my best friend's daughters had tubes. She said that her daughter was groggy for an hour or two after the operation but then she was COMPLETELY NORMAL. And the difference in her health has been amazing!

Jenn Smith
http://jennsmith.stayinhomeandlovinit.com

I've not had this done, but my sister's little guy did have the tubes put in. The doctors let my sister in to the operating room while they put him to sleep, and then she was in recovery with him before he woke up. At no point while he was awake was he alone. The insertion took under half an hour. She was scared, but it was quick, and he was fine.

Afterward, he was a little groggy for an hour or so, but then he was okay. They even went out for lunch on the way home! The big difference she saw was that for the first two days or so he put his hands over his ears a lot to muffle the sound. His hearing loss was severe enough that when the tubes cleared out his ears, everything sounded too loud! It was such a huge difference for him.

He had his tubes put in in January, and has had no problems with infections at all since. It's been great to watch his language blossom since he can hear, and not being sick and in pain all the time has really changed his temperament.

It's going to be scary, and you're probably going to cry, and that's okay. He's your baby, and we get to worry. It's one of the perks of the job. But he's going to be just fine. Bring someone with you to hold your hand and give you tissues. Plan to spend the day spoiling him. Give him some ice cream and let him spend the afternoon in your lap, it'll make you feel better. It really is going to be okay, and it's fine if you're scared. You don't have to be Superwoman. No one will judge you if you get upset and cry.

2 of my kids have had them and yes while it is a little scary walking them into the OR it is for the better well my kids did fine the very first time they came out from the med they put you to sleep with (sorry my mind cant think right now)my oldest was like pretty balloons he was reahing for them but once he was in the freash air he was fine we even went x-mas shopping my other daughter was verry mean but again when the freash air hit her she was great my son had it done a few times one of the times he was home and outside riding his bike and around me they don't do it in a hospital they do it in a surgi center if you have any more questions just ask

Hi L.,

My daughter had tubes put in both ears about 2 months ago when she was also 18 months old. It really was not bad at all. Before the surgery, everyone told me not to worry and that it wasn't that bad, but of course I still worried, but they were right. Do you know for sure that you will be going into the surgery with your son? I didn't go with my daughter. Before the surgery she was given a kind of sedative to make her a little drowsy so the nurse could take her without her causeing a fuss. My husband and I waited in the waiting room. It took about a half hour and then they called to come into the post op area. Sienna was crying but as soon as I picked her up she calmed down right away. I gave her something to eat and drink. (She was not allowed to eat or drink for a few hours before the surgery). We went home about an hour later. For the most part she was ok for the rest of the day. She was a little off balance so she would fall a little but by the following day she was totally fine. She has not gotten an ear infection since the surgery. (Forgot to mention that she had gotten 8 in the 6 months prior, thats why we decided to get the tubes.) She has still gotten colds and just on Monday a stomach virus, but no ear infections! I also took her for a hearing test on Monday. At the first one they said she had some hearing loss, but on Monday she passed with flying colors. I was so happy. So I hope this info helps. If you have any more question, I'd be happy to answer.

Hello L.

I am not aware of the type of surgery that your son received for his Ear infection, however I could not notice that you mentioned that you are a divorced wombman and have sole custody of your son. What I am feeling from your energy and your wellbeing with your son is a lack of support. When we take soooo much resposibility with out a supportive team anyones immune system would result into attacking itself. The infections, the ear infections, results from lack of nurturing emotionally in my oppinion. I know because my son had the same experience. It took me to start opening my heart to trust people loving me and me loving me and it saved my sons life. No doctor or anyone was able to resolve this dis-ease I created in myself and resulted with my son. I made a decision to love and become responsible with my wellbeing emotionally physically and spirtually. I had to release alot of pent up anger from my past to allow my life and my energy to flow harmoniously with life this transformed my life and my sons life. I feel that what ever, me as the parent, is going through emotionally my son became affected from it as well. I am not saying that this could be true for you, just something to consider. The childs wellbeing always reflect the parents wellbeing, that is why I believe Doctors are so eager to tell patients that things are hereditary. We constanlty repeat the sufferings of our parents and then pass them onto ou r children until we decide to create a breakthrough. with the tools that I have learned from my mentors I was able to break through the sufferings of my past and now live a well life with my son and everyone around me and now I feel that it is time to share this possibility to others. I hope that this message feeds you and your sons heart well

Peace and Love
N.

My 2 1/2 yr old daughter had it done Feb. 20th. Thankfully for this site I was better prepared. It will be an awful experience for you as a mom, because they are so little and don't understand what's going on.
The hospital we use was great. They allowed me to go all the way to the OR with her, scrubs & all. She was a bit confused about all the people but all in all it was ok. UNTIL, they had to put her under. Let me just tell you that will be the absolute worst of it. From my experience, they allow you to stay until they are completely out. They layed her on the gerny, they put the mask over her face, at whih point she cried just for a few seconds BUT what no one told me was she flailed like a fish out of water. That's when I lost it! But thankfully at that point it took maybe 2 seconds and she was out. They don't IV them until they are completely asleep, which is great. She had tubes put in her ears & her Adenoids removed, so start to finish it was roughly 1 hour, yours should only be about 30mins if they are only doing tubes. They should page you with enough time to get to the srugical recovery room where you will be there when he wakes up. So as far as he's concerned, he took a nap and knows no different. He will cry, but that's mostly the anesthesia wearing off. Not any kind of real pain. He will then be very croggy and most likely sleep the rest of the day on & off.They gave her her own room and would not release her until she took liquids in and soiled a diaper. After that we headed home to where she rested comfortably for the rest of the day. They gave me ear drops and Tylenol w/codeine and some antibiotic for infection. They don't pack their ears and as long as you get the drops in he will be great. She was fine by the next day. She had a bit of an upset stomach from all the meds she had in her on an empty stomach but then she was great. She's been great ever since. She got a cold about 3 weeks after but it didn't lead to her usual ear & sinus infection like it normally does, because the tubes allow the fluid to drain naturally out of the ears. It was a runny nose lasted 3 days and it was over.It has been the best ever for her and us.
If you have any other questions you can email me direct at:____@____.com.
I know this was a long response but I hope it helps.

It is nothing to worry about. My son had tubes put in his ears at one year. THe fitted ear plugs are the best staying in wise. My son is 19 months old and the only problem i have is he likes to take the plugs out. He was groggy and miserable in the hosp but when we got home and he could run around he was fine. The only real pain in the butt is making sure water don't get in his ears. Sometimes the ears drain, no one told me this and I was worried.

My daughter has had tubes 3 times. They will most likely take the baby from you before they put him under, it is literally a 5 minute operation, they will bring you in for his recovery. He will most likely be crying. By the time you leave he will be totally normal. There are no effects that are long lasting. The first time my daughter had them, they clogged within a month. They pulled them out and put new ones in. But they worked amazingly for her. She didn't have ear infections for quite some time. Her's clogged again in a year or so, she had them put back in in May last year. Her first set, she was 10 months and her second set were right before her first birthday, the last set were right after she turned 3, just to give you some sort of timeline. Hopefully, the tubes will work as amazingly as my daughter's!
P.

My son had tubes put in at 8 months old and it did wonders. He didnt have another ear infection until he was about 5 and now he gets them but the antibiotic clears it up the first time. I would do it again if I had to.

L.
I went through the same thing last year with my daughter. PLEASE....whatever you do is your decision, but try a chiropractor before the surgery. I had a date for tubes as well, when my friend referred me to a chiro. She totally cleared the infections.....canceled surgery, and not one infection since. I had a new, happy, healthy daughter for the first time. Please...just give it a chance. 6 visits did it for us. It has to do with adjustments and aligning the drainage from the ear. Keep me posted!!!
Barb

Hi L.,

It's not my child that has ha dthe tubes but myself, 3 times, it's really not a big deal, and it will help so much. Your child may have an ear ache afterward but that should be all. This will help with future ear problems, and the tubes usually just fallout on there own. Of course watching your child go through anything is going to be scary and def harder on you then the child. You may also consier having the tonsils removed , i would speak to teh ENT about that, when i had my tonsils removed i never had another case of strept or ear infections. Everything will be fine, don't worry to much.

My daughter had tubes placed in on December, so I know how you are feeling at this moment. When you go in to the hospital they will change him into a gown and you will have to wear scrubs over your clothes. They will ask you a few questions to make sure he isnt sick.After the check his temperature and blood pressure they will take him to a operating room. You'll have him in your lap and they will put a breathing mask to his face and they will expect him to cry (it make him breathe in the gas easier). In a matter of a few seconds he will be asleep. Someone will walk you to the wating area while they get started with the surgery.

The surgery will take no more than 30 minutes. Its really quick.
When he get out of surgery he will be very cranky and he might be crying. You will see a bit of blood in his ears, dont worry its because of the surgery. Try keeping him calm and help him wake up. They will give you some fluids to bring up his sugar levels after surgery.

They will keep him for about an hour or 2 after surgery or until they see him moving freely and calm. They will give you some drops for the ears and they will as you to give him tylenol or motrin to keep him comfortable after surgery.(I gave her motrin only once after surgery and she was fine after that but all children are different) and she continued her day normally after that. You just let him be a little lazy for the day and continue your normal routine the day after.

If he does get an ear infection it just drains out of the ear for a week or so. Just make sure to keep the ear clear so it drains properly. Other than that, no one can tell that your child has tubes and he will be alot better. Over the summer you just have to cover his ears while in the pool and make sure not to let too much water go in the ear while bathing.

If you have any other questions you can write at ____@____.com

Hope I helped, It will all be ok.
G.

L., apprehension is normal, I have had two cousins (each undet the age of 5) and have a friend whose nephew was about 2 and another girlfriend whose granddaughter didn't even turn one, have tubes placed in the ears. From what I understand and seen the surgery is pretty routine, all came through with flying colors and have not had problems since. What to expect afterwards if really up to your son, you understand that each person recovers differently, but there shouldn't be any problems. Yes, I can imagine that you are scared right now and suspect you will be that way until the surgeon tells you all is well and you get to hold your son in your arms again, but try not to let it overwhelm you, think positive and all will be OK.. Good luck.