Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Is this thing on?

Is it just his gender or is there a problem here? Little Man had tubes put in his ears in October 2006. The tubes fell out in November 2007. Since falling out, he has suffered at least six ear infections. To be honest, we, and I mean the pediatrician and ENT included, are not even sure if it isn't just one long infection. He is on antibiotics for two weeks and then off for two weeks, then we cycle again. Other than some whining at times, he speaks like a five year old so I am not worried about speech development. A hearing test shows he is within normal range but why does he like the music so loud and seems to hear me best at a whisper? I cannot have a tone deaf child; I must live vicariously through him when he becomes a rock star! At our one year check last week with the ENT he commented that the ears looked good and removed the tubes that had wiggled out of position. I asked about tubing again due to the infections and he suggested to wait a couple of months and see how it goes. He said if we tube again we will take the tonsils and adenoids. Fast forward one week; ear infection number seven.

There is a difference between listening and hearing. Daddy is not hearing me. What is worse; Little Man constantly on meds or the operation to remove the body parts rendered useless in the last century thanks to modern medicine? My tonsils were removed due to regular bouts of strep throat, which Little Man, at the age of three has had about four times. I am fine, or so I think so, and tend to error on the side of healthy.

So not only does Little Man fight ear infections and strep throat routinely, I am starting to wonder if the reason he gets up two or three times a night is not that he needs us, but that he doesn't feel good or has other medical issues like trouble breathing. Maybe I am just searching for more reasons to rationalize the operation.

My dilemma; how do get Daddy to hear me and make it his idea to proceed with what seems to be best for our Little Man?

6 comments:

LaskiGal said...

I can't believe I am reading this? Why? Because I am the grown up version of your son! I was on meds all the time. Tubes. Hearing problems (because of infections--my ears were perfect!). The docs nearly begged my mom to have my tonsils removed. She said NO--she was a new age hippie mom, YET all the antibiotics were OK?
Huh? Whatever . . .

I had strep ALL the time as a kid. I have secondary infections whenever I get sick and I am a very healthy person (doesn't sound like it, but I truly am).

So--the drawbacks . . .
--You are sick ALL the time--especially schoolage because of all the germs floating around.
--You MISS a lot of school. This has a direct impact on my grades!
--You miss socializing/playing because you are sick and/or have all these doctor apps. to go to.
--You feel miserable.
--Repeated illnesses and the use of antibiotics can have negative impacts as you grow up.
--The surgery is routine. I was one of the few kids who still had my tonsils.

So, maybe bring up the above, indirectly, casually, and see if he doesn't think surgery would be a good idea.
I hope those reasons help . . .

Keep the rock star dreams alive!

FUN-ky Mama said...

I have no advice on getting Dad on the team. But my son, who is now 15, went through the same thing. With the 2nd set of tubes, they removed his tonsils and adenoids, and that was that! No more ear infections or all of the other nasty respiratory STUFF that was always cropping up. We've never regretted it!

Law Student Hot Mama said...

My kid has had one ear infection - it's the WORST THING EVER. And it makes me feel better hearing that other peoples' kids don't sleep through the night. My kid doesn't either.

Oh, and I had strep at least once a month as a kid. I still have my tonsils, and I managed to graduate high school and go on to college and law school. Though I kind of wish I just had an operation as an infant in which they just preemptively removed everything I didn't need like wisdom teeth, appendix, tonsils . . . and inserted ear tubes because I was always taht kid with ear infections, too.

Also, thanks for stopping by my blog. I'm deranged, so I'm a little mystified when I get new readers, but pleased nevertheless! Please come back!

The MomBabe said...

Ugh, that totally stinks. We got to the point that even antibiotics weren't helping and my son would get rocephin shots instead. Now that's a thick shot.

Anyways, as soon as he turned three we got yet another set of tubes and took out his adenoids (which were HUGE....) and that helped tons. Plus, he finally, at the ripe age of three, started to sleep through the night.

I'm all for ear tubes and the like. And tell Daddy about all the money you'll save by not going to the doctor and ENT and pharmacies all the flippin time.

A Buns Life said...

Both kids have had three sets of tubes and with the final set they had their adenoids taken out and we have had NO problems since. I think O may had 1 ear infection since, but that can still happen. No strep, nothing.
I say do it.

Angela: mom2girlsgirlsgirls: said...

Been there with the ear infections. Hannah is on her third set of tubes, "T" tubes that aren't supposed to fall out like the previous two sets did. The left tube fell out anyhow & now she's digging in her right ear. I'm guessing the tube has come loose. We didn't take out the adenoids...so much has happened that I don't remember exactly why. If she goes under again, we'll seriously look into taking out the adenoids.

The main thing I would change: forget all the antibiotics. I don't know now how many rounds Hannah took & I hate to think of the havoc they wreaked on her system. Hind sight is 20/20 and all that.