Livi, other docs....tubes in the ears for my one year old?

[lendaddy]

Interesting Art, so some kids grow out of the need and some don't. Are there many adults that have them?

[Nostril Cheese]

I remember that I felt worlds better once there were in. I used to get really bad infections to the point where my hearing was affected.

I was put totally under to have it done. All I remember was being wheeled into the OR, mask on face, then waking up in the recovery room. Probably one of the most unpleasant experiences of my life. I remember feeling VERY sick.

[fastpat]

Originally posted by lendaddy
I trust this doc, but the nonchalant attitude toward it is what gets me. Kind of an "ahh it's nothing" thing. Is it "nothing"?

They're very common these days, and are a good thing. I had a roomy in grad school that had the same problem your child is having, and didn't have the opportunity to have the tubes, they weren't around yet. He was partially deaf from about age 6-7. Scar tissue on the ear drum and throughout the middle ear dampens the transmission of sound.

[Nathans_Dad]

Len the risk you run by not doing the tubes is continued chronic infections and scarring of the ear drum which could lead to hearing loss.

[rammstein]

I had them put into me. Twice. I was very young. I had infections constantly and it was necessary. I don't remember much except ice cream and getting to choose tv stations that night . I'd have to say its just routine to the doc, obviously it will never feel that way to you when its your rugrat.

[livi]

Originally posted by lendaddy
Thanks Livi, he han't had any other serious illness.....but he's only one. He did have a chest cold like the rest of us a month back but so did I, my wife and three year old. He did seem to get it the worst though and the doc gave him an inhaler to help him out as he was working really hard to get air. He's fine now though.

Perhaps the most common cause for hospital admission during the first 2-3 winters in life - common viral diseases that cause a bit of airway obstruction. Donīt be alarmed if some of the future colds goes with the same symptoms. Generally be generous with the inhalation medicines. They do help and they are harmless. Most children grow out of it during the preschool years. Better each year.

I would be interested to know what the generic names of the sprays are that you were prescribed. Same as in Sweden I assume. Principally it is asthma medication. Two major causes to the airway obstruction - swelling and extra mucus production on the inside of the air "tubes" and secondly for some reason we are created with circular muscles in the tube walls, that contract making the airway even more obstructed.

Hence, usually two medications are used. For the inside inflammation typically a steroid spray, for the muscles to relax another. Most parents administer too few inhalations daily of the latter.

For many children suffice to give the inhalations during the cold episodes. For others, with frequent colds or symptoms in between the colds - it is often wise to give a small daily dose of steroid spray every day during the winter/virus season.

Sorry for ranting. I get carried away with one of my favorite patient subjects.

[lendaddy]

I'll try to remember to ask the wife what it was but I believe it was a steroid. And I know it was only one inhaler, not two.

[lendaddy]

Livi,

The inhaler was "Albuterol".

[livi]

I believe that is for airway muscle relaxation, not a steroid. That makes sense if you only got on medication.

[artplumber]

Originally posted by lendaddy
Apparently they only do "mask" anesthesia. Is this safer?

All anesthesia has some risk (even local/topical). It's pretty darn safe, and like I said ENT's do a ton of them. I would hazard a guess that they are way safer to get implanted than driving 100,000 miles.

[fastpat]

Originally posted by artplumber
All anesthesia has some risk (even local/topical). It's pretty darn safe, and like I said ENT's do a ton of them. I would hazard a guess that they are way safer to get implanted than driving 100,000 miles.

Safer than that. "Mask anesthesia" means that they don't intubate unless there's an "issue". Your child will likely breathe on his own during the procedure, which is very quick normally. Most times, he'll take longer to fully wake up than the procedure takes.

[sewell94]

i had tubes put in 5 times as a kid, my cousin had them done a few more times than i did. I outgrew my ear problems as a teen. I have great hearing now, i guess they worked w/o any problems