Anyone had tubes put in their kids' ears? I'm taking ds in for surgery on Thursday. I have to admit I'm pretty scared!! He's been so healthy and never had an injury of any substance before & I'm freaked to let them wheel him away and put him under. I may need some prayers!! Although since he's had ear infection 5 times in 7 months, I can't say I'd like another bout of that :?

May I ask why they are putting him under? I had tubes when I was a kid. I was 8 I think. They only put drops in to numb my ears and then it took like ten seconds and was done - awake the whole time. I screamed because I was afraid and busted out of the velcro thing (which velcroed your whole body on a board, they said no kid has ever busted out of it but I somehow managed to, funny what adrenaline does for your strength) and they had to chase me and bring my mom in and 2 nurses to hold me down. But after I had the first tube put in my ear, I was like "Oh ,this doesn't hurt" and the other one went without incident LOL. So, they can't do the eardrop thing instead? It's a lot quicker, and that way you don't have to be in the hospital, they can do it at a ear,nose,throat doctor clinic.. silly to put kids under for something like that I think... unless there is some complication of some sort.

What i hated about it as a kid was not being able to go swimming or put my head under water without earplugs.

Anyway I think they are quick to suggest things like that... it may just be he was fighting something off and got a few infections because of it.. unless he gets these chronically all the time?

I think it's just to control him without the strait-jacket thing. He's actually only under for 10 minutes, but I can't see him for about 1/2 hour. The dr. told me that the tubes they put in now are okay for swimming & baths... And they said because of the length of my sons eustachian tube, he will always be more susceptible to infection. And by the way, I was begging for it already. I'm not real comfortable with antibiotics so often... I had him to one specialist earlier & he said there was pressure in one ear but "don't worry, just come back in 2 months" and the next day ds had ear infection again! So I came in fighting to the second specialist. Watch out when Mom comes around! :lol:

Interesting! I didn't know they had ones that were ok for underwater now.

I pray everything goes well for you and your little one. :)

Ummm I may be able to answer as to why they are putting him under - because younger children panic and writhe and kick when having their ears probed etc there is a strong chance the doctor may damage the ear with the ensuing reaction to the proceedure.

They tried to remove foam balls out of my twins ears while they were wide awake and manage to burst both their ear drums because they kicked and screamed finding the sensation of having their ears probed unpleasant. They doctor refused to proceed with the removal unless the twins were "put under"

Your darling will be fine as mine were. It is HARD, just pray for strength as you watch your dear one being put under as it's not very nice!
I was crying my eyes out when I had to take the twins in with their foamy ears.

Have a nice treat and pleanty of cuddles on hand :wink:

We have had tubes for almost a year. She was 10 months when they were put in. It made a really big difference. She talked more the first week than the entire first 10 mths! Her sleep got a little better (she still doesn't sleep well). When she got tubes it was not her first time being put under, so i was not as scared. However, the first time I cried. it is very scary. It will be ok. trust your maternal instinct and you both will be fine. Don't be alarmed though if yours wakes up in a panic, screaming. It is a side effect. It takes a few minutes to calm down. The wait time is usually not as long as they tell you. I think they say that it takes 30 minutes just so you won't ask every 5 mins whats going on. It seemed like 15 when the dr came out and told us they were done. good luck, everything will be just fine!

Cheeseburger... the dr. actually said something like, they're okay for regular bathing & swimming, but not prolonged underwater (like lying down in a bathtub). And I've heard they don't let the moms watch them put under because it looks so scary, but I'm not sure I want him to be alone when they do that. I agree that it's best for this age (3) to be put under, because I think he would completely go ballistic & damage would be very possible. At age 8 it would definitely make a difference, since you would understand a little better what was going on. I just found out I have to be there at 7:15 a.m. and we live over an hour away. So I'll be up bright & early. Thanks for all sharing your experiences - I'll try to be calm tomorrow!

Praying for you! My eldest son had tubes put in when he was 3 1/2, and he hasn't looked back since! He was having ear infections, his hearing was terrible, etc. He also had his adenoids out at the same time because they were so swollen and infected all the time, it was interfering with his breathing at night, he was snoring like an old man! Poor little guy was so tired all the time, dark circles under his eyes, falling asleep at the drop of a hat, stuff like that.

Yes, it's hard to watch your "baby" going under, but the improvement in our son's health was so dramatic, it made it all worthwhile! He's nearly 8 now, and I don't think he's had an ear infection since :)

Thanks for the encouragement, Meg. I'm hoping Blake's hearing will improve too. I've been a little concerned, altho his speech has really improved in the last couple of months - he's started saying his "L"s instead of "Y"s.

I will be praying for you. My ds doesn't have tubes, but has been put under for an endoscopy (put him under because of his age), so I know the scared feeling. Everything will be fine.

Well, it's done! And all went well... Blake came thru the surgery with flying colors & almost no pain! It was fast & not a bit scary (well, after it was all done, anyway! :? ) I admit it was hard for me to leave my little boy in the OR with all those strangers though!

Praise the Lord, I am so glad all went well and Mommy and son made it through with flying colors!!

Amber

So glad all went well, my baby had tubes at about 8 mths, wasn't able to hear at all before that, had had ear infections since he was born...is doing great now, but they told me not to get water in his ears, and he has had more ear infections since, but the dr said they were working cause stuff was draining out...yuck...so I would suggest you continue to keep an eye on it...that was how I found out he had infections...no other symptoms....

I am glad it went well and I know you are glad it is over! God bless.

I am so glad it is over with and everything went well! My oldest dd had tubes put in when she was 1 1/2. It was the best thing ever! She had an ear infection if she wasnt on antibiotics with a very high fever everytime. Once she had tubes put in she only had one and the first sign was discharge coming from her ear. We also never had problems with the tubes staying put.