Still battling ear infections

[gamommyto4girls]

This is probably more of a prayer request than an advice question though I'm certainly open to both. We've continued to battle these nasty ear infections with littlest who's now 16mths. We've tried lots of stuff but nothing seems to be keeping them away, we've had two double ear infections just since returning from New England in early August!

Our doc recommended an ENT specialist who we saw this past Tuesday. He's really pushing ear tubes, but honestly we've prayed and researched and are not at all sure this is the best route. We believe that there's a strong allergy component to these as we all suffer terribly since our move here to GA.We live in an area that is infamous for this problem. Littlest's symptoms just seem to go straight from a runny nose right into her ears.

So this coming Monday we're heading in to see a pediatric allergist for some testing and hopefully some better treatment that truly gets to the root of the problem. I'm hoping that the testing won't be too bad and that we'll come away with some answers.

It's been so frustrating and I hate to see her in pain.

[MommyJessy]

Ugh, nasty ear infections! I worked for an ENT for quite some time. They do a lot of tubes. I agree you should search the other options and definitely get allergy testing done. Hopefully that will offer some resolution to all of it! Praying for your little one [praying]

[breezykc2]

I have a couple of friends that their kids BATTLE ear infections...and they said that they have antibiotic drops for the ears that helped MUCH more than the constant antibiotics...I do not know what they're called, but I'm sure your Doc would know if you don't already! So sorry they're suffering, those things are so nasty and horrible!

[~Tara~]

What treatments have you tried?
For ear infections I like to use garlic/willow oil. The oil soothes, the garlic fights infection and I want to think the willow mellows the inflammation. Homemade garlic infused oil works well too.

You might want to look into eyebright. I don't know a lot about it or have a lot of experience with it (purchased it for use in warm compresses for pink eye) but it is supposed to help all 'mucous areas' (there's a better term, it's just not coming to me :p). If/when I get the chance today I can help with that.

Has she been on antibiotics each time she's had an infection? Repeated antibiotic use weakens the body's natural immune system and actually causes infections to happen more frequently/severely. So if she's been on them in the past, you're fighting an uphill battle.

I'll see if I can find anything for allergies. A good homeopathic remedy for that. One simple thing that helps is local honey. We found a source shortly after moving down here..I think it's made a considerable difference.

HTH a bit. Or maybe reiterated that you're on the right track.
I'll certainly pray for you guys. I agree with the hesitation on getting tubes. Exhaust all other options first. The easiest of which is..stopping antibiotics ;)

[teelee]

I feel your pain. But both of my DS have tubes. Oldest is on his second set. He's 4 now and seems to be outgrowing this problem according to our last visit to ENT. My boys also had a lot of fluid which affected speech. Oldest had speech from 2-3. We will evaluate in Oct. for youngest about starting speech at 15 months.

This is just what we chose for our family. I also didn't want my boys being on antibiotics constantly. Sending prayers your way.

[Ashlee]

What treatments have you tried?
For ear infections I like to use garlic/willow oil. The oil soothes, the garlic fights infection and I want to think the willow mellows the inflammation. Homemade garlic infused oil works well too.

You might want to look into eyebright. I don't know a lot about it or have a lot of experience with it (purchased it for use in warm compresses for pink eye) but it is supposed to help all 'mucous areas' (there's a better term, it's just not coming to me :p). If/when I get the chance today I can help with that.

Has she been on antibiotics each time she's had an infection? Repeated antibiotic use weakens the body's natural immune system and actually causes infections to happen more frequently/severely. So if she's been on them in the past, you're fighting an uphill battle.

I'll see if I can find anything for allergies. A good homeopathic remedy for that. One simple thing that helps is local honey. We found a source shortly after moving down here..I think it's made a considerable difference.

HTH a bit. Or maybe reiterated that you're on the right track.
I'll certainly pray for you guys. I agree with the hesitation on getting tubes. Exhaust all other options first. The easiest of which is..stopping antibiotics ;)

I couldn't agree more with Tara! :)

[momofweewerfs]

my oldest suffered alot of ear infections starting around the same age as your little one. on the advice of our doc we didn't do tubes, either and decided to wait and see. when they are little their tubes in their ears are more horizontal, leading to more infections, as they get bigger they are more vertical. as K got bigger the infections went away. i would say since she was 2 1/2 she has had maybe 1.(she is 8 now). when she was going through all of this, no putting head underwater in the tub, and we used an ear wrap thingy when she went swimming. at the first sight of a runny nose we gave her dimetapp( not sold in Canada for kids under 2 anymore) but our doc said it helps to keep the tubes open.

polysporin makes an over the counter eye/ear drops.

[Godzgirl]

Don't have any advice but i'll be praying for you dd! ((HUGS))

[gamommyto4girls]

Thanks ladies for all your insight and advice!

We first just went and got an antibiotic each time, but after a few go arounds we tried a more natural route. Honestly, none of our others have had more than a couple of ear infections in their whole lives so we'd just treat and move on.

I became concerned once we started to feel like we were in more of a 'cycle' with them. We've tried some natural remedies for pain like garlic oil and homeopathic ear drops. We've been holding off on the antibiotics lately, at least for a few days, to try and give it time to clear. It does sometimes, but then resurfaces 3-4 weeks later. Docs seem to think she might have some residual fluid that gets infected and flares up again.

We've had hearing testing done and she's progressing rapidly with speech that's quite clear for 16mths (one of my best and earliest talkers yet) so it's not causing any problems yet. The willow and eyebright I've not tried though. We've just begun searching for some local honey this week, we're in rather an urban/suburban area so we don't have any hives close by like we used to. To me the allergies and the congestion that go with them seem to be triggering all of this.

Thanks for some encouragement also, I can always count on you ladies for that. The ENT was really pushy and my doc didn't really want to do a second referral to an allergist. You know the drill I'm sure... you're just trying to do the best for your little one and the big guys are beating you up a bit in the process.


I'll keep you all posted!

[~Tara~]

Just another note...as far as kicking that antibiotic cycle...you're going to have to go further than 'giving it a few days'. You're going to have to ride out a few infections. I know, easier said than done if these infections are really rough on her. But I would just use Tylenol/Motrin for the pain and I hear the ear numbing drops work nicely. I don't think there is anything 'antibiotic-like' in them, I think they simply numb..but double check that, I've not used them personally, just have heard about them...from someone who DOES use antibiotics, so... :shrug: Anywho...just keep her as comfy as you can using as little as you can.

About the willow..look at a health food store for the children's herbal section. They have some blends already prepared. "Immune health" "Ear Health" that kind of stuff (I forget the names, but you get the idea). There is an 'ear health' blend of garlic and willow in oil. I don't have my bottle anymore or I'd just read it to ya :p

Hold on, searching...I can't stand it hehe

ok, can't find it via a quick search...I can *see* the bottle in my head but I can't for the life of me get a word off it but anywho...I found these links with info:

http://mind-mart.com/holistic-health/natural-cures-for-ear-aches-and-ear-infections
http://www.squidoo.com/otitisbegone

[gamommyto4girls]

Thanks for the links, Tara. Checking them out now!

[MommyJessy]

I have no personal experience but knew a gal that took her daughter to a chiropractor and she claimed it helped with her chronic ear infections. I've heard/read about this quite a bit and found this information;

http://www.healthychild.com/chiropractic-ear-infections.htm

Just a thought. Hope she is doing better :)

[tobikay]

I have no personal experience but knew a gal that took her daughter to a chiropractor and she claimed it helped with her chronic ear infections. I've heard/read about this quite a bit and found this information;

http://www.healthychild.com/chiropractic-ear-infections.htm

Just a thought. Hope she is doing better :)

I have worked for chiropractors for the past several years and I will second that testimony. I have seen several patients overcome ear infections faster with an adjustment than any antibiotic ever worked, plus, regular care can prevent them in the first place.

I also ditto what Tara said.

[gamommyto4girls]

Thanks ladies for the chiropractic advice. I'd read that and for some reason was not recalling it until you jogged my memory.

Today's visit with the pediatric allergist went well. She agrees that we there is sometimes and allergy/ear infection connection and we've done a bit of bloodwork to confirm. In the meantime we'll be trying Zyrtec daily as a preventive. If that doesn't seem to prevent symptom flare-up Singulair is an option for her as well.