Ear Tube Surgery Again!!!

I have no experience on this subject but have heard my chiropractor talk about a similar story involing a little boy. My advice- try a chiropractor. It might sound crazy but it is worth a shot.

My boys & I see a chiropractor. My 11 yrs. old has been going since he was 1 1/2 & my 5 yr old since he was a baby. They have each only had 1 ear infection. We see Dr. Theobald @ Theobald Family Chiropractic in Mt. Pleasant, his number is ###-###-####. If any parent becomes a patient of his then the children are seen for free. I hope this helps!

There was once a school teacher with a child having tubes and NO sleep. Just before the 3rd set of tubes were to go in, she visited a chiroprator. Not only did her son sleep thru the nite (he was over a year old) for the first time (she didn't, she kept making sure he was ok) but he never needed the tubes again. The third procedure was canceled. End result? She became a wonderful chiroprator and moved to Gainesville. Her name is Dr. Amanda Watson her office # is ###-###-#### and the first visit is free (say K. sent me) WHAT have you to lose? She is awesome and I think you will be quite pleased with the results.

K.

Hi M.,

I agree 1000% with MJ! Chiropractic has such good results with ear infections. (It's common knowledge for people that use chiropractic care as wellness care.) My daughter dodged the ear tubes altogether with chiropractic. The tubes falling out is also common and the scar tissue left behind can cause hearing problems. The Chiropractor will also agree that your child needs to have good nutrition and dodge anything that breaks down the immune system. I can recommend a good, absorbable, chewable vitamin for her. Don't do Flintstones or anything like that as they do more damage than good.

My chiropractor is in Stockbridge but I have met a colleague of their's that practices in Lawrenceville. His name is Dr. Wayne Stephens and he has helped several friends of mine that went in with serious problems.

There are several other things you need to do that are simple and inexpensive. I can help you with that also if you are interested. Feel free to get back with me and we can talk.

God bless!

M.

Have you ever considered alternative therapies such as chiropractic for her ears? The basic problem seems to be that her ears aren't draining. A chiropractic adjustment may solve the underlying issue. My children have been adjusted and have had relief from congestion as a result.

There are so many children with ear problems today. Just some FYI: I know some people have changed diets and found great results in reducing mucus in the body. One good guide I have found is Eat Right for Your Type. There are two books out that I know about and a great website.
Another support people have found great results with is Chiropractic, although it is not a cure it does support the nervous system and great things happen with the body when it is gently and respectfully aligned. There is Lotus in Decatur, I have heard great things about, and Dr. Michael Scimeca in Roswell/Marietta, who I have gone to for many years.
So sorry for your family to be experiencing this. I hope you find answers soon!
Blessings!

Get a natural doctor and start treating the immune system to clear up the fluid. If you are not into it, you will be so surprised to find a world of help once you add alternative to your conventional treatment. Some folks do chiropractic and I think that is good. We do osteopathic manipulation (also called cranial sacral) with Dr. Armond in Suwanee (www.cranialacademy.org). We have a great classical homeopath which has changed our world. Get her on tons of immune support like cod liver oil, a great multi vitamin (not full of chemicals), OraMune Max(online - has their own website), monolaurin (find online by Ecological Formlas).

Get busy solving the problem, then you lessen the need to deal with the symptom (ear infection and speech difficulties which could compound to more later).

This email could be two pages long, but be glad to give more if you like. J

Hi M.,
I would highly reccomend that you try chiropractic care. My child suffered and once we took him to see Dr. Eric @ HealthSprout in Woodstock he has been ear infection free. It is worth a try.
Good luck,
B.

M.:
Check out the website www.kidsneedus.com
Check out the article on how cleaning products can be the source of ear infections. Email me about products that contain natural ingredients.
P. S

I know you are frustrated! Have you thought of trying another route? Has your child ever been to a Chiropractor? If not, why? If your not aware, chiropractic treatment is HIGHLY effective in treating ear infections and preventing tubes. There are a few cases that cant be helped, usually due to a differently shaped eustation tube, however, in most cases it is quite effective. Please try this if you havent, you certainly have nothing to loose! Are you giving her any probiotics/acidolphius after antibiotics? It is a must to replace the good bacteria and to prevent reoccurance. I would also get her on an excellant whole food vitamin to help boost her immune system. Please contact me if you have any questions about Chiropractic and children. The best of luck to you guys! Many blessings:)

Tubes?? Yes!!! If the fluid remains, she could be deaf. A friend of mine's son who is now in his 30's is deaf in one ear because the doctors didn't do tubes.

My son just had his 4th set put in (he's 5 now). They've lasted anywhere from 6 months to 14 months and we even made it through most of the summer without them, though his hearing started to decline as soon as they fell out. This time we got a different type of tube (I think it's called a "T tube" or "butterfly tube", not sure) that's supposed to last a little longer. He stopped having infections a couple years ago, but still the eardrum had "negative pressure" for some reason and so he still couldn't hear well without the tubes.

Basically our pediatric ENT said that each year about 50% of the kids who had tubes outgrow them, but some kids need them until they're 14! Our son did not learn to speak until he had his first set put in and then it was like magic how quickly he learned once he could hear. We went through the speech therapy, but had we known then that his hearing was so bad, we probably wouldn't have wasted our time. As soon as the tubes were in he didn't need it anymore.

I know it's expensive, even with insurance, but it is well worth it to make sure she can understand and communicate with the world around her. There's not much you can do but get the tubes and hope that she'll out grow it next year. Each time we get the tubes put in we notice a dramtic difference within a couple days.

M.,

My son did not have tubes in his ears, but had delayed speech for different reasons. I would say that if you haven't tried sign language yet DO IT NOW. It does not help what is going on with the ears, but it will eliminate a lot of frustration in other areas. Children this age want to be able to communicate. It is not a permanent thing, it is just to help the child keep up socially, so to speak.

Next, my son did have a lot of trouble with ear infections and fluid around his eardrums and it was allergy related. He would tell me he heard an echo (we have all be there with a cold -- imagine hearing it all the time!) anyway, as soon as the Claritin kicked in, his ears would "dry up" and he was fine!

Good Luck!

Is your daughter on milk products? I can almost bet that if you took her off dairy she would improve 100%. Remember that it can take up to a month to get rid of dairy in there system. I know this cause I am breastfeeding and my little guy has an allergy to milk and it took a month to get out of both of our systems.

Hi M.,
I have a friend that has a three year old and she just had her tonsils and adnoids taken out after her tubes fell out (for the first time, I believe) and she immediately started getting ear infections again. I can get you the name of her ENT doctor if you want to get a second opinion. Just let me know if you're interested in that info so I can ask her.

Yes, I can say one thing be thankful your doctors want to do the ear tubes I had to fight and keep changing doctors until someone would listen to me. My son had ear tubes at 18 months old could only say 3 words. We also did the speech therapy at age 3 he went to special ed prek at a public school, yes he rode the bus. It broke my heart he's my first and oldest child and he as well as me had to to into this thing we didn't know anything about. i had to become an advocate and make sure he got everything he needed to help him. The doctor (ENT) that did the tubes (we lived in FL) he was great I had to be referred and I told our last doctor who I wanted. He told me that my son was developmental delayed I had no clue what it was or what to do...he said he will after help grow into his age. He also told me get on it and get on it hard meaning therapy and help for him. I did just that he's now 8 and I have to say we only had one set of tubes but I was warned he may need me if they come out, they didn't. Anyway, he is very smart loves to read and has a big hang up he corrects you if you say a word incorrectly...hey I think it's great since I didn't get to experience him talking at all until about 3 and after he went to special ed prek he even did better. The socialization really helped him. He's an A, B student however I was warned he'd have a chance at having ADHD it seems to happen to kids that have had deve delay adhd and he does I took him to 4 different doctors non knew about each other and they all had the said diag, so that ended up being true. May I suggest babies can't wait, they really helped me get him therapy and then into special ed prek. I know you said you have therapy but it's a thought if you don't already know about them and they are helpful. You can email anytime I know you must feel defeated having another set of tubes but keep telling yourself without them it really would be worse. I am so sorry you are having to have that little angel get another set, words really can't express the feeling it is for a parent to want things to go well for a child and then have to take a step back and surgery of any kind can put anyone feeling upset and uneasy. I know that your poor little angel with all that fluid hears like she's under water I feel for you. I know one thing it's also painful and I am so sorry she is having such a difficult time. I have hear of other children having more then one set of tubes my nephew had 2 set himself as a child. Thank goodness his doctor didn't make him wait like ours did with our son. He didn't really have dev delay form it since it was caught so early and his doctors acted early. Don't be made at the school just be her advocate and remember one thing she maybe in her body 2 1/2 but developmental where is she??? it wouldn't be fair to have her somewhere she's not ready for but however if you think she is and it's jut a matter of speech alone then I'd say they need to learn some basic sign lang and by the way special ed prek helps with that as they teach a child to speak. I don't regret ever sending my son to special ed prek if that's the route you end up going when she is 3 that's up to you. I can say my son and myself had the best learning experience and the best people grace our lives from that and I'll never forget it and he still has his teacher's pic up in his room from that class. My prayers are with you and another groups that gave me great advise and help was focus-ga.org you may want to call them they also helped hold my hand on this journey and educate me as well so did babies can't wait....

I Personally have not had this issue. My daughter had ear tubes only once and seems to be doing ok however, I am a kindergarten teacher and have been dealing with similar situations with children for a while. I have one student at this time that is on his 4th set of ear tubes and also has severe speech delays. He simply could not hear for the first 2 years of his life. I also have a friend whose son ended up with 9 sets of tubes. I must say he is 23 years old and just fine with no ear problems now. I wish I could offer more advice but, I would recommend that you truly express your feelings and frustrations to your ENT and ask if there is some reason why it is not working for your daughter. It could be ear shape or somthing similar. Also, keep up the speech therapy. It is going to be her biggest help! I wish you lots of luck and many blessings for your little one!

Have her tested for wheat allergies. I have a friend whose son had the same thing. Her Dr. said the excess fluid was a sign of allergies. With his new diet he is doin wonderful and the fluid has been drastically reduced.

Has the ENT addressed her adenoids yet? Once my son's eartube fell out, there was fluid in his ear again! Then this ENT (diff than the one who put in the ear tubes) suggested his adenoids could be causing the fluid not to drain. He had my son undergo a sleep study, discovered he also had severe sleep apnea (something I have known for a while but was ignored by 2 other ENTs and his primary doc)and he got them removed, with his tonsils, last week. Already, he snores less and has been pronouncing his words better-afer a week! (He's also in speech therapy and will be going thru the public schools once he turns 3 to help catch up).

On another note, my husband had such bad and misdiagnosed ear problems that he was deaf until he was 3, when he got his first set of tubes. His mom taught him some sign language until he was able to catch up verbally, which he did once he was in a pre-school setting.

In the meantime, I suggest you get her some early intervention, speech therapy, right away and start on sign language. Also, if your ENT doesn't seem to be listening to you, get another one. I know how frustrating this can be. Good luck!

HI M.- Have you tried a blood test for allergies? Iknow some kids get frequent ear infections due to milk...it may not show up major- but if there is even a blip on the scale- I would remove it from her diet.(milk, cheese , yogurt, ect..) or any other allergy that she may have - no tjust milk..could be something else. I know several of my firends children who have had ear tubes in 2 or 3 times...I'm so sorry you are going thru this- I know it's so frustrating- my middle child had ear tubes when he was 10 months old, but we haven't had to have any other surgery...
try to see if she has an allergy and it may help the situation so she does not have to go thru this again..
Best of Luck to you
Nikki

My son, who is now 15, suffered from chronic ear infections around 1 1/2 years old. He had 3 sets of tubes within 6 months and the doctor at that point decided to put in permanent tubes. These had to be surgical removed when he was 5. The non-permanent tubes do tend to fall out as the child's ear grows. My son also suffered from speech delay and was completely deaf at one point. However, once the permanent tubes were in place and he attended speech therapy he was able to catch up on all developmental milestones. He is now a Gifted Student at WR High and is being wooed by several colleges to leave HS next year at 16 and enter college. So, my suggestion is to talk with the ENT about permanent tubes and get a referral to a speech pathologists, who specializes in children. There is hope!!!

A little about me: WM of 15yo son , 12yo son, and 7 yo daughter.

I'm so sorry for the agony you both are going through. My daughter has tubes for chronic fluid as well but hasn't had a repeat surgery yet. On the other hand my much younger cousin had hers re-inserted six times and is not a thriving 10 year old. If you'd like a second opinion, I'd recommend our office. Pediatric Ear, Nose and Throat of Atlanta. Offices in Alpharetta and by Northside Hospital ###-###-####. Good luck, I wish I could be more help.

M., is she happy? Celebrate the joys of each day and do not focus on the negative. Once things get straightened out, and hopefully they will, you will see great strides. Have you worked on signing? That would give her a better way to understand you maybe. get yourself a gratitude journal and everyday write 3 things taht you are thankful for - one solely for you and one thing related to each of your sweet girls. POSITVE!!!! BEST OF LUCK.
S.