I took Olivia to the doctor about two weeks ago for her 1 year check-up. The doctor looked in her ears and found that both were infected. She had ear infections when she was a little younger and it took awhile to get rid of them. She was on lots of different antibiotics for about 2 months until I just asked my pediatrician if we could give her a decongestant and see if she could fight it off on her own. It worked and she stayed ear infection free for about 3-4 months (at least we think she was...having found out about this latest ear infection makes me wonder if she has had them and we didn't know about them). All that to say that she still has both ears infected.
Anyway, I have been very hesitant about getting tubes in her ears. I have heard lots of different opinions on tubes and how it worked/didn't work for different people. But I also worry about her hearing. In fact, I had made an appointment (before all of this happened) to take Josiah in to have his hearing tested. Sometimes I wonder if he can hear me and sometimes I wonder if he doesn't want to hear me. :) He also had ear infections as a baby. I STILL get ear infections and have lost some of my hearing due to both ear drums rupturing twice.
Also, I just have this UGH feeling about trying out another antibiotic on Olivia. We went through this before and it did not help. All it did was make her HATE to take medicine and draw out the whole process. And I wish that I just had my old pediatrician. She was great and really talked through things with me and made me feel comfortable with all of the decisions. I guess that if she (Dr. Walsh) was telling me to give her another antibiotic, I would do it. It's all an issue of trust with me.
Oh, and I wasn't really supposed to take Olivia in today. Her follow-up appointment wasn't until Friday. But yesterday, she woke up with a rash on her forehead and on her neck. By the evening, it had spread to her scalp and all down her back and stomach. I called the nurse and she told me what to do for her yesterday. Today it was better but she was itching so badly that I decided to take her in. So today we saw a different doctor (I guess they are in a group and we see the doctor that is available) and she said that Olivia still has both ears infected and thought that rash was caused from whatever is going on in her body with the ear infections.
So here are my questions, after all of my ramblings!!!
Would you put her back on an antibiotic? Would you consider tubes? Would you be concerned about the rash? Would you tell me to suck it up and trust my new doctor? Would you tell me to give the old pediatrician a call? Have you already called me crazy and given up on reading this??
Addis Ababa Time
The Zone of Interest (2023)
4 hours ago
Posts
16 comments:
I'd take her to an Ears, Nose & Throat specialist first. Ask around to see if your friends there know someone good and kind.
Amy I would strongly consider getting tubes...Dillon did not speak well or hear much until they put tubes in his ears - I think he was 2 before they finally figured it out. Anyhow - after the tubes he became a brand new child. I'd definitely go with an ENT, I don't have any connections in Florida or my mom - wish I could help on that end! I know finding someone to care for your kids is so hard. We changed doctors in Ama from our first one - do don't feel bad if you want to switch!!! You are the parent. Regardless of what I say - go with your gut. Trust yourself.
You are a good mom!
I agree with both comments above. Our niece Abby had hearing and speach problems until they put tubes in her ears at 4 years old. She is much better now, but I would definitely see an ENT first before you make your final decission. Trust your gut, there is a reason why God gave us intuition.
You do whatever it takes to get your baby better. Listen to your instinct!!
Can your current doc refer you to an ENT? I would think they could give you a good direction to go considering her past history. My niece had tubes in her ears when she was 4, not getting it done sooner, def. delayed her speech, she was so much better after having it done. Not that it will be the case for Olivia. Check with your insurance to see if you have to be referred to an ENT, they are specialist, perhaps the new practice could refer you. As far as the rash goes, I think you just treat the symptoms and make her comfortable. Hugs -a-
I think it's no accident that I work for an ENT!!! He is wonderful with children. Let him give you his advice. He is very conservative and will not rush into it. Above all, he will listen to you. Call the office and I'll be the one to take your call. (Dr Randall Riegler.....448-4640)
Oh - I forgot to tell you - Ryan used to get a rash everytime he got sick - the doc said it was just how their little bodies work out being sick - His looked like chicken pox a few times but they usually went away as quickly as they came.
God's divine connections---I love it!
I will tell you this from expereance. Tubes are a God send. Christopher had 17 ear infections last year and the day he went in to get his tubes he had a infection in both ears. He was a changed child the day after the procedure. He even told us (at two years old) "mine ears OK, dem OK". So, I would really consider taking her to the ENT doctor. I just wished we had of sooner instead of just using antibotics.
I want to say thank you for everyone's comments because I think we are facing the same news with Klein tomorrow. We go in for a follow-up for his double ear infection and I've had to put together a dated list of all he's had since birth.
Ok, so I'll be the naturalist in all this. I would take her to a chiropractor right away. Then, you won't have to worry with tubes, antibiotics (that are just destroying her immune system anyway), or specialists. I know it sounds silly, but chiropractic works on those things. We'll be praying God shows you what He wants you to do! Love you guys!
So I just called Dr. Shane's office. They don't have anyone off hand to recommend in your area, however if you consider taking her to a chiropractor, ask these questions:
1. Do you specialize in wellness care?
2. Do you use the activator method?
3. Do you do scans on children. If the answer is yes to all 3, then it's a good chiropractor!
Being a nurse, my advice is to take her to an ENT and see what they say. My husband's brother has hearing loss because of tubes but it obviously works for others. Chiropractic care is ok for short term but usually not long term for things like this unless you want to be stuck going to one the rest of your life...I say pray and let God lead you....
I would go to an ENT as well. Kelby always gets a rash when he is sick, I guess some kids just do that.
Brea
Hi!
Getting the tubes will help her hearing and speech. It's tough to learn to articulate words when you hear them under water.
The best you can do is really talk about all your concerns then the Dr can individualize their plan for you. Sometimes staying off antibiotics and then doing good follow up to see if it's clearing can work. If she's horrible about taking abx then do a one time shot of Rocephin and then close follow up.
Consider ENT as well and then take their recommendations and weigh it against your concerns. I have rarely seen an ENT specialist NOT recommend tubes but have had plenty wait it out if the parents wanted to go that route.
Give your pediatrician a chance. It's tough on the both of you you haven't created a relationship yet. But if you have repetitively tried to communicate and don't feel like you are being heard then ask around for some recommendations and try someone else. :)
I'll be back! I have to get to clinic and see lots of screaming babies! :) Sheila
Reese had tubes put in her ears in April (she was 20 months old). For us, it was definitely the right decision. You can go back and read the older posts on my blog-I definitely agonized over the decision, also. She had been on antibiotics continuously for months, and the infection would never clear up. The Rocephin shots were our last option before surgery, and they were horrible. By the third day of shots, she screamed the second she saw the poor nurse! The surgery really was as easy as they say it is. Reese was back to her normal self by that evening. And we could not believe how quickly her speech developed from that point forward. It was like she could hear clearly for the first time! She began talking much more, and her speech is definitely much clearer than it ever had been before. We haven't had any problems since. Definitely find a good ENT, and don't for one second feel bad about looking for a different doc if you're not happy with the one you have! God is definitely in control! Even though we always know that, it's nice for Him to make it so obvious to us sometimes!!:)
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