I guess you take the good with the bad

The bad:

Abby needs tubes in her ears. Too many ear infections in a short period of time. Antibiotics are not working well for her and rather pump her full of meds, we (her parents) and her ENT feel the tubes would be the best thing for her. She recently had thrush again as a side effect of the antibiotics. She needs relief, not pain or discomfort. The procedure should take place within the next couple of weeks.

I was told by more than one doctor (and an SLP at work) that this is common amongst babies who were in the NICU because of swallowing. My nephew was a NICU baby and he had the tubes put in too. It sucks, but it is what it is. I just want her to feel better and comfortable.

The good:

Abby is officially crawling - not backwards - not the army crawl - but forwards! I am so proud of my little girl. I looked at DH this morning and said "Oh crap, our lives will never be the same!"

Message edited 5/31/2009 3:13:43 PM.

Re: I guess you take the good with the bad

Hopefully the tubes make her ears feel better!!!
Congrats on the crawling!!!

Re: I guess you take the good with the bad

Congrats on the crawling! DS did the "army crawl" for about 2 months before the real thing.

As far as the tubes go- we did this for DS and it was the best thing for him. Some positives:

-no more ear infections since he had them put in, even though he has had two bad colds and mild RSV which would have definitely resulted in an ear infection before the tubes.

-better balance and mobility

-improved hearing

- no more tummy problems from antibiotics!!

-slept better

- did not need to see the pedicatrican ONCE during the winter!!

The tube insertion procedure was quick, and he was his normal self as soon as we got home (he was almost 13 months when he had them).

This is coming from me, who is a freak about surgery. I had six of them as a kid and this whole process was not scary for me or him at all. In my opinion, the well visits with his shots were 10x more traumatizing. GL!!

Re: I guess you take the good with the bad

Sounds like it will be great for her in the long run, more stressful on mommy & daddy for now though, I'm sure.

Glad she's crawling, how fun (and exhausting)!

Re: I guess you take the good with the bad

Congrats on the crawling!!!! My DS didn't get tubes, but had surgery, so I can understand the worries that go along with that, but it sounds like she will be much more comfortable with them! GL!!

Re: I guess you take the good with the bad

I hope that Abbey feels better soon. Tubes are really not a big deal - she will be fine. The entire thing took about 15 minutes if that. Sara has not had a cold since she had them put in

Re: I guess you take the good with the bad

Re: I guess you take the good with the bad

Just wanted to say thank you for the support. She's gonna be fine. It's me I am more worried about!

Re: I guess you take the good with the bad

my 2.5 nephew had tubes in about 3 weeks ago. It is was a simple procedure.

My nephew had a ton of ear infections since the day he was born. The doctor said it would be okay. He was antibiotic after antibiotic. He was basically deaf up unitl 3 weeks ago. He was speech delayed and had a few other issues.

I am sooo happy to say he is talking up a storm and is like a new child. My heart breaks that all that time he could not hear. So you are doing the right thing but having Abby have them done at a young age. Good luck! Everything will be fine.

Re: I guess you take the good with the bad

im sure she will be fine....but YAY on the Crawling!!

Re: I guess you take the good with the bad

Im glad we are doing this too. We had a full hearing test and thank G-d, she has no hearing loss. It is amazing how they test an infant.

Re: I guess you take the good with the bad

Getting tubes for Damien was one of the best things we ever did for him. He was so much healthier after we put them in (when he was a baby he was sick constantly ear infections and bronchiolitis) The surgery itself was a breeze. The only thing bad was how he came out of the anesthesia (which I am only telling you because no one told us and we were so scared). Apparently there is a small group of children that come out of anesthesia in a panic mode. Damien was freaked out and was clawing at the nurses and then myself. They weren't going to let us leave but I knew he wouldn't calm down until he was in his own environment, which he did and within a half hour of us being home he was back to his normal self. Supposedly this is very rare (I have only encountered one other Mom whose child had the same reaction from anesthesia and they didn't tell her beforehand either). Good Luck (hopefully I didn't scare you )

ETA: WOO HOO on the crawling

Message edited 5/31/2009 9:29:33 PM.

Re: I guess you take the good with the bad

Nah, you didn't scare me. My family is notorious for not coming out of anesthesia well. My mom handled it poorly, I handle it poorly and I expect that Abby won't have it easy either. In fact that's the only thing that bothers me about the whole thing - anesthesia.

Abby has had bronchiolitis also. Its just one thing after another. The ENT said that the fact that she keeps getting them and the weather is getting nicer combined with the antibiotics not doing it is still another reason why she needs tubes.

Re: I guess you take the good with the bad

aww go abby!

good luck with the tubes, i know it's the best decision for her

Re: I guess you take the good with the bad

I hope she feels better soon..

The is great that she is crawling...

Re: I guess you take the good with the bad

for the eartubes


for the crawling! Not to scare you, but from the time Cailen crawled to the time he walked was a 3 month span!!!

Re: I guess you take the good with the bad

My niece had the tubes put in and she's been ear infection free since. It's totally scary but it'll be so much better for Abby in the long run

Go Abby on the crawling Before you know it she'll be running over to Infant C