Infantreflux.org | Tube Update and Adenoid Removal

This topic has 19 replies, 1 voice, and was last updated 14 years, 1 month ago by Anonymous.

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January 18, 2008 at 8:41 pm #47469

Anonymous
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Hi all! We had our follow up ENT appointment today and found out that Sarah’s tubes are indeed out. Unfortunately she ALREADY has standing fluid in her ears again and the ENT was leaning strongly towards a 2nd set of tubes. We are going to try a low dose antibiotic for 30 days and see where we are at from there. If it helps with the fluid we MIGHT be able to avoid another surgery…if not then we’ll schedule set #2.

The ENT suggested we go ahead and have her adenoids taken out at the same if we do surgery. What is that like? I know what to expect with tube surgery but I’m CLUELESS about adenoid removal. Surgery time? Recovery time? What good will it do? What should I expect? Any and all information would be appreciated.

I’m so bummed!!!!

January 18, 2008 at 9:01 pm #47474

Anonymous
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So sorry to hear (excuse the pun) about all this. What an absolute bugger.

At least all that fluid doesn’t seem to be causing her any problems with her language and no doubt her next words are adnoids and tubes after seeing her Dr!

January 19, 2008 at 7:55 am #47486

Anonymous
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Amy,

I don’t have any advice just a big ole hug for you. I think someone recently went through the adenoid surgery so maybe they will chime in.

January 19, 2008 at 2:11 pm #47497

Anonymous
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Amy,

I’m sorry to hear Sarah has to have her adenoids removed and possibly another set of tubes. I hope the antibiotics will help and she won’t need another surgery. I don’t have experience with adenoid removal, but I know Sue’s (Alexis’s Mom) dd Alexis has had hers out so hopefully she’ll see this or maybe you could PM her.

I hope whatever happens, it helps Sarah. Good luck with everything!

January 19, 2008 at 4:36 pm #47501

Anonymous
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Have you tried chiropractic for her ear? I know it probably sounds crazy, but it could possibly help. Justice had an ear infection and I took him to the chiro. and it took it away. I know her’s are pretty severe to have to have tubes, but just wondering if you’ve tryed it?

January 19, 2008 at 5:28 pm #47503

Anonymous
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Hi Amy. I haven’t been around much lately; just too busy to post, but I do lurk from time to time. Anyway, Myles has HUGE adnoids and he has had lots of ear infections as of late, so we saw the ENT a few weeks ago. His adnoids may have to come out but we’re going to watch and see for now. She (the ENT) said she prefers to wait until age 3 if at all possible because it’s a longer recovery (than tonsils) and older kids do better. Of course that worried me and dh so he did some research and he (dh) read of a new way they are taking out adnoids now using water and sound instead of surgically cutting them out. I think it’s called oblation. I’m not sure if the ENT I saw uses it or not, but I doubt it because it’s supposed to be a much easier surgery with much faster recovery ( and she was so concerned about the recovery for a two yr. old). If Myles ends up needing his tonsils and/or adnoids out I will definitely look into someone who does it by oblation even though we will likely have to travel quite some distance for it.

Myles had standing fluid for months on end and I talked to a few moms I know and some have said that their docs recommended allergy meds (Zyrtec) to dry up the fluid and the’ve had good results. Myles’ ear doctor said there is research into it and that it is an option to try. Myles’ fluid finally was gone when we saw the ENT last month, but I will consider Zyrtec as an option if the problem returns.

BTW, Sarah is adorable! I hope things improve soon.

ndrose2008-01-20 15:31:32

January 19, 2008 at 11:12 pm #47510

Anonymous
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sylvia had her tonsils and adenoids removed a week after she turned 2. she had obstructive sleep apnea which was causing failure to thrive. her tonsils were “kissing” as the doctor said, when she went to sleep and she said they were full of debris. we went to a pediatric ENT rather than a regular ENT because she was so young. she had to stay in the hospital for two nights on an IV to be sure she would not get dehydrated. we almost thought we might have to bring her into the ER for IV fluids after we came home, but she managed to start getting enough fluid in.

just a little interesting thing—–when one of my twins had her tonsils out we learned that she had a double uvula and a submucous partial cleft palate. i told sylvia’s ENT about that and she asked me how kassie’s speech was—-she never had any problem with speech.

kevieb2008-01-19 23:14:06

January 20, 2008 at 3:05 pm #47517

Anonymous
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Several times throughout my childhood, my doctor debated taking out my tonsils and adenoids, but they never did. As an adult, I’ve had issues because I still have them (including sleep apnea). So, if the doctor thinks it’s a good idea, I’d go for it!

January 21, 2008 at 9:20 am #47532

Anonymous
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Hi Amy, I don’t have any experience with adenoids but Seth started getting infections as soon as his first set of tubes came out. Luckily, they were proactive about getting the second set in quickly and knock on wood, he has been good every since (ear wise anyway!).

I would think if they can do both procedures at once that would be a good thing.

Good luck and I hope Sarah feels better soon!

January 21, 2008 at 1:12 pm #47536

Anonymous
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SOrry to hear about the tubes, Amy! i always heard that they came out, but I didn’t know that quickly. Dagney’s had a few colds lately and fluid in the ears too, and our pedi suggested we give her 1/2 tspoon of Claritin before bed each night, which we’ve been doing for a month or so, and it’s really seeming to help. (Claritin/Zyrtec are kind of the same thing, so someone else already mentioned this.) BTW, what happens to the tubes? Do they just swallow them and go on there way? That must be so frustrating!

January 21, 2008 at 1:54 pm #47539

Anonymous
Inactive

The surgery that Christine is talkign about (ndrose) is the one Carter had! We have had both ways. If they do the new way it was a MUCH easier recovery than the other way. Dylan was a nightmare for a few weeks, and Carter was taking fluids that night. They were both between 18 months and 2 years for their adenoids. Carter had his tonsils out at the same time as adenoids, and Dylan went back and had them out a year after the first adenoid surgery.

The adenoids on Dylan grew back and I heard this is possible the earlier you take htem out, but I already see so much improvement in Carter’s swallowing that I would do it again this young in a heartbeat! But again, check what way they are doing them because that new way is SOOOOO much easier than the other way but not all the doctors are doing that yet.

Good luck!!!!

January 21, 2008 at 3:04 pm #47544

Anonymous
Inactive

Amy, I’m late to this, but I’m so sorry to hear about Sarah’s tubes. Boy, I’ll be pissed if Ben’s fall out that quickly. I need to pay off the first set before we have to get new ones!!!

Anyway, I don’t have experience with adenoids, but dh had his out and tubes put in when he was two. My MIL has never mentioned it being a difficult recovery, but then, again, she tends to act like raising her kids was easy as pie.

I would also ask the ped. about the Zyrtec. I have had fluid in my ears and some infections lately (crazy, huh!) and the doc suggested using an allergy med. to help dry up the fluid.

January 21, 2008 at 10:44 pm #47565

Anonymous
Inactive

Thank you so much for the info everyone! I am definitely going to inquire about this new method of adenoid removal. Sounds much easier! I was discouraged to read elsewhere and hear from you guys that it can be a long miserable recovery with possible hospitalization.

Hearing you mention allergy meds made me realize that the ENT mentioned nasonex at our visit but it wasn’t prescribed. I called him today to double check and sure enough…he forgot to give it to us! So I’m hopeful that the low dose antibiotic along with the nasonex will dry up the fluid in her ears and maybe we can avoid surgery altogether!

I’m thinking now if we DO have to do surgery (tubes and adenoids) that I’ll try to schedule it over our spring break so at least I won’t have to take too much time off if things don’t go well. (and the hospital is 1.5 hours from home) I think our break is mid March…hopefully the ENT will say we can wait that long. (Although DH might disagree…that will be right in the midst of baseball season…TOO BAD!)

The ENT did say that Sarah’s speech should NOT be as good as it is given the fluid in her ears and her history…but her speech took off when she had tubes. I will be so sad if she regresses now that she has standing fluid again.

February 15, 2008 at 8:41 pm #48277

Anonymous
Inactive

UPDATE! We had our 30 day follow up today with the ENT following our antibiotic/nasonex trial. Much to my surprise the fluid in Sarah’s ear DRAMATICALLY IMPROVED and he is NOT recommending surgery anymore!!! HIP HIP HOORAY!!! He said b/c it is so close to spring he thinks we can hold off. We’re going to continue with just the nasonex for 6 more weeks and then follow up with him at 10 weeks. He said hopefully that would be our LAST visit with him!

I am so relieved and excited for her. He said he would have only given us a 20% chance of success based on our last visit so he was just as surprised as we were to find out that the fluid in her ears has improved!

He did say that she has a little fluid in her left ear which MAY decide to turn into an ear infection. He gave us a prescription and told me not to fill it until I was sure it was infected…(I feel like a pro when it comes to diagnosing/suspecting her ear infections!) At least it saves me another co-pay since I already have the rx! Woo-hooooooooooooo!

February 16, 2008 at 6:48 am #48284

Anonymous
Inactive

Great news Amy, I hope the 10 week check up goes as well as this one did.
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