Another Ear Tube Update

Today started out like most Mondays, but by noon, it started going downhill.  It started with a call from the daycare saying that Silas had a 101.5 fever, and was being moved to the infirmary until we could come and get him to take him home.  We were planning on picking him up early today anyway, because we had an appointment at the ENT for another ear tube follow up.  I authorized the nurse to give him some Motrin, and that seemed to bring down his fever.  By the time we got to the ENT, the fever was down.  Phew!

Unfortunately, that wasn't the worst of it.  The news at the ENT was not great.  Despite our putting peroxide in Silas' ears for two weeks, his tubes were still blocked.  The doctor decided to use a wire to try and clear the tubes.  Um....yeah.  18 month olds don't really understand the whole "hold still" concept, so Mom and a nurse had to hold him down.  Not fun.  The left ear tube actually came out of his ear!  It was completely caked with gunk.  The right ear was still so caked, the doctor couldn't even dislodge the tube.

Then, after removing the left tube, the doctor reinserted a new tube in the left ear then using just a local anesthetic.  Again, Mom and a nurse, and another nurse, and a "papoose" board were called in to hold the little guy still.  Horrible.  Silas was a trooper, but I know it was difficult for him--especially since he wasn't really feeling well when we got there.  Once it was over, you'd never have known what he just went through.  He was happy as a clam, waving bye-bye to all the staff in the doctor's office.

I will say, our little Peanut sure has the doctor flummoxed.  He could possibly put in bigger ear tubes, but the risks that the eardrum will not close back up are higher, so that's really a last resort.  In the meantime, we are using drops in the left ear to keep it clear, and peroxide in the right ear to try and loosen the crud some more, and hoping that the thick fluid and mucus he seems to generate is not a symptom of a bigger problem.   So, for the time being, we're continuing the protocol.  We'll be back for another follow up on 8/31.