Saturday, May 23, 2009

Tubes!

Well, the Pediatrician finally referred Lily to an ENT to put tubes in her ears. The "surgery" isn't scheculed until June 4....I wish is was sooner, but that's all they had. Before I had her, I always heard about so many kids getting tubes and I thought I would be more concerned if one of my children ever had to get them. Well, I'm not really worried about the "surgery", not yet anyway. The thing that I'm concerned about right now is that she can't eat anything after midnight before the surgery, which means no breakfast. So, I'm imagining a screaming baby all the way from St. Amant to Baton Rouge (at least 30 minutes). Hopefully we'll leave early enough that she will just sleep, but I don't know. From the way the doctor described the procedure it seems quick and easy. The don't actually use general anesthesia to put them to sleep, they just use gas. They make a 2mm incision in the ear drum, insert the tube and they are done in about five minutes. She has to stay there for about 45 minutes in recovery, then we can go home. I have to stay home with her the rest of the day, but she can go back to daycare the next day. He also explained to us that the tubes don't prevent ear infections, they just release the pressure and make it easier for fluid to drain. Hey, from my point of view, anything that helps my baby suffer less is awesome. I will be glad to finally get these in. It seems like about 2 or 3 months of solid ear infections. We can't get rid of them!


Real Medical explanation I found on a website:

Ventilating (tympanostomy) tubes are tiny, hollow plastic or metal tubes that are placed in the eardrum through a small slit. These tubes balance the pressure in the environment with that in the middle ear. Doctors recommend ventilating tubes for children who have had recurring ear infections (acute otitis media) or recurring or persistent collections of fluid in their middle ears (chronic secretory otitis media).
Placement of ventilating tubes is a common surgical procedure, done in a hospital or doctor's office. After the procedure, children usually go home within a few hours. The tubes usually fall out on their own after a few months, although some types stay in for a year or more.

If you are really curious and want to learn more about it, go to http://entdoc-crc.com/FAQs.htm

5 comments:

Jeni said...

My niece needed tubes too. My sis in law said she was a new girl after the surgery. She went from a crying, whining little girl to a happy go lucky kind of kid. I hope Lily feels better afterward. It's miserable to be in pain for so long.

labride said...

Poor Lily, hope it goes well.

Clare said...

Poor baby. That sucks that she's had so many ear infections. At least this will make it better. Hopefully she won't have any more. Though I guess this should make it a little less painful if she does get another. I don't like for babies to suffer. :( My nephew had tubes too. It's amazing how common it really is. Good luck with the surgery and everything. Many hugs and kisses to Lily.

Jamie Hamilton said...

Poor baby. I hate to hear that she's been having trouble with ear infections. I sure hope the tubes help!

horhori said...

We actually have our surgeries on the same day! I'm a nervous wreck! I'm 30 yr old with 3 kids And I'm having a TT and lipo.
My surgery is going to be about 5 hr long. Kinda nervous bout the length but I think it'll be worth it in the end for both of
us! Good luck on your surgery!!
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