It's Time for Tubes

Well.  We thought his ears were getting better.  The Pediatrician, Daddy and I really had hope.     

 

But after this last round of illness (flu and another ear infection), we bit the bullet and made an appointment with an ENT at Otolayrngology Associates of Tennessee, Dr. Jerrall P Crook Jr. 

 

Little Toot was such a good boy at his appointment this morning.  He slept on my chest almost the whole visit which...pretty much made my entire day.  The doctor came in, chatted and asked what his pediatrician had done so far, and said that any baby under 6 months with that many ear infections isn't a good sign.  We figured as much.  He proceeded to look in Cooper's ears, and said the pus (ew) was mostly gone, but there is still a lot of fluid in his middle canal that will not drain.  The pressure probably hurts him, is keeping him congested, and he probably can't hear very well - which may affect his speech (or at his young age, hearing our speech, which helps him learn)!  I could go on and on - I asked a million questions, and he explained really well.  He made it seem like no big deal, which was comforting.   

 

The surgery:  Cooper will have a little gas mask, no needles, and will be asleep.  (This totally freaks me out, btw.  I'll be a wreck that day!)  The procedure itself only takes about 5-10 minutes.  He can't go to day care, so I have to keep him home with me that day (aww..shucks...;) ).  It's scheduled for 4/16 - which I have off since it's the day after Tax Day.  Say a prayer for our baby boy. 

 

He can't have Advil a week before or two weeks after the surgery - only Tylenol.  I will give him ear drops for about a week after the surgery.  He'll start hearing better, which may scare him (aw, sad).  He'll have a follow up appointment where we'll get him fitted for ear plugs since we will want to go swimming this summer.  He'll need to be seen every 6 months after that.  These tubes will last about a year to a year and a half, and will fall out themselves.  Since Coop-A-Loop is so young and his ears are so bad, he'll likely need them again.  If he does, they're also going to remove his adnoids during the surgery, too.  Geesh this poor kiddo. 

 

I really hope this surgery is everything people are saying it SHOULD be.  Supposedly he'll feel less pressure, his congestion will decrease, he *might* sleep better, his overall temperament should get better, and he *should* get sick less frequently.   Hallelujah!  I just want my boy to be a happy, healthy baby.  He deserves that.  Shoot, he deserves the whole world, and I am doing my best to give it to him.       

 

Note to self:  You should NOT have googled images for "tubes in infants ears."  Now I'm insanely more freaked out and worried.  See below...and don't google it...there are way more photos...