I'm not really sure how to start this post but I guess the best way would be to jump right into it. Our little one has always struggled with ear infections, I mean since before he was 1 year old. When he was younger they weren't as frequent but as he got older they seemed to be almost every other week. If your little one struggles with ear infections you know the struggle, for you and for your little one. The pain, always being uncomfortable, fevers, and the fact you can't really help them. When they have ear infections there's only so much cuddling and love you can give them.
When my son turned 2 & really didn't show any signs of talking I started to worry. I'm the person who always jumps to the worst conclusion (I'm always filled with anxiety). My son's birthday is in May and that August we started him in daycare. We thought maybe him being around other kids & teachers would help push him along with his talking. Well, come October his teacher brought it to my attention that he really wasn't improving. So I brought this to our pediatrician who said it could be a result of all the ear infections & fluid he has built up in his ears. Then came the talk about the tubes being put in his ears. Now, I had this surgery, my nephew had this surgery so I knew it wasn't an abrasive surgery but it still scared the hell out of me. I was nervous about him going under, nervous about something going wrong, just thinking the worst (told you).
After talking with my husband we both decided it was for the best for JJ. We didn't want him to have the ear pain anymore & we were really hoping it would help his hearing & speech. I did my research and finally found an ENT for an evaluation. My son is a stranger danger kind of kid so when he saw that a new doctor was looking at him he was not having it. He fought tooth and nail. The doctor we saw kept reassuring me though that he wasn't the only kid whose been like this, so I kind of felt better. So she definitely recommended the surgery and also stated that it could absolutely help his hearing and speech. She said right now probably anything anyone is saying to him just sounds like a bunch of sounds. She said imagine being underwater and someone trying to speak to you, she said that's probably what he hears. So at this point we made the appointment for the surgery, and I literally counted the days...
The morning of surgery we had to leave our house around 4 am, we left JJ in his pajamas and just headed out the door. I was nervous, scared and full of anxiety but I was so not trying to show him that. As moms we are their comfort, their protection and I was trying my hardest to do that. So once we were checked in, & got called in from the waiting room we think JJ realized this wasn't a normal doctors visit. He just wasn't having it, my child cried the entire time. We couldn't even put a surgical gown on him. If I could single-handedly thank every one of those nurses for being so patient and kind to my son I would. They kept telling me he's definitely not the only kid whose done this. Now, this next part was probably the worst part of the ENTIRE process...I had to hold my son on the surgical bed while they put a mask on him and watch him go to sleep. I felt so helpless, I felt like such a horrible mom. To hold him while he was crying and literally watch him to go sleep. I bawled like a baby myself leaving that room. The nurse that walked me back to my husband asked me "this your first child?" I could barely speak and just shook my head yes. He looked at me and promised me he's in good hands, and he said "it's the easiest procedure he can have done. It's also a procedure we could do in office but it would cause too much pain. You won't even realize how fast it'll go". I couldn't thank him enough.
And believe it or not he was right, he walked me back to my husband and we gathered our things and headed back to the waiting room. Not even 10 minutes later the doctor came and got us and said everything went very well and took us to him. We knew our little one was awake because he was crying. The nurse that had him said as soon as they took of the mask he was awake and crying. She said he probably doesn't like the way he feels so she had us just sit with him in the room for awhile until he could drink. I'll tell you this was probably the longest part, he just wanted out of that hospital. So he finally drank and we were able to be released. I don't think I was ever more excited to leave a place before.
Recovery wasn't bad for JJ at all, once we got him home he was acting his normal self. It's almost 7 months after his surgery & we've only had 1 ear infection. That was only because he did get RSV and he had a lot of drainage. We put plugs in his ear still during bath or any swimming. Best part of the whole thing, his speech is 1000% better. He understands, he talks more, and he's not in pain all the time anymore.
So in my honest opinion as a very high anxiety mom, do not wait if your doctor recommends getting tubes! You'll thank yourself in the long run.
Thank you for reading,
With Love and Lattes,
MS
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