https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 17 Apr 2026 17:50:24 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tubes-in-ears#post-52163 Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:07:49 +0000 mrswin 52163@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had tubes put in when I was about 5 years old (22 years ago) because I had re-occuring ear infections and allergies to a couple of the common prescription meds. I had no problems with ear infections again after they were put in until two years ago when I got a double ear infection and sinus infection!</p> <p>As far as getting water in my ears while I had them in, things like showering were fine but I wore special ear plugs when I went swimming. I see a couple of pp's saying that now its not even necessary as the tubes have advanced a lot. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tubes-in-ears#post-52138 Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:25:06 +0000 pelikila 52138@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son had tubes put in his ears about 3 months ago when he was 8 months old due to recurring ear infections that were growing progressively resistant to antibiotics as well as were frequent from the time he was 4 months old. I really didn't like the idea of tubes but my pediatrician broached the topic at 7 months when we brought him in for yet another ear infection. He referred us to a pediatric ENT and said he just wanted to get another opinion and that many time the ENT says do nothing, it will be fine. So we went and once my son had a hearing test and we realized that he only had 40% of his hearing currently available to him due to the amount of fluid that stayed in his ears, we knew the likelihood of what the ENT was about to say.<br /> Sure enough, the pediatric ENT recommended tubes. We decided to go ahead and do it and I'm so glad we did. The procedure was at 7:30am and we were back home again by 9am. No adverse reaction to the anesthesia, no restrictions on submersing in water (swimming and baths), etc. Within hours we could see a difference in my son's ability to balance - he was no longer so wiggly and swaying. Since then he's had a few colds and each time, a little discharge is seen from his ears, proving that the tubes are doing what they are supposed to and no ear infection resulted. Essentially puncturing my son's ear drum didn't make any logical sense to me since a drum doesn't work with a hole in the middle so it seems counter intuitive that putting a tube in my son's eardrum would actually help him hear but lo and behold, the miracles of medicine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tubes-in-ears#post-52129 Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:16:12 +0000 carrieknitscake 52129@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My husband had them in his ears growing up. His ear problems stopped after that. It actually came up in discussion during Christmas because my niece has been getting repeated ear infections. Her brothers had the same problem too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tubes-in-ears#post-52124 Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:08:56 +0000 MamaMoose 52124@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had tubes when I was about 2.5. My chronic ear infections pretty much stopped immediately. But now a days I don't have great hearing and every time a new doctor looks in my ears they point out to me that I have scar tissue in there (which is probably what makes my hearing not great). But then again I'm sure they've made some serious advancements in the surgery procedure since 25 years ago! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tubes-in-ears#post-52120 Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:58:13 +0000 T.H.O.U. 52120@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A friend of mine had them put in her daughters ears and it has been amazing. Tubes have come a long way. She said the procedure only took about 10 minutes and you can go underwater with them now up to like 10 feet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tubes-in-ears#post-52099 Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:19:26 +0000 mrstilly 52099@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS has his third double ear infection in 3 months. The first two were treated with antibiotics and his ears were clear at followup checks. </p> <p>I had chronic ear infections 5+ a year for about 8 years, but never got tubes. My mom didn't even know it was an option until I was starting to outgrow them. I had hearing loss and speech issues because of it. </p> <p>I don't want to jump to tubes as a solution, but it is definitely going to be a topic of conversation at DS's 1 year appointment, or earlier if he has another one before then. </p> <p>Does anyone have any experience having tubes put in your LO's ears? How was it brought up, how was the decision made, and what was the outcome? </p>