Dh took Robin to the ped yesterday afternoon because he's been complaining his left ears hurts for about 4-5 days now. I talked to the nurse in the AM and she said from what I was describing it sounded like a wax problem (the kid's a wax factory! lol), but given his history (two sets of tubes, one at 4yo and the other at 6 1/2yo) the doc wanted to see him to check. Dh and I tried to clean the wax out using one of those otc kits. It was nasty (never done it before--gross!) and we got *I thought* a lot out. The nurse cleaned some out before he saw the doc and then the doc cleaned MORE out! Then she said she thinks he's still got a tube in his left ear! She said she saw something black in there and it could be wax, but really looked like a tube. So she referred us to the ENT so he could take a closer look. If it is a tube it's been in there since March of 2000!!! So now we have to wait for the ENT office to call and schedule an appointment. The ped did prescribe antibiotic eardrops and said if he's not better by Friday to call back and she'd put in an RX for oral antibiotics. I tell ya, with these kids it just never ends... (shaking head... )

By Happynerdmom on Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - 08:27 am:

Cat, my ds had to have a tube removed last year. It had been in for 7 YEARS!!! His ped. kept saying that it should be taken out, but I wasn't in any big hurry since it was still doing its job. But, I guess there is a real risk for serious infection, so we had it taken out. Since it was in so long, it left a permanent hole that had to be fixed...they took a little fat from his earlobe to patch it with!
Hope Robin starts feeling better. You've really been through it lately, huh? (((sympathetic hugs)))

By Debbie on Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - 09:10 am:

Wow Cat, that is a long time to have a tube in there!!! I hope he is feeling better soon.

By Cat on Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - 11:33 am:

Thanx Debbie and Michele. Although, Michele, hearing they had to patch a hole in your ds's ear isn't what I really wanted to hear! lol He says it still hurts and he really doesn't like the drops. He'd had his tubes (second set) for about 15 months when we got here to Colorado and one had already fallen out. The second one we thought fell out after two years. That's what the ped told us anyway. The ENT at the time did say if it didn't fall out they'd take it out, but we saw a ped a few weeks later and he said it was gone so we cancled the ENT appointment. That was over 3 years ago! It's just frustrating. I know it's hard to see in his ears, but come on! These people are supposed to be professionals. School's out this week and we'd planned on hitting the pool at least once a week. I we have ear issues to deal with we won't be able to. I hope he gets an appointment with the ENT soon so we can resolve this.

By Tink on Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - 11:34 am:

I have wax factory kids too. I can't believe how much wax comes out of them and I can totally understand why it's causing them so much pain. I hope all goes well with the ENT.

BTW, whatever happened with the headaches? Did I miss an update?

By Happynerdmom on Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - 11:47 am:

LOL, Cat. It wasn't bad at all...a quick in and out, just as if he were having the tubes put in. I don't even remember him having any discomfort. He had one or two little stitches on the backside of his earlobe, and I guess that was the worst of it.

By Cat on Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - 04:24 pm:

Cori, Randy had an MRI and it was absolutely clean. The doc said for now just to make sure he's drinking enough water and he thinks maybe Randy's stressed. School's out this week and I imagine the headaches will go away for the most part during the summer. I know there's a boy in his class that's really been bothering him for a couple months now (Randy says he's a bully--I really don't like that name, but I guess that's how Randy's feeling).

Michele, if the tube really is still in there I'm sure it will leave a hole. Robin's a LOT bigger now than he was five years ago!!! I guess we'll wait and see what the ENT says. I think the worst thing for Robin will be having to take his earring out if he has to have a procedure done. He's always worried about just the hour he has to take it out for karate twice a week! lol He's had it now for over a year and with the gauge he wears he'd have no trouble with it closing up if he has to take it out for a day. Try telling an 11yo that, though.