to keep going to the gp?

[Verticalvenetianblinds]

Smallest ds has chronic ear infections. He also has a food intolerance. Both have similar symptoms, snot, pain, up all night screaming. They've stopped giving him antibiotics for the ears and there is no treatment for the food intolerance so Calpol and Nurofen are our friends. My aibu is should I go to the doctors to find out if its another ear infection? Its the same treatment but I like to know what I'm dealing with. This is day 2 of screaming so I'm thinking ears not accidental food consumption. He's calpoled up to the eyeballs but I'm umming and aahing about going to weekend gp just to be told it is what I suspect....
He's only 1 so can't say where it hurts.

[Verticalvenetianblinds]

He has none in his diet but if I have some chocolate we're back to sick and rigid from tummy pain, plus the snot. But as he gets snot with the ear infections too it's hard to know. And every now and then it's not ears of dairy, he's just had a cold!
Calpol is our friend.
And I've just booked a cranial sacral therapy session - anyone have any experience of that?

[snowgirl29]

Vertical you're DSs Mum. You do what you think is best. I was told by DSs Doctor to reintroduce dairy. Every time I did his gut issues flare up. So I refused last time. As they say in Mumsnet world 'No, is a complete sentence'.

Hope hes feeling better soon bless him and those three weeks will fly by.

yumscrum I'm sorry that happened to you. I had similar as a child. I literally have little to no hearing bones in one ear now.The infections quite literally disintegrates them ans yes I am partially deaf. I hope the titanium things help.

[Verticalvenetianblinds]

I'm not being fobbed off, just amazed how many nhs's wont touch it :(
In regards to dairy, I've been told to start reintroduction of it but tbh I don't want to, I want to fight one battle at a time!

[PragmaticWench]

Sorry, CMPA not CMBA.

[PragmaticWench]

OP, in relation to his dairy intolerance or allergy, a stool sample test is only for lactose intolerance, not the protein in dairy. It might be worth joining the CMBA group on Facebook for some support? There's a linked CMPA for Breastfeeding ground that is good too as you said you're feeding.

PM me if you want to.

[yumscrumfatbum]

My daughter had a series of ear infections that were repeatedly treated with antibiotics. Initially standard amoxy then various others after swabs. This went on for around two years or so. GP was fairly dismissive despite constant discharge and pain. Eventually she was given steroid drops which cleared the discharge up enough for a locum to realise that she had an unhealed perforation. He referred us to ENT who diagnosed her with cholesteatoma. She's had one surgery and requires two more. Her ear bones are beyond saving and she'll need titanium replacements. I'm really cross that she went so long without diagnosis. Now we have a year of keeping her ear totally dry before the next op and restricted hearing in that ear. Don't be fobbed off!

[Verticalvenetianblinds]

If they'll put them in someone so small. But I'm hopeful if they'll see him they'll treat it. NHS wouldn't see him til he was 2 in some places!

[GloGirl]

Aww, such a little thing to be having grommets but sure they'll make a big difference. 3 weeks will fly by soon enough

[Verticalvenetianblinds]

Went and he has infection on one side, dull eardrum, blood spots. Other side is completely sucked in due to pressure apparently.
Only solution is grommets.
Only 3 weeks to consultant appointment

[Backingvocals]

DS had a year of ear infections that became chronic. Augmentin was the only thing that worked and in the end he was given a low dose for several months as a prophylactic until he could have grommets at aged 2 and this fixed the problem overnight.

When an infection becomes chronic you do need someone to take a big picture look at the situation. I had to fight for the grommets operation and, as with whatishistory my child ended up with speech problems and he also still has speech therapy at age 6.9

It's very easy for GPs to refuse to prescribe antibiotics as it keeps their records looking good - and for the occasional ear infection I'd agree. But when the infection has become embedded you are in a different situation. DS spent literally an entire year on daily antibiotics but these were prescribed by the specialist.

Long story short, yes keep going back, and seek a referral to a specialist.

[snowgirl29]

How is he today OP?

[StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes]

My Ds1 had regular ear infections, he also didn't help by sticking a pencil in one and perforating an eardrum, he developed Cholesteatoma. Where a pocket forms behind the eardrum collecting skin cells and creating a breeding ground for infection. If left untreated it can eat away at the tiny bones in the ear and eventually into the brain. He had several ops to clear it and to have the ear bones rebuilt so i personally would never treat any ear infection lightly.

[Beesneeze82]

Agree with PP that if nothing else it all be recorded in notes which will help with any future referrals. I used to keep my own records for when DS had repeat ear infections. Although useful for me, the doctors we saw only went from what they could see in notes. He got grommits after a year or so of infections. Sorted the problem out straight away.

[StarkintheSouth]

I had major ear infections as a kid, usually otitis externa. I had to have a gromit at age 7 to try and drain the excess fluid (nice!)
One thing that exacerbated my problems was dairy and I seem to remember cutting that out really helped. Was a bitch though and I tantrummed about not being able to have cereal with milk and rice pudding etc :(
My Mum always persisted though, taking me back each time as I really was in a lot of pain. Keep at it and best of luck x

[Verticalvenetianblinds]

Calpol keeping it under control at the moment but will see gp tomoro

[VertiginousOust]

My DS had repeated inner ear infections as a baby and we were referred to ent after about 6 in a row (over a 2 month period). They put him on prophylactic antibiotics for months at a time (as a pp said) and that stopped them. That was then repeated each winter until he finally outgrew them.
Do keep taking him in, it can start to affect their hearing if they have them repeatedly.

[snowgirl29]

Obviously I know yours will be different op as your ds is still so small bless him but yes get him doublechecked for peace of mind if nothing else with it being an ongoing problem.

[snowgirl29]

Vertical he may just need a different type. DD has had amoxycillin, then clarythmycin when it came back. Now the docs have changed it over to ciproxin (sp?).

When is your private appointment for? Hope it's not too soon away so at least someone can get the ball rolling for your ds.
What did you decide to do in the end?

[Verticalvenetianblinds]

And he's had amoxicillin so many times it doesn't seem to make any difference at all now!

[pocketsized]

red many GPs wont prescribe antibiotics for ear infections as there is little clinical evidence that they improve outcomes, except in specific circumstances.

[RedHelenB]

Of course you need antibiotics help with a bad ear infection. Get to the GP to see if it is. One of my most painful memories is a weekend with an ear infection back in the day when there was no out of hours doctors/chemists.

[Mouikey]

Sometimes its worth going to the GP, not just for support, but to also get it recorded. If you need a referral elsewhere having this (and any other incident) on record will give justification for the referral. Otherwise the GP may only rely on the times you have taken them along.

[snowgirl29]

Verticalvenitianblinds it depends where the infection in the ear is. My DD currently has something called otitis externa (swimmers ear) and she is currently on ab drops and oral abs for it. Our practice nurse has said they never mess about as it's an infection which can turn quite nasty if left untreated. It runs the risk of getting in behind the ear and causing more problems but I cant remember the name of it right now for the life of me.

On other occasions I myself with my own history, have gone with horrendous earache and been told its nothing and just to ride it out with pain relief.

OP. Just get him checked out. At least it will give you peace of mind if they do just tell you what you suspect. I always double check with my own DCs now as I am quite openly neurotic when it comes to ears. Not trying to scare you OP but I was left permanently deaf in one ear thanks to a GP that kept advising my Mum to keep giving me olive oil drops for recurring infections. My Eardrum burst in the middle of lining up for assembly in primary school and I had to have an op and everything.

[whatishistory]

My DD had repeated ear infections when she was little. It went on for a couple of years. What finally made the difference was a low daily dose of antibiotics for 3 months.

I'd suggest pushing to get the ear infections under control. My DD was left with speech development problems becauase of it. She's 6.5 years old and is still having speech therapy. They've had a big impact on her day to day for years after they stopped.

[Verticalvenetianblinds]

Its been a hassle but no nhs hospital has space for 12 months or refuse to see under 2s within a 100 mile radius. I'm happy to pay to see consultant intially as he is also nhs team lead in that county so at least we're seeing someone!