To wish people would stop telling me what I already know?

[stickyparrots]

My DS is 2, has had constant double ear infections and glue ear for months now. We're on the 9th round of antibiotics since October and still not much improvement.

He's not well, very lethargic and is very aggravated by his ears. Whilst waiting for the referrals and blood tests what can I honestly do. I'm probably being over sensitive because I'm just so worried about him and tired from the few hours of sleep I get at night because he wakes screaming in pain.

I keep being told by how awful antibiotics are for children and that I should refuse them. But when his temperature is at 39, the doctor can see they're inflamed and bulging both sides what am I to do? I know they aren't good for him and I certainly don't beg for them, but what am I supposed to do?

Those people are idiots. If you were giving him antibiotics for minor colds they'd have a point. You're taking advice from doctors in how to treat your sick son. You're doing everything right. I'd tell them that until they show me they become a qualified pediatrician they cN keep their opinions to themselves.

Unless they have a medical qualifications they can feck off

We’ve had this. Those people can go to fuck. You’re following medical advice.

May I give you a tiny piece of unsolicited advice ?

My child had persistent ear infections and glue ear as well. The ENT consultant told me that oral anti biotics are pointless, useless and they need to be administered in the ear canal - unfortunately I cannot remember the name of them. My ENT consultant also said to remember a GP is just that, a general practitioner, not a specialist , they do the best with their limited knowledge. You need anti-inflammatory ear drops

By and large a doctor will not prescribe antibiotics willy nilly; you cant go in and 'demand' them. No GP would dish them out.

Fuck sake OP. You and your poor son need a break

What could be the cause of recurrent ear infections?

Your poor little boy. I hope that the doctors manage to find a way to stop the nasty infections.

Are grommets an option for him?

Is his hearing being affected?

I want to send a big hug, a bottle of Calpol and a CBeebies magazine to MiniParrots.

I'm currently on exocin for an ear infection and burst ear drum (ouch), which are drops if you need the name of a topical antibiotic.

I had recurrent ear infections as a child, it was awful, hope your son finds some help somewhere. I wouldn't be refusing antibiotics, ear infections are so painful!

I feel for you, my son went through this and it's sooo painful for them and it's there's not a lot you can do to help..
It took us best part of 3 years to get our DS grommets in on the NHS..
Looking back I wish we had just gone private as soon as it all started, unfortunately the NHS drag it out in the hope as they grow there ear canal become larger and the problem solves itself..

It’s amazing how so many people after a two minute google search are as knowledgable as doctors.
Ignore the idiots. I hope your little boy has some relief soon.

I've got tiny ear canals. They get infected easily (and my ear drums burst easily too!) but they haven't been too bad since I was 10 or so.

I always had oral antibiotics - topical ones were tried but weren't advised as they sat at my eardrum and caused damage. It might be that the same is true for your son.

I hope he gets well soon tell anyone who comments that he's on a well managed treatment plan with medical professionals.

I had same "helpful advice" when my daughter had re occurring urinary tract infections.

I had to listen to this from family members while my little two year old was in absolute agony trying to wee.
She is ten now and very healthy and hasnt had an antibiotic since she was 3.
I hope your little boy gets better soon, there is nothing worse than seeing your child sick.

Poor chap. I suffered with my ears a lot when I was younger, it’s grim. Apparently my ear canals are weird. Anyway, only thing to add is perhaps look in to giving him some probiotics too to help with the side effects of all the antibiotics. It can take a while for healthy bacteria to reestablish in the gut after a course of antibiotics, and appropriate probiotics can help even things out. Hope he feels much better soon.

Thank you all so much for your replies. to those of you who've suffered yourselves or whose little ones have suffered.

We're not sure what's causing the recurrent ear infections, he's having some blood work to try and see if there's anything else going on.

After a chat wit DH yesterday we've now decided we're going to go private as many people have told us grommets might be a solution as his hearing is greatly affected and his speech is virtually non existent. At the end of a course of antibiotics he suddenly comes out with all of these words and then after a few days the infection sets in again and he can hardly hear us. We simply can't wait the best part of another year for treatment as it's affecting his development so much. We've now also had shit for this and been told is a waste and to "keep pushing" through the nhs. there's only so much "pushing" we can do.

@PlainSpeakingStraightTalking thank you, I'll ask if that's an option we can try.

@Bigonesmallone3 Sorry to hear your son had it too, it's awful. That's my worry about sticking with the nhs treatment, they don't seem to be in a hurry even though it's glaringly obvious it's affecting his development hugely as well as the pain he's going through. The same relatives have strong opinions on whether we go private or not too.

@Soiree I hope you feel better soon

My nephew has this and the multiple infections damaged his hearing permanently and delayed his speech. If private is an option I would certainly do it.

Nephew had grommits in at 4, and the difference was instant. They failed a year later and we knew without an infection presenting. His speaking volume went up, he couldn't hear if you spoke normally. And it was affecting him at school.

Hope you get it resolved soon.

In rhat case I would start answering questions very vaguely or not at all or with why do you ask.

My son had same thing, at same age. When weather got warmer it improved. He had so many antibiotics. He has a hat which fully covers ears which seems to help when bad. To give you some hope, he had a growth spurt and his ears are now alot better. We also found that the drs had been given same amoxicillin for ear infection so it would settle but there would still be low level infection which would then flair up a week or two later. Once they tried a different antibiotic that was stronger it actually got rid of infection. Hope your little boy feels better. Ear infections are miserable

Just to add another unsolicited possibility... my ds had repeated ear infections, followed by them bursting then they'd heal and within a week he'd have another infection... poor soul was in so much pain and I didn't know what to do. Ears burst more than 20 times in one year (not usually both at same time). Specialist had no help. In a fit of 'I'll try anything', I took wheat out of his diet and it stopped immediately. Turns out he was allergic, and it caused the ear canal to swell and close (similar to throat closing that you hear of with allergy deaths), which then didn't drain so got infected etc etc. I'm not saying it's wheat (it just was for us), and he had other allergies (anaphylactic), but even with our history it wasn't in any way suggested it could be allergy related ... but it was. Just something to add to the mix, if you're desperately trying to find a solution. (Ps the type of wheat allergy was called a NON IGE so it means you can't actually test for it, you just have to do trial and error. It took us so long to find because it wasn't an immediate symptom.

Have you asked gp to refer you to ENT because you should be able to get grommets on NHS too.

Ds had similar when he was little. 2 sets of grommets and adenoids removed and referred for speech therapy. Hearing change was instant. Started joining in conversation in car on way back from hospital and it was only then we realised he never used to speak to us in the car

Your poor DS. Go back to your GP to ask about ear drops from a PP, with experience of ear infections.
I had one ear infection when I was aporox 8 and I still remember how horrible pain the got.
You must be exhausted, the spring weather will help too.

Respond with ‘infections are even worse for children’.

I keep being told by how awful antibiotics are for children and that I should refuse them.

Wtf? Antibiotics can be lifesaving. To call them “bad for” anyone is ludicrous.

They shouldn’t be overused, so that they remain effective in cases when they’re genuinely needed. As your GP has said is the case here.

In other “things you probably already know” advice, elevating the head of your DS’s bed might help a little bit with the nighttime pain.

Anyone else get an advert for a hearing aid appear alongside this thread?

Glad you’re going private, OP. Sometimes you have to take matters into your own hands.

Just wanted to say 5at must be awful for you all. Poor wee man.

People are tits - think they know best - ignore!!

To add ignore relatives and go private, even if you have to beg or borrow. The waiting lists are years here and I wouldn't hesitate.
Once you get a private diagnosis in Ireland, we go back to the public hospital as you have the ground work done and you will go right up the list, my DSIS had a 4 year wait for tonsils, she brought her DS private as soon as the private consultant confirmed they need removed, she went back public and had it done in 6 months. It's 600 a night for the bed only in over night operation private. It cost 300 for ENT consultant.
See if it is a possibility quicker treatment as you have the issue diagnosed.