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?

The road to hell is paved with good intentions aka people trying to be helpful often talk irritating shite.

I’ve noticed since having dd everyone thinks you’re a moron or unable to use google with problems. If something’s ongoing I’ve quite quickly learnt that the parents have generally tried everything within reason.

Don’t listen to anyone spouting nonsense about antibiotics. Unless they’re stood behind a pharmacy counter or have the word doctor in front of their names their opinion doesn’t mean diddly squat and they’ve just listened to that advert doing the rounds this winter.

I hope you get to the bottom of it soon

Sounds like you need grommets. DC2 was the same and GP really passive about it. Would not refer to ENT, only prescribe more ABs.
Most consultants work on the NHS & private. Once he saw my DC, he was aghast that we had not been referred already and he fastracked us back into the NHS. We had grommets in 2 weeks later and it was life-changing for my DC.
Definitely get seen private if you can afford it.

Untreated ear infections can get serious, spread beyond the ear so you are definitely doing the right thing. Ignore those people. Hope this gets sorted quickly. Do all you can to look after his gut bacteria with live yoghurt or maybe get some advice on giving him supplements to counteract the anti biotic effect.
Good luck.

meant to say we saw someone private about it.

some people are just stupid

I had this when I was a child - lordy, if you ask my mum she will still shudder at the worry and I'm 43 now!

the last time I had this problem I was in my 20s - 9 sets of antibiotics in 8 months. When I went for my asthma check, the nurse there said to me "you've had more antibiotics this year than I've had in my life" and looked disapproving.

I just rolled my eyes and asked to get on with the asthma check.

if any consolation, I think this happens to a lot of children. As a teen, only had the odd problem, then as an adult, that one bad year at 25.

hope your son recovers asap

rainbowbash you explained it much better, make sure the private consultant you book is part of a public hospital. They will fast track it on the public list.p

My son had constant, painful ear infections when he was younger too and always on antibiotics. Grommets definitely helped but we also found out he was dairy intollerant which caused the constant infections as it created too much mucus which then didnt drain etc. Certainly worth cutting out dairy and seeing how you get on - I wish I'd tried much sooner !!!

Ear infections are horrific. Both my children suffered and were referred to hospital. Affected their hearing, especially my younger child.

With him, we took him completely off dairy and it really helped.

They both grew out of it. We were told they had thin tubing and that at a certain age it moves from a horizontal position to a vertical one and thus becomes more efficient at draining mucus.

After a chat wit DH yesterday we've now decided we're going to go private

Was just going to suggest that. There comes a point when health is more important than anything else.

My daughter had lots of issues with her ears due to the fluid building up behind the ear drums. She was prescribed an Otovent (can also buy from amazon etc) and it worked miracles. It’s basically a tiny balloon that they blow up using their nostril. Sounds weird but it pushes the fluid out of the ears and sinuses!

DS4 has had cough after cough this winter. People have told me it’s everything from habit, not feeding him correctly to cancer.

I have learned to say nothing about my child’s health because people are ignorant.

Hope your boy gets some relief soon.

(Yes getting the hearing aid ad)

I would take common allergens out of his diet/life and give him probiotic capsules alongside the medical treatment.

at a certain age it moves from a horizontal position to a vertical one and thus becomes more efficient at draining mucus.

My niece had this and was told the same. She had lots of ear infections as a child but they got fewer and fewer and now at 30 she hasn't had one since early teens.

I took my DS2 off cows milk, switched it for goats milk and within a month or so that was the end of what had been incessant glue ear. So goats cheese, sorbet instead of ice cream, etc. It did make a huge difference, and bonus that it also solved DS1 eczema. Might be worth a try although I cannot stomach the stuff myself.

Get a referral to ENT. We had this too and apathetic GP. Grommets solved the problem completely for my two.

Ooh and forgot - he also had reflexology once a week.

Changedun - could it be asthma? DD had the same between 2-4 and was eventually given an inhaler. Changed everything.

Unavailability of antibiotics meant my MIL became profoundly deaf because of persistent ear infections. My DS is like his Gran and very prone to infections, antibiotics have made a huge difference. Antibiotic ear drops make things worse for him but I'm sure they help other people. As he gets older he seems to get infections much less frequently.
Getting your DS seen by an ENT consultant is an excellent plan.

I agree with what PlainSpeakingStraightTalking said - my son's ENT told me oral antobiotics were useless and if he gets an ear infection to get drops for his ear, and if any problems the GP can contact him. My son had constant ear infections and glue ear - was seriously effecting his speech development. We had hearing tests every 3 months which was frustrating a that went on for at least a year and a half. We got a referral to ENT (and went private for quickness) and he had grommits fitted before xmas. So far so good, although hearing the world properly (especially the shouting kids at school) was a bit much for him at first.

My DD had this OP from October to April last year she was antibiotics more than she wasn't, hardly sleeping, screaming in pain with puss coming out both ears nearly permantly for six months. We got an ENT referral and it turned out she had a deficiency to the pneumococcal bacteria or something. Anyway an extra vaccine fixed it I wouldn't jump straight to grommets.

My DD (3) suffers recurrent ear infections due to her exceptionally large tonsils and adenoids causing blockages. She is currently awaiting surgery for tonsillectomy adenoidectomy and grommets for her glue ear. She also has sleep apnoea due to her tonsils.

She has been on antibiotics pretty much non stop since August due to infection after infection either in her ears or tonsils.

Her specialist has told us that oral antibiotics won't help her ears, but the GP won't prescribe drops for someone her age for some reason.

We are hopefully only a month or two away from the operation now which is great as her hearing and development have been greatly affected to date and her behaviour is awful because she can't hear and isn't getting any decent sleep at all. It really does affect every aspect of their little lives.

Keep pushing, if you can afford to go private, go. I have no advice OP but you do have my greatest sympathy, as another helpless mum I know how awful it is to see them in pain and be unable to help.

Agree my DD always needs the ear drops not the oral route so perhaps ask?
She also now has them syringed from time to time along with olive drops

Poor child it’s not nice

Your poor son. My DS had persistent ear infections when he was 3 and ended up having mastoiditis because GPs ignored me. I am not saying this is what your son has, but I had the same old nonsense spouted as well as Calpol masking symptoms... No, it relieved his pain. He is 6 and his hearing isn't great but he's in good health. All the best OP. Hope your DS gets better soon.

Why are antibiotics "bad for children"? They shouldn't be overused because of the capacity of bacteria to mutate and become resistant, so only by limiting antibiotic use at a population can we hope to slow the rate of mutation and help our antibiotics remain effective for those infections where there's no alternative. But at the individual level heavy antibiotic use isn't bad for you, just incredibly selfish if you don't really need them. (Simplified slightly because heavy antibiotic use may leave you with your own personal load of resistant bacteria if the infection isn't killed off completely)

Sometimes people don't realise how sick some people are, and that in some cases, antibiotics are necessary to stop the infection and the spread of it. If it was for something like a cold or flu, then I could see their point. But having a blanket no antibiotic approach doesn't help either. You and your doctor know better than these (well-meaning) people. Just say to them that while you understand sometimes people get them for frivolous reasons, this is a case where they are necessary and his treatment is between me and his doctor.