Is there anyway i can prevent ds having another ear infection?

[griffalo2]

Everytime ds (5) has a cold it ends with an awful ear infection and perforation.
He woke yesterday with yet another cold,im constantly telling him to blow his nose but is there anything else I can do?

I used to get these loads, if you aren't doing this already a hot water bottle under a towel or wheat bag against the ear (just make sure he can't burn himself) helps a lot with the pain.

Not sure about prevention though, I got these constantly and didn't find anything that helped to stop them - just grew out of it eventually. I have wondered looking back though, whether being strict about nose blowing rather than sniffing might help, as I was terrible for sniffing as a child!

No, actually I don't. I don't think exaggerating a child's condition to get potentially unnecessary treatment is a 'game' either. I think she should ask for a referral and be seen but I think she should be honest about what is happening and not try to tick boxes in order to get treatment that her son may not actually need.

Sure thing bumbley. What a child needs is very painful ear infections constantly. I guess you live in an area where NHS provision isn't rationed. Value it as it won't last much longer.

I don't think he needs ear infections constantly but he may not need the same treatment as your daughter and I think it is wrong to give inaccurate information to try to get treatment that may be unnecessary or too extreme. Why not let her doctor decide what he needs based on genuine information?

Sheesh bumbley, give it up! OP can decide what she wants. I don't need you preaching to me surprisingly. Go preach to your child.

I'm sure she can and I hope she has more sense than to lie to her doctor if she wants a proper diagnosis

Do you ever shut up bumbley?

Crikey ladies.dont mean to take sides but I wont be bending the truth so ds can have surgery if he doesnt really need it.
Why would I put my son through that and why waste nhs time and money unnecessarily.
I have my faith in the doctors to help him and im sure they will be able to tell if he needs it or not

I agree griffalo :) . I hope your DS feels better soon. Did you try the hot water bottle MyNameIs suggested? Maybe it would give him some comfort while he's trying to sleep. :(

Also, I think I've read something about pouring warm olive oil into the ear mentioned before on MN....not sure though!

Nobody pushes for surgery which isn't needed. Unless they have Münchausen syndrome by proxy.

Bumbley, olive oil into an ear which, as the OP says, perforates continually is a really stupid idea.

Tried olive oil before but no effect.discovered the water bottle last time.only way of soothing him without overdosing on nurofen.
Gonna try get him in to see doc but surgery on a Wednesday isnt till this afternoon,they share the doctors between two villages,unless I walk him 5 miles to the other one I cant get there

:( Poor boy. Hope you can get him seen this afternoon.

If the drum hasn't perforated, do try a few drops of lavender. It is soothing and antiseptic. Sometimes it feels very slightly stingy on first contact but then it is great. I used it on my daughter when she was a toddler and she never had ear problems requiring the doctor again.

Hope he's feeling better OP.
Mine was diagnosed with glue ear and had his first set of gromits in 2009. They fell out though and last winter was back to the cycle as you describe - constant colds/earache/antiobiotics.
We got another referral to the ENT Consultant and he had another set of gromits about 6 weeks ago. This time they removed the adenoids as well.
Fingers crossed all is currently well.