Swimming after grommets

[ditalini]

Ds had an adenoids/grommets op in March 2020 due to frequent glue ear/infections.

It worked as expected and avoiding swimming wasn't an issue as pools were basically closed for the next 12 months.

When we finally got back in a pool we'd completely forgotten about the grommets but ds experienced ear pain when he went under the water.

Got a phone consult with the gp who suggested it was due to the grommets but nothing Ive read suggests it should be an issue at this stage.

He now wears earplugs and a band in the water but should I push for it to be checked out?

Anyone with experience?

Three of mine had grommets and ear plugs were a part of their life for literally years
I did invest in custom made ones in the end, silicone moulds that fitted perfectly. It’s a long time ago now, but much better than shop bought generic ones from Boots etc.
I got my lot made by an ear technician linked to their consultant.

And yes, no ear plug in equalled lots of pain and subsequent infections

DS had grommets and we were supposed to make sure he had ear plugs or cotton wall with Vaseline in every time he had a bath etc
When the grommets fell out one of his ears did not heal and he had a hole in his ear drum for years. He had a specially fitted ear plug from his consultant which was periodically replaced as he grew and his ear changed shape. Ear plug was to be worn even in the bath etc. Even with the ear plug in he wasn’t supposed to go under water and not allowed to eg jump in the pool.

Ah, ok thanks.

That's a shame because he really hates the plugs and band. Maybe it would be worth getting custom made ones - do they stay in without a band?

But you're supposed to be using them for baths and stuff. It's a part of life. There will be something out there that'll suit.

This is why I'm thinking I should probably push for someone to actually look at his ear.

It's not unreasonable to assume that the grommets will have fallen out by now and presumably they would want to monitor a persistently perforated eardrum.

Ear putty is far better than plugs. We had three years of it.

Ear putty looks good - do they stay in without a band?

Yes you just need to make sure you cover the ear, a bit of practise that’s all. They come with little storage tubs so even work st the beach.

Thanks - will give it a go.

My son had his tonsils and adenoids removed and grommets fitted 4 weeks ago. The Consultant told me he would be fine to swim 1 week after the operation. He didn’t mention that he would need to wear ear plugs and a band? He went swimming for the first time this week with school and now I’m worried 😟

@TCMcK

It seems like advice on avoiding water in the ear after the immediate post-operative period is variable. We weren't told to avoid swimming, nor to use cotton wool or similar in the bath, but clearly water is causing Ds pain so I will avoid that happening.

There doesn't seem to be a lot of evidence one way or another (www.evidentlycochrane.net/children-with-grommets-worth-the-bother/ - this is from 2016 and if you Google grommets + swimming you'll see that some surgeons advise earplugs and some don't).

Apparently grommets are likely to be pushed out of the ear after 12-18 months and the ear drum should heal (at which point glue ear might be a problem and the op may need to be repeated, or it will have resolved). At ds's follow-up they could only see one grommet and he only has pain in one ear so it may be that that ear still has a grommet in, or it's come out and the ear drum hasn't healed.

I'm going to give the putty a go as he wants to start swimming lessons but is very self-conscious of the band, and get a check up from the GP to see what's happening with his ear.

Would probably be worth double checking re: swimming advice with the hospital and just being aware that if there's any pain then it's resolvable with plugs/putty.

www.evidentlycochrane.net/children-with-grommets-worth-the-bother/