I need some advice on ear infections (again.......)

[HappyMumof2]

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Please would you consider taking her to a Kneisologist? She sounds so poorly, the little mite The Conventional method does not seem to be working and antibiotics aren't which is all they can resort to most of the time. Please try and find the reason why she is having so many infections - I know the Hospital may poo poo allergy theories, but they don't know everything - as we found out!

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I've heard (from a number of reliable sources) that drinking a milk/formula bottle whilst lying flat on the back can be very aggravating on the ears. It can cause the milk to "pool" in the eustastian tubes - and milk grows bacteria pretty quickly so infection can set in. It does not happen with breastfeeding, apparantly, as the "suck" they use is much stronger and the milk does not do the same.

The recommendations I've heard for improved feeding is to give the bottle at least at a 45 degree angle - sitting upright is even better. My son has always fed his bottle this way and has never (touch wood!) had an ear infection to date.

I can confirm that using echinacia tincture is great to help fight the bug if you have it (its a general immune system booster) - but cannot be taken for longer than 3 weeks at a time. Use 5 drops in water, 3 times a day.

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can't recommend anywhere as I live in South Africa! But, I did my massage training 10yrs ago at the Harley st centre you mention and can confirm that they are good at what they do.

The best way (to me) to test for food intolerances is to eliminate all possible probs first (seems quite radical - but its for a shortish time). Dairy, wheat, sugar and caffiene are the most common offenders - so maybe start there. Then, after three weeks, add the one missed the most back into the diet and give it two weeks. If any symptoms return - you've got it - if not - then its not the prob.

Just been to see our ENT specialist today - whereabouts in London are you notsohappymum? So sorry to hear about your dd . Ours is 20 months and we are nearing our second winter of near-constant ear infections. Dd's have recently stopped responding to amoxycillin and she is as of today on a low daily dose of trimethoprim to see if that works (for 8 weeks). She also has some Gentocin ear drops. No-one mentioned Otomize at our clinic either...Tillykins, what's its active ingredient? The Reg we saw today was encouraging about cutting out dairy until her next appointment, so we'll try that, and I must break out the echinacea as so many people on here think it might help.
We want to avoid surgery for dd if at all possible.
Wishing clean ears and carefree swimming to all beleaguered mums on this thread. What a lot of misery and mess this condition causes

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marina - and other ear sufferers - i don't know if it's useful (or how up to date it is) but bandolier is an evidence-based website that has lots of ENT stuff on it. hth

HappyMumof2 - I could ask the Allergy person I see - she may be able to recommend someone? We are in Gloucestershire but I know that she has other colleagues in other locations. Agree that you could prob do it yourself and illiminate major offenders (dairy, wheat etc) and see how she is? The Harly Street Centre sounds worth checking out - and the NHS doesn't do any of this - but it should Maybe in about 20 years or so it will ......

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I was quite surprised too Aimsmum - am wondering if it was a coincidence he wasn't British - I sometimes think our medical establishment is more resistent to complimentary therapies than say Europe's or the Middle East's...thanks for the link Bundle - will check it out when back at work and not chugging along on 26,400 (think our modem is about to die).
Do let me know what's on the video Aimsmum. Sounds very relevant to us if no-one else .
I feel much reassured swapping notes with fellow effusion veterans...

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happymumof2, why not get your gp to refer you to the homeopathic hospital if you are interested in following that route? i went for a referral when i had 3 bouts of mastitis and the gp/homeopath i saw was terrific, though i am normally quite sceptical about complementary therapies i was willing to do anything to stop the pain!

here's some helpful hints from the faculty of homeopathy about how to get it on the nhs...

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Bundle you auperstar, more links to follow up.
HMO2, Augmentin is particularly likely to upset the digestive flora. Has anyone suggested Solgar A B C Dophilus to you yet? This is a dairy-free powdered version of the beneficial bacteria sold commercially in drinks like Actimel and Yakult. We put dd on a light sprinkle on food twice daily for a fortnight after AB courses, it really does help settle her tummy.
I need to find dairy-free cheese (or "chee" as dd calls it with a toddler leer). She loves the stuff

happymumof2, i live not far from you and my surgery dug around a bit before they referred me, but were happy to do so. the royal homeopathic is next to great ormond st but is being refurbished so they're in portakabins off euston rd. i'd also highly recommend their marigold clinic for anyone with persistent veruccas!

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Holland and Barrett can be really useless sometimes, HMO2, Our local one doesn't do it either. We got ours from a large independent health food shop, there must be a few of those in Islington
The Solgar product is specifically aimed at children. Expensive, but keeps for ages in the fridge. Good luck, must hop off and watch No Angels

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