Help me please before I go insane!

Mandy - posted on 01/13/2010

get her checked out!

Elizabeth - posted on 01/13/2010

New ENT said left ear is healthy and tube was out, but still in the ear. So he took that out while we were there. The right ear is healthy, but can't tell if tube is out, looks like it's still against the drum as it should be. Did some tests, determined the right tube is in fact blocked, but NOT infected. So, this means her change in behavior could just be a way of seeking attention. At least I know she's not infected ...

Elizabeth - posted on 01/12/2010

So the plan is, since she's finally asleep and I talked to the ENT on call, I will call to get her squeezed in tomorrow. I have a houseful of kids, so it'll be interesting. ENT says, "sounds like she's got an infection" and this is a first, cause this ENT blamed every infection Sydney had on "molars". Guess what? There are no molars on the side she's complaining about! Sorry ... had to vent

Aubrey - posted on 01/12/2010

if she is pulling on her ears alot then it is definitely her ears

Elizabeth - posted on 01/12/2010

Ok, so no fever. Absolutely normal, but crying. Seems fine when upright. Ate good, no crankiness until time to laydown and sleep.

I'm on the phone with Ask A Nurse. May end up taking her to ER tonight, as can't get into ENT til next Tuesday (19th) and not sure if ped could do much.

Lacey - posted on 01/12/2010

Quoting Elizabeth:

Lacey - this has been going on 3 days. She has runny nose, and wakes from sleep completely soaked with sweat. As soon as she's sitting up, she calms down almost completely. I remember learning that temp should be taken 30 min after getting up - body temp goes down during sleep, right?

Maybe I'm over-reacting due to pregnancy hormones ...

Elizabeth- sweat is always good when there is a temp that means that the body is getting rid of the fever...the fever breaking could mean that it is going away, however, the nap from personal experience depends on the child and most children need a nap until at least 3.5 years of age. body temp usually goes up during sleep and the runny nose could indicate a lot of things...teething, ear infection, sinus infection ect. the screaming is also a concer because a lot of the times if there is nothing anyone can do to calm the child down that may indicate something like pain...if i were you i would take her to the doctor asap. and there is NEVER such a thing as overreacting when there is something wrong with your child...call your pediatritian and hang in there...keep me posted as to whats going on!!

Veronica - posted on 01/12/2010

It is amazing how every child is different. My son has been two the doctors twice as muchas my 2 girls put together. he has had RSV(at 2 mon in the hospital for three days) two allergic rashes we dont know what from and countless ear aches. I think you should go with your first reaction if you think it might bee the ear take her to the doctor better safe then for her to be in pain. their where many times I felt goofy for taking my son to the doctor because in the office he seemed fine. The night before he was a crab and then he was fine and what do you know he had a infection. If your child seem off then she might very well be in pain. the fever for me was not usually the first sign My son usually had a very good attitude and then he would go south. Then he would not want to eat or suck on his tippy.

Christina - posted on 01/12/2010

It totally sounds like an ear infection especially if she says my ears hurt. My son had ear infections a couple times and I actually would (while he had the infection) put like a block of wood under one end of the crib to "rise it" a little) WORKEDWONDERS he was slightly elevated so it helped on the ears but I would definatly get her into the ENT or her peditrician sounds like she needs a good dose of antibiotics and some tylenol or motrin and lots and lots of mommy love!!! Good luck hope she feels better soon!!!

Elizabeth - posted on 01/12/2010

Lacey - this has been going on 3 days. She has runny nose, and wakes from sleep completely soaked with sweat. As soon as she's sitting up, she calms down almost completely. I remember learning that temp should be taken 30 min after getting up - body temp goes down during sleep, right?



Maybe I'm over-reacting due to pregnancy hormones ...

Elizabeth - posted on 01/12/2010

Quoting annie:

it sounds like an ear infection my little boy has had 2 in the last 8 weeks an the symptons were the same waking up screaming fighting his sleep i advise you to get her the doctors she will need antibiotics hope ive helped xxxxxx

Thank you Annie.  I think it's hard to accept that she can get infections with tubes.  She has had the tubes for 13 months, and 7 infections during that time.  We actually went a few months w/o an infection.

She's had 12 ear infections in 12 months prior to getting tubes.  One of those infections had to be treated 2x.  Her only sign was fighting sleep/laying down and low grade temp.

Thanks for all the advice.  I am working on getting her in to a new ENT soon.

Meagen - posted on 01/12/2010

well if she w as younger i would say put her in a car seat and put her on top of the dryer with the dryer going that always worked good for my son, she may just have a cold or fighting off a small virus of some kind, if you think its the ear i would have a doctor check it cause they would be the ones to know for sure, try some tylenol or motrin and see if that works if she is in pain then it should work

Donna - posted on 01/12/2010

Maybe she doesn't need the nap at that time? Try letting her go a little longer to see if she tires more, and is more ready to sleep. If her ears are bothering her I would think she'd be rubbing her ears etc. U can always go to Dr if ur still not sure. Better safe than sorry. Best advice my OB/GYN ever gave me was "Make your own mistakes" - LOL. Good luck!!

Lacey - posted on 01/12/2010

i am a nurse and i would like to say that everything everyone has posted on here so far has been correct. Does she have any other symptoms? how long has this been going on? and you should wait at least 30 mins before taking a temp after a child wakes up...also if you are giving her tylenol or motrin you should alternate making the last dose of the day motrin...go by whatever dose your doctor told you was safe to give her and give motrin then in 4 hrs give tylenol then in another 4 hrs give motrin and so on and so forth...if you have any other questions or concerns feel free to ask!!

Annie - posted on 01/12/2010

it sounds like an ear infection my little boy has had 2 in the last 8 weeks an the symptons were the same waking up screaming fighting his sleep i advise you to get her the doctors she will need antibiotics hope ive helped xxxxxx

Elizabeth - posted on 01/12/2010

Quoting Joley:

Well look in her mouth, if her molars are pushing through then her gums may be red and swollen. There are otoscopes you can buy at some places for $10 (I got one at walmart in the pharmacy). You can use one to look into her ears and see if there is any redness, or drainage (But make sure you confirm anything with the doctor). She could also have something else going on, like a sinus infection or something. If she has a fever then she may not feel good, try tylenol or motrin and see if that makes a difference.

2 molars to go on left side.  1 almost completely thru.  She says right ear is hurting, which is the one that looks like the tube is blocked (ped said it was blocked several weeks ago, but not to worry unless bothering her).

This isn't my first child, but this is different than anything else I experienced.

With my children, anything over 99.4 means they aren't feeling well or have something going on.  I know the docs don't think it's a "fever" but really that was the only sign in she had of ear infections or viruses. 

Joley - posted on 01/12/2010

Well look in her mouth, if her molars are pushing through then her gums may be red and swollen. There are otoscopes you can buy at some places for $10 (I got one at walmart in the pharmacy). You can use one to look into her ears and see if there is any redness, or drainage (But make sure you confirm anything with the doctor). She could also have something else going on, like a sinus infection or something. If she has a fever then she may not feel good, try tylenol or motrin and see if that makes a difference.

Candace - posted on 01/12/2010

Not sure about the ear tubes, but I do know a temp is not considered a fever in pediatrivs unless it is 100.5.