Grommets

Hi Kayla

Reading Zaza2011 comments brings back memories of our own journey with grommets. The change in my LG since having the grommets put in has been an incredible one and really has only been a positive thing. The worst part of the procedure was just like Zaza said, the waiting and not being able to give your LO anything to eat or drink and them not understanding that. That was really rough! And of course taking them to theatre, completely bewildered and scared BUT it is over in no time and you are there when they wake up. Definitely take support along and by the sounds of it, your LO could really benefit from it. Good luck!

Aaaah thank you so much Zaza

The ENT gave us a course of steroids to see if that will clear the infection up, then he wants to see us in 3 weeks time. Unfortunately I can see the steroids did not do a thing. So now we wait. Only 2 more weeks to suffer. Hopefully he will do the grommets after seeing him. My son is really struggling. The infection went to the chest AGAIN. So I think before the 2 weeks are over we will have another course of antibiotics. I am really trying to hold off it, but I am sure you know all about the fever and wheezing. Once it affects the chest there is sadly nothing but antibiotics to clear it. My son is a very chesty baby, but I am convinced it is the ears because every single time his chest is bad his ears are infected

Hi Kayla

Shew reading your post brings back so many memories for me as I felt the same way, would do anything to give my poor child relief, I will share our experience with you but for us it was the best decision ever, considering how often my LG was getting sick and the fever, and how miserable she was and how helpless you as a parent feel.

I had the same with my LG every 2 weeks, inflamed something, nose, ears, fever the works, GP's keep wanting to use antibiotics, etc but it kept re-occurring. Went to ENT, she was 13 months at the time, he booked her next morning, for grommets in both ears and to burn down her adenoids, he said leave her tonsils in as long as possible even thought they flare up it's the ear infection cause nasal drips and congestion which inflames tonsils. I was terrified my poor LG going into theatre the next morning, I was crying.

Hubby and I both took off work and the protocol at the hospital is that all parents and the kiddes arrive at 7-8am, but they only work on the kids from about 9 or 10, it's a long wait. A very difficult part, the babies cannot have anything, liquid to solid from 10pm the night before, and my LG always had her milk it was so hard she didn't understand why she could not have her feed at night and the whole morning before they do the procedure. she sucked on an empty bottle to satisfy herself, but when they hungry they grumpy!! Very emotional for mama's. Anyway with my LG they asked all the parent to put the hospital clothes on the kids and they wheeled all the parents with the kids to outside the theatre, they start with the babies, the the toddlers and then the older kids, the anaethetist consults with each parent to confirm time of last meal and liquid, and then they ask which parent is going in with the child, I couldn't I was already crying, and shaking, it was overwhelming, so hubby went in, they allowed him to sit and hold my LG at that time 13 months old, they used a gas mask to knock her out, dad put her down and he was escorted out to me and we had to wait in the ward for her.

Please if I can offer you any advice, take someone with you, cause every mum who was there was crying to watch their child go into theatre is was harder on the mum's who went in to see how the kids are put under anesthesia, we just are very emotional beings.

The great news is that the procedures are only about 15 mins or less and they wake the child up and wheel them straight to you in the ward, they are sometimes sleepy, grumpy, about 15 minutes later the nurse gives them calpol and brings them either ice-cream or yogurt as soon as that goes down, they can have their normal feeds. the even better news within the hour they are up and running like nothing ever happened. my LG was running in the ward and I could not believe how well she recovered or that fact that a few minutes ago she was sick and not happy, it was like nothing happened to her, their appetite returns like a wolf as soon as you get home, they normally give you antibiotic ear drops, only when they coming out os theatre she may see a little dry blood dot in the ear of nose but nothing afterwards.

You and baby will be fine just have someone with you for support, but it will give your baby a lot of relief and they heal so fast it's amazing, also remember grommets fall off naturally over time, when my LG was about 24 months she started with the symptoms again and I didn't waste time went back to same ENT he confirmed both grommets were gone, he booked her in again and she had grommets put in for a second time, luckily we were more prepared for this the second time but it was still emotional for me.

Now she is 4 years old you would never say my LG had ENT problems for first few years of her life.

I hop this helps you and makes you feel a little at ease, I was always grateful for the awesome ENT we had, he said in life your kids will either be chesty babies or babies with ENT problems, fortunately with ENT problem babies if you stop the ENT problem they do not become chesty babies!!

All the best and let us know how it goes.

Hi guys

Anyone who went the grommets route. Did it work? My little boy is almost 1 and has been on antibiotics 10 times and been in hospital 5 times since birth. The pediatrician is suggesting grommets because his ears are always involved. At the moment he has a bad chest and ear infection again . The ENT wants to wait for the infection to clear up before deciding on grommets. This mommy can not do it anymore. If I had a choice I would let him have the grommets today if it will help.