never ending ear infections

[Grover]

Okay maybe nor truly never ending.
DS had one early in decemer,a really nasty one over christmas where his ear drum perforated .We eneded up in ER with that one.And now he has yet another one,this time both sides.
What can I do?Any ideas on how to stop them re occuring?

[tiglet]

:hug
:hug
:hug

Unfortunately, I know what you're going through. Not very natural health, but we finally agreed to put tubes in B's ears. (Drs had been recommending it for some time - when I saw that she had hearing loss as well as these constant infections - it was an easier decision to make).

Since then, she's been great. She hears better, speaks better, and, best of all, sleeps better.

Anyway, maybe someone has some more natural recommendations for you! I assume you're trying the garlic oil/mullein oil/breastmilk thing already.

[Lady TS]

Cut out dairy.

My ds grew up with one ear infection after another. Thankfully, we didn't have to do tubes in his ears, though. He had eczema also and I was tired of dealing with that and read up on it and once I cut milk out of his diet most of his eczema is gone(except for behind the knees) and he's had few if any ear infections since I cut out milk. (Ok that was a run-on sentence! :phew :lol)

Don't know if that's the issue with your little one or not, but it's certainly worth a try. :shrug

[Grover]

LadyTS we have a mild eczema problem.Lat year it got pretty bad over winter and we cut out dairy then.Hmm maybe we should try that again.
Tiglet I havent tried garlic oil and well I have no Bmilk anynore.What sould I do with those?

[fancifulfrog]

Ever try a Chiro. It helps to keep the fluids from building up. I do it with DD all the time. One time she was diagnosed with and ear infection I took her to the chiro and she felt great after 1 day. Took her back to the ped and all was fine.

[Grover]

Hmm I will look up a chiropractor

[cobluegirl]

yup cut our dairy, see a chiropractor and boost his acidophlius intake! the antibiotics he has been on has wiped out the good bactria in his gut. Also garlic oil treats a ear infection..but make sure you don't place it it the ear after it has perforated. Dd gets EI's and I never knew till abotu an hour before her ear drum burst...we did have to leave tubes put in in Dec because of hearing loss.

[tiglet]

Yes, about the "no oil after perforation" comment.

I've also been thinking a lot about eustachian tube geometry. It's inherited. I had lots of ear infections as a kid, due to my eustachian tube geometry (horiztonal and twisty), and I think B has this same problem. Also, AK Native kids have high rates of ear infections because their eustachian tubes are more horizontal than caucasian kids. I think this is part of B's problem, too.

Do you or your dh have a history of ear infections, also? If so, might be a physical part of your bodies that you truly just have to treat the best you can and wait to "outgrow" it.

:hug

Edited to fix: Used to read that Native kids eustachian tubes were more vertical. Meant to write that they are more horizontal. Oops!

[Grover]

Yes, about the "no oil after perforation" comment.

I've also been thinking a lot about eustachian tube geometry. It's inherited. I had lots of ear infections as a kid, due to my eustachian tube geometry (horiztonal and twisty), and I think B has this same problem. Also, AK Native kids have high rates of ear infections because their eustachian tubes are more vertical than caucasian kids. I think this is part of B's problem, too.

Do you or your dh have a history of ear infections, also? If so, might be a physical part of your bodies that you truly just have to treat the best you can and wait to "outgrow" it.

:hug

Yes I had tubes as a kid due to ear infections and hearing loss.And I think I mentioned in earlier posts re.ears that my eldest DD nearly died 2 years ago following complications of an ear infection[ear infection that lead to a mastiod infection[bone from the ear into the brain].That lead to meningitus.So we are really cautious not mention anxious when one our DC gets an ear infection now.I never want to be in that situation again.
Ughh anyhow last day of antibiotics is tommorrow and DS is still running a fever,bunged up with green sn*t and cranky.
Will get some probiotic drinks today if I can get out.He has a perforation recovering right now ,so the oil is out

[tiglet]

:hug

I had tubes 3x as a child - every time I'd grow and they'd fall out, I'd get constant, incurable ear infections again. Till I was about 8. I'm hoping that doesn't happen to your dc's and mine.

I think it may be part of how your family's ears are physically shaped. Doesn't make the actual ear infections any better, though. :(
I hope your dc feels better soon.

[Radosny Matka]

I have heard that sometimes getting an adjustment at the chiropracter can help.

[herbalwriter]

I have a recipe for an herbal oil...I know you shouldn't do oil if the eardrum is perforated, but it should be okay in the ear that was not perforated, or after the perforation heals in the first ear. I have used this homemade oil on ds when antibiotics weren't working (after 4 days). The book the recipe is in is loaned out to a friend unfortunately, but I asked her to email it to me so when/if she does, I will post it. Anyway, :pray mama - that has to be hard as heck.

[PurpleButterfly]

We have had wonderful results with our gentle chiropractor! :tu

Here are a few pages I put together based on what helped us when ds was having recurring ear infections and I didn't want to do tubes (I have hearing loss from scar tissue resulting from tube surgery as a child):

http://www.communities.ninemsn.com/APhearts/earinfections.msnw

http://www.communities.ninemsn.com/APhearts/whatworkedforus.msnw

:hugheart :pray

[Grover]

I think we are finally turning the corner re the ear infections He is much,much less cranky and eating again wahooo :highfive,sleeping well :highfive :highfive
I am meeting my firend tommorrow and hoping she can give me details of the chiropractor she used with her baby daughter.
reading the links Kym

[herbalwriter]

:woohoo :praise
Thanks for the update!

[tiglet]

:highfive

So glad that he's getting better! And keep us posted if you do go to the chiro - I'd like to know what he/she does, and if it has any sort of immediate, discernable effect. :) Chiro sounds better than endless rounds of Amox, Augmentin, Septa, Omnicef, etc.

[Grover]

spoke too soon.Ds started complaining of :banghead ear ache again.I have found a recommended Chiropractor but cant take him in yet :banghead

[cobluegirl]

chamomile and belladonna are good ear infection remedies too. (homeopathic)

I have other ear infection remedies saved on my puter..pm me if you are interested.

[tiglet]

If this keeps up, you might also want to take him to a specialist - to an ENT doc.

Once they get this thick gluey stuff behind their ear drums, I haven't heard of anything that fixed it other than long-term abx or tubes. An ENT can diagnose whether or not this is happening to your son. Hoping you find something, though!

[cobluegirl]

yeah dd just had tubes last month..dr was surprised at how much crap she had behind her ears. she apparenlty has had way more EI'S then we were aware of and it did affect her hearing..which she she has regained since having had the tubes.

[Mrs.G]

My ds is 2.5 and has had chronic ear infections since he was 1. I have had him under the care of a chiro who specializes in pediatrics since Jan 2006 and he has had no fluid or ear infections since. The only dairy I give him is plain whole milk organic yogurt mixed with fruit. I also have him on probiotics and cod lover oil daily. His speech has improved, his concentration is longer, and he is potty trained. I believe that chiropractic care, healthy nutrition, and enough sleep contribute to overall health, and in a ideal world my entire family would be under care. Please pray for discernment when choosing a provider.

[herbalwriter]

Excellent points, Mrs. G. :-)