Gromets

**~TT40~** · November 23rd, 2015, 05:38 PM

Tell me about gromets. Quark has had ear infections (both ears, individually and at the same time) when she was 4, 6, 7 and 8 months. We just saw the ent specilist (she now 11 months), he check the pressure and fluid in her ears and she failed miserably, where there is meant to be a peak, she just had a flat line. He said she needs them but shes too little. He has hope she will grow out of them and doesnt want to jump into gromets too early. He wants to see how she goes over next winter, but he said if she gets 2 more infections we have no choice. She is showing signs her earsbare bothering her...she slaps her head (like a crazy person), only sleeps for very short periods and hates laying down... but they arent infected as yet...
Anyway, i know nothing about gromets and kids getting them, whats involved etc... so can you please share your stories. Thanks!

**Mildez** · November 23rd, 2015, 07:23 PM

Two of my 4 have had grommets.
On my iPhone but I will come back tomorrow and reply.
The flat line on the tymp test maybe because she has a cold and not necessarily a true reflection of what is going on.

**~TT40~** · November 24th, 2015, 11:24 AM

No cold =(
How do they put them in? Does she have a ga?

**leckert** · November 24th, 2015, 05:10 PM

My younger one had them in 2013 at about 18months. He had 7 lots of antibiotics in 3 months so I got a referral for an ENT who was kind enough to have a cancellation that week for me - grommets were in by the following Monday.
Went under GA and was out again fairly quickly. Only problem was the fasting (no BF/milk during the day - afternoon surgery)

ETA:
We were also one of the lucky ones where the grommets lasted more than 12 months (9months is typical I'm told). We're currently on watching how he goes. I think we're out of needing them as we survived this winter without an ear infection. So ENT is hopeful it's all good as the tube is usually grown enough by 4 to not need them anymore.

**~Gee_Whizzy~** · November 25th, 2015, 05:28 AM

My DD1 had them done when she turned 4, after 4 rounds of ABs in 2 months. The actual procedure took less than 15mins and she was fine. I was allowed to go into theatre with her whilst they put her to sleep. Her right grommet stayed in for 2 years and the left grommet 2yrs and 3 months. Touch wood, she has not had one ear infection since.

The hospital she had it done at do the procedure in order of age so the youngest ones go in first.

Good luck 😊

**Mildez** · November 25th, 2015, 09:12 AM

Two of my girls have had them. They were both 4 although they both needed them a lot sooner then they had them. Fortunately neither have had speech issues as that seems to be a common occurrence from poor hearing.

As the others have said it was GA for them both. The procedure was very quick. With my eldest I was in recovery with her but the last which was September this year she stayed in recovery on her own as she woke and was happy eating the ice block she was given. We also went home less then an hour after she came back to day surgery which was nice as they did say it was overnight stay because she was having her adenoids out also. When they went in to remove the adenoids they discovered she had none.

My youngest daughter had a terrible discharge for a week afterwards which was very uncommon. She was having a twice daily antibiotic into the ear as she had an infection that couldn't be cleared with oral ab's. The ENT told us that when they have had a few infections that it is quiet likely that the infection will stay there and the antibiotics is just a short term fix and once they have been stopped it will just build up overtime before they get another infection. Unfortunately for us as we don't have private health insurance we had a 13month wait for DD to have hers done. She was one that really should have been done much much sooner then she was.

The worst I am finding now is washing her hair and swimming. That's a bit annoying preventing water going in the ear but something you just have to do. DD also is only just starting swimming lessons for the 1st time at 4.5yrs because up until the grommets went in swimming would trigger an ear infection. My older 2 children were already swimming at her age.

**~Gee_Whizzy~** · November 25th, 2015, 01:14 PM

The worst I am finding now is washing her hair and swimming. That's a bit annoying preventing water going in the ear but something you just have to do. DD also is only just starting swimming lessons for the 1st time at 4.5yrs because up until the grommets went in swimming would trigger an ear infection. My older 2 children were already swimming at her age.

Yes, this!

We opted to get custom made ear plugs for her from her audiologist and I used them for hair washing and beach visits over summer. We chose to stop swimming lessons for the 2+ years DD1 had the grommets but she took it up again this year and has, so far, been good.

**~TT40~** · November 26th, 2015, 04:54 AM

Thanks girls. I took her to the dr again yesterday, she has another ear infection. Im going to call the specilist today and see if he will put her on the waiting list...he did say the list is massive so could be another 12mths before she gets them anyway
Damn about swimming... we have a pool and over summer will be in it everyday. Spock is 4 and can swim confidently for her age (and never had leasons, just us teaching her)
Would the problem only be if their head goea underwater? Splashing wouldn't cause a problem?

Also, we haven't noticed any hearing loss, she appears to have good hearing, eg responds to us appropriately etc thank god

**~Gee_Whizzy~** · November 26th, 2015, 06:59 PM

Our ENT was very firm that no water, at all, was to go into her ears whilst the grommets were in (can push the grommet out earlier than it's meant to and cause more ear infections and additional surgery to remove and replace them). We used the custom made plugs as well as a swimming cap to ensure nothing got in! 😕

Have you had her checked by an audiologist? I only ask because DD1 had no issues with speech, following instruction and responding accordingly to us, but her hearing tests showed otherwise!