Ear Infections Stink!

Lawson spent the majority of 2013 with an ear infection. It was terrible. It started just before this first birthday. When I took him to the doctor the first time, his only noticeable symptoms was that he was super fussy. I thought the nurse and doctor would think I was nuts when I told them what his symptoms were (weren't), but they politely checked him over and reported that he had an ear infection. I was a little confused to be honest. There was no fever, no pulling at his ears, nothing. He just wasn't himself. I know fussy might not seem like a symptom, but Lawson is a super happy boy, so when he just could not be kept happy and kept getting supremely worked up over pretty much nothing, I knew something was wrong.

Well, that was just the first of many ear infections we would deal with throughout 2013. And, with each one that came, they just got worse. Our pediatrician didn't want to refer to an ENT for tubes unless we absolutely had to. In fact, in October at Lawson's 21 month check up, Dr. Jon told us he thought we might be in the clear if we could keep him healthy through the fall and winter months. And then...over Thanksgiving, he got an ear infection. This one came with a fever, snotty nose, and a super cranky boy. About a week after we were cleared by the doctor, we were back with another, and then just after the first of the year, another. This time it was REALLY bad. He was absolutely miserable. We ended up taking him to a walk-in two days after we started antibiotics because he was getting worse instead of better.

A month later, we were at the ENT and shortly after that, we were in out-patient surgery getting tubes put in and adenoids taken out. Dr. Gwartney also pointed out that Lawson has enormous tonsils and that they will need to come out in a few years too.

We had one of the first appointments of the day, which I think is supposed to make it less traumatic when keeping a toddler from eating or drinking. We waiting just a little while in the waiting room, but then the waiting really started. 

The medicine they gave Lawson to calm him down so they could put him under worked to some extent. He was mostly just silly, but then it started to wear off. I think we were in that little cube waiting for the doctor for at least an hour (seemed like a lot more) before they finally took him back. Apparently the doctor was in a meeting. Yes, a meeting! Seriously. Jason and I were about to lose it. The procedure itself didn't take nearly as long as the waiting before did, but the aftermath was terrible. A friend had told me that her daughter was a mess coming out of anesthesia, so I knew it would be unpredictable, but I wasn't completely ready for what we got when we went to see our boy. He was very angry and just wanted the IV out of his hand. He kept trying to pull it out and screaming. I. HATED. IT. Then, to top it all off, they began talking us through the post-op information. It was ridiculous! It makes no sense to try to talk to parents whose child is thrashing and screaming and has just undergone something traumatic. Whatever. If we ever have to go through surgery again, I will make them give me the info before the surgery. 

Our boy was worn out. He was pretty out of it the rest of the day and mostly slept, which was a good thing. The next few days were rough and we had our moments, but we have only had one ear infections since (I'm actually writing this almost a year post-op). Ear infections stink. So does surgery. I am so grateful for the health of my baby boy. I'll take ear infections any day over any of the number of terrible things other kids/parents deal with on a daily basis. Praise God for a healthy boy.