ENT

Because Jack had another ear infection 10 days ago, I made an appointment with his ENT for him to check Jack out. The ENT said Jack's ears look so good that he is questioning if Jack really had an ear infection. The pain Jack felt could have been from the popping and negative pressure in his ears. But because Jack was seen by a PCP who said that it was an ear infection and Jack had a slight fever, he'll count it. So that means 3 ear infections in 6 months... the threshold for why someone would get tubes.

However, it is a balancing act because the more tubes go it, the weaker his ears get and we don't want that. But then again, we don't want fluid stuck in his ears because that does damage too (hearing loss). But the good news is, Jack doesn't have fluid right now so that is why we'll wait to see if he gets another ear infection -- if he gets one more in the next six months, we'll probably need to put tubes in again. Hopefully with it being spring and summer coming, there is less chance of colds, less chance of getting sick, less chance of it developing into an ear infection. And although the ENT said swim lessons have nothing to do with it, we're pulling him from swim lessons, but will probably still be in our pool a lot this summer. We'll still use the ear plugs during bath and pool time.

But the ENT wants to keep a close eye on him so that his why we're seeing the ENT every 3 months instead of every 6 months (which is the norm). The ENT did pull out a ton of gunk from his left ear -- including the tube. And man was that painful. It took three adults to hold Jack down while the ENT pulled out the tube. Jack was screaming MOMMY HOLD ME. I was almost in tears it was so bad seeing him like that. But of course, he is fine and really, his struggling is probably what made it painful. So we pray no more ear infections for at least 6 months; and we go back beg. July.