The outcome of the EAR problem!

[francine]

Today we had an appointment with the 2nd ENT specialist at yet another hospital. This was the original appointment that we waited 2 months for.

Remember Maia's last visit ended up a total disaster when the word Vacuum was used? This time I wrote a note and said that Maia would be very good but to choose the wording and approach because she was very skittish at this point because of her last visit and NOT to use the following words - because it would send her off.

Well this doctor was an older gentleman and yes indeed a gentle - man. Wow. He just mezmerized her from minute one. Treated her with the utmost respect - definitely woo'd her like he was the prince and she the princess in cinderella - she did everything he asked. When he wanted to look in her ear with the light - he handed her a light and used a different one. When he went to scoop wax - he handed her the scoop first so she could study it and he explained it - then she was in charge of holding the gauze pad to collect what he could remove. Then he made jokes about ear boogies and got her giggling - belly laughing actually. WOW!

She sat through about 30 minutes of ear tests and there, too, the audiologist was just amazing - a completely receptive child.

What a difference a great doctor makes!!! I am without a doubt going to write the first one a letter today!

So the outcome was interesting... the pain is coming from pressure. Maia's eustacian tubes are very small and the equipment measured a lot of pressure - so her hearing sounds like when you are on an airplane and your ears about to pop - you hear like you are somewhat underwater but not as bad as that. They are not concerned with her hearing but they are concerned with the pain of the pressure. He said that we should keep up with our jaw exercises which we've been doing on instinct and that I should give her tylenol as needed for the pain and any normal thing you would do to relieve pain - like warming, etc. And if it got so bad that her quality of life was really impinged then the next step was ear tubes. Then he took out this little test tube and showed me an ear tube! It was SO tiny!!! Imagine the tiniest little spool of thread in the world (minus the thread)...teeny tiny. Was very different then what I expected. But he didn't want to do tubes unless it was absolutely necessary and the pain was a daily ongoing thing. We're going to have to think about this - she has had pain everyday but after she does her jaw excercises it does help it. And I've been massaging her jaw every night as well.

So that's the news. I feel SO relieved to have found this special doctor. For anyone in and around Philly that needs an ENT - he is Dr. Handler at CHOP. I'd write the name down in your phone book to hold in case you ever have this need at a later date. BTW - this was also our FIRST excellent experience at CHOP. It matched our visits to TCH. Wow - a good experience locally! Imagine that!

thanks for listening,
francine

[LeeAnne]

Francine, so glad to hear the visit went so well. Isn't it amazing when a doctor uses a little psychology with his practice instead of just having a job of being a doctor. What is causing the pressure? Is it the fact that the eustachian tubes are small or is that another thing entirely. Also, if it is prolonged and her hearing is muffled, you might want to consider a little bit of speech therapy as a preventive measure. Since my mother has been totally deaf since the age of 3 from meningitus, I guess I'm more aware of how the hearing and speech are so interrelated. Since she could talk before she became deaf she speaks really well,but now that she's 62 and hasn't had therapy in years her speech is getting sloppier. Just a thought! LeeAnne

[francine]

Lee Anne - thanks! ST is already in Maia's IEP for September. And yes- the pressure is from the smaller size of the Eustacian tube. He said it was MUCH smaller than in other children.

[Alice]

So glad to hear things turned out great. You must be releaved. Take care.

[momofnickelman]

That's great you got some answers for a change. It is amazing what a good Doctor can do! At least now you know what you are dealing with and what to do to help her! I am so glad to hear your news! Ear boogies huh? Sounds gross but kids love that stuff!

[Kathleen]

I am so glad to hear that Maia was comfortable with this doctor.

It seems we had the same news for our 14 month old Katie.... They are putting her on antibiotics for 6 weeks hoping to ward off infections... They did the ear clean bit already... and show them the tiny tubes... Here's hoping both girls get well and skip the tubes
Kath

[Kathleen]

I am so glad to hear that Maia was comfortable with this doctor.

It seems we had the same news for our 14 month old Katie.... They are putting her on antibiotics for 6 weeks hoping to ward off infections... They did the ear clean bit already... and show them the tiny tubes... Here's hoping both girls get well and skip the tubes
Kath

[m&mmom]

Glad all went ok.
Cindy

[Melissa]

Francine, Glad to hear your appointment went so well.
I am sure you are relieved you have some answers about Maia's constant pain. Hope she is feeling better. Melissa

[DebbieJean]

Francine,
Glad it went so well.
God bless,
DebbieJean