11.06.2007

From a Long Line of Bad Tubes

Eustachian tubes, that is.

We've got our first ear infection, people. At least the fever and crankiness are for a reason! Unfortunately, I'm almost certain that this will be the first in a long line of ear infections.

You see, both Warrior and I were complete sickies as kids, and still get sick probably more often than other adults. It's all thanks to the faulty tubes.

When I told Warrior that it was the beginning of an ear infection (consistent with a high fever and ear pulling, and his ears didn't look "normal"), he said, "I got ear infections ALL the time as a kid!" Huh. I knew about the asthma, bronchitis, and pneumonia, but NOT the ear infections.

As a kid, I would have pretty much any one of the three major tube infections at least once a year: ear, sinus and tonsil. I also had bronchitis about once a year.

I don't think there was a year of school where I DIDN'T miss at least a whole week and several sporadic days due to illness. It's no wonder I earned the nickname, "Sicky Vicky." (Btw, don't EVER call me Vicky, k? Thanks. (Another story for another day.))

Then there was the month in seventh grade that I was out with pneumonia. Guess what? So was Warrior! We have so much in common! Both of our Moms took us to warmer climates to dry us out, like we were old people needing environment therapy.

The next year, I was out for over six weeks with Mono. And I didn't even have a boyfriend! At least I could have gotten it some fun way! But Nooooo, I got it SHARING A CAN OF SODA. I am THAT lame exciting. HA!

Growing up by the beach, I was in the water a lot. Which meant I got a lot of ear infections. I got so paranoid about water in my ears causing an infection that I became, and am still to this day, obsessed with using Q-tips to dry out the insides of my ears (which you're totally not supposed to do, but, hey, works for me!). I also try to avoid getting my ears wet, which is hard when you're trying to SWIM and generally ENJOY THE WATER.

My latest ear infection was four years ago, well into my twenties. The doctor said, "you're not supposed to get these past age three!" Yeah, thanks. I'll let my Eustachian tubes know that. I'll put 'em on probation or something.

It was such a bad ear infection that it required TWO rounds of antibiotics -- including one of the Anthrax drug, Cipro -- and a ten day course of prednisone (steroids) to clear it up. And even after the 'roids, my tube didn't ever open completely back up.

So I am left with a left ear that doesn't hear as well as the right. Because of an ear infection. Fabulous. (Diminished hearing is only one reason why I am already eighty-three years old. Tendonitis and arthritis are two others. Also another story for another time.)

In sum, I've been waiting for this day to come. I have actually been quite (pleasantly) surprised at how healthy Little Man has been. Of course, I did keep him in near total seclusion for the first six months of his life (due to doctor's orders -- prematurity and all), so that probably helped immensely.

I will have to be prepared for many more of these ear and other infections, and doctor's visits like this morning, marked by screaming and crying and heartbreaking sadness. My poor little Boo.

Little Man still has a fever, but the doctor said he should feel MUCH better in a few days. Since he's sleeping A LOT, I got to blog early today! At least something good came of it. Heh.

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh poor buddy Little Man! Feel better soon, please!!

Davey sends lots of friend love to make him feel better, too. :D

Anonymous said...

Glad Little Man is on the mend!!

Ear infections suck, I had tubes replaced when I was four. I'm hoping my girls don't get my crappy ear gene.

Anonymous said...

THAT SUCKS!! You're so funny. I got ear infections all of the time and Mono and sinus infections at least once a year. Maybe WE should be married ;) We also have a lot of the same likes and dislikes #'s 11, 12, 16, 17,19, 23, 24, 35, 37, 40, 44, 49, 55, 62, 67 (except mine is vanilla), 70, 82, 85 and 96 to name a few. Things i love about you are 97, 98 (i benefit from both immensely because i'm lazy and don't want to do it myself)73, 78, 79 (yes, i've noticed) and 26 (not in any order) plus many more. One more thing, panties...ugh. I also have other words that i can't stand for some reason...moist, creamy, ointment, milky and discharge (combine them together and oh boy) Anyway, i hope the little man feels better. Glad it's for a reason and not just some weird fever that will "run it's course". Sorry for the long post! LOVE YA, give the Little man a squeeze for us.

Anonymous said...

THAT SUCKS!! You're so funny. I got ear infections all of the time and Mono and sinus infections at least once a year. Maybe WE should be married ;) We also have a lot of the same likes and dislikes #'s 11, 12, 16, 17,19, 23, 24, 35, 37, 40, 44, 49, 55, 62, 67 (except mine is vanilla), 70, 82, 85 and 96 to name a few. Things i love about you are 97, 98 (i benefit from both immensely because i'm lazy and don't want to do it myself)73, 78, 79 (yes, i've noticed) and 26 (not in any order) plus many more. One more thing, panties...ugh. I also have other words that i can't stand for some reason...moist, creamy, ointment, milky and discharge (combine them together and oh boy) Anyway, i hope the little man feels better. Glad it's for a reason and not just some weird fever that will "run it's course". Sorry for the long post! LOVE YA, give the Little man a squeeze for us.

Anonymous said...

THAT SUCKS!! You're so funny. I got ear infections all of the time and Mono and sinus infections at least once a year. Maybe WE should be married ;) We also have a lot of the same likes and dislikes #'s 11, 12, 16, 17,19, 23, 24, 35, 37, 40, 44, 49, 55, 62, 67 (except mine is vanilla), 70, 82, 85 and 96 to name a few. Things i love about you are 97, 98 (i benefit from both immensely because i'm lazy and don't want to do it myself)73, 78, 79 (yes, i've noticed) and 26 (not in any order) plus many more. One more thing, panties...ugh. I also have other words that i can't stand for some reason...moist, creamy, ointment, milky and discharge (combine them together and oh boy) Anyway, i hope the little man feels better. Glad it's for a reason and not just some weird fever that will "run it's course". Sorry for the long post! LOVE YA, give the Little man a squeeze for us.

The Egel Nest said...

I hope that Little man feels better soon!

Bradley
The Egel Nest

VDog said...

#7 -- AW!! I LOVE YOU, too!!

Best. Comment. Evah! You my bitch!

I <3 you totally!

Toni said...

Oh, I so hope Little Man doesn't have to suffer as his parents did. If it is any consolation, I was a perfectly healthy little girl and Her Highness has been a real sick-o with asthma, GERD, chronic sinusitis and constant trips to the doc, who we now are friends with from seeing so much. Maybe this is a fluke and the illness will skip a generation...

Unknown said...

My doc said the later they get that first ear infection the better--less likely for tubes, less likely to get lots, etc. He's much older than mine was for his first. Good luck. I'm with you! Always had the series of brochitis/walking pneumonias. I started self-diagnosing myself I had them so often.

Heidi Hyde said...

Poor little bug. I hope he feels better soon!

-HH

Jennifer said...

Those pesky, misbehaving eustachian tubes! Put those suckers in time out, I say!

Feel better Little Man!

justmylife said...

I hope little man feels better really soon!! I just fought with my little one this morning, she has bad allergies and if I kept her home from school when she felt bad, she would be out from oh, August til what Feb. I feel for you with a sick little one, my thoughts are with you!!

Al_Pal said...

Oof. Well, glad you got a diagnosis, but too bad it is that one! ;-(
Crazy about all those tubes...

I hope aff's idea is right, and that LittleMan won't have too many, with him already being fairly old. :P
(dude, ~10.25 months! ;D )

And, boo for sickness, but yay for sleeping. :P

Love yous!

Gretchen said...

Poor Little Man... glad he seems to be on the mend though!

I'm so totally opposite of you on this one! I was healthy, healthy. I had 10 (count them on two hands) sick days in my ENTIRE high school career. It SUCKS sometimes to be healthy! ;P

(NOT that I want to get sick now though... knocking on wood!)

Cynthia said...

Poor Little Man...My Little Man isn't feeling well either. Sleep Little Men, sleep and feel better!

jennifer said...

poor baby. i had icky ears as a kid too, but i had tubes put in and never had another bit of trouble. sorry you werent as lucky.

dawn224 said...

puh leeze. I got ear infections *starting* after age 3 and lasting until... heck... probably recently.

Alex Elliot said...

Hubby and I both had horrible problems with ear infections as kids. I actually lost some of my hearing. When our sons started having problems, we were quick to get tubes. Our older has had one ear infection in over two years. The little one hasn't had any so far since he had tubes put in 6 months ago.

Steph said...

Poor Little Man!! My daughter has had 2 sets of tubes and Gabe has already had his first ear infection, EVEN WITH SECLUSION!! (The fluid pooled with teething, sat there and got infected)

Anonymous said...

the Q tip story got me. Gareth is awful about it too.Once we had a huge fight becasue he needed to dry his ears and the Q tips weren't there...he had lots of problems with ears also.

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