For some reason, maybe just dumb luck, we have issues with ears.  All three of the kiddos have a tendency towards ear infections, especially Nena and Toad.  They have all had tubes and Nena has had two sets of them.  Toad’s ear infections are usually the silent kind in that he doesn’t usually complain, run a fever or rub his ears.  That brings us to today’s little story.

Yesterday morning, I noticed that Toady’s ear had gotten a little bit crusty.  That means…. a perforated ear drum.  That would explain his cranky demeanor, icky tummy and other not so fun symptoms.  I kept him home with me and kept him happy with juice, pillow pets and Blues Clues.  I wasn’t able to get an appointment with the doctor yesterday, so I called this morning to set up an appointment.

As coincidence would have it, I had an appointment with my ENT this morning to have a post op appointment for my procedure.  I took Toady with me.  He was CRANKY.  The doctor asked if he was ready for a nap.  I said that he probably was, but that I was suspecting a burst ear drum and was on a list to get into our pediatric office today.  He replied with , “Sheesh!  Let me take care of that while you are here.” 

He studied my ear and pulled out what was left of the packing from my surgery two months ago.  He said I could return to normal activity and that my vertigo will slowly fade!  Woo Hoo!  I do however, still have a scabbed ear drum that should be fixed by some drops and I will return for my hearing screening in 3 weeks.  He did however do a tuning fork type of test and he was elated that my results were so dramatically different, even with the scab. 

His attention then turned to Toad.  His verdict:  Left ear- extremely infected.  Right ear- perforated ear drum…. with a very sizable hole in it.  Oh, I felt terrible for the poor kiddo.  The doctor was no so much concerned with the perforation, but more with it’s size.  He mentioned that it was substantial.  He is concerned that it may not close correctly or heal completely because it is such a considerable wound.  We discussed that this is the third time this year that they have burst.  His worry is that the ear hasn’t ever fully healed.  He mentioned that it might be in his best interest to put in another set of tubes so that the drainage can be controlled instead of having bursting ear drums… especially since a good amount of those ear infections are silent ones.

I find it a blessing that I had the appointment with the ear specialist today and happened to have Toad there.  I am so lucky that he found it concerning enough to warrant a repeat visit.  Oh, and additionally, he wrote up the prescription, gave me samples of ear drops and didn’t charge me for Toad’s visit.  But, I am so sorry that my Toady is so miserable.

As a comical side note, I brought him home and started to put him to bed and he turned to me and said, “Mom, my head and tummy hurt.  I think that I need a Diet Coke.”  Yep, I am teaching them in their youth!