Toobin’…

 

Erin’s appointment with Texas Children’s was yesterday.  She failed the hearing test again so they have recommended another set of tubes.

Of course, as always, they run like clockwork at TCH.  Our appointments were at 8:00 and 9:10 and we were home by 10:15 and that was after dropping Erin off at school. It’s crazy how they can get you in, take time with you so you don’t feel rushed and still get you out quickly.  One of the downsides to another surgery is that it has to be done downtown at the TCH hospital, but if they run the surgeries like they do the appointments, we’ll be in and out of there no problem.

Dr. G told us that 1/3 of the people with tubes have to get another set.  She said Erin’s ears just haven’t grown enough for them to drain correctly.  She said the Eustachian tubes are still not angled enough for the fluid to drain.  The first tubes had grown out and were not doing anything for over a year, so we need another set to be put in and grow with her again.  Dr. G said she has put as many as 7 sets in some kids.  She said those were extreme cases, but that it’s not unusual to have more than one set.

Erin has trouble hearing low pitches.  That’s why she can’t hear the TV sometimes.  I think that could be part of the reason she’s sort of loud.  Part of it is that she’s a four year old little girl, but the doctor said she’s hearing things muffled and that can add to it.  Dr. G equated this to being on an airplane and needing to pop your ears.  There is pressure there and you feel it, and you can still hear, but things are muffled.

They’ve already called us to schedule the surgery.  We go next Thursday, October 2nd.  The scheduler said they’ll call back on Wednesday to give us the time, but that they take the cases in age order.  She said that the 4 to 5 year olds are usually mid-morning to lunch.  The hardest part of that will be explaining to Erin why she can’t have anything to eat or drink. 

The doctor was very confident that this would solve the problem.