rt1tt@ihps3.UUCP (janis bell) (04/07/84)
My 13 year old has had intermittent problems with fluid in her ears following ear infections following colds since she was little. In the past the ear specialist has been respectful of my reluctance to medicate and use surgery. (This avoiding tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, and tubes, and god knows how many gallons of chemicals!) This time he seemed more concerned and prescribed prednisone and a sulpha drug. I have looked in numerous sources and can find no reference to the use of either drug for this problem. I am really concerned about the unnecessary use of steroids on someone this young and in adolescence. Has anyone had experience with these things - good or bad - or are you at least aware of this treatment. This doctor has always seemed very traditional in his use of drugs,etc. Since we got another cold and ear infection in the meantime we are not currently using the drugs, but I expect to be told to use them in a few week. Thanks in advance for any help you can give. Janis Bell AT&T Bell Laboratories, Naperville,ill rt1tt!ihps3
tj@sun.uucp (Cal Thixton) (04/13/84)
My grandmother is virtually deaf due mainly to neglect, on her part during her teenage years, of persistent ear aches. She now will tell anyone listening that your ears are Quite important. She is an extremely intelligent person having been a book reviewer, college instructor and author during her life, she now feels left out of most conversations that she does not lead unless you spend special effort to make yourself understood. I was not aware how bad she was until the past couple of years. She could not even listen to tv without the volume turned way up. I installed a set of headphones for her so that she could listen to the boob tube, which I always took for granted. Now she can hear it for the first time in probably over ten years. Cal Thixton ...ucbvax!sun!tj
richl@daemon.UUCP (Rick Lindsley) (04/14/84)
My sister has had problems with "water in the ear" since she was about 10.
She still dare not go swimming unless she has medication available. The
medication, however, was a simple antibiotic in the form of ear drops.
A pain to use on a consistent basis, but much less painful than an ear
infection (or so she relates to me).
She has never had anything stronger than the ear drops, so either the
medication you describe is new (quite possible) or for a different
condition.
You might try taking your child to a different physician, just for a second
opinon. A little extra money, perhaps, but it might be worth it for peace
of mind.
Tubes in the ears, awful though it sounds, are really quite effective and
relatively painless. I know a 5-year old who had it done. (And no, the
person doesn't look like he's wearing an eternal stethoscope out of his
ears).
Rick Lindsley
...{allegra,ihnp4,decvax}!tektronix!richl