please please please help me figure out how to ease DD's ear pain. New mom and feeling like a...

[lellian]

DD 13 months had a nasty cold three weeks ago. I know a cold has to run its course. It seemed to get better about two weeks in then the crazy snot started. Tons and tons and tons of heavy yellow mucus. I suctioned, used saline, hot steam...nothing helped clear this snot. It got so bad at three weeks DD stopped nursing cause she couldn't breathe. I called the dr, he saw her, said double ear infection.

She showed no signs of this so I missed it all this time????

He gave us Amoxicillen. It has been a week. She shows no signs of improvement. I actually believe she is in worse pain. She doesn't sleep longer than 30 minutes at a time. When she is asleep she moans and moans, and then cries. I can nurse her back to sleep but it starts again 30 minutes after I lay her down. This has gotten worse over the past week.

The dr said Amoxicillen would help within 48 hours. If I suction out the snot she screams bloody murder. It must be hurting her ears even more to suction??

Oh, last night I did try Children's tylenol. It didn't help at all. But she's seen the bottle and keeps saying "that, that, that!"

I'm feeling like a failure. What home remedies can we try?!?!

TIA.

[McGucks]

Hi there!  I am not aware of homeopathic remedies for ear pain/infection, though I am certain they exist.  If the Amox didn't help dramatically within a couple of days, it will not help.  My DS1 had awful recurrent ear infections for a couple of years until we gave up and got him tubes...absolutely the best thing (for us) we did.  That said, you clearly are not at that stage.  My advice would be to call the doctor, get your child in, and see what is said.  Not all antibiotics work for all ear infections, and children (and adults) respond differently to treatments, whether they be natural or prescription.  I know that most people on MDC support natural remedies and I think that is usually a good thing, but in your daughter's case, it sounds like a return to the dr. and a different prescription might be indicated.  And you are NOT a failure...but it is so scary to see your LO in pain and to not know what to do.  Oh--also--our ped. said for severe pain that Advil & Tylenol could be staggered (meaning give one, say, at noon, the other at 2 or 3, then a few hours later give the first one again).  Good luck and best health to her.

[RootsAlive]

GARLIC OIL. Just cut a couple cloves of raw garlic and steep them in a little dish of olive oil. We use an empty tincture dropper ( an empty medicine dropper would work) and put 3 or so drops in the ear, with him laying on his side, and let the oil work it's way in. Once you feel they've had time to soak in, flip her over to switch ears. This is highly effective, it's soothing to the pain, and has strong antibacterial/anti-infective properties.  Let it steep AT LEAST half an hour, but the longer the better- after a day or few, it will be nice and potent. You can tell be the smell.

My son was plagued with ear infections- solidly for almost 2 months, and they wanted to put tubes in his ears. He was miserable, and often fevered, and the antibiotics just gave him diarrhea, without solving the problem. I asked for 2 weeks to try to clear them on my own, and if that didn't work we would do the tubes.   SO........  we fixed it. 

Now he asks for the garlic oil whenever his ears start to bother him (usually teething related)- even when all he could do was point- as we now keep a garlic oil dish. 

Also, try propping her up on pillows to sleep- she is old enough for this, and laying flat builds the pressure in the ears = pain.

I am confident this will fix your problem- AS LONG AS THE MEMBRANES HAVEN'T RUPTURED.  i.e.- don't use any kind of drops if his ear drum has burst.

Try it, I think you'll be really happy.

(Colloidal Silver works, too for infection, but it's expensive and not effective on the pain. I used to alternate them at the hight of the infections)

Good Luck and Blessings!

[McGucks]

RootsAlive--whoa, that sounds awesome!  I don't know why some kids are prone to ear infections and some not, but the advice you gave sure sounds good.  One quick question--how do you know whether the eardrum has ruptured if you don't have access to an otoscope (if that is how it is spelled).

[littlehoneybee]

Similason makes homeopathic earache drops.  I used it recently with my DD when she had an ear infection.  The Tylenol did nothing, but I swear she stopped crying as soon as I put the drops in her ears. I got it at CVS, but I had to ask at the pharmacy counter where it was located.

[lellian]

Thanks mamas. I didn't realize that not all antibiotics work the same for each person. This is her first ear infection, and her first round of antibiotics. I'm going to take her back to the dr on Monday, but would like to try the garlic this week end. Anything to ease her pain. I'm also wondering how one would know if the eardrum has ruptured? I'm assuming that pain would be so incredible she'd already be in the emergency room?

Can someone tell me if we should continue to suction her nose knowing that is putting additional pressure on her ears?

Also, Rootsalive, how OFTEN do you use the garlic drops?

Thank you all. I feel like there are several roads to go down to help her, poor baby.

[KempsMama]

Originally Posted by lellian 

Thanks mamas. I didn't realize that not all antibiotics work the same for each person. This is her first ear infection, and her first round of antibiotics. I'm going to take her back to the dr on Monday, but would like to try the garlic this week end. Anything to ease her pain. I'm also wondering how one would know if the eardrum has ruptured? I'm assuming that pain would be so incredible she'd already be in the emergency room?

Can someone tell me if we should continue to suction her nose knowing that is putting additional pressure on her ears?

Also, Rootsalive, how OFTEN do you use the garlic drops?

Thank you all. I feel like there are several roads to go down to help her, poor baby.

If her ear drum ruptures you will see fluid draining from her ear.  She may or may not experience more pain with a rupture, since sometimes the release of pressure actually feels better.  (Even as an adult I have chronic ear infections, and have ruptured my drums multiple times.)  

I read that you tried tylenol, you could try motrin as well.  Not natural, but a different med might help. 

[NEastMomma]

Posting quickly - haven't read other replies, so this might've already been said.  I'm not sure what to do for current ear pain (except motrin), but when she is over this cold, do try and put her on Probiotics.  Probiotics were recommended by my pediatrician.  Comes in a powder form that is tasteless so can be mixed w/ water or milk.  Helps the body fight colds and illnesses better and studies have shown that kids who get earaches from colds seem to get less earaches from colds when on Probiotics. 

Good luck.  Hope your little one feels better soon!

[aphel]

No advice on the earache mama, but I did want to suggest a nosefrida for suctioning. It doesn't need to be inserted in the nose (held next to it) and you can control the suction so as to be bit more gentle, and might possibly cause less discomfort.

Good luck, I hope your LO is feeling better soon!

[chewynotcrunchy]

I used to have chronic ear infections and my mom would put a hot, damp wash cloth on my ear.  I would lay it on my pillow and then sleep on it.  It didn't completely eliminate the pain but it sure helped a lot!  Hope your DC is feeling much better very soon!!!

[pbjmama]

I would call the doctor. Let the doctor evaluate her symptoms and if she still has an infection ask for a new prescription to be called in and get the first avalible appointment for a visual on the ears. It could still be an ear infection, she could have strep, lots of possiblities. I think garlic mullen oil and simalsain ear drops are great but if your child is still fighting an infection they are not going to cure it. My main concern would be hearing loss. In my area we have a pediatric urgent care, not sure if that is an option for you. 

[RootsAlive]

You would probably notice fluid draining from her ears if the membrane had ruptured, and often a DECREASE in pain d/t/ less pressure.

We use the drops 3 x a day. I wouldn't do it anymore than 4, you wouldn't want to use too much. And not to contradict PbjMama, but after the antibiotics (2 different kinds) the garlic oil is the ONLY thing that got rid of the ear infections (without diarrhea!!!) and NO TUBES!!!!

Stick with 3 times a day.

After a couple months of ear infections, and multiple PEDs visits, since we started with the oil, we haven't been back ( for ear trouble, anyway) , and it's been almost a year. If I'd realized that it was ear infections to begin with, I would have done it before the antibiotics, but his main symptom was fussiness and fever, then we got scared when she said double ear infections. We took the drugs hoping that it would hurry up and be done. Nope.

Even now, I have a bowl of garlic oil in the kitchen. We use it when he's fussy & tugging on his ear, or when we know he's teething hard (since he's prone to ear infections). We give it to him when he asks as well. He knows it helps.

You should look up garlic and/or garlic oil. We use it for a lot of things. It has amazing healing and anti-infective properties. I think you'll fin it greatly beneficial.

Be Well!

[lellian]

Thanks for all your posts, Dear Mamas.

I gave her some tylenol before bed, and waited until she was asleep to put some garlic oil in her ears. I hope I didn't over do it! I could see a little just kinda sitting in there as she was laying on her side. I will definitely get her in on Monday for a follow up. Hearing loss is a huge concern. DH's brother got an infection in his ear as an adult and loss 95% of his hearing. This isn't something I take lightly, so again, thank you for your support and help. I feel so helpless. 

We elevated her mattress tonight. I did not suction her nose. I do have the frieda too, but she reacts like it's as bad as the suction bulb. She's been so tortured by me trying to get the snot out of her nose that even a tissue sends her running out of the room.

Thanks for the reminder about probiotics. We were using the powder frequently but I started to sub in flax seeds or wheat germ instead over the last month to increase fiber and increase omegas.

Motherhood. . .it's complicated.

Much love and respect.

lelle

[carmel23]

I was going to say garlic oil.  We had a cold/flu thing where even the adults had ear pain... it is no fun!

[Purple*Lotus]

Even though I am an adult, my doctor says I have the ears of a child.     They wont put tubes in my ears because they are afraid I will lose my hearing if they try again.  So I am the Queen of home remedies.

I second the garlic oil.  I usually just put whole cloves in my ear wrapped in tissue, but for a child you would want the garlic oil.  It really helps!

I have found that the OTC pain relief drops actually cause me more pain.  So keep that in mind.

When my ear drum has burst, there was a ton of yellow/brown liquid coming out and no, it did not really hurt. 

Sometimes I need an antibiotic/ear drop combo to get rid of a bad infection.  Also it turns out that I am allergic to dogs and cats.  That is the main link for my infections.

[lellian]

HI Mamas,

We raised DD's mattress last night by 15 degrees, and I used the garlic oil. She woke up twice instead of every 90 minutes, so I feel like the garlic oil must have helped. I'm trying it again tonight.

I'm still taking her to the dr tomorrow to check out those ears. No drainage ever so no eruption, but I'm assuming the antibiotics should have kicked in before last night.

Thank you again for your posts, suggestions, and well wishes. I appreciate your kindness and expertise.

[stik]

We use garlic oil too.  If you don't want to make your own, Whole Foods has a pre-made version from Herbs for Kids in their natural remedies section (or whatever they call it). 

In my younger dd, heavy snot is a sign of sinus congestion that puts pressure on the ears and prevents fluid from draining properly.  In cold and flu season, we garlic her up pretty much the minute she has a snotty fever, whether she's complaining of ear pain or not.  Once an ear infection has been diagnosed, we use the garlic and the antibiotics together. 

I hope your little one is feeling better soon.

[Asiago]

Breastmilk in the ears perhaps?

Glad to hear the garlic and inclined bed are helping, I hope she is healed soon.

Are you able to nurse her upright? Perhaps she could sit on your lap or upright in a baby carrier, that may be a more comfortable angle to nurse right now for her.

Dr. Sears has a good page on ear infection (mentions garlic oil!!) http://www.askdrsears.com/html/8/T081600.asp 

Well wishes.

[anechka]

Also, please always cover her ears with a good hat when outside. This could help to protect her ears rom wind and cold.