Nov 1

So, I'm actually going to try to post once a day every day for the whole month of November.  We'll see how I actually do.

My daughter has had 7 ear infections in the past year.  Yes 7.  The vast majority of them have been otitis externa, (at least that's what the docs think at this point) with perforation and discharge.  I am really wondering about this diagnosis.  Most of the time our regular pediatrician cannot see my daughter in clinic when she has an ear infection so we end up going to urgent care.  Some of those doctors cannot see her ear drum at all when they do the exam and can only see the discharge and treat based on that alone.  so, it's not clear whether she has a middle ear infection, because most of the doctors cannot see  into her tiny ear canals.  Now that we have had so many infection in the past year, we were referred to ENT.  They will not put tubes in because her diagnosed infections have always been listed as outer ear infection even though the doctor cannot see the ear drum.  I am quite frustrated by this because my daughter missed several days of school and does not feel well at all every time she gets an ear infection.  So, the ENT doc said we have to wait until she has yet another ear infection and come and be seen in the ENT clinic so they can clearly see what type of infection she has.

I know it is best to be sure, but I just hate seeing her go through so many painful infections without something being done.