Hi.
Both my sons suffered from constant ear infections. I was totally against having them on antibiotics all the time, but when they had an infection, what could I do?
My oldest son had tubes put in when he was 11 months old and my younger son had them when he was 13 months. My older son had to have a surgical procedure to have one of them removed about 1 1/2 years later, but the other came out by itself.
Like you, I suffered with my children and worried what to do. I read that breastfeeding would prevent this from happening. It did not. I read that having them sleep on a slight slant would help. It did not. I was told to stop feeding them anything with dairy in it. That did not help at all. I was told to feed them with their heads higher than their feet (instead of level). That did not work. I went to a homeopathic doctor who gave "slight" neck adjustments (truly, I was petrified, but she only used a few fingers and pressed gently. My son did not even notice.)
So, as you can see, I tried everything I knew to try and was always on the lookout for an alternative to surgery on a baby.
As they wheeled both of them away from me on their way to be "cut", I felt my heart break and I ran outside the room to have a cry. The doctor was back telling me it was over sooner than I could get hold of myself.
They woke up, had bottles and were sent home. They needed tylenol for the pain for the first day. They both came home and took naps with me (for my benefit, not theirs).
They did get one or two more ear infections, but the tubes have greatly enhanced the quality of their lives (pain makes people miserable no matter what age they are).
As far as swimming and bathing, the doctor gave us ear plugs. That was no problem.
Although I hesitate to recommend surgery, if you have no other alternatives and feel that everything else being done is futile, you might really want to consider it.
I hope this helps.
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~ Marcelle ~