t-tubes falling out?

[meghans_mom]

anyone else have a problem w/ t-tubes falling out very quickly?
Meghans right tube fell out & this is only 8 months after her last pair.
Her first set lasted a looooong time from 10 months old to 3 1/2 yrs old!
So I'm annoyed because she'll have to have surgery again (more anesthesia) - and what if the other tube falls out after that?
He's going to ask me again to remove her adenoids - i refused the last time (I didn't think it necessary, neither did a second opinion doctor)...he doesn't want to remove her tonsils unless she has a snoring problem, which I don't think she does have.
But she does have a lot of gunkiness in her throat all the time, like a post-nasal drip.
and her tonsils are HUGE! I can't see past them to ever see if she has a sore throat...
I have a few months to decide but I wonder if she'd be better off having them removed. I wish I'd paid more attention to the T&A discussions!
laurie

[wrblack]

Don't know from nothing about PE tubes.
There was a thread just a couple of weeks ago on the Down-syn listserv with the subject line, "Large Tonsil question and surgery (or not)"
You could go to
groups.google.com/group/bit.listserv.down-syn?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
and search "large tonsils" to find and read that thread, I think.
Dr. Leshin contributed this bit,
<< The reasons for removing tonsils:
1. More than seven throat infections in a 12 month period
2. Sleep apnea where the tonsils appear to be obstructing the airway
3. Frequent ear infections where the tonsils and adenoids appear to be impinging on the eustachian tubes
4. Abscess of the tonsil or tonsillar area
5. A deep desire that your ENT should drive a Lexus.

Len Leshin, M.D., F.A.A.P. Father to Avi, 11 y/o with
DS Down Syndrome: Health Issues www.ds-health.com >>

And I posted,
<< Charlie had his T&A last April Fool's Day. His ENT and all other doctors had always said, my, what big tonsils you have. But ENT was not eager to do T&A until pulmonologist got us a dx of moderate sleep apnea from sleep study.
But I just can't keep up with all the advances and flux in health care,
<<5. A deep desire that your ENT should drive a Lexus.>>
Charlie's ophthalmologist drives a BMW, and I've heard of other doctors similarly automobilized. But I guess now, never question Dr. Leshin's expertise on these matters, they're switching to Lexuses. Sheesh, or mutatis mutandis. -- Bob >>

Don't know if this helps, but maybe it's entertaining. -- Bob, who hopes Dr. Len will forgive another unauthorized snip

[hannahph]

my daughter has never had issues with tubes but has had her adnoids and tonsils out. She did have issues with sleep apnea though and that did help that issue. I have a friend that has two children without DS that have tube issues constantly, they have been through several tubes falling out, and they did have their adnoids out also. They were done at the same time as the tubes so only one anethsesia. I believe the adnoids are a lot quicker recovery than the tonsils. Her kids were up bouncing around the next day and never complained once about pain.

[PaigesMom]

Actually, Paige had the same problem with ear tubes. She's on her 3rd set. The first ones were in over 2 years - the next ones didn't even make it a year. The alleged reason for this was that each subsequent time the tubes fell out the hole never completely closed. They can insert the same sized tube in the existing hole, but it will fall out much faster. The only way you can avoid the problem is by increasing the diameter size of the tube - which we did last time, and I was not happy about, but she needed them. That may be the reason Meghans are falling out so soon.

As for T&A - we had it too, when Paige was 3 1/2, she did not have apnea, but she thrashed all night long b/c she could not breathe. I'd find her in all sorts of crazy positions, she was chronically congested and had tons of gunk in her throat constantly. Since we had them out, she has had ONE, I repeat ONE sinus infection - YAY!!

The recovery for her was hard, but I would recommend it.

Debbie

[meghans_mom]

Thanks all for your input.
Debbie - Paige sounds exactly like Meghan....or should I say MM sounds exactly like Paige! The thrasing, the gunk, congestion...I am leaning more and more towards the T&A that I was totally opposed to!
I thought that might be the problem w/ the tubes....that the last hole or scar tissue was causing the problems.
Glad to hear Paige is doing much better since her t&a. I appreciate you sharing your experiences...laurie