My son had tubes put in, and we were told that after the 2 week "dry" period, if he did go swimming & go underwater we should (1) try to avoid dirty lakes, etc and (2) the night he does go underwater (pool, etc) to put the ear drops they gave you in his ears just before bed to be safe....nothing to stress about. Every case is different, however, so I would recommend finding a new ENT with more experience, having them look at your daughter's records and have them make the best decision for her.
My son got tubes in his ears at 16mo and is now 2 years old and still in first set of tubes (should come out on their own in the next few months). Our ENT said pools, baths, etc were fine and try to avoid dirty water such as ponds and lakes. When he had his 2 day check-up to ensure placement was good and there was no sign of infection we were told there was no need for earplugs or any other form of "protection." He is doing great and loves bathtime and swimming. Only one minor ear infection since tubes were placed, lasted only a few days and cleared with no meds.
My son had tubes put in his ears at the beginning of June and he swims like a madman with nothing on his ears. In fact he just went for his check up yesterday and they told me again that he doesn't need to wear anything over his ears when he swims. And his ears looked perfect. I say relax and just let her swim, if she has any discharge just start the antibiotic drops and that should just do it :) Good luck.
Hi,
my daughter had tubes too. Hers have fallen out so we are ok to swim, however, when hers were put in, her aftercare papers had a number to call for custom fit ear plugs.they mold her ear and fit her personally. My suggestion is to call other ENT's and ask them if they fit kids for ear plugs. If water gets into the ear it will ruin the tube and cause a major infection in the ear. You should not be dumping water over her hear in a bath either for thesame reason. I live in Michigan here is my ENT's number maybe they can direct you to a place near you where you can get plugs for her. (248)360-5881. Best of luck hope I helped!!!
You can go to any cvs, walgreens, riteaid, or any pharmacy by the pharmacy theres a rectangler box with 4 blobs of wax. you split the wax ball in half and rub it to warm it than stick in her ear lobe and form it to the whole so water can't get in one ball should work for both ears. I use to use them when I was smaller I just don't remember the name of them. They are for swimmers. Check that out or maybe theres something better check by the pool stuff even go to a pools tore and inquire but your best bet is a pharmacy or swim section at meijers or walmart. good luck hope she feel better soon the tonsil and adnoid thing will take 10 day before she feels well. I have talk to others after my daighter had hers done and they said the same as i it take exactly 10 days on the tenths day after her tonsil adnoid removal she will return to normal in like mins.
Both my kids have tubes. Our ENT said to protect them for the first week or so, after that - nothing to worry about. They did recommend using the prescribed antibiotic drops after swimming in lake water (but not pool, bath, etc.)
I'm sure you have probably already gotten this answer but just in case here goes. I used regular ear plugs from the drug store. I know Rite Aid carries them because I recently purchased some. They are orange and made of a gummy like material. With my daughter (who had tubes twice) we would break one in half and they fit perfectly. She had to use them every time she got in the bath tub or swam. They are inexpensive and I think you get a dozen or so in one pack. WE would even reuse them a couple of times. I have seen the swim band. It is just like a tight head band that goes all the way around the head. Looks uncomfortable to me but kids may not mind.
You can most likely purchase this at a swim store or maybe even a drug store. Hope I helped.
My oldest had tubes. Adnoidectomy too. Not a tonsilectomy tho. The doctor ad vised ear plugs. The pharmacy at CVS usually has this stuff that's really pliable and supposed to be air tight. But I would use ear plugs and double up on it with a swim cap.
Don't worry about the doctor's reaction. You're right; he doesn't have kids, and is too busy being a doctor to understand kids' joy at going swimming. It's been too long since that was him. Also, remember the doctor's only a temporary figure. If he's an ear/nose/throat specialist, this is short term to see him. If you went to your general doctor, it's no wonder he gave you a clueless look. It's not his specialty.
Have fun.
Whoa!! Is this doc an ENT??! Our ENT had us fit our daughter for ear plugs right after her tube surgery. We use the brand called Doc's Proplugs...and we got them from her doctor's office because they fit her with them. They are also pink and made for underwater swimming...because are you really going to tell her she can't swim underwater??? Her tubes might fall out in 6-8mo...but our daughter has had her second set in for over a year now. Yup, she had to get them twice. I would seriously find another ENT in your area that can fit your child with ear plugs.
I see you have many responses. My son had his ears done at 10 and loves to swim we went with no underwater but if you google ear bands there is a product made out of the material that a wet suit is made out of. It goes around the ears like a head band and works well at keeping splashes out. Used it at the lake and at the pools. I could never use the synethetic ear plugs you don't want to push into that ear either so be very careful. So we used cotton balls with vaseline which makes a natural suction and then put the band over that for the pool. We had a situation that we had use the cotton ball and the vaseline for showers. Good luck and she will do fine.
OMG - thanks for all of the wonderful advice! I’m going to get the puddy type plugs and the band-it just to be safe. I will take her to the lake, but no going underwater. I can probably be a little more relaxed in the pool, but still no swimming under water just to be on the safe side - I don’t want to have to go thru this again! ENT Dr said tubes should fall out in 6-8mo and by next summer she should be fine in the water. He had mentioned to use ear plugs, just not what kind and when I started to look online at different types, I was so overwhelmed! I didn’t think to ask him specifics during our brief conversation after surgery as the only thing I was focused on was my daughters pain and keeping her meds straight. So it was probably as much my oversight as it was his. I called the ENT office yesterday and was told that they actually sell the puddy buddies and band-it at there office, so I will get them sometime this week. Thanks again for ALL of you help!!!