Take her back or wait...

[smjmekg]

Some of you may have seen my post about Aubryana having an ear infection. Well today she's been even more cranky and looks like she's hurting even more. I can't put her down unless she's asleep or she cries. It's 335 she woke up at 615 and she's on nap number 7!!! She only takes three a day usually. SO I called to ask if I could give her tylenol at the halfway point between Ibuprofen doses, and the nurse said that they don't recommend it and that even though she just started the antibiotics and ibuprofen every six hours last night that she should be feeling better already, and it should be helping. Well, IMO it's not, and she said that I should take her to the ER because she may need something else. SO should I take her or wait and see how she is tomorrow? I don't like the idea of taking her to the ER anyways because there's sick people there, but I want her to be better, and if what she has isn't working, I want something that will work...so do I wait or take her back?

[Michele, Katy, TX]

Let us know and I would ask about the drops waitn spoke of.  Those were the prescription drops I was referring too.  But in the future, you can always have the homeopathic ones I spoke of...just to have on hand maybe.

I sure hope she feels better soon!

[smjmekg]

Well, back to a morning of Aubryana screaming if she isn't held. Called the advice nurse because her temp hasn't been over 101.4, and that was last night, well this morning it's 102 :( She said to switch her to tylenol since I can give it to her every four hours, and I'm setting up an appointment with the after hours clinic at two, even though it's six hours from now that they open for appointments, I'd rather take her there than to the urgent care because God only knows how many sick people are there, that don't have enough respect for the people around them to COVER their mouths when they cough or sneeze...

[waitn838]

my doc gave em some type of numbing drops that helped with the pain until her ear ache subsided....i would call your ped and see if you can get these (if she isnt already taking them)

[smjmekg]

Michele, Katy TX~~~I'll have to look for the drops.

Joy~~~The guy never said ear infection, he just said "yep that's the one that's hurting her" and said he was going to treat her with amoxicillin, so I assumed it's an infection. She's had a red ear and "ear pain" was the diagnosis a couple months ago. How did your daughter rupture her ear drum?

Both~~~As far as the fever, it's not just at night, it's whenever the Ibuprofen wears off...this afternoon it was close to 101, but still 100 something. It drops when I give her the medicine anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half later, but then goes right back up.

I just feel so bad, she dropped her head on my collar bone tonight when she was falling asleep, hit her ear on it, and she screamed! Stuck out her bottom lip and had tears!!! I KNOW she's hurting so bad, and I hate that I can't make it go away. I'm thinking it's from the other day when we were in the pool. I just want my baby girl's smile back!

[JoyRenee]

Temps typically go up in the evening and at night. Also each child is just so different. When my daughter Abigail gets a fever hers is always higher than her sisters' fevers, even if they have the same thing.

Did they say she just had an ear infection? My oldest daughter had a ruptured ear drum and then my husband ended up having one as well. It is SO PAINFUL and requires some strong drops to numb the pain as well as an antibiotic regimen.

Poor baby girl!

[Michele, Katy, TX]

It could last another couple to 3 days, but it will progressively get lower and stay gone for longer lengths of time.  Keep in mind though, that temps tend to spike at night, so her temp might get higher during the night.  Too bad they didn't give you any drops for her ear for pain.  There is a Homeopathic version of ear drops by Hylands that you can get from the pharmacy.  So, it's non medicated drops for pain.  If you are still concerned if they are safe, you can ask a pharmacist to be sure, but you generally find them on the baby isle.

If she doesn't show any signs of improvement by say mid day tomorrow, or if the night is just terrible, I'd at least call and see if she should be seen again.  The weekend is getting closer.

[smjmekg]

One more question...how long will her temperature last? Even though Elijah's had three ear infections between 18 months and 33 months he wasn't like her. Her temp was down to 99 something again today but has gone back up again to 101.4. That's actually the highest it's been. I'm guessing if it keeps going up when the ibuprofen wears off I might take her back. She's just so miserable.

[smjmekg]

Thanks ladies! After seven naps, she's letting daddy feed her dinner, and has been pretty much happy. I guess she slept off the crankiness. I'm hoping she's better tomorrow. It seems like the ibuprofen just knocks her out...we'll see what tomorrow holds.

[Michele, Katy, TX]

I am not sure what the problem is w/ Tylenol.  You could try alternating the Tylenol and Motrin.  I have had to do this to control fevers w/ my babies/kids.  Maybe it will also help w/ pain.

As for if you should take her in or not....tough call.  If you don't take her in and she still isn't better by tomorrow, I'd def take her again.  With mine, I generally see a vast improvement by the 2nd day for ear infections.

Good luck!  I absolutely hate it when my babies are sick.  It breaks my heart :(

[Clysta]

If she's that cranky, I'd personally take her back in. It's possible they will say it just needs more time, or they'll try something more aggressive. At least you would know if it's anything else, or just an ear infection.