4th round of anitbiotics for ear infection

Sabrina's been struggling with an ear infection for 5 weeks that just won't go away despite 4 rounds of different antibiotics.

It's been primarily manifesting itself in Sabrina's eating patterns. Most days, the reports from day care are that she will absolutely refuse her bottle of formula. She will scream in protestation when it gets close to her and if they do get it in her mouth, she will fake falling asleep! But on a few occasions I'll hear the reverse -- she'll refuse her rice cereal and/or her peas. Luckily it's either one scenario or the other (i.e., she has not refused all forms of nutrition). She's still been drinking her morning bottle at home (9 ounces) and around 5 pm, once I get home, she'll drink another 5 ounces or so and around 7:30 pm, her last bottle of the night, she'll take about 6 ounces.

The infection was first diagnosed Jan 23rd, it was in 1 ear, and Amoxcillin was prescribed. Then a few days later they noticed it was in both ears so they put her on K Clav or something like that (the stronger version on Amoxcillin). Two weeks later it was in the second ear only and they prescribed Cefprozil for 10 days. Two weeks after THAT it's still there, but it's back in the first ear and they could see there was a lot of fluid built up behind the ear drum. They prescribed azythromycin, a 3-day dose. We finished it 2 days ago and we'll go back to the pediatrician on March 6th to see if it has been cleared up.

At the last appointment, the pediatrician told that if the azythromycin doesn't work, we'll be referred to an Otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat doc) who will most likely want to insert tubes in her ears. Already I was thinking, I'm not waiting 2 weeks to make the appointment, knowing there may be delays before they can see us. I made the appointment as soon as I got to my car -- and the soonest we can be seen is March 24!!! Yikes. I can always cancel it if I need to but I feel much better knowing that we at least have an appointment.

I asked the pediatrician what is really involved in getting tubes put in, because I knew very little about it. She said it was a very common, routine thing, blah blah, blah, the ENT performs it on an outpatient basis, blah, blah, blah, they do have to put her to sleeee..WHOA! Wait a minute! My heart stopped for a second and the realization hit. I seriously was fighting back tears. Now, those of you who know me well know that the harder I try to hold tears back, the less successful I am at it. I know, I know, babies can have more more serious, life threatening conditions even, that require surgery. And believe me I take nothing for granted when it comes to my family's health and I thank God daily for keeping us safe and healthy. But hearing that she may have to put under anesthesia just woke up a maternal part of me that I've never heard from before.