Flu and Ear Infections Oh my!!

Ellisyn has had a rough few months. She had an ear infection the day after Thanksgiving and had a 104 fever Saturday, Sunday, and Monday even after giving ibprofin and tylenol every three hours. I thought for sure she had the flu as well. She was on antibiotics for 10 days for the ear infection. Finally, the fever came down Tuesday. Then, she got a HORRIBLE diaper rash about 5 days after starting the antibiotics. She ended up having open sores on her bottom. It was AWFUL! I was changing her each time she was wet and as soon as her diaper was dirty. I let her air dry, gave her soda baths, talked to the pharmacist about a homemade diaper ointment made up of Antifungal creme, neosporin, desitin, & hydrocortizone, and even got some Domeboro astringint solution to use....nothing worked. We finally tried Neosporin and Corona. She was much better in one day. Thank goodness! She has such sensitive skin and it was a nightmare.

She was better for about a week or so and then she got another ear infection, this time in the other ear. Back to another 10 days of antibiotics. This time another antibiotic was prescribed and she still got a bad rash, but no open sores.

Got to feeling better for a little while then she started running fever on New Years Day. We took her back to the Doctor on Monday the 3rd and she had a double ear infection and they did a swab test of her nose and she ended up having the flu! Back on antibiotics and she was also given Tamiflu as was Ethan. This time she just took penicillin. She still got a rash but not as severe. I don't know if she just had a mild version of the flu or if the Tamiflu really worked but she wasn't that sick...not as sick as she was after Thanksgiving. Praise the Lord!!! She got off the antibiotics on Jan. 12th and we had an appt. at the ENT on Jan. 19th.

She got a great report. Her hearing is completely within range for her age. She also had no fluid in her ears so no infection either. The ENT said that as many infections as she's had (she also had ear infections in April, May & June) she is definitely a candidate for tubes and if she was his child he would give her tubes. He said that since she was fluid free we could wait and see if she gets another infection in the next month or so. If she does, we will know that tubes are probably the best bet. We have a follow up appointment in a month. I'm praying she gets no more infections and we have no problems!