It was simply just another routine visit to the PD @ Shanghai United for Shannon to take her jabs. However, while Mummy was chatting with Dr Bristol to update him on Shannon's recent sickness with bronchitis and UTI, Mummy also decided to ask him about the foul smelling yellow discharge from her ears. Mummy told him she had asked our PD in Singapore (at least 2 times) who discharged the case and said there was nothing wrong with her ears. Dr Bristol raised his eyebrows and decided to check Shannon's ears with his otoscope. He then confirmed that it was an ear infection and prescribed us some antibiotics.
After the episode, Mummy went back and decided to do a bit of research on ear infections on the Internet. As she read up, she realised Shannon has gotten a middle ear infection. Once antibiotics clears up the bacteria in her middle ears, the fluid can take up to 3 months to clear and during this period, she might be more susceptible to another infection, if she gets a runny nose again. The more Mummy thought about it, the more she got worried, since treatment has probably been delayed for a month. But the saving grace was the antibiotics prescribed when Shannon was sick probably did help to clear up some of the infection but not all. Given that we returned to winter Shanghai, Shannon has been having a runny nose, the infection came back.
Feb 3, 2010:
Mummy then surfed the Internet and got news that there are ENT specialists at Parkway and Fudan Children Hospital. Not trusting doctors anymore, Mummy decided to bring Shannon to visit both of them. Both gave similar diagnosis about a middle ear infection with a ruptured eyedrum. At Fudan, the ENT specialist ordered a flushing of her right ear (this was the ear with the discharge) to remove the infected ear wax and prescribed ear / nose drops and Zyrtec to help clear her runny nose. He also ordered a hearing test to be done and it turned out that Shannon's left ear failed the test. Mummy then asked if she will recover and all that the ENT specialist replied was he will try his best. Mummy almost freaked out and wanted to take the next flight back to Singapore. However, as she calmed down, she called the Parkway ENT and her own ENT in Singapore to check. Both then explained that the test results are not accurate given that the middle ear is full of fluid.
Feb 10, 2010:
It was a terrible one week waiting game. Finally Wednesday came and we went back to Fudan for a follow up. This time, both her ears failed the hearing test and Mummy simply couldn't understand. But the only explanation given to her was to be patient and let the fluid drain. Then over Chinese New Year, the temperature dipped below 0 degrees. Unfortunately, Shannon caught a runny nose and cough. During the one week holiday, we constantly tried to keep Shannon's nose clear by giving nasal decongestant and saltwater spray and pump out her mucus so that it will not aggravate her ears. Finally in one week's time, she recovered.
Feb 24, 2010:
It was a painful two weeks' wait and finally we went for a third follow up. This time, the Fudan ENT ordered her right ear to be flushed and we re-did the hearing test. Her right ear passed this time. But the left ear continued to fail the hearing test. Again, we were prescribed the same nose drops and were told to be patient and come back for a follow up.
Mar 3, 2010:
All along, we have visited both ENT at Parkway and Fudan, simply to get second opinions as Mummy does not trust the doctors anymore. Mummy then heard of another ear infection case for a little boy in Shanghai that the Parkway ENT couldn't handle and has referred to a ENT specialist at Mt E in Singapore. Mummy then decided we should return to Singapore for a thorough check up even if she is ok now. So we went to Fudan to do a final check up to ensure Shannon is alright to take a flight. Both her ears were flushed and cleaned and the hearing test were re-done. This time, she passed the hearing test for both her ears and she was discharged. Advice was given to Mummy to try to prevent her from getting a runny nose, as she might now be more prone to ear infections.
March 10, 2010
Here we are, finally back in Singapore (of course, I didn't go along). Mummy thought it was too much of a hassle to bring everyone home to Singapore, so she left me behind in Shanghai with 婆婆. I woke up early this morning, looking for Mei Mei, only to have 婆婆 tell me Mummy has brought her out. I refused to go to school since I didn't see Mei Mei. Luckily, 婆婆 managed to coax me.
So we finally visited our Singapore ENT which checked Shannon's ears and said she is perfectly fine.
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