Your follow-up should be scheduled 1-2 weeks after surgery and every 6 months thereafter for routine tube checks.
Our clinic locations are at:
- Issaquah: 510 8th Avenue NE, Suite #310, Issaquah, WA 98029
- Bellevue: 1231 116th Avenue NE, Suite #915, Bellevue, WA 98004
Please call the Bellevue ENT clinic at (425) 454 – 3938 if you need to reschedule or are unable to make your appointment.
- Ear drops: If ear drops are prescribed, please place 3 drops into each ear, three times a day for 3 days.
- Pain medication: In general, pain medication is not needed. However, if there is there is persistent pain, an over-the-counter acetaminophen may be used as needed.
You may resume a regular diet.
- Please remove cotton ball from ears today
- You may fly without any restriction after ear tubes placement.
- Please maintain dry ear precautions for 7 days after surgery. Recent research suggests that there is no significant increase in risk with water exposure. However, each patient may have different susceptibility to ear infections with water exposure while the ear tubes are in place. In general, you or your child may swim in a clean pool without ear protection. You should try to protect the ears by using earplugs if you are diving, submerging in tub water, or swimming in a dirty body of water such as a lake, river, and ocean.
Typical things you can expect after surgery:
Pain is typically minimal after ear tubes placement. You may have some drainage from the ears, particularly if ear drops are placed. If the tubes remain in the ear, then drainage may occur with each episode of ear infection.
Signs and symptoms to look out for:
Call our office or the operator at (425) 454-3938 if you experience any of the following:
- Temperature greater than 100.5 or persistent chills
- Redness, swelling or drainage from the ears.
- Worsening pain, not relieved by pain medication
- Any other concerning symptoms or signs
For any non-urgent medical problems, please call the Bellevue ENT clinic at (425) 454 – 3938 during the daytime on weekdays. If it is after normal work hours or on the weekend, please call the Bellevue ENT operator at (425) 454 – 3938 and ask for the physician on call for ENT. For emergent issues, please proceed immediately to the nearest ER.
Learn more about ear infections and ear tubes placement.