Hi Sophiesmom,
Myia's right, we have had a ton of trouble with ears. Actually, but not as much as you! We had 4 consecutive double ear infections and opted for tubes. It's a really painful thing for LOs to have all of these ear infections - and can really screw up their sleep!
My advice to you would be: "get thee to an ENT, ASAP." Go ahead and get the referral and see what the ENT says about ear tubes. My pediatrician was pretty firm that ear tubes are a much better solution than repeated courses of antibiotics. Obviously there's risk with any surgery, but honestly, it's an extremely simple, quick, outpatient procedure and made all the difference in the world with our son...
6 mos. is young, but I would still do the consult with the ENT and get his opinion. They are much more qualified to make reccos than pediatricians are since it's their specialty. Do try to find one who is good with children.
In the meantime - try giving your LO a pillow to prop up while sleeping - or put him in his car seat to sleep. You want to elevate their little heads because the pressure from lying down can really cause a lot of pain - which is why it's worse at night. Don't hold back on the pain medicine, or any other meds the doctor gives you - if he's given you a decongestant, use it because it helps to dry up the fluid that's causing the pain. And, it sounds like your LO may just have the anatomical weakness in the Eustachian tube that equals an ear infection pretty much every time there's a cold or allergy...so until you can get the ENT appointment you might end up on a preventative course of antibiotics. Another mom in our birth club has experience with that - Cath - I'll ask her to come over and give you the skinny on that course of treatment, esp. since there's a chance they may have to hold off on tubes until your LO is a tad older
Hang in there, and be patient with him. He's in pain, so you've got to treat that before you worry too much about independent sleep. Keep us posted.
Kate
