Tonsillectomy for 2.7 years old, advice please

[bedlegs]

Hi was wondering if anyone could offer advice please. My DS has had Tonsilitis consistently for about a year, we get antibiotics prescribed for him, and 3 days after the dose finishes it comes back again. He also gets terrible middle ear infections and fevers with it. This has made DS cough constantly as his tonsils seem to be permanently large and he has started choking on food (when he will eat), he is upset all the time, it is horrible for him. DS barely talks, and is not putting sentances together yet. We are waiting for a hearing test as he has glue ear. We cannot ever see a Doctor at our surgery, only the occasional nurse, who cannot refer to a ENT so we have been paying for our son to see a private doctor when he is very ill with tonsilitis (this is about once every 3 weeks). The private Consultant that the Private Doctor put us in contact with has said that our DS would benefit from having his tonsils taken out, possibly adenoids, and gromits put it too, although he said that it is risky at our DS's age. I am frigthened to agree to surgery if this is something that will eventually go away, but am also concerned that my DS is behind in his speech and is frequently off nursery, he is always unwell, and this will continue into his schooling. We are exhausted as a result of being up all night most nights with an ill child, when he is well he is such a wonderful cheeky character, it's painful to watch him looking so frail and timid.

What I am trying to ask is has anybody else has their DC operated on for this type of surgery at this young age, any experiences would be helpful.
Thank you.

[Madamecastafiore]

DS was 3.4 and it changed our life. Beforehand he would only eat soft food and spent most of his life on antibiotics, didn't affect his ears but he used to vomit when his temp shot up and then when he was given antibiotics.

He had them out in a private hospital, woke up right as rain and had lunch. He was kept in over night as only problem with tonsillectomy is risk of bleeding from site. 7 days later he woke in horrific pain which we had been warned about but calpol and ibuprofen sorted that out.

I'd do it again and again and again. There are risks as with any operation but it sounds like the risks of not doing it now in terms of speech and hearing and him being constantly on antibiotics (I became allergic to the ones they prescribe for tonsillitis as had them every month for years, ended up relying on gargling with hydrogen peroxide and literally crunching paracetamol as could not even swallow my own spot) far out way the small danger from the operation.

[alibobins]

Ds2 3.1 had his tonsils out in February he is like a different child he eats well, sleeps well and has finally grown out of his 18-24months clothes.
I won't lie and say post op was easy he ended up in hospital for 4 days on a drip and morphine and was sent home with calpol, nurofen and codeine which he needed round the clock for 2 weeks.
Given the opportunity I would do it again as it as changed his life

[Norem]

Another one here ds had it done at 2.9 for the same reasons op.
The week after surgery was tough we had to stay on top of pain meds, paracetamol suppositories were a godsend :)
Go for it you will not regret it.
My ds eats and sleeps brilliantly now.
Good luck x

[financialwizard]

Dd had hers out at 2 years 1 week. It has made a huge difference. Her speech, and eating has come on leaps and bounds and she can now breath at night.

[starsandunicorns]

My dd1 had tontils and annodes ( sp) out and grommets in in one go at 2:7 yrs she could eat with no probs chest infections and ear infections stopped coughing stopped and she could hear a clock we had in the lounge for the first time.

She was groggy for a few days after op but ate ok smooth food like mash etc she drank milk rather than fruit juice and gave her endless supply of icepops to suck

[Sparklymommy]

Just to add on my DS2 had his out at 3years 5months. Same here, his speech has improved in leaps and bounds, he eats well and finally seems to be growing. He is now 5 and 8 months and a much happier child! He is still small (still in age 3 clothes!) but he eats now!

[GetToFalkirk]

My son has just been referred to an ENT consultant due to his speech, snoring, sleep apnea and constant sore throat. The consultant took one look down his throat and immediately said for him to have his tonsils and adenoids out. He's just turned 3 so was a bit worried about it so I am really pleased to hear that there are positive outcomes to this operation.
My son used to be a very good eater but is gradually eating less and less now so it's interesting what people are saying about the effect it has had or the child's appetite too. Thank you

[Goldmandra]

My DD was 9 so quite a lot older but she had a year of permanent antibiotics before the op. She literally took them every day for that year, rotating different sorts in an attempt to manage the infections and it was horrendous.

Once she had the op she was incredibly different. Sleep, eating, growing, energy levels, mood, school work and general health all improved dramatically overnight.

I think once they have reached the point your DS has reached the sooner they get the op the better. It is difficult deciding to put any child through surgery but I can honestly say it was one of the best decisions we have ever made for our DD.

[bedlegs]

Thanks everyone for your replies - it's been really helpful, given us a lot to think about. Will wait now for the hearing test and next appointment with consultant. Wish you and your DC's well.