Toddler Tonsillectomy

[MommaToABeautifulGirl]

Hi guys,
This is my first ever post here! And I'm hoping to find some reassurance/advice from fellow mamas!

My lg (just turned 3 this month) is due to go for a tonsillectomy and anoidectomy this week, obviously I'm super nervous and really doubting if she should even have the surgery!

She's been tortured with recurrent tonsillitis from 11 months, always on antibiotics for it! She's had around about 30 bouts of tonsillitis in 2 years so I know in my heart this is the best thing to do. (I would hate to have it bother her when she starts nursery school this September).

I'm just extremely anxious & cannot sleep at all, nights are the worst for overthinking it, I'm not falling asleep until nearly 5am each night and up vomiting all just because she's getting surgery!

She's had surgery before so I'm not worried about her reacting to an anaesthetic or anything, I think I'm just so worried of the risk of bleeding with her being so young and not being able to understand that she has to continue to eat to make her better.

Due to get them out in RVH, I fully trust the amazing medical team of course but it's just so worrying handing my lg over to them for such a vascular surgery!

Does anyone have any advice on getting through a toddler tonsillectomy, how recovery is or even ways to keep my anxiety down?

Thanks in advance!

[beemay]

Following as my little boy heading the same way. No advice I'm afraid but I totally feel your anxiety

[Aquamarine1029]

I think her having them out is the best decision. Being on antibiotics to such a huge degree is not good at all. She will be just fine.

[lifeintheslowlane1]

Try not to worry too much.

DD had her tonsils out at 3 - she had been plagued with recurrent tonsillitis and ear infections accompanied by very high temps requiring hospital admission on a couple of occasions, After the op, she was out that evening and back to normal within days. Her general health improved considerably.

[Nonibaloni]

I have no advice but if it helps I am so keen to have my ds tonsillitis out. He gets tonsillitis every couple of months and it makes him so poorly.

The ENT dept have decided that he just has adult size tonsils in a particularly skinny throat. Less said about that the better!

The benefit will be so worth it. Persistent tonsillitis is misery and can have a great affect on life. It's the right thing to do.

And if she gets tonsillitis a lot she knows eating and drinking through a sore throat, hopefully this will be the last time.

[Inneedofadvice27]

Pretty much same as above. My daughter was 2. She was home a few hours after surgery. Singing on her way out the hospital (not cause she was happy to leave l, it was the high from all the attention!). So glad we had it done. Would do that same again. Good luck OP.

[Steggers123]

My middle son was exactly the same, recurrent tonsillitis, ear infections, a constantly snuffly nose and a permanent cough. He had his tonsils and adenoids out and gromits put into his ears when he had just turned three. From the moment he woke up from surgery he was like a different child. He is now a strapping 16 year old who is very rarely ill. I was so anxious before his op, and when he was 20 minutes longer than they estimated in theatre I had a full on panic attack (how embarrassing!). You are doing the best thing for her, it's no good for them being ill and on antibiotics all the time. Stay strong, your anxiety is completely normal.

[Badders123]

My son was older (5) but it was the BEST thing we ever did.
Tips:
No dairy or juice or fruit after as the acid will hurt him. Dairy produces excess phlegm.
Try and get him to eat normal food like toast and cereal - this will help slough off the crust on the wound
Day 5 and 10 can be hard and painful - this is normal
Keep on top of pain relief....every 3 hours day and night (I set my phone alarm) for the first week
Keep inside for 2 weeks - infection control
Kids really do bounce back quicker than we do!!
Good luck x

[Toddlerteaplease]

Plenty of pain relief, for 7 days even if she doesn't seem in pain. We send our children home with Oramorph. But not every hospital does that. Make sure she's drinking plenty. And eating normal food not just jelly and ice cream. She'll be fine. The younger they are the quicker they bounce back.

[mccuntypants]

My little boy had his out last Tuesday. He was in and out of theatre in an hour and was allowed home 6 hours later. He had to be seen to be eating and drinking. He hasn't had any post op bleeding and his pain hasn't been anywhere near as bad as I thought it would be.

[cookiefiend]

DD1 age 3 had her tonsils out at the start of the year. I can't comment on the tonsillitis as she had it done for sleep apnea. I too was apprehensive.

She didn't notice the needle and drugs going in for the anesthetic. They number her hand and a play therapist hid the needle going in with a book. She fell asleep with no stress or anxiety and could not remember it later that day.

She was groggy for about 45 minutes. Then the nurse asked if she was hungry. She asked for toast and milk and wolfed it down. Then ordered her dinner and ate that again an hour later followed by another round of toast before bed (she isn't usually a big eater and I was stunned to see her eat like this).

She was up the next day desperate to play in the play room and we were let out first thing. She was totes for a few days, but we kept on top of her pain relief and she was mostly ok. She started taking an afternoon nap again for a week or two. After the two weeks she was brilliant- a different child.

[Toddlerteaplease]

Ps. Day 3 post op tends to be the worst, then they will bounce back.

[Eeeeek2]

I had mine done at 4 - I don't remember a thing about it!

My point - you'll be way more traumatised by it than she will as it's soon forgotten and she'll no longer have to go through tonsillitis all the time.

[MrsS0309]

Cookiefiend, I am so reassured to see your comment. My little boy (3 3/4) is having is out in 2 days time due to his sleep apnoea (he has grade 3 tonsils). The more I read, the more I know it is the right decision but I'm glad you have given some actual living proof. I'm hoping he will shoot back up between the 25th/50th centiles rather than the 9th which he is barely achieving know. He goes through stages of increased fatigue despite 12 hour sleeps at night, doesn't want to finish his breakfast/dinner at home and he often has a cold/runny nose. I'm hoping this will all improve after Wednesday. Have you found that to be the case with your daughter? My son isn't fussed about going into hospital, we have read the children's anaesthetic booklet which the hospital sent us for the last few nights before bed. He's quite excited about a sleepover at the hospital and he's mostly concerned about which toys he is going to pack!