Please help me be prepared for DDs tonsillectomy

Just posting here as I was looking through these boards a few weeks ago in advance of my DS's surgery (adenoid and tonsil removal). He is 3. He had the coblation surgery, which can minimise risk of bleeding and speed up recovery.

His admission was at 745AM, so he fasted from the night before, water until 730AM. He was taken up to theatre around 930, so we played and coloured and sang until then.

I sat him on my knee while he was put to sleep (mask) and sang in his ear. He stayed completely calm. I was able to be with him in the recovery ward when he woke up. A few minutes later he became quite upset and the nurse recommended trying to get him back to sleep, which he did quickly. He then slept another 90 minutes, and woke up ready for his tuna sandwich which he favoured over ice cream! He ate a muffin, some watermelon, apple, crisps and yoghurt pouches as well.

We were discharged and home in time for a big bowl of pesto pasta and a water fight with big brother.

We kept on top of pain killers, alternating Nurofen and Calpol. We also kept on top of offering drinks and food so that his throat didn't dry out and the scabs came off more easily. He loved pesto pasta, Frubes, and crisps. Wasn't that interested in ice lollies or ice cream, but did offer regularly. He ate most of us his usual meals as well, maybe being a little more picky than normal for the first few days.

He woke once per night for the first few, and seemed to be in the most pain then, but cuddles and meds sorted him out. From night 5 he slept through again.

On day 4 (counting surgery as day 0), he had a hard few minutes, running around holding his mouth and asking for medicine when he wasn't due any. I gave him some pizza a few minutes later, which he GULPED down, and when I looked into his throat later, I noticed a lot of scabbing had come off. This happened a few times over the next few days - short bursts of pain followed by really clear progress in terms of his healing.

By day 8, we were reducing meds and by day 12 he wasn't taking anything. It's now day 15 and you'd never know anything had happened, bar the fact that:

his sleep apnea (which was severe) is now completely done - he slept silently and deeply from the first night post-op!

he is currently having a growth spurt and eating us out of house and home!

Totally worth it, and the recovery was easier than I had anticipated. Hope whoever is reading this experiences the same.

I found for my son when he had his out using throat spray to numb back of his throat before eating and drinking helped. I also used the bendy straws to bypass most of his mouth to help with swallowing. Used the star upside down though to get it further back. We were told hard scratchy food. Days 3 to 7 he lived of liquids like soup or icecream.

I had mine out when I was six in 1973 😬

I went in late on Monday, op was Tuesday, was out Wednesday morning. I had dinner after my op and ate it all, no problem. The ice cream myth was just that: a myth. I didn't get any 😥

However I did get a new Enid Blyton book (who remembers Amelia Jane the naughty doll?), a new pencil case and some Trumpton toothpaste (younger people may need to ask their parents. Or Google 😂). Amazing what childhood memories come flooding back.

Your DD will be absolutely fine. Get her a few bits – I heartily recommend Trumpton toothpaste – and she'll think it's just a big adventure.

Lots of love 😘

Mine had hers out about that age. I don’t remember her being particularly hungry before hand. She was a bit freaked by the ride round to surgery but I was calm and that helped. She was cannulated and went out like a light but was very distressed and disoriented when she woke. Screamed, kicked, yelled for mummy even though o was holding her. Only lasted 10 mins or so.
She could (and did) eat absolutely fine when she woke up but it was the next day the pain started to hit. That first week was a bit of a struggle but she did her best. We took her to Haven for week 2 and that took her mind off it and she forgot to worry about the pain.

Shes nearly 12 now and it was the best thing that could have been done for her!

I had my tonsils and adenoids out and grommets in when I was 6. All I can remember of hospital is lots of jelly and ice-cream which I loved - ice-cream usually a once a week treat - and the best water gun on my bed when going back to the ward.

My parents prepared me really well; carefully but honestly made me understand what would happen and that I would be sore after. But this would make me better and I would stop missing out on things, like my friend's birthday the weekend before as I had a bad infection (yet again).

It's funny how much you can remember thinking back!

I had my tonsils out at 5 and I can barely remember it. My mum didn't make a big deal of it, as it was commonplace when she was a kid as well. I'd had tonsillitis a couple of times and I was probably the last of the generation where they just whipped them out after being poorly a couple of times (I'm 47 now).

I think you'll be buoyed up by the thought that her pain and persistent illness will be gone.
My daughter had hers removed at a similar age and we had a lot of delays getting to theatre so that was a bit of a problem.Maybe anticipate that as you're low in the pecking order in comparison with emergencies.
The staff were fairly harsh re getting her to read. This is understandable apparently but she actually wasn't allowed to leave until she ate 2 meals.Best of luck and what a relief this must be for you.

I can't answer all of your questions, but from personal experience:
She won't be able to avoid the cannula, depending on the hospital they may be able to put it in when she is asleep and put her under with gas and air.
Make sure she is given anti sickness before waking. My son was violently sick (first time under anaesthetic so we didn't know) and after a mouth operation it was like a massacre which petrified him.
Thick chocolate milk (the fresh supermarket own stuff) is very soothing afterwards and coats the throat. Just let her eat what she feels up to.
Lots of liquid pain relief. The consultant will advise what is safe dosage wise and how to maximise the relief, especially at night.
Keep your eyes peeled for any signs of infection as the rate is high for this.

Both dc had theirs out at that age. Youngest ds had some issues coming round from the anaesthetic but I was with both of them in the recovery room and the staff were so kind both times. Lots of favourite treats afterwards including ice cream. Prepare as much as much as you can, stay calm and she will be fine. What I would say that for both my dc having this done was life changing and the regular illness stopped, was not off school, ate better, slept better and began to thrive.

My son had his out at 20 months. The one bit of advice I can give is to keep them topped up on pain relief as once it hurts its difficult to get them to eat again. I set my alarm for the first couple of nights and woke him to give pain relief.
As PP said eating really speeds up the recovery so pain relief is a biggie! DS lived on cheerios for the first day or so then was back to eating normally.

Mask is so much better than cannula - I remember it being a nice smell and much easier to make the mask part of a nice process than a cannula! You can make a count down to blast off or sing to her and she won't be in any pain

My sister had this at 4 and her voice completely changed which was a huge shock! Lots of soft foods for home. Mashed potatoes, pasta. Ice cream!

Dd had hers out at 5 and I had mine out at 30.
Dd was given a pre med before going to theatre the mask didn't bother her because she was already drowsy. Might be worth asking for. Although my boys manage with emla cream and distraction and never really remember it afterwards.
Re food beforehand my dc have had quite a few ga. I find giving them an early breakfast then keeping them busy and filling them up on water helped. They did understand at 5 that they couldn't eat.
When I had mine out I could only tolerate lukewarm food but dd only wanted very cold food. Its probably going to be trial and error.
With dd the first few days were a cycle of sleeping, pain when the analgesia was wearing off and times when she seemed OK. After the first few days she was better than she had been for about 18 months but had to stay away from people for 7 days. We had lots of walks because otherwise she was climbing the walls.
For both me and dd after the first week it suddenly seemed very worth going through the pain.
A tip for you while dds in theatre make sure that you eat and drink or you'll be no good for her.
Hope all goes well.

My daughter had hers out when she was 8. She had a cannula in her hand which was fine-they numbed it and held a book up which they read to her whilst it was done. She was back with us about an hour later, threw up spectacularly about an hour later, then ate jacket potato and ice cream.
We were home by 6 pm and she insisted on eating lasagne that night. Best thing we did; after being incapacitated with tonsillitis so many times, including two bouts of scarlet fever, she has never looked back.

I had my tonsils out at around 9 years old so I Had much more understanding than your dd will at 5, and it was scary, my mum got the letter and just blurted it out. I wouldn't do that as it frightened me. I think obviously you'll have to tell her she is having them out but try and explain as much as possible, in age appropriate terms. The hospital staff in my case were realy good at easing nerves and all I realy remember now about it is the 'magic cream' (anesthetic cream on the back of hands under a clear plaster thing)
A new Teddy will help
On the journey back home she may feel/be sick so prepare for that.
And on the way to theatre if your hospital do it, the ceilings have pictures on to spot on the way round, very distracting and calming.

I can only respond with regards to the anaesthetic as my DS has grommets twice and adenoids removed.

The first time, he had the canula with the local anaesthetic on his hand with no problem, but the second time, they couldn't keep the plaster on his tiny hand for the local anaesthetic so the canula was hurting him. They tried a couple of times but he was upset so they used the mask. While he doesn't remember anything, it was horrific for me. He thrashed around (for seeming ages but almost definitely not!) and two drs had to hold him down.

Like I said, he doesn't remember anything but the memory haunts me. If we had to do it again, I would do anything to keep the local anaesthetic on his hand so the canula was smoothly inserted.

My daughter had her tonsils and adenoids out age 2. It was quick, they distracted her with a tablet and she had a cannula. If your daughter is nervous then phone the day case unit number on your appointment letter and ask them if you can have a mask to play with at home beforehand so she gets used to it being on her face. I have taken lots of children to theatre. Gas inductions are very gentle and you get to talk to her and reassure her whilst she gets sleepy.

My daughter was eating soon after reaching the ward, if she is hungry the likelihood is she will eat fairly soon afterwards.

The worst part was pain relief afterwards, make sure they prescribe a weight based dose and give it on time throughout day and night without missing any doses, day 10 post surgery was the worst pain for my daughter, so be prepared that she may need pain relief for several weeks afterwards.

If you keep on top of pain relief then eating is easier. Avoid citrus or acidic foods that can sting and offer fluids regularly, swallowing keeps the area clean.

When DS1 had his out we took him crisp shopping beforehand - we had already been told to encourage eating crispy foods after the surgery to help slough off the post op gunk/scabs and help healing. He thought all his Christmases had come at once! We kept him well topped up with pain relief continuously for however many days after they told us to - I definitely remember them saying day 5 post op was worst as it would be scabbing over by then.

he had a real fear of cannulas so they used a mask, and cannulated once he was asleep. He was 3 at the time, so we had fun distracting him without food- we made
sure his meal before fasting was a big one, and the ward had tons of toys and dress up stuff, so that entertained him! We made up a little bag of new bits and bobs for him, like playmobil figure blind bags, a little teddy, just some little toys we bought for him, which helped too.

having the surgery was the best thing for him. On top of regular tonsillitis he had obstructive sleep apnoea, which had been horrendous for him (and is!). That resolved the first night after surgery and he’s been great ever since.

My DC have had different operations and I would second the suggestion of having lots to distract them, both before while you’re in hospital waiting and afterwards. My two were fine with the cannula with numbing cream used first. One of my DC reacted strangely to the anaesthetic they were confused and thrashing around for ages in recovery, they weren’t upset but weren’t themselves for ages.

My DD just had hers out 2 weeks ago. She's 18 but my DS also had his out when he was 8.
Get lots of calpol and nurofen in for after and make sure to keep the pain relief up even if that's means waking your DD in the night.
She will be given antibiotics for about 5 days too.
Our consultant said to just eat anything - that it's the action of swallowing which helps to heal and remove the scabs that form. So we just stocked up on jelly, ice cream, freeze some tube yogurts, drink whatever she wants including smoothies.
Good luck

When my LO had the op I was also really worried about the anaesthesia. However, the surgeon rationalised it for me by reminding me that the car journey to the hospital was actually a much greater risk than the anaesthetic. Also, the anesthesiologist will come to talk to you before the operation and be able to answer any of your questions.

Gas inductions take ever so slightly longer but it’s still quick theatre staff are usually great with the prep and playing blow up the balloon, general chit chat, laugh at their funny hats etc
there’s a few storybooks about having tonsils out/operations and the kids that have them are generally less anxious there’s also a cbbc doctor raj episode on YouTube that’s pretty good.
does she have a teddy/doll that can have the same things (name band, have temp and obs taken) or just to keep her company whilst she’s in theatre?
Scratchy foods like toast crisps etc are good to prevent infection but doesn’t mean you can’t also have soft soothing foods too.
check timings for clear fluids as this is usually a few hours later than food.
make sure you are stocked up with paracetamol and ibuprofen at home.
make sure you eat and drink something when she’s having the op

Your hospital should have some patient booklets which should tell you what to expect. You can usually find them by Googling the procedure and hospital.

The Oxford one is here: www.ouh.nhs.uk/patientguide/leaflets/files/43384Ptonsillectomy.pdf

You can help her prepare by watching things like Get Well Soon www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b092q7ft

Have you got a tablet topped up with games/videos?
We had to have dry toast and crisps, but ice cream too!

The mask shouldn't be too scary, and the staff should be trained to make it as non-scary as possible. (It can take a while so it's a bit boring)

I hope it goes well and she recovers quickly and gets her life back from endless throat problems!

So glad you’ve finally got to this point. DS had tonsils and adenoids out and grommets fitted when he was 3.
We had to be in hospital for 7 and operation wasn’t until nearly lunchtime. Plenty of new colouring books, toys to keep him occupied and forget he was hungry. He got the numbing cream on his hand and cannula inserted just before operation.
Op was fairly quick and I was back with him on recovery straight after. He was disoriented and weepy for a very short time.
When back up in his room they brought him a slice of toast which he devoured, followed by another 6 slices!!
No problems overnight and home the next day with painkillers which we kept topped up for a few days.
Was back at playgroup after 5 days and we’ve never looked back. That was 15 years ago! Good luck x