Adenotonsillectomy recovery

[SpideysMummy]

If your child has had their tonsils and adenoids removed, what was their recovery like?

DS is on day 6 now. I know day 5-7 can be bad but this is horrific. For the past week he’s woken inconsolable every 1-2 hours overnight. The usual cocktail of meds (regular paracetamol, ibuprofen, morphine, and difflam spray) aren’t helping. He’s virtually fine in the day but the nights are horrible.

I just want to know that this is normal and will pass!

When my brother had his tonsils & adenoids done I can remember him not really feeling better until probably 10 days, is your dc eating & drinking normally yet? If you are in any way worried either contact the ward or your doctor.

He’s not a good eater so it’s fairly hard to know what’s ok! He is eating though. He’s mostly living on bagels and cake but that’s not really 100 miles away from his usual diet (ARFID). And he’s drinking well - lots of juice, squash, milk etc.

It’s just the nights where he’s really struggling. It’s like he can’t swallow at all when lying down and then coughs and gets really distressed and then gets locked into a cycle of getting upset, and then shouting/crying and it hurting more so shouting and coughing more.

Poor little chap.

No experience of it, but just wanted to say I really hope he feels better asap. So distressing for you having to see him suffering like that.

I'm sure he's already tried it, but would sucking ice or lollies help soothe things?

Following as 18 year old DD is due to have hers removed in 2 weeks. Dreading the recovery! She had major spinal surgery last year but I think we’re both more nervous for this!

How old is he, the consultant did warn us it’s not easy at all but especially if they’re older

Very quick recovery for my DD when she was 7. She was back in school after a week. She had been so poorly with repeated tonsillitis for years and her recovery after the op was miraculous.

DD was 5 when she had hers removed and all I can remember about her recovery is that her voice went ridiculously squeaky for a week or so. She was told to have two weeks off school, which I kept to for infection reasons.

This was 18 months ago so obviously not massively fresh in my memory, but I think I'd remember terrible nights afterwards.

Have you got any follow up with ENT? (We didn't) I think I'd be ringing your GP in the morning.

Lots of love to you and your boy

My DD had a pretty pain free recovery. She had it done privately and was on Oromorph for a week which seemed to completely take the pain away. The consultant said it’s better to take away the pain so she can eat scratchy foods like crisps as it makes everything heal quicker. Softer foods lengthen the recovery he said.

Following with interest! Hoping my DD gets this surgery soon. Severe problems with adenoids and grade 3 enlargement of tonsils. Delayed speech, poor eating, weight loss, frequently ill and sleep apnea we are ready for it.

I hope your little boys is starting to feel better OP. Looking forward to hearing how he gets on as he recovers.

Has anyone else any success stories?

That’s exactly what my DD was like. She was a changed child afterwards. Lots of speech therapy afterwards although we went private as well as NHS was shite. I did speech therapy with her myself every day. She’s just turned 11 and just won the highest scholarship to the best school in the country! Don’t worry! They catch up!

That's great to hear, really hoping for similar results.

My little girl has been vomiting today, not a bug but I am nearly sure due to her tonsils making her gag.

I had mine done as an adult, so the recovery is supposed to be a lot worse. I was told to get up every 1.5/2 hours to drink to stop my throat drying out and keep up the pain killer intake, and nights and first thing were always the worst

DS used to get this most nights. No more since the op!

He’s had a slightly improved night. Still lots of waking crying but some longer stretches and settled himself back to sleep a handful of times without getting himself into a state. I’m hoping we’re on the up now.

Hopefully the longer stretches are the start of a shift in his recovery. The anaesthetic will have been sore on him too. Is she tolerating his pain meds orally?

Did anyone else's child sweat a lot at night when suffering from sleep apnea?

@SpideysMummy
How's your son doing now? Hope progress continued and he's far more comfortable.

@ZuzuMyLittleGingersnap last night was the first night that he only woke once! He had calpol at 3am but otherwise slept through. He didn’t need painkillers during the day yesterday until tea time. We’re definitely getting somewhere. I’m hoping he’s well enough for nursery on Thursday.

So glad to hear that. Hope he makes it to nursery, and that YOU can now get some restful times after such an innings.