To ask for son to have treatment at different hospital?

[Fedupmum88]

My ds has obstructive sleep apnea. Ent have recommend he have an adenoid tonsillectomy. The only method my local hospital offer is a full removal which is a painful and longer recovery.

My older son had the same surgery at a specialist children’s hospital due to having a severe case of sleep apnea. They used a different technique to perform a partial tonsillectomy. He recovered really well and it has fixed the problems he was having.

Aibu to go back to my gp and ask for a referral to the children’s hospital? The ent at the local hospital said he couldn’t refer me as he had no reason to?

Any advice would be appreciated

My daughter had the full tonsillectomy and recovered in days. The first 24 hrs post op she was sore, which is to be expected obviously, but was back at school within 3 days. I was told at the time that they avoid partial tonsillectomies as a matter of course because tonsils can grow back if any material is left behind.

If you’re really unhappy with their expert medical opinion, then sure, ask for a referral but it may be your child just doesn’t fit the criteria.

@NorthernBirdAtHeart

My daughter had the full tonsillectomy and recovered in days. The first 24 hrs post op she was sore, which is to be expected obviously, but was back at school within 3 days. I was told at the time that they avoid partial tonsillectomies as a matter of course because tonsils can grow back if any material is left behind. If you’re really unhappy with their expert medical opinion, then sure, ask for a referral but it may be your child just doesn’t fit the criteria.

I’m glad she had a speedy recovery. We were told my ds had to have 2 weeks off nursery (this was last year). I wonder if the guidelines are different for every hospital?

The ent at the local hospital said the partial removal wasn’t as good but then in the next breath said it would be a technique they would be using in the future so it cant be all that bad

The 2 weeks off is most likely due to the risk of infection, my dd had her tonsils removed and it didn't take that long for recovery

My son also had complete T&A at age 3. Sore for a couple of days but easily managed with calpol, then another sore day after about a week (when the scabs come off). He was eating toast the day of the op. He stayed off nursery for a week I think.

@TwoBlueFish

My son also had complete T&A at age 3. Sore for a couple of days but easily managed with calpol, then another sore day after about a week (when the scabs come off). He was eating toast the day of the op. He stayed off nursery for a week I think.

Glad to hear he had a speedy recovery. Did he have to stay in hospital overnight?

He stayed one night but that was precautionary as he has another condition.

It’s not a two week recovery usually. It’s about the risk of infection to the tonsil bed.

My ds had a full tonsillectomy and adenoids removed. He had two weeks away from school (one week was half term) due to the infection risk. He was back on his feet within a day or two with no complications

My boy had tonsils and adenoids out last year age 6. They said he needed 2 full weeks off school, he was very sore for the first week but then miraculously was fine. He is autistic and does not respond well to pain so I think he did really well. The numbing spray we were given (Diflam) was amazing as it works instantly and can be used regularly.
It terrifying your child having an op and they have to tell you all the risks (bleeding afterwards etc) but it's very safe really, if your child needs the op and has been offered it in the near future I would just go for it.

@EdwardCullensBiteOnTheSide

My boy had tonsils and adenoids out last year age 6. They said he needed 2 full weeks off school, he was very sore for the first week but then miraculously was fine. He is autistic and does not respond well to pain so I think he did really well. The numbing spray we were given (Diflam) was amazing as it works instantly and can be used regularly. It terrifying your child having an op and they have to tell you all the risks (bleeding afterwards etc) but it's very safe really, if your child needs the op and has been offered it in the near future I would just go for it.

Glad to hear he had a speedy recovery too.

I just get such a sick nervous feeling when I think about the local hospital doing the op.

I’m just waiting on the gp to call me back to see if they can refer me to the other hospital. I’ve had a google but I’m still unsure, do we have a legal right to change hospitals?

I had my tonsils removed in my 40s. I was told that it would be a really horrendous recovery as an adult, very painful etc. In reality it wasn't anywhere as bad as that. It was sore as my pain medication wore off, but once I'd taken that it kicked in quickly. After a week I stopped taking it.
I'd go for the full monty if it was my child, especially if it has a better long term prognosis for short term discomfort.

I think it would be useful to have a second specialist opinion on this alternative technique.

I would find out how long the wait will be.

Both my youngest had a full tonsillectomy at 3yrs old due to them obstructing their airways and causing issues swallowing food.

Both had to have 2 weeks off due to the infection risk. Recovery was pretty amazing (I had mine out at 30 and it was quite frankly horrific) they had a painful day on day 7 which we were warned about and the surgeon told us it's normal and they don't know why it's always day 7 but the pain was controlled with calpol. .

In fact both were up and eating within hours and their sleep improved enormously and we've never looked back.

Tonsils aren't removed without bloody good reason these days so if it's warranted I'd say go for it.

You absolutely have the right to a second opinion which is probably the way the GP will refer. Any NHS care there should be patient choice-although many GPs will only refer locally for a range of reasons.

You are over thinking it all op. The local hospital is more than capable of doing this op, they do them daily. I don't think you'll get a choice of hospital unless you pay.

I think edwardcullen is right that the local hospital is more than capable is doing this op.

What they cant advise you on is the other op.

And I agree another referral may be best to decide if it would be better for your son.

Yes I think your GP will refer you, there is usually patient choice in these things. Although someone else may know the details of this.

My then 2 year old had his tonsils out due to sleep apnoea and recovered really well. As long as you give pain relief regularly throughout the day and night for at least a week and encourage eating and drinking they’ll be fine.

Back to school after 3 days? The advice in any Trust I’ve worked in was stay off for two weeks.

The technique you’re talking about OP isn’t used everywhere and I think you need to talk to your ENT consultant about recovery rates with various techniques.

Thanks for the replies everyone it’s quite possible I’m overthinking it 🙈 I’ll see what the gp says when they call back.

My ds had a full adenoid tonsillectomy at 2 due to severe sleep apnoea. He stayed in overnight and off preschool 2 weeks but was eating normally from the next day and as long as we kept up with regular pain relief showed no signs of pain. We stopped the regular calpol after 3 days and he was eating crisps/roasts/crackers etc from the the day after the op.