Tonsils & adenoids procedure

Hi Op. My ds had both removed when he was 2.5yo. We went in and I stayed with ds in theatre while they administered the anaesthetic, when he went off to sleep I left. Then they came to get me when he woke up. It was a very quick procedure. We went to the ward and ds was groggy and crying a bit. They encouraged him to eat, lots of junk food! By the end of the day he was almost back to himself. He was sore for a day or two but was completely back to himself by a week. It's a very safe and routine procedure. We aren't in the UK though. It made a massive difference to ds sleeping and he stopped getting sick as much. Best of luck.

My DS1 had this op shortly after his 3rd birthday.

Recovery was quite hard and painful for him. He had to stay at home for 10 days but got a minor infection on the surgery site after 7 days which needed antibiotics.

But, this sounds like I’m exaggerating I realise, it was life changing for him. The constant tonsillitis and chest infections stopped and his sleep apnea (which was the main reason for having the op) was cured.

So I feel very positive about the procedure overall but did find it upsetting on the day of the actual surgery and stressful for about a further 10 days after that.

My (then) 5yo had it, but we didn’t know about his ASD at the time.

It did make a big difference because he must have been feeling really awful most of the time (he had recurrent bacterial infections). Recovery was quite tough because he was unlucky and bled a couple of times (so more time in hospital), but overall it was a positive thing to do.

my dd has this done at 20 months. She was brilliant and recovery was quick. She enjoyed life and had more energy after too (it was done for repeated ear infections and sleep apnoea)

My dad had it done just before her 2nd birthday because of severe sleep apnea. She was tiny in height and was very skinny. Constantly ill with chest infections also. He operation was literally life changing for her. Sleep apnea gone straight away, and within a month she was putting on weight and shot up in height. She now is a healthy and very active 4 year old. The operation was very straightforward and by a few days after she was off all pain meds.

My daughter had her tonsils and adenoids removed aged 2.5 due to sleep apnoea and then scraped back again aged 5 with grommets added.
The tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy were called for but unfortunately the grommets left her with a permanent perforated ear drum which needed a further operation to repair which wasn’t successful and she has been left with permanent reduction of hearing in that ear.

The grommet basically stayed in instead of falling out and it was that which caused the Perforated drum. She was done privately.

Incidentally, they recommend waiting for grommets now as they find as the ear canal grows, there is little need to do this as the hearing improves which it did with my younger child who had recurrent ear infections until 4 but then suddenly cleared up and never had the need for grommets

2 of my children have had them removed, one age 3 and one age 6. The 6 year old found the recovery easier than the 3 year old, expect a few rough nights, set your alarm to be giving paracetamol and brufin regularly to keep pain as low as possible. They both lived on arctic roll for a few days. If I remember correctly they get a little better and then days 5 to 7 are bad again when the scabs start to heal.

On the good side, both children were immensely happier after the procedure, my son was far calmer and more settled, his speech and language really developed after it as they think his tonsils could have affected his hearing, he also slept much better. My daughter was also far far happier, no more tummy aches or lethargy and was able to sleep through the night.

I wouldn't hesitate in getting them removed from my third child if it's ever needed

I had my adenoids removed as a child - I think I was about 10 at the time. I felt nauseous post-op, and had a sore throat for a short while - I can't remember how long, but I remember telling the surgeon at the post-op check up (and he told me you couldn't make an omelette without cracking a few eggs). I stayed in hospital one night post-op. My mum stayed, not sure where, but she was on the ward somewhere, none of the parents stayed in the bay with us. I think I was off school for a fortnight post-op due to the infection risk. Adults having a tonsillectomy now would still be advised two weeks off work post-op, so I guess your little one would need to be off nursery etc for a fortnight (if he goes to one).

I struggled to breathe through my nose before the operation (I think that was why I was referred) and my sense of smell wasn't good. I breathe through my nose fine now and my sense of smell is pretty good, but I can't remember when that improved in relation to the surgery.

My sister had an adenoidectomy a short while before me and she also had a grommet fitted. I think her post-op recovery was similar to mine.

I know with adults, some places do tonsillectomies as a day case procedure now (though there is a strict criteria for this) - I don't know the rules for children though. Grommets would also be day case (or sometimes just a clinic procedure under LA) for adults.

I had this op 40 years ago, I remember vividly waking up after the op, but only because my Dad was next to the bed and I was so happy to see him. In 40 years, an awful lot more of this routine op have been performed so nothing to worry about from that perspective. My Mum tells me my hearing improved drastically afterwards and I was a lot quieter as I would shout before the op as I was a bit deaf! I've had no issues with my hearing etc since my op, in fact after a hearing test a couple of years ago, I was told the hearing loss I was experiencing had in fact taken me into normal hearing range for my age so I had previously had "super" hearing!