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Original poster

Sleep Apnoea

27 replies

norksinmywaistband · 07/02/2011 19:50

Am waiting on an ent appointment for my nearly 5yo.
He had his adenoids out and grommets in 2 years ago.
Now is having worsening apnoea at night.
A couple of episodes every 15 minutes.

He told me a few weeks ago he never slept at night ever, so I observed him for a bit and am now waiting to be seen.

Anyone been through this - what was the outcome?

OP posts:
Original poster
norksinmywaistband · 09/02/2011 16:39

bump

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monkeyflippers · 09/02/2011 17:00

Hi, mine has this I believe. She was seen at the hospital and they did a sleep study which was ok (although she didn't do the thing that night) so we were discharged.

I have found that if I put a vapour rub (karvol etc) on her chest she starts breathing better within a couple of minutes as I do it when she is asleep. She doesn't have a cold though so I don't understand why this works.

I don't really know what the answer is but am taking her back to the dr soon.

I was actually just about to post on here for advice as well so I'll be interested in the responses.

Seeing as my DC finds vapour rubs a help I was wondering about those plug in things you can get and humidifiers etc.

Original poster
norksinmywaistband · 09/02/2011 17:07

DS is a horrendous snorer, Can clearly hear him when on a different floor in the house.
I am pretty sure the problem is his tonsils - they touch at all times even without an infection. but am wondering if it might be due to something I had not thought of.

OP posts:
monkeyflippers · 09/02/2011 17:10

They said my DCs tonsils weren't that big. Sounds like maybe yours needs them removed.

Original poster
norksinmywaistband · 09/02/2011 17:13

I think I was coming on here in the hope someone would say no its not the tonsils ;)

Ds has a hospital and needle phobia and the thought of having to go through more surgery with him is more than I can think of at the moment.

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monkeyflippers · 09/02/2011 17:31

Oh no! Well when I took mine to the hospital they were reluctant to do any surgery until she was over 6 as they said it could sort itself.

They said to me that it was usually caused by adenoids or tonsils and I guess you've eliminated one of the possibles.

Elibean · 09/02/2011 20:58

Sorry, but dd2 had this and...tonsils Sad

She was just 2 at the time, had her adenoids out at the same time. Enormous, unbelievable improvement - from terrible sleep apnoea and losing weight (couldn't eat anymore due to tonsils choking her, poor love) to thriving, bouncy now-4 year old. Too bouncy at times HmmWink

Hope your apt comes through soon, and do post again if he's scheduled for the op - maybe people can help with tips for the phobias etc.

Original poster
norksinmywaistband · 09/02/2011 21:20

Thanks Elibean, was hoping you might see this. DS had his op about a month after your DD had hers If I recall from our threads at the time..

When the consultant came round after the op, he said he should have taken the tonsils as well due to the size, but we hadn't consented for that. Cannot believe they didn't run up to get our consent we were sat on the ward waiting..

The apnoea seems to be worsening though - do tonsils keep growing??

Appointment is for 9th March

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Original poster
norksinmywaistband · 09/02/2011 21:21

Strangely DS's appetite has reduced recently Hmm

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eidsvold · 09/02/2011 21:26

eh ahd his adenoids but not tonsils out?

My dd1 had terrible sleep apnoea but her tonsils were huge touching at the back like large marbles in the back of her mouth.

Mine had tonsils, adenoids and grommets all in one go and she went from being soooo tired and ratty to sleeping well, energetic, and she grew like mad in the following months.

Sorry but he probably needs those tonsils out

Original poster
norksinmywaistband · 09/02/2011 21:30

Sounds like DS' tonsils, constantly touching, massive.
Still cannot believe they didn't take them out then.
Worst thing is the thought of another op really sends me cold, It takes 3 adults to give him an innoculation due to his fear. nothing and I mean nothing placates him

OP posts:
purplearmadillo · 09/02/2011 21:40

Hi. My DS had his tonsils out last month. They were also touching most of the time, and he had a sleep study which said he had moderately severe sleep apnoea. He also had his adenoids taken out, but the surgeon said they weren't that big and that the real issue was the tonsils, so sorry but it does really sound like that is the issue with your DS.

DS is also terrified of anything which involves physical contact on him, because he's had lots of medical tests already (he's 3 in a couple of weeks and he's now had 4 GAs etc). We got through it, he was very upset at times and he's too young to explain, but I felt we had to go through it because he needed it doing - our consultant told me that sleep apnoea can cause all kinds of problems in the long term, even heart problems. And it has been like a miracle, it has immediately stopped his snoring and he is eating so much better.

If you have any questions, I'm happy to answer them. Good luck.

zam72 · 09/02/2011 21:59

Friend's toddler has this - took a video of him sleeping to the GP and was refered to a consultant on the basis of it and his laboured breathing (striddor I think was the tehnical description) whilst asleep, snoring, sleep apnoea, dark circles showing his sleep deprivation and getting panicky attacks upon waking due to the feeling of not being able to breathe. Consultant's advice - tonsils, adenoids and grommets out!

Elibean · 09/02/2011 22:37

((norks)) Sad so hard when they're needle phobic like that - my dd1 is the same, ever since dental surgery and a botched needle in back of hand Angry

I'm sleep deprived (my ex-snorer has a bad cough!) or would have remembered - of course, your little ds was right after dd. How frustrating they didn't do tonsils at the same time - they came up to get my consent to snip a fold in dd's larynx (she has larngomalacia) halfway through her op, wonder why they couldn't do the same for you?! Anyway...

I really, really hope the appointment is soon. I understand your fear of seeing him through it all, but the waiting is worse - especially if he's going off his food. Handholding available right here, ok?

Original poster
norksinmywaistband · 09/03/2011 16:05

Well, Had consultant appointment today,
And he has been booked in for Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy, they have said we should get a date for surgery for a couple of weeks time.

I am really pleased that they listened to me, but armed with video evidence of the apnea they couldn't really ignore me although it took a bit of persuading for the registrar to get the Consultant to review, as he was going to refer to sleep studies first. The consultant walked in lokked in Ds' mouth and said he needs it done!!! wondering why the registrar couldn't see that but at least now the decision is made.

Now I just need to get DS through the surgery, they have said we will probably be in for at least one or 2 nights because its an apnea problem.

Cannot even think how to manage that one yet, still one step at a time

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doricpatter · 09/03/2011 20:22

Hi norks, so sorry to hear you're going through this again with your DS :(

We're also awaiting a date for DS's (first!) adenotonsillectomy. He's 3.5. I'm not sure I can be of any help but I'll wait it out with you if you like :)

Original poster
norksinmywaistband · 09/03/2011 22:09

More than happy to wait it out with you :) it is a horrid and worrying time.

I think I have already started on a better note with DS this time as have started to explain things as soon as we came out of the consultant appt.
I felt he was too young to understand last time - he was 2.11, but in retrospect I think I failed him by not explaining things a bit :(

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doricpatter · 09/03/2011 22:14

It's so hard to know, isn't it?

So far DS has seen the play person from children's ward and she's got him all excited about the toys. I've explained that his tonsils are what's making him tired etc and the doctors will fix them when we go to hospital. I very, very briefly mentioned that he might have a bit of a sore throat but then it will get better and his tonsils will be all better. And I've asked the library to get me some books about hospitals. So far he's quite at ease about all of it, but he's fairly easy going by nature.

I guess if your DS has been through this before it's hard to know whether that sort of thing will frighten him or prepare him :(

Original poster
norksinmywaistband · 09/03/2011 22:19

I think you are preparing him brilliantly :)

Ds is needle phobic and panics about hospitals because of this. I need to speak to the aneathetist about premeds and gas anaesthetic as I am not sure we will get through surgery day otherwise

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girliefriend · 09/03/2011 22:21

Hello my dd had an adenotonsillectomy last august, the op itself was much more traumatic than I expected, my dd (who was 4 at the time) came round in a lot of pain though and it took her a good 2 wks before she was anywhere near back to normal Sad She also had problems with fluid coming out of her nose whenever she had a drink which looked very odd and was quite disturbing for my dd.

However all things considered the op was still worth it as she does sleep soooooo much better now and generally less lethargic during the day. She has only had one sore throat since which is better as before she seemed to be permanently ill.

Def do talk to your dc about the op and without frightening them explain what will happen the best that you can, in hindsite I don't think I prepared my dd enough. I also was not prepared for how poorly she would be afterwards and the 1st wk we didn't really go out and making sure she kept eating was stressful (you have to keep them eating to prevent infections) Buy lots of skips and marshmellows!!!

doricpatter · 09/03/2011 22:22

The play woman told us that sometimes it was a gas anaesthetic, sometimes IV. So maybe there's room for negotiation. It is in the anaesthetists best interests for him to be really calm beforehand as it makes an anaesthetic easier and smoother (I am not an anaesthetist but I do use them in my line of work). A ton of EMLA cream and some clever nurses will make all the difference I'm sure :)

Original poster
norksinmywaistband · 09/03/2011 22:26

Oooh doric what do you do? I am a Physio
Emla cream makes absolutely no difference to DS sadly as he associates it with an injection!!! and just start his panic an hour before the jab :(

Thanks for that girliefriend, I had better hope the appiontment comes for the school holidays then :)

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doricpatter · 09/03/2011 22:26

girliefriend you've made a decision for me. Only one of us can be there with DS at induction and in recovery. I wasn't sure which of us would do what, but now I think I will definitely go for the recovery as I can deal with him when he's upset much better than I can front up with calmness.

I'm not dreading the aftermath as much as I'm feeling so guilty that I know DS is going to suffer and I can't really prepare him for that - it's not constructive to tell a 3 year old "this is going to hurt like hell but it will be worth it" :(

doricpatter · 09/03/2011 22:29

I'm a vet norks :)

Original poster
norksinmywaistband · 09/03/2011 22:30

:)

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