Tonsillectomy in 3 year olds, any advice...

[AuntingCarse]

Wonder if anyone has any experience of this. My youngest child is almost three. We have had a referral to the ENT Consultant as her (non infected) tonsils are enormous - they practically touch, and our GP has suggested that it may be sensible to have them taken out.

She snores like a warthog, has a permanent snot cough therefore only breathing through her mouth and suffers from sleep apnoea several times a night (worse when she's on her back).

Now, one of my older children had tonsils/adenoids/grommets done when she was 5½ - 12 years ago - and it was absolutely necessary (10 lots of antibs for tonsillitis in a little over a year) and it transformed her life.

But she, obviously, was a fair bit older. My two other children also had grommets done at around 5/6 as well, so this is something that I wonder may be an issue for DD3 in a few years too.

I have no issue with general anaesthetics (my older three have had over 20 between them), but for such a small person (and she's my baby...) and the possibility of her having further surgery in a couple or three years, should I wait it out, or should I just go with it.

Thank you.

Hi
My youngest is 4 and had hers out on the 21st Dec I was unsure but in the end thought it best to go for it as hers were big and at night obstructed her airways resulting in sleep apnoea.
The consultant left it to me to decide and said no pressure so I sat and contemplated and when I sais go for it he replied correct answer but it had to be your decision.
She had her adenoids taken out aswell....She was uncomfortable for about 10days and her appetite was off for about 3 weeks but we coped

You are exactly where we were with her.
On the other side now her speech is becoming clear and she has a peacefull nights sleep.

Oh thank you. I have no concerns with her speech really, other than a slight lisp - hardly a concern though.

It's funny, I have no recollection of DD2 being uncomfortable/off food for longer than a couple of days. Op for her was on a Thursday and she was back to school the Monday after the weekend, back to her usual bouncy self.

Well, I shall await the referral appointment and see what they say, but thank you again, it's good to hear that all seems well with your DD.

I would go for it. My dd2 had hers out (plus adenoids) when she was barely 2, and changed hugely within weeks - eating better, sleeping better, thriving.

Mind you, she was losing weight before the op, and had serious breathing problems whenever she had a cold (at night) - as she also had a floppy larynx: tonsils meeting in the middle, plus that, was a nightmare.

She was in a fair bit of pain (managed with painkillers) for a few days after the op, tired for another week or two, but has not looked back since - and is now the most energetic member of the family

Gosh, so even younger than my DD3. That makes me feel much more confident, thank you so much.

DD3 has dreadful breathing trouble some nights and, like yours, her tonsils her enormous.

Did they give you painkillers? Or are the usual OTC ones enough for the job. Her pain threshold actually seems to be quite high, so hopefully that's all that she'll need.

Ds had his out aged 3. He was really poorly though - multiple
infections over 18 months and hospitalised more than once. They actually weren't going to operate when they did because he was
sick but then decided to and he had an abcess on one of them.

The operation was fine - horrible to see him knocked out with the GA and he was a little groggy and clingy after but we stayed overnight and he wasn't too bad. Recovery was tough - he did get a post op infection which was scary but the care was great. Key is keeping away from
any other children apart from siblings, lots of rest, fluid and scratchy food.

Best thing we ever did though. He was a changed child - has barely been ill since, and that was two years ago.

Yes - OTC painkillers. But make sure you stick to the schedule -
Don't think "they're fine, I won't give that dose" because then the pain kicks in and they are miserable

Pepe thank you, DD2 was the sickliest child before she had hers done and now at 17 has probably had about 4 colds in 12 years. Your poor DS sounds like he went through the mill like she did, it's amazing isn't, the transformation in them post op.

I think I am just stressy as she is a. my baby (by a long way, the next one up is 15) and b. so young compared to her sister when she had hers done.

I feel so much more comfortable having read the responses from you all, thank you.

DS1 had adenoids at 2.6 and tonsils at 2.11. He was tearing round the ward a couple of hours after the op. The next few days were a sofa and cbeebies job but no major problems. The change in him was so worth it though- started sleeping through, grew several inches, just fantastic. We got paracetamol, ibuprofen and codeine from the hospital and keep a fairly regular schedule with the painkillers.

In fact DD (3.1) is going on fri for her tonsils and adenoids so it can't have been that scary an experience!

Good luck to your DD Spiffy - she's only a couple of months older than mine, so it's good to hear such relaxed comments. Thank you.

AC, dd2 was given paracetamol suppositories, and Voltarol suppositories, as she wouldn't swallow a thing after the first day. The hospital gave us a few, and then when we knew we'd need more we got some from the GP.

But if she'd been swallowing, it would have been paracetamol and nurofen, usual OTC stuff. Only difference being, they do tell you not to worry about giving it a few minutes before the next dose is due - so that they are always covered, iyswim. If you let pain get on top, its harder to get down again.

Some kids are given codeine (depends on hospital) but constipation is not fun, and the pain relief not provenly better with throat pain anyway. Ice lollies, otoh, seemed to work a treat - not to mention good hydration!

Good luck with it all, it really does sound like your dd will benefit

(and lots of hand holding here if you need/want it)

Thank you Elibean, I suspect I will be back asking for hand holding soon. I will seek you out and hope you're about.

I'm fairly often about, but you can always PM me if you need