After tonsillectomy/adenoidetomy - can't swallow

[jambomum]

My 4 yo DD is 2 days post-op. She is being such a trooper. I'm following the order of the surgeon and keeping her on a strict painkiller regime, but I'm finding that it's at night that her throat dries up and closes over.
She cries that she can't swallow when I try to give her the medicine.
The hospital gave me suppositories as a last resort, so I'm trying my best to avoid having to use them (on my 4yo - so not a baby !)

Anyone have any experience of this - is it normal/usual at this point post-op. Should I persevere with cajoling her, or go for the suppository option.
I've been warned that days 4-7 post op are worst, but can't see how it can get much worse than this !

Please, any other post-op mums who can help me through it?
Thanks

I would use the suppositries, pain management is key. I had a tonsillectomy as an adult the pain was horrific when my throat was dry, you have to kind of break through it, not easy if you are four

Is she able to swallow her own saliva, if not ie if she's drooling she needs to be seen right away.

The supps are not so scary I promise and will work fast.

Just go for it.

Sorry to hear your DD is in such pain, OP. I would definitely use the suppositories to help her get through these first couple of weeks. She needs to be able to eat and drink in order to reduce the risk of infection, so the extra pain relief will hopefully help her to get something (anything!) inside her!

DS had his tonsils and adenoids out 4 months ago when he was 3YO and he was in a lot of pain for a full 2 weeks afterwards. We had paracetamol and codeine to help him, but it never seemed like enough as he was in so much pain and so sad. He did have even more pain after about a week as the scabs started to fall off, so be prepared for that and know that it is not unusual. But if she gets a temp or her throat starts to smell funny then get her checked by the GP just to be sure. People kept telling me that young children bounce back after this operation, but it was not the case for DS.

FWIW, once he started to recover he really picked up quickly and he is now so full of energy that he never had before. It is the best thing we ever did for him (although I did doubt that during the 2 weeks after the op!) and I only wish we had been able to do it for him sooner.

I hope that your DD picks up soon

DS2 had it done this time last year when he was 21 months.

I was told to wake him up every few hours to get him to have a sip of drink and get him to try and take the painkillers so that it wouldn't dry up so much.

Obviously not ideal if she is asleep but it was only for a week or so.

He really struggled with drinking immediately post op yet eating was fine (he was eating breadsticks about an hour afterwards!) so know how difficult it is. Really hope she feels better soon.

I had mine done 40 years ago, age 5 and can still remember the agony of trying to swallow. I had a bad cough too which really didn't help. Try and keep fluids going down to stop her throat drying out. Ice lollies are great - a treat, the cold numbs the pain, and fluid all in one. Try making very small ice cubes she could suck on. Perhaps one before you try the meds might help the medicine go down. Ice cream is good too. Hope she is on hte mend soon.

Thank you all.

She seems a lot better today and has taken meds well.

I know this is probably a false start, as I've been warned about days 4-7 being horrid and that they go down hill again. So fingers crossed not too bad over the weekend.

I know we've done the right thing in having the op, as she was so poorly on an increasingly regular pattern, but it's so difficult to get the meds in her and keep her throat clear.

Thanks to you all for your help/support.