Tonsil and adenoids op for 4 year old

[Badmumof3]

My son is booked to have surgery in 3 weeks time to have his tonsils and adenoids removed. He had grommets inserted when he was 2, from which he recovered well and quickly. Whilst he needs this op and I know he will be so much better for it, I am dreading the recovery period. He is rather looking forward to his hospital visit, as his grommet op experience was so positive thanks to the fabulous staff at Pembury (plus he has a brand new Tom & Jerry DVD, which he can't wait to watch!!) However I have read loads of stuff about how painful it is afterwards. What can I do, other than give meds every 4 hours to help him in the couple of weeks afterwards?

Lots of cold things to eat / drink which will soothe the throat. I remember having lots of milkshake, ice cream and yoghurt - easy to swallow.

Sorry to contradict the previous poster, but but when DS's tonsils were done (2007), the medical advice was not to give yogurt or ice cream. Although these may be comfortable to swallow, they leave a sludge on the healing throat that is a haven for opportunistic bacteria. I'm sorry to have to tell you that they advise normal foods, even toast because it effectively exfoliates the area (I know, ouch), removing mucus and so on, which apparently promotes healing. However, I emphasise that my information is (obviously) six years out of date now, so do ask the paediatric staff what the deal is now.
DS's godmother (ex ward sister at Great Ormond Street) also told me to ask the anaesthetist if he or she has much paediatric experience. Anaesthetizing children is, according to her, quite a specialist skill. Fortunately, he was a specialist children's anaesthetist so I didn't have to look him in the eye and tell him that I wanted another anaesthetist!!!
The only thing I can add is that it was very important to keep a routine with paracetamol and ibuprofen taken in a cycle to keep him in the therapeutic zone.
I don't want to wind you up, but his recovery from tonsillitis was a bit awful, and he refused to eat (anything) for days - in fact, he refused to swallow medicine half the time. So in reality the issue of trying to get him to eat toast was moot. But I still didn't give him ice cream etc because the docs did emphasise that it wasn't particularly helpful. I should add as well that he had a bit of weight to spare, so not eating didn't really hurt him. It was not fun.
But another friend of mine's 4YO DD had hers out and it was an absolute piece of piss. So there is reason to be optimistic - and I will also add that, having had a child who was on antibiotics once every six weeks before the tonsils were removed, he has barely had a day off sick since, and he's now 10. I don't regret doing it for a second.

Sorry for the essay - good luck!

*sorry, I should have said they ADVISED normal foods, not that they advise normal foods - again, I emphasise again that this is what I was told in 2007.

Thats a great essay- really helpful. I have no doubt that he will benefit from the op. He has an airway the size of a drinking straw, and a history of glue ear, repetitive bouts of croup, snoring and general poorliness especially in the winter months.

I just know its going to be a nightmare fortnight and want to know the best ways to cope! ??

I agree with mrs steptoe about foods. I had mine out as an adult and was told to eat normal foods and encouraged to eat toast etc. plenty to drink, some ice packs to keep oround his neck and if you can get a humidifier for his bedroom it will help stop his throat drying out at night and waking up in pain from it being dry. I would even go as far as waking him in the night for painkillers and some sips of water.

If it helps it's such a relief to have mine gone, he will be soooo much better off next winter!

My littlest DS had his done last september when he was 21 months. They advised getting him to eat virtually straight away and he was munching on breadsticks and crisps within an hour of coming round from the op.

He had Oramorph that night to keep on top of the pain (but my DS1 had his done at nearly 3 and just had calpol/nurofen).

We had to give him medication literally on the dot of the time that he should have it and not let it get painful at all so we alternated calpol/nurofen.

He recovered very quickly as did DS1 and it was more of a struggle getting him to slow down as he just wanted to carry on as normal.

He got an infection about a week later but being so young he was still putting stuff into his mouth which probably caused it.

It has made the world of difference to him-he was getting ear infections every month and since then has only had one. He has grown loads and is sleeping much better.

Eat normal foods, it keeps the throat clean. Even little and often is fine.

Give pain relief (paracetamol and ibuprofen) regularly for at least a week. Encourage eating and drinking as there's a risk of bleeding and infection of they don't.

Any signs of fresh blood put of the nose or mouth when you are home take then to your nearest a&e. fresh blood is bright red. Old blood is brown so don't worry about it.

It's quite normal for them to go down a bit when you get home before they pick up. Their breath will smell and they'll get white spots in that throat where it's healing. Ear pain is also normal so if pain relief doesn't help a warm towel on the ear might.

No school/nursery or two weeks. Keep away from lots of people as he'll be at risk of picking up an infection. If he snores it any not stop straight away, can take a few weeks for the swelling to go down.

As long as you give regular medicine (make sure you're stocked up) and get him eating he'll be ok.

Sorry for any bits that don't make sense, I didn't read it first!

Pobblewhohasnotoes, now I've seen your username, I have name envy. I now want to change mine to AuntJobiska...

Hi Op second all the advice above, Ds had it done at two and a half and just would not eat anything except ice pops drinks ect for about a week.
We ended up getting paracetamol suppositories for him which worked well when he wouldn't swallow.
I wont lie it was a tough week, lots of tears, cuddles and tv.

Forgot to say it was totally worth it and I would do it again.
The difference in eating, sleeping and energy levels were amazing.

MrsSteptoe, I had to google it, hadn't heard of that poem before! I got my name from the Quangle Wangle's Hat.

And the Quangle Wangle's Hat was a new one on me - so we are both now better educated!

I know it's been ages now since it was done but am happy to say it went well with no problems afterwards. Yes the pain was awful but I set the alarm and dosed him up day and night. It's been his most healthy winter with only 2 colds since December whitch were just "normal" colds. Previously he had terrible colds with croup and secondary infections. He's so much healthier, no longer snores, so sleeps better and I'm just so glad it's done and behind us.

That's great, Badmumof3, and nice that you posted back. Like you, after a fairly miserable recovery period, we simply haven't looked back.