Advice pls ds having grommets and tonsil & adenoidectomy

[mummyto2boysandagirl3]

My ds1 who's 4 1/2 needs grommets in and tonsils & adenoids out due to glue ear & swollen tonsils and adenoids that consultant said is restricting his airways and suspects sleep apnoea. I know he needs it doing and he will feel 100 times better after but I had my tonsils out as a teenager and still remember the sore throat and ear pain after. Do Any of u who's dc have had the procedure have any advice? Is there anything that would helpful for him that I can get in ready? I will b stocking up on crisps as I remember from having my tonsils out scratchy food helps massively was going to get him some activity books and some Lego as hel b having 2 wks off school. Anything I should know about the hospital stay/anaesthetic etc? Will he need to stay in and if so can I stay with him? He's never stayed away from home and the only time iv been away from him over night was when I had the younger dc and that really upset him he'd b distraught if I had to leave him in there on his own :(

I know I'm doing the right thing for him but at the same time I'm quite nervous thanks for reading x

I had grommets in at 4. Not as sore! Really enjoyed the hospital and especially getting presents from visitors so make sure he has nice visitors and yes the hospital food can be unpleasant so nice healthy foods he likes, smoothies, sweets, soups, ice cream?

Oh I really feel for you, DS1 had his tonsils and adenoids out in July, but it has been so so so worth it he is like a different child now.

He was only 2.4 when he had his op so it might be different for your DS but he stayed in hospital overnight after the op as that is when there is the highest risk of bleeding. My DH stayed with him as I had a 9 week old DS2 and it was heartbreaking leaving him but he was fine with his dad, he slept on a pull out bed right next to him.

The recovery for my DS was awful because he wouldn't take his pain relief (we had to get suppositories, useful to know about them in advance just in case this happens to you) I think if you stay on top of pain relief to the minute (every four hours) including at night the first few nights, and eat ASAP then it is much better. He needed to sleep lots in the first week and we watched a lot of DVDs and bought him a couple of new toys and books. We weren't allowed to take him out for two weeks in case he picked up an infection while the tonsils were healing, he was bouncing off the walls by the end but they were quite strict about that, an infection can be really bad.

Also coming round from the anaesthetic was really traumatic, but I watched others on the ward coming round and they all reacted differently so that is down to the individual child. Some ate and drank straight away!

I know another two children who bounce back from the op, and kept on top of pain relief, recovered really quickly. My DS did take a full two weeks to recover, don't mean to sound negative but I didn't realise it would be so bad. Saying that I would still put him through it as he was so poorly so often and now he is much, much better.

Good luck

Highland bird where did u get the sepositiries I was just wondering if he could have them as they're supposed to work better I think. Do u know if they gave morpheine afterwards? I think that's y I feel bad as I know I took at least 2 wks to recover from just my tonsils and the poor thing is having the works :( glad to hear they let daddy stay with ur ds I was 15 and remember feeling bad being in the hospital on my own lol

With the keeping them in for 2wks cod of risk of infection willi need to keep ds2 off nursery? My mum will (provided she's not poorly) b able to sit with ds1 while I drop/pick up ds2 but I was just thinking is putting ds2 in nursery and him potentially bringing back an infection too big a risk or am I over thinking

Ds had this op age 5, it might depend on the hospital but ours was day surgery. This was a really long day but the benefits are almost instant. You will be asked to go to a pre op where you can ask loads of questions and they have a play nurse to explain to ds what is going to happen.

Hyia. Yes he did have morphine before he came round, he was also kept on a drip until he had something to eat and drink, then they took it out but kept the cannula in his hand while he was in just in case it was needed again. Wrt suppositories, I didn't know about them before hand, DS has never been good at taking calpol etc due to his throat being sore a lot but they kind of forced it into him at the hospital and we had to try our best to get it into him but he was getting so hysterical he was vomiting it back up again, and it's a vicious circle if there's no pain relief it hurts too much to eat and they need to eat to swallow so that the throat heals. We had to push quite hard to get them prescribed as they are really expensive but I think you can buy them at the pharmacy...although not many stock them so have to get them ordered in, best speak to your gp and pharmacist. Only do them for paracetamol not ibuprofen. DS was too young to be bribed into taking his medicine and he honestly was like a different child when we got pain relief into him. Thank god for mn I wouldn't have found out about the suppositories otherwise!

Wrt to infection, From what I've heard different doctors give different advice, my DS had the op in yorkhill in Glasgow, and the advice from the doc there was to keep him at home and off nursery for two weeks, but I don't know what the advice would be for siblings etc as I only have a younger DS. My DH had an infection when his tonsils were healing after his op and it took ages (and antibiotics) to heal...but it was obvious there was an infection as the smell was grim!

Everyone says that children recover a lot quicker than adults and at 15 I think your recovery would have been more like an adults. I hope it all goes well for your DS. X

We tend to say just eat normal food now days rather than specifically crunchy foods. Eating anything, even little and often as long as he eats and drinks something. It keeps the throat clean and helps prevent infection or bleeding.

Yes you'll have to keep him off nursery for two weeks and away from anyone with infections or lots of people.

I'm sure they'll give you pain relief to take home but make sure you are stocked up on calpol and nurofen for afterwards. It's important you give it regularly for at least a week. Pain relief and eating and drinking are the two most important things post operatively.

Quite often it gets worse when you get home before it gets better, it's normal to have a dip.

Rooster I had completely forgot about the pre op lol thank u and good to hear it is possible for it to b day surgery.

Highland I had voltarol suppository after ds2 and dd were born and honestly it was amazing I didn't even feel my stitches for at least 2/3 days and I had 3rd degree tear with ds2!! They work so much better than oral pain relief. But I hadn't even thought it was possible to get them for children will pop it on my list to ask at pre op. Bless ur ds I know mine will take medicine normally but if his throat hurts he may b resistant. Did they use the cannula to give ur ds the anaesthetic or a mask and did they let u go in with him? Ent said today that ds will not b in anywhere near as much pain as I was as the younger u r the better it is and that 15 was quite late to have tonsils out.

Does anyone know if it's possible for him to Not have morpheine/codeine following the op? I know he will b sore and I'm not for a second suggesting he not have pain relief but I really don't want him having these as I react really badly to them. When iv had ops in past and they've given me morpheine it's effected my heart rate and my breathing made me sick and completely knocked my out so couldn't b woken and I don't want that for ds. Appreciate he may well tolerate it better than me but still I worry.

Pobble boy do I remember the dip!!!! No one warmed me or my mum and about 5-7 days later I was in agony with my ears my mum called the dr out and they gave me sum stronger paracetamol. This is y I worry about it I know consultant said it won't hurt him as much as he's younger but I am no wimp but I remember being v v sore for a good couple wks Fter.

Pobble just to confirm it's ds1 having the op obv he'll b off school for the 2 wks actually he won't b leaving the house!! I was asking if I had to keep younger ds off of nursery .... Just didn't want anyone thinking I was going to stick him in after having all that done lol

Oh no, you won't need to keep younger DS off.

We give morphine as needed post operatively, it's quite a normal thing to give. The anaesthetists often give a dose in theatre. I don't know of a reason he would have a problem with it just because you do, it's a really good pain relief to have post-op. we give regular paracetamol and ibuprofen too but morphine covers the break through pain. However I would discuss it with the anaesthetist pre-op, see what they say.

I am the only person I know of that reacts that way to it everyone else seems fine and I know when I was gp with the kids and c secs were being discussed (only ds1 was a c sec in the end) the staff thought I was crazy saying I didn't want morpheine (even tho they knew the effect it had on me) and said it's part of the spinal so I assumed it'd b something they just give out as standard. I don't want anyone to think I want him in pain and suffering but it really does make me poorly but I appreciate that doesn't mean it will have the same effect on ds.

That's good I can send ds2 to nursery he only goes 2 days a wk but will give ds1 some peace and quiet

Hi OP. Can only speak for grommets, but my 18 had them last week. Under general anaesthetic and left within 2 hours if waking up. She was eating her packed lunch within 15 mins of being in the recovery ward and we were walking around the park in the afternoon. I was hugely nervous about the anaesthetic but it was totally fine. I'd suggest you take all fave foods with you and a list of questions you want to ask the surgeon as you're bound to forget one or two. I didn't ask

1. Do you drain the glue in the op
2. How quickly do they work (or if not drained in op how quickly will they clear)
3. How to clean glue discharge out at home (with wriggly child)

Good luck!

Frogger, interested to read that about grommits. My DD9 had tonsils and adenoids removed last year but we are seeing ent next week re possible grommits, why they didnt do it at same time i'll never know!

My DD had morphine in recovery then more on the ward later on. She was quite poorly afterwards with a lot of pain and vomiting. She was very sleepy and didnt eat much, I stayed in overnight with her but in a side room off the ward, probably as she was that bit older, a couple of other mums stayed at bedsides but the majority of the children went home the same day.

I kept her off school for 2 weeks although she was quite well in herself at the start of the second week and much of the pain had gone, it was more because of risk of infection than anything else.

My two year old had the same op about two months ago. It was no where near as bad as I envisaged. Keep on top of pain relief alternating with paracetamol and ibroprufen and I really recommend diflam spray.

It numbs the throat allowing him to eat and take medication.DS was eating cheerios twenty minutes after coming round and lived off them for first few days.

It was so worth it. He grew three inches and went up four shoe sizes in the two weeks after. He is a different child.

They used the cannula for the anaesthetic and one of us was allowed in with him. He's a daddy's boy so DH went in with him. They had put a numbing gel on his hand beforehand and they managed to do the whole cannula thing without him really taking much notice. They then sent us away to get a coffee and called us when he was coming round and we went with him up to the ward.
I would say the oldest child on his ward was about 6ish and they all had a parent sleep at their bedside. X

completely echo what chuckles has said with my own DS, who was 3 when he had this op (grommets, tonsils and adenoids at same time) I was a mess, but within 30 mins of getting back to the ward he was up and about asking for food (a miracle in itself), dropped his daytime naps instantly and his appetite has increased so much. He has so much more energy. I agree with all the comments about keeping on top of pain meds, calpol and ibuprofen round the clock - it is easier to prevent pain than it is to stop it once its there. We were advised normal foods as this helps prevent infection, keep of school/nursery (but my DS was happily running around the garden!)
Fingers crossed your child has such a good recovery. For us it was the best thing we have done. x

I'm going back about 14 years now, but my DS had this done. One thing that stands out in my memory... he threw up all over me, after the operation, and had clearly swallowed quite a bit of blood during the surgery / afterwards. So it was a little messy. So I'd take a couple of changes of clothes for you.

The next day coming home, he heard seagulls for the first time, and when we got in he heard our cat purring. Made me realise how much the glue ear had been affecting him and how quickly the grommets had made an impact.

And for both my sons, taking out Ts and As made a big difference to general thriving, appetite, reduced infections etc. Both strapping teenagers now.

Thank u all for the positive stories :)
I know I'm doing the right thing it's just worrying still but I know it'll b worth it and he'll feel so much better.

I hadn't thought of diflam spray I will add that to my list.

We are currently on Day 9 and surviving! The recovery has been challenging, but already we are seeing the benefits. DS aged 3 had never heard whispering before and is quite excited by it. It's been stressful, but well worth it.

DS had grommits, tonsilectomy, adenoidectomy and the lining of his nose cauterised at 5.2, 3 years ago. Was a but grim at points but well worth it almost straight away.

He stayed in one night, and I had a camp bed next to him. He was a bit 'leaky' from his nose and ears, and I ended up covered so take a couple of spare tops.

He was happy to eat almost anything, although he was sick after eating for about 24 hours after the op...not that it put him off eating straight away after Think that was mainly a reaction to anaesthetic as he was same after another op recently.

The worst part was getting him to take medication after.He had Diclofenac, to stop swelling, and tbh it tastes vile (I did that 'come one, how bad can it be taste, and then gagged - ). So make sure you have a good supply of bribes.

After about 5 days, he was absolutely fine. The worst part was staying in for 2 weeks with DS climbing the walls...we did do a couple of early morning park trips to wear him out without exposing him to other children. I was also a bit stir crazy but 2 weeks soon passes.

Thank u for ur replies it really helps to hear it's worth it even tho I know it will b:)

I'll def b packing myself some spare clothes seems it's quite common to need them.

I think tbh hel b quite happy to stay at home for the 2 wks he really hasn't settled in at school at all a and we have tears and tantrums most mornings about not wanting to go in. I'm hoping that will change once he's feeling better also the yr1 teacher I believe is better than his reception teacher he has now so can only get better for him