Experiences after tonsil/adenoidectomy please

[maybeau]

Hi guys
My 4 yr old DD was on a 12 month waiting list for a toncilectomy and adenoidectomy but got expedited and we have her appointment through now. It's in a couple of weeks and the pre op appt is only a couple of days before, so i feel really under prepared/informed. I don't even know how much time to take off work. Can i have some first hand experience of what it's like on op day, how long they're in, what it's like when they come too, tips when they're home. Anything and everything please. Thanks guys xx

So I'm a nurse and I've looked after children having this done for quite a long time but also my own child has had this operation.

They need two weeks off school due to the infection risk. Regular medicine for pain for at least a week and I would advise waking up and giving it at night. Eating and drinking is very important as you risk a bleed or infection afterwards. Normal diet is fine even little bits of food often is ok.

Pack overnight clothes and any toys or comforters. Lots of hospitals do the operation as a day case and providing she's eating and drinking and recovers she will go home the next day. Some stay overnight, it will just depend on the hospital criteria. You will be able to stay too. You'll also be able to go the anaesthetic room while she goes to sleep and pick her up after afterwards with the nurses.

It really wasn't too bad from a mum perspective. Food, medicine and entertainment. They will tell you everything at your appointment first. Make sure you prepare her as much as you can too.

Thank you so much. That's really helpful xx

My DS (5) had this done last Summer. The first couple of days were tough as he felt Quite rough and his throats hurt but he ate as normal, drank loads and I kept his medicines topped up and he did really well. Hasn't really been unwell since then at all 👍

Great thank you

I forgot to say, it's really common for the recovery to have a dip when you get home. Gets worse before it gets better again, that's normal.

Make sure you have plenty of calpol and ibuprofen and give it regularly without waiting for them to complain about pain. I found 3 or 4 days post op the worst as my DS had a dip. 2 full weeks off school will be needed.

I had assumed we would be told to feed ice cream and liquids post op but they now encourage toast and rougher food straight away.

The difference in my DS was night and day after the op, it really was life changing. Good luck!!

My DS had his out aged 3 due to sleep apnoea.

Operation day was fine. He was anxious so they gave him a pre-op, which made him act drunk (quite funny). Op itself was straightforward, but he had some breathing difficulties in recovery and needed adrenaline (this is quite rare apparently) so because of that and his age/weight we stayed in overnight.

For the first few days after the op he did well. We gave him pain meds round the clock. Sadly, he caught some kind of infection in his throat around day 5 or 6, which presented in a mild fever and coughing up blood. He had to go back in for IV anti-biotics for 24 hours or so, but after that was actually fine.

Be prepared for a voice change after the op.

Make sure you spend plenty of time explaining the hospital process to your DD beforehand in straightforward, simple terms. There are lots of nice books that can help. Also can't hurt to buy a new pair of pyjamas/toy/teddy for the event.

Can't believe the waiting list was 12 months - that's bonkers.

My little one had an adenotonsillectomy a couple of months ago. DD was just shy of 2nd birthday. We went in early in the morning and she had her operation at 2pm so be prepared for entertaining them for a period of time without food. Lots of toys and books etc... We could go down to the theatre while the anaesthetic was administered. Our hospital likes to administer it via canula for sleep apnea but they had a lot of trouble getting a vein so she had the gas. They distracted her with a I pad so not too distressing. Op was about hour and half until we were called to recovery. She was quite distressed coming round so be prepared for tears. My little one needed some oxygen for a while but was fine pretty much soon after. Because of her age, weight and sleep apnea she had to spend a night in high dependency but this is not the case for most children. She was absolutely fine in there and we felt like a fraud being in HDU. Within hours of her op her life was changed and the best decision we made.
Recovery was pretty easy for her. Didn't eat too much for a while and a bit clingy. Administrating calpol for the first couple of days was traumatic and took two of us to hold her and syringe it but by day 5 we stopped all pain relief and we haven't looked back since. I hope all goes well with your child's operation x