Any experience of tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy & grommets in young children?

[1wokeuplikethis]

My daughter doesn’t suffer much with tonsillitis but she has sleep apnoea, can’t breathe through her nose/blow it, can’t smell, frequent ear infections. We saw an ENT specialist in May 2018 and she’s finally got a date through for her op next month to have tonsils & adenoids removed and grommets fitted.

She is very small for her age (5) she had 3 separate hearing tests in 2017 which she failed each time in one ear. I think if she can’t smell anything then her taste must be affected too (she can be a fussy eater). So in my opinion this operation will be a god send and will be like giving her two new senses (smell & taste) and if she sleeps better she may have a growth spurt, feel more rested and happier by the morning. Her behaviour is very good but she can be overly emotional (I’m sick of family referring to her as sensitive). And this may help her behaviour too.

Anyway, the thing is I am feeling really anxious about her having the op as it’s risky and she is so little (still wears some age 3 clothes). And the recovery - there’s a risk of heavy bleeding at 10 days post op. It doesn’t state in her letter whether she will be kept in overnight and if I can stay with her, she is going in early in the morning. Can I ask all these questions at her pre-op?

What are the experiences of those whose young chcildren have had this op? I’m feeling extra nervous because my husband is not 100% convinced she should have this done because he is scared of anything going wrong. Therefore ultimately I feel responsible for this decision and I don’t think I can handle that all being on me.

My son had all of this done at 3 years old and is small for his age, it was very nerve wrecking but so worth it as it helped with his speech and he used to snore really loud so obviously used to struggle to breath probably in his sleep but the operation went well and he is now a healthy 9 year old the ENT specialist was brilliant with any questions we had

DS has tonsils and adenoids done at 2.10yo. He was a tiny child (still is small but has caught up loads), but his snoring was horrendous and the impact on his sleep was massive - terrified to sleep, had night terrors, etc which impacted his behaviour as he was so tired.

He was let in overnight as his surgery was afternoon, and DH stopped with him. Once he’d had breakfast he was discharged. We had to keep him topped up with pain relief - even waking him through the night - so he would keep eating and drinking to promote healing and clear the gunk from the tonsil area.

He recovered really well, and the impact on his speech (which we hadn’t really considered a problem) was huge. He had a major growth spurt shortly after and is the picture of health at 7yo. The snoring stopped overnight - he’s still a rubbish sleeper but he just wakes looking for company rather than screaming the house down!

Your DD clearly needs this surgery. The apnoea can have major health effects, and getting grommets will help her speech and ability to do well at school. Tonsillectomy is also best done when younger, as having it done as an adult brings a longer recovery. Write a list of questions to take to the pre-op - they’ll have heard them all before!

DS had this surgery at just turned 2. 100% the right decision. It turned his life around. He's now a happy, healthy, growing boy again. In your position i would go for it.

DS has this done at 2.6 and it was the best decision. He had terrible sleep apnea so his behaviour was bloody awful, he was a fussy eater, constantly had ear infections and his speech was really slow. The first few days were tough - he was very clingy and quiet which is totally unlike him but the impact on his speech and sleep was incredible and was noticeable straight away.

Interestingly he didn’t have his tonsils removed, they just made them 70% smaller using a laser as our EnT said they still had an important function. We aren’t in the UK though so don’t know if it’s an option. This also meant recovery was a lot quicker and less painful and there was little chance of bleeding.

Thanks for the responses. There is plenty of positives to look forward to and take heart that it is the right thing to do, and many of your children were much younger.

I just fret and worry about something going wrong. She’s so precious as goes without saying which is the main reason I want her to have this done, but the scariest against factor too. I will no doubt have reams of questions at the pre-op.

Does anyone know if they stay overnight after a morning operation?

Not sure. I know they want you to eat, drink and have a wee before they’ll discharge you. This sort of surgery is pretty routine, and there’ll be a number of kids having the same that day. DS’s op only took an hour - we’d just got to the restaurant and bought chips and a cuppa when we got the phone call from the ward to say he’s now in recovery and to go meet him there! The staff were all wonderful, and handled DS very well considering he had a real phobia of hospital staff (from previous admission when he was very unwell). He stayed overnight and DH stayed right there with him - I was at home with baby brother - and was allowed home after breakfast with a lip balm the nurse gave him to keep his lips moisturised. They can get very dry post surgery, and it’s important to enable them to keep eating and drinking to help healing. He thought nurses were great after that!

I had my adenoids removed 30+ years ago and was kept in for 5 days as standard!

Hope all goes well OP x

My dd 3 had this done last month, not grommets though. She had sleep apnoea which is one of the main reasons for her having the op. They will most likely keep her in overnight if she suffers from sleep apnoea, ring and ask the hospital so you can prepare.

The op was pretty painless for her, she was eating crisps and sandwiches 2-3 hours after! The first 2-3 days after the op are ok, most hospitals will now give morphine to take home for pain relief. Alongside calpol and nurofen. It’s so so important to keep up with regular painkillers even if you don’t think they need them for 10 days post op. Pain levels peak around day 4-10.

My dd was under GOSH from newborn to 2 years so I wasn’t as stressed about the op as we are all used to hospitals.

Dd is so much better, eating, talking, sleeping has improved 90%
Try not to let your worry and stress transfer to your dd as she will pick up on your anxiety.
Good luck, allow 2 weeks for basic recovery

My son had this done yesterday and he is 4 years old. The op went very well and he was released the same day after being on the ward for 6 hours and his op was morning time. He is doing really well and is back to eating normally although a bit slower.
Your dd will be fine

Our daughter had adenoids, tonsils & grommets just before her 3rd birthday, and had to have her adenoids redone and two further grommet ops due to recurrent infection issues relating to immune deficiency. Her adenoids have regrown massively in the last year again, so she’s having them redone again in a couple of weeks. I understand your anxiety over this, I felt exactly the same, and of course still do somewhat, but it is such a well rehearsed routine for ENT, and the results are usually well worth it.

Thank you everyone for all your assurances I’m feeling much braver about it all.

I didn’t realise adenoids could grow back, wtf is that about? Surely you’d think one op would do the job.

I just remembered something our consultant said which I found really reassuring: there was more risk getting in the car and driving to the hospital than there was in the operation itself. Helped me put it in perspective!

Glad you’re feeling better about it OP. Adenoids are basically lumps of lymphatic tissue that usually shrink and become obsolete by the age of 5, when a child’s immune system has matured. It’s not usual for them to grow back, our daughter’s have done this because she has immune dysfunction. Once they are removed that should hopefully be it! Good luck