Tonsillectomy

[lisavanderpumpscloset]

Hiya,

My DC will soon be having their tonsils out and I'm a little nervous!

Any words of wisdom, and anything in particular you'd suggest we take with us into hosp?

We will be staying the night.

Thank you in advance

Bumping

Be absolutely religious about giving pain relief on time for 10days after, wake them at night to give it. Paracetamol and ibuprofen.
Let them eat whatever they fancy.
Any bleeding and you need to go back to a&e.
Be prepared that their breath will stink! It's vile.

How old is your dc?
Take an extra long charging cable if you have one.
Take snacks for yourself as you're unlikely to want to leave to go to the shop.
My DD was able to wear her own pyjamas and have her own special blanket, much nicer than the hospital ones.
We brought some books, sticker books, little toys, snacks.
There's a good resource called "Rees bear goes to hospital" which really helped prepare her for the op.

Take charger, books, magazines, tablet (for your DC - unlimited screen time while in the hospital, makes the time pass easier). Plenty of snacks for yourself, eye mask for sleeping as hospital lights are annoying). Maybe get a little present for them to unwrap after they wake up (depending on age, a new cuddly toy might be a great idea) from surgery to help cheer them up as they can feel really really shitty afterwards from the anaesthetic as well as the pain.

Set alarms for giving painkillers, including during the night. Ask for something stronger if they aren't helping enough - DD needed liquid tramadol for a few days after her tonsillectomy.

As everyone else has said, lots of things to entertain and distract your DC.

I seem to remember the hardest bit was keeping them happy before the op as they weren’t allowed to eat / drink and were unsure about that was happening. Afterwards both mine were really groggy but thought having a tv hanging over the bed was the coolest thing ever. Let them eat what they want. I was expecting it to be soft food for a few days but DS was eating a packet of crisps for lunch the same day, given to him as part of his hospital food!

I hope it all goes ok. x

Thanks all, I'd forgotten I'd posted this!

DC is 8 and I'm planning to have a chat to explain what will happen and manage expectations.

I'm planning to pay for the tv for our stay but iPad will probably be on non/stop, whatever keeps them comfortable.

DC doesn't do well with Ibuprofen so I've been told we might be given Oramorph, any experience of this?

Had no idea I'm supposed to give meds through the night too!!!

We had pre-op and were told they're to start eating normal food as quickly as possible so good to hear your DC was on crisps the same day.

Great ideas about takin entertainment / snacks for myself too, hadn't thought of that.

Anything obvious I've forgotten?