Tonsillectomy recovery time - travel

Tangofantastic · 2023-11-17T19:42:43+00:00

For those of you who have had a child who had their tonsils removed - Would you say they would have been able to travel 2 hours by car on day 6 post op? I’ve got a friend who lives in the countryside and has kindly invited us (me, dd7 who is having them out and her brother with additional needs) to recuperate there post-op for a weekend which would be day 6 after the op. is this too ambitious? Also will be 1.5 hours from a hospital if needed, tho I understand risk of post -op bleeding will be less by then? Or should we just stay put at home? Thank you for reading 💞

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Peekingovertheparapet · 17/11/2023 20:10

Do not do this.

depending on the type of tonsillectomy, recovery is pretty brutal. My 7yo had his out last year and his pain was pretty unmanageable for the first 10 days. He had 3 weeks off school, and he experienced a bleed that put him back in hospital overnight.

my 9yo had his out aged 5 and actually suffered two bleeds, one on day 2, the other on day 7/8 - he was in and out of hospital all week.

if you want to recuperate at your friend’s then do so from day 14 onwards.

Peekingovertheparapet · 17/11/2023 20:12

Actually - risk of bleeding is highest shortly after op AND around day 7 when the scabs come off.

both of my kids have had IV abx in the days after because of infection.

PassMeTheCookies · 17/11/2023 20:15

The recovery from tonsillitis was really tough on my son. He actually ended up re-admitted with dehydration because he couldn't eat or drink. We couldn't have travelled with him at day 6. In fact, I'm sure we were told he couldn't go out due to infection risk.

LateNightReads · 17/11/2023 20:42

Stay at home. My child had a major bleed roughly a week after tonsillectomy and we are very lucky that we live close to the hospital.

Original poster

Tangofantastic · 17/11/2023 20:55

Crikey, I’m so so glad I asked!
im so so sorry for all these scary experiences ☹️
possibly a stupid question, but is it obvious to tell when it’s a bleed that needs hospital vs what I expect to be blood in saliva post op? And how do you know if it’s an infection or “just” post -op pain/fever? Slightly terrified now ☹️

OP posts:

Original poster

Tangofantastic · 17/11/2023 20:58

If any help (?) surgeon said they’ll be doing an intracapsular
method?

OP posts:

KEG05 · 17/11/2023 20:59

It shouldn’t bleed OP it should be dry because the tonsils are burned using diathermy to get them off. If there’s active bleeding post op that absolutely needs seen. It’s quite a painful recovery and at day 6 would probably say your DD won’t be up for going anywhere.

Lemsipper · 17/11/2023 20:59

I had a bleed around a week post op, woke up blood covered the bed, nearly drowned in my own blood. Had to rush to hospital and have emergency operation straight away. DO NOT BE 1.5 hours from a hospital

KEG05 · 17/11/2023 21:02

I’ve just seen it’s a different method than the one I see used. I’d still not be too far away from the hospital. If your firmed could put you up the weekend after when she was nearly 2 weeks post op your DD would probs get more out of it

Toddlerteaplease · 17/11/2023 21:05

If they've had Co-ablation that may be ok. As the recovery is much quicker. If a normal tonsillectomy, I wouldn't. Also we advise to stay away from crowded places and avoid coughs and cold as much as possible.

Toddlerteaplease · 17/11/2023 21:07

Tangofantastic · 17/11/2023 20:55

Crikey, I’m so so glad I asked!
im so so sorry for all these scary experiences ☹️
possibly a stupid question, but is it obvious to tell when it’s a bleed that needs hospital vs what I expect to be blood in saliva post op? And how do you know if it’s an infection or “just” post -op pain/fever? Slightly terrified now ☹️

Any bright red fresh blood= straight to A&E (paediatric nurse on an ENT ward)

Toddlerteaplease · 17/11/2023 21:09

Co ablation is the same as the intra capsular technique. They just shave the tonsil, rather than remove the whole thing. Much lower risk of bleeding. We now send kids home 3 hours post op. (Not quite site I agree with that, but they do well)

Lukewarmtea24 · 17/11/2023 21:11

Please do make sure you keep on top of the pain meds, even if they seem ok. my son had his out at 2 years old so found it difficult to communicate when painful etc and it was pretty tough (they also discharged us without oramorph when he should have had it - so ask about this!)

Definitely agree with just staying at home and resting - go to your friends a few weeks later when all happy and recovered 🙂

Also a positive note - it was basically life changing for my son (who had his out for severe sleep apnea) - so totally worth it!

Soontobe60 · 17/11/2023 21:12

To be honest, my DD recovered very quickly and wanted to go back to school after a couple of days! However, she had to have 2 weeks off, apparently because the risk of infections caught from others isn't good.

Original poster

Tangofantastic · 17/11/2023 21:30

Toddlerteaplease · 17/11/2023 21:07

Any bright red fresh blood= straight to A&E (paediatric nurse on an ENT ward)

Show quote history

Thank you so much. I live about 45
mins drive from the hospital and am on my own with my DD and son who has additional needs (relevant
only because he can be pretty combative and difficult if plans change with no warning, ie a sudden dash to a&e. If there was fresh red blood, would I be better to call for an ambulance? Is time of essence? 😢

OP posts:

Original poster

Tangofantastic · 17/11/2023 21:32

Toddlerteaplease · 17/11/2023 21:09

Co ablation is the same as the intra capsular technique. They just shave the tonsil, rather than remove the whole thing. Much lower risk of bleeding. We now send kids home 3 hours post op. (Not quite site I agree with that, but they do well)

Ah ok. Thank you. He said her tonsils are far back 🤷‍♀️Not sure if that’s relevant or not. He did say they’d try and get her out that night but as she’s scheduled for an afternoon operation I’m hesitant as don’t fancy 45 min drive back to our house on my own with her, I think I’d feel more confident having nurses there to support with pain meds etc and just a night of obs, is that reasonable do you think? Or am I being over worrying?

OP posts:

Toddlerteaplease · 17/11/2023 21:32

We used to advise to call an ambulance if it was more than a teaspoon full. However that was in a big city, and when the ambulance service was not under so much pressure.

Original poster

Tangofantastic · 17/11/2023 21:33

Lukewarmtea24 · 17/11/2023 21:11

Please do make sure you keep on top of the pain meds, even if they seem ok. my son had his out at 2 years old so found it difficult to communicate when painful etc and it was pretty tough (they also discharged us without oramorph when he should have had it - so ask about this!)

Definitely agree with just staying at home and resting - go to your friends a few weeks later when all happy and recovered 🙂

Also a positive note - it was basically life changing for my son (who had his out for severe sleep apnea) - so totally worth it!

Thanks so much, I’ll definitely ask about this now! I’m so glad it’s been life changing for your son. My dd is having them out for recurrent tonsillitis and scarlet
fever (3 times this year so far) and I’m really hoping it makes
a difference, she’s small for her age and tires easily and is glued
to me most of the time.

OP posts:

Toddlerteaplease · 17/11/2023 21:34

If you would rather stay, then say so. We would never make you going home if you weren't comfortable. If my child was having a standard tonsillectomy, I'd want to stay as well.

Original poster

Tangofantastic · 17/11/2023 21:34

Toddlerteaplease · 17/11/2023 21:32

We used to advise to call an ambulance if it was more than a teaspoon full. However that was in a big city, and when the ambulance service was not under so much pressure.

Ok thank you. Yes I think ambulance tomes
are
awful here ☹️

OP posts:

Toddlerteaplease · 17/11/2023 21:35

Definitely ask for Oramorph. We give it out routinely, but I've noticed, doing agency ay DGH's, that they are extremely reluctant to give morphine.

Original poster

Tangofantastic · 17/11/2023 21:36

Toddlerteaplease · 17/11/2023 21:34

If you would rather stay, then say so. We would never make you going home if you weren't comfortable. If my child was having a standard tonsillectomy, I'd want to stay as well.

That’s so helpful, thank you. Just have visions of
being panicked wondering if she’s ok while
dealing with the 3 times I’m up with my
son in the night and I think it’s probably just too much for me and I’d rather go home
in light
of day next morning. And should I request oromorph? Or will they be snippy at me asking for stronger painkillers before knowing if she’ll need them?

OP posts:

Original poster

Tangofantastic · 17/11/2023 21:37

Oh snap! What is DGH? is oromorph morphine?

OP posts:

Toddlerteaplease · 17/11/2023 21:38

No idea what their reaction to asking for Oramorph will be. It's routine for us. You don't need to ask for it.

Original poster

Tangofantastic · 17/11/2023 21:38

Soontobe60 · 17/11/2023 21:12

To be honest, my DD recovered very quickly and wanted to go back to school after a couple of days! However, she had to have 2 weeks off, apparently because the risk of infections caught from others isn't good.

I’m so glad your dd recovered quickly 💞

OP posts: