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Original poster

Tonsil and Adenoids removal

127 replies

Just1234 · 03/05/2024 19:01

I'm hoping for some reassurance.

I suffer with anxiety which I am getting help for but obviously I worst case everything.

My son is having his tonsils and adenoids removed in 3 weeks. He is 3

We saw a consultant after both the Dr and Dentist referred us for his large tonsils and repeated throat infections and also he has issues with food and regurgitates a lot as he can't hold much food in his mouth without it touching his tonsils. He also snores the house down,

His surgery is booked but I'm now so emotional! I'm absolutely hiding it from him but I'm so worried. I read about the complication of bleeding afterwards and now I'm terrified.

I was hoping someone who may have had DC go through this may be able to re assure me .

Currently I'm so anxious I just want to cancel it but I know that's not good for him . Thankfully DH is very calm and level headed.

Anyone who can offer any stories would be so appreciated

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Moongazer23 · 25/05/2024 19:30

I too was anxious before my son had the same surgery your boy is having but honestly it was the best thing for him! He went from having tonsillitis once or twice a month to absolutely nothing at all. It’s been over a year since his surgery and not even had a sore throat. He was very sore after but he was discharged with paracetamol and ibuprofen which was a higher dose than your average over the counter medication and also was given oramorph. We was given a timetable to give the medication so he was never without anything in his system and yes it did mean getting up in the middle of the night but it meant he was always as comfortable as he could be . Just keep up with the pain relief and he will be fine x

Natsku · 25/05/2024 19:57

If he won't swallow medicine would you consider suppositories? Not pleasant to do of course but if he won't swallow the medicine then its the next best thing.

Original poster
Just1234 · 25/05/2024 20:25

Natsku · 25/05/2024 19:57

If he won't swallow medicine would you consider suppositories? Not pleasant to do of course but if he won't swallow the medicine then its the next best thing.

Absolutely considering it but DH has had a massive breakthrough he's turned the ibroprophen purple with squash so now he thinks it's calpol and tonight has taken it like a dream! Long may that continue! I think the issue has been when his pains high and he's tired and tonight DH timed it really well

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Natsku · 25/05/2024 20:35

Ah that's good. Yeah you definitely need to give the meds before the pain gets too bad.

CornishTiger · 26/05/2024 09:24

She needs the critical care bed due to potential complications.

How long have people been waiting for this procedure. I’m getting annoyed now tbh as it affects her sleep apnea and she’s so tired every day!

Destiny123 · 26/05/2024 11:46

CornishTiger · 26/05/2024 09:24

She needs the critical care bed due to potential complications.

How long have people been waiting for this procedure. I’m getting annoyed now tbh as it affects her sleep apnea and she’s so tired every day!

We are doing t&as that have waited 2-3y unfortunately :(

Op can buy suppositories if necc (paracetamol absorption is a bit variable hence tend to prefer oral, diclofenac is good rectally depending on your kids weight).

If can syringe in side of cheek and try to keep mouth closed so can't spit. It's tricky but soon should start to improve

Original poster
Just1234 · 26/05/2024 12:25

Pleased to report that today he's taking medicine! We had a rough night where he was very sad and in pain but this morning he's feeling better and we ventured out for a walk around the block with the dogs and he's feeling so much brighter plus he wolfed down breakfast!

Thank you all so much for the suppository advice! I was so desperate and that a brilliant idea just in case he goes back to not taking it .

We were told the wait to see a consultant on the NHS was likely a year and then another year to 18 months for the procedure but I had put him on my work health policy a few years back so we have done ours privately which has been 2 months from referral

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CornishTiger · 26/05/2024 12:38

@Just1234 fab he was seen relatively quickly.

We have work private medical insurance but not using it due to need for a critical care bed.

Original poster
Just1234 · 26/05/2024 13:35

CornishTiger · 26/05/2024 12:38

@Just1234 fab he was seen relatively quickly.

We have work private medical insurance but not using it due to need for a critical care bed.

Are you sure they won't cover that? My friends mum just had surgery requiring a critical care stay and she just had to be referred to a bigger hospital but it was still covered

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CornishTiger · 26/05/2024 16:19

I think they don’t have any critical care beds for children but tbh I’m tempted to explore it more now. She needs the procedure.

Kentishtownie · 26/05/2024 16:30

It is a rough week but worth it. My dds had theirs out at 4 and 2 years. Was more painful for the 4 year old and we needed to tagged team on paracetamol and ibuprofen- I remember pacing the kitchen waiting for the next time slot. We had pain for a week or so. It is really important that even if he seems brighter don't skip a dose - that's when things can take a dive.

Mine found orange ibuprofen sore- when we switched that out it was much better. It is head down, its hard but will get better soon.

Original poster
Just1234 · 26/05/2024 16:42

Kentishtownie · 26/05/2024 16:30

It is a rough week but worth it. My dds had theirs out at 4 and 2 years. Was more painful for the 4 year old and we needed to tagged team on paracetamol and ibuprofen- I remember pacing the kitchen waiting for the next time slot. We had pain for a week or so. It is really important that even if he seems brighter don't skip a dose - that's when things can take a dive.

Mine found orange ibuprofen sore- when we switched that out it was much better. It is head down, its hard but will get better soon.

Thank you so much! We have so many alarms set so absolutely won't miss any!

I'm already not looking forward to having to curb letting him eat anything he fancies in a few weeks 😂 but right now nothing is good

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Original poster
Just1234 · 27/05/2024 15:02

So last night was our worst yet for pain! We were all up most of the night and he was so sad. We had ages in between pain doses where he really struggled but today has perked up and in good news is taking pain medicine with no issues. Eating and drinking well again today but all snacks. No real meals yet apart from breakfast.

I had read about the breath going a bit sour and having him in bed with me I can def confirm that's happened .

We are back working tommorrow and are WFH and juggling him just for the day until nanna arrives to cheer him up for a few days! I can't believe it's only day 5. Feels like day 100 Confused

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Destiny123 · 27/05/2024 15:07

Just1234 · 26/05/2024 13:35

Are you sure they won't cover that? My friends mum just had surgery requiring a critical care stay and she just had to be referred to a bigger hospital but it was still covered

Show quote history

Doesn't easily work like that in paeds as there's so few paeds crit care beds in the UK vs adults and obviously there's many sick emergency cases that also need picu beds. They do have private pts though

Original poster
Just1234 · 27/05/2024 17:58

Oh tonight's really rough and I'm so anxious. I know it's still such early days but he's in so much pain this evening ( after waking from a nap)

He feels warm but no temperature (religiously checking on a digital one ) he has drunk and is weeing ok.

I think he got about 5 hours sleep last night so after his paracetamol he's crashed out early and I think he's exhausted . I just feel so anxious and I am exhausted so I don't think that helps my anxiety

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Toddlerteaplease · 27/05/2024 18:04

Was he sent home with morphine? We send all our tonsillectomy patients home with it.

Toddlerteaplease · 27/05/2024 18:05

Did they also warn you that he'd get worse before he got better, and that day three tends to be the worst.

Original poster
Just1234 · 27/05/2024 18:06

Toddlerteaplease · 27/05/2024 18:04

Was he sent home with morphine? We send all our tonsillectomy patients home with it.

No. Just ibroprohen and calpol

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Original poster
Just1234 · 27/05/2024 18:07

Toddlerteaplease · 27/05/2024 18:05

Did they also warn you that he'd get worse before he got better, and that day three tends to be the worst.

I had heard this . Today's day 4 of being home, Op was Thursday first thing, Last night was rough so I was hoping for a better one today.

OP posts:
TheOpalReader · 27/05/2024 18:09

I had my tonsils and adenoids out 30 years ago. I remember being able to drive an electric car to theatre then waking up with a sore throat, eating some toast then going home about a week later because I had a bit of an infection. Other than that it was fine! A thousand times better than the constant tonsillitis. Please don't worry they'll be in the best hands. The ward had 10/15 kids on and everyone was just fine.

Toddlerteaplease · 27/05/2024 18:14

@Just1234, that's why you are struggling. It seems to be only the big children's hospitals that use Oramorph a lot. We give the stuff out like sweets . But from doing agency, it appears that district general hospitals hardly use it.

Footnoteintime · 27/05/2024 18:18

My DM had so much anxiety around letting me have my tonsils out she wouldn’t go ahead. I can honestly say while I can understand that no parent likes the thought of their DC having surgery, it ruined my childhood. All I can remember is missing too much school, feeling ill and in a lot of pain and wishing I could be like my friends .

My DD started getting repeated bouts of it too along within snoring so loud I could hear her from downstairs. I vowed I wouldn’t put her through what I endured and she had hers out at 5. She was a different child after. Started to sleep better, her appetite improved and she put weight on and most of all didn’t have to suffer repeated awful bouts of tonsillitis. Going ahead it a big gift you are giving your DS. He will be back out of surgery before you know it and although he’ll have a painful throat after, it is so worth it. You can do this OP.

Original poster
Just1234 · 27/05/2024 18:19

Thank you so much those joining this thread it's making me feel less alone. He has had the surgery now. It's the recovery we are both struggling with. I'm hoping for a corner to turn any minute

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Original poster
Just1234 · 27/05/2024 18:21

Toddlerteaplease · 27/05/2024 18:14

@Just1234, that's why you are struggling. It seems to be only the big children's hospitals that use Oramorph a lot. We give the stuff out like sweets . But from doing agency, it appears that district general hospitals hardly use it.

I think if we have another really bad night I will call them tommorrow and see if there is anything else we can do for the pain

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Footnoteintime · 27/05/2024 18:23

Aw OP I’ve just seen your DS is home again. The first week after was not nice at all for DD but after that she started feeling more comfortable. Hopefully he’s over the worst now (and you too). You have saved him so much illness and it’ll soon all be behind you both 💐