Tonsillectomy under 4

[TheRossie123]

Hi, we have agreed for our son to have a tonsillectomy for recurrent tonsillitis, mouth breathing and slow weight gain. He’s just turned 4. Wondering if anyone has gone through this with their young child (not adults please). How did you find their recovery? Did you feel you made the right decision? Interested in outcomes and experience.

I had my tonsils out as a child aged 4 because I kept getting tonsillitis. That would have been late 80s. I remember having a sore throat and being given ice lollies afterwards while I was recovering but it was otherwise uneventful.

Hii,

I had my tonsils out when I was 5 years old, all i remember is going to sleep and waking up to ice cream and blueberry muffins. It was great because I never suffered from tonsillitis again!!

DS had tonsils and adenoids out age 3 - he bounced back!!

Was a bit teary coming round from the GA but I cuddled him in on the bed and he fell asleep, by the time he woke up he was complaining he was hungry and demanding jam on toast

That’s reassuring to hear. Glad it went well
for him. How did you find the following days? I’m worried I’m going to be putting him in a lot of pain, worse than his tonsillitis.

He was fine, the hardest thing was keeping him still!

They said for the first 5-7 days he wasn't to run and jump about, but try telling that to a toddler who's just found a new lease of life because his sleep apnea has been cured overnight 🤦🏽‍♀️😂

we have had both of our kids tonsils removed, first one a few days past his 5th birthday, second at 6.5.

firstly, the operation itself is long-term life changing for kids with recurrent infection. So definitely worth doing. The risks of long term antibiotic resistance, health problems with untreated tonsillitis, missed school, and generally catching everything going are gone. It’s a great thing to do.

secondly, if infection is the reason then the best operation is a full open capsule tonsillectomy and recovery from this is no joke. DS1 actually fared ok, had his done at the end of summer term and did his two weeks recovery fine. He is also autistic, with a high pain threshold. DS2 had his out in early December and was not well enough to return until after the Christmas break. He struggled a lot more with the pain.

both children had post operative bleeding and both were readmitted for overnight abx. In both cases the first 7-10 days were moderately stressful. But I’d have it done again in a heartbeat

Just reading the other responses - it’s likely those who had tonsillectomy for sleep apnea had a less invasive option (and better recovery). Sometimes people do choose this option for infection but it has a risk of needing further surgery. So tonsillectomy recovery is split into two groups - partial tonsillectomy where recovery is easier, and full tonsillectomy which is usually a bit more difficult.

Thank you, you are totally right about the long term antibiotic resistance as that is one big concern I have. He’s only 4 and already has taken so many antibiotics. When he’s well I question our decision that we are being over reactive and I don’t want to put my little boy through a horrible procedure and then pain afterwards It’s total mum guilt so I need to think rationally and the long term gain.
Thanks for the advice for the recovery, his best friends party will be in the middle of that so I will have to break that news to him that he may not be able to go 😩

I hear you. I put DC1’s off for over a year because I was worried about complications. I had a long chat with the surgeon about anaesthetic risks and probabilities. Ultimately we did have some complications re:bleeding and infection, but we were vigilant and they were handled well in a&e. Operations were in 2019 and 2022, so plenty of time to see the good from them.

regarding the party, I’d say if it’s a week after then it’s almost certainly a no (a fortnight after may be manageable depending on the party). Days 7-10 can be some of the worst for recovery and I wouldn’t want my child mixing with other children as potential sources of illness at that time. You could always discuss with the surgeon’s secretary about another date, we moved one of ours because it was just before child’s own bday.

My 4.5 year old just had his tonsils and adenoids out, done the way where they remove the whole tonsil (so not coblation which has quicker recovery)
Honestly we were worried sick and so scared about recovery, mainly as he is non verbal and would get so distressed with tonsillitis etc.
He is on day 13 post surgery now and genuinely has been absolutely fine. He was definitely a bit drained for the first 10 days but the hardest thing has been keeping him amused, as we were told he couldnt mix with anyone at all for at least the first week.
I'm not sure if it made a difference but he ate almost normally straight away and the surgeon said this can help recovery.
It has definitely been worth it as the day after surgery we noticed he was sleeping silently and with his mouth closed, which he has never done before!

My daughter had hers out at 4 - she had tonsillectomy and adenoids out at the same time.
Her main symptoms started as constantly reoccurring tonsillitis (every 10 days or so through winter / finishing a course of anti biotics and then 3 days later getting it again) which then progressed to summer months and started to include sleep apnea. She would stop breathing for long periods of time when asleep and her snoring would wake her jolt awake all through the night. She was really struggling with low weight eventually (never underweight, but like 3rd centile) and it was extremely stressful waiting for the surgery.
I was really scared for her to go under general anaesthetic and was also worried about the bleed risks etc. The surgery went well, it was a shock to me when she came round and they called me to go and meet her from theatre, she was distressed and that obviously distressed me, but after about an hour of snoozing she was then sat up in bed eating sandwiches.
I would say the first 4 days she was lying down a lot a home. And there is a period after a while whereby you think they’re okay but then the scabs fall off and the pain seems to peak again.

My only advice is, stay on top of pain relief - especially in the first days afterwards, even if they say they are okay. Make sure they eat lots of food that roughs up their throat, crackers etc all help healing.

It was the best thing we ever did, her sleep was transformed and she is now 50th centile for weight and full of beans at 7. She’s a different child!