Adenoid removal and behaviour

[MumTeach88]

My son (3.5) had his adenoids removed last week and his tonsils reduced. The consultant said they were "pretty massive" and were already seeing changes to his sleep (sleeping with mouth closed, breathing through his nose). I've read about behaviour improving after removal but I wonder if anyone has found this? My son has suspected ADHD and can be impulsive (more so than a regular 3 year old) and he is always tired. Has anyone experienced changes? I'm trying not to get too optimistic but at the same time I'm so hopeful that things get easier for him.

When my child had her tonsils and adenoids done the consultant said he has seen many children who were suspected to have ADHD and their behaviour improved almost overnight after the surgery as much of it was related to just being over tired. I've no idea how true that is. Fingers crossed you get some improvement.

Our child didnt have ADHD so I can't say, but she did gain weight (in a good way, she was getting underweight), become less pale and start sleeping through the night (she was 3 too) and we quickly saw these changes.

Thanks for this. That's helpful! It already seems to be making a difference (although I don't want to jinx it!). It is interesting you saying about less pale as I have thought this about my son too. With his behaviour, it's almost like, the last couple of days, he is doing it but almost understanding he shouldn't and trying to do other things.

Changes I saw in my 4 year old

Stopped being tired in the afternoons. In fact by age 7 she’d gone the other way and was a total Duracell bunny, she is now very sporty,
does loads of clubs and almost never gets tired (pros and cons to this!!)

Ate better, especially meat which she hadn’t been that keen on before (maybe swallowing issues?)

She still has dark circles though, think this is genetic as I also have them.

Her behaviour and emotional regulation was always pretty good tbh, so no huge change there. But she had the op just before Reception and I think she would have really struggled at school.

That's really interesting to hear. How quickly did you see the change in energy? I really feel we're already seeing that. I said to my husband yesterday he seemed less tired in the afternoon

Massive changes in both dc who had this, one also had grommets. Less tired, more energy and no more infections. It was amazing and it was lovely that feel I had healthier dc.

I would say the change happened within a few weeks, hard to be sure as she started school soon after so not a direct comparison iyswim,

Forgot the other huge effect - prior to the op she’d had awful respiratory viruses every winter, coughs lasting weeks and keeping her (and us!) up at night. Every cold went to her chest, I think possibly because it didn’t come out of her nose like for most kids due to blocked up tubes!! No such issues after the op - that was transformative.

That's so great to hear! That makes me feel so optimistic

The lack of infections was great for mine, she was constantly on antibiotics previously. She did have a horrible reaction to coming around though, she was hysterical for a few hours. But I think hers was quite extreme and not the norm.

Mine was also very upset on first waking from the GA, somehow I managed to get her to go back to sleep and that made a huge difference so do try to do that if possible. Showing her photos on my phone seemed to help calm her (I can’t remember if that was first waking or second waking).

Ah sorry just remembered yours has had the op already!!

So I just came back to say oh my goodness, what a change!!! He sleeps so quiet and still, he can breath through his nose, he's not waking tired and grumpy, he's got energy and even his speech has come on. 2 weeks and just a big change. He is so much more settled too.

I know it's been a while since your son had this, but I am curious to if his behaviour continued to improve?
My 3.5 is about to go through this too.
Thanks