Tonsillectomy in children

[PipSqueak6x0]

Hey everyone! I’m just wondering if anyone’s child has had a tonsillectomy? How long after the pre-op was the surgery date?? My son’s referral was received by ENT October 3rd, he had his first appointment October 22nd, and they accepted him for a tonsillectomy and if needed, removal of his adenoids as he has recurrent tonsillitis, snoring, he is a mouth breather.. we signed the consent forms. Fast forward to now, I received an appointment letter the other day for his pre-assessment which is for the 30th December. So I’m just wondering what the wait time was for everyone else? I know it’s different for everyone and different hospitals.

Thank you in Advance🌼

I think within about ten days... this was during Covid times though when everything was messed up and she needed a Covid swab before the op.

Should be quite soon afterwards though cos it's to make sure you're up to the operation.

@CharlotteFlax thank you! I did think it’d be quite soon after, but I just wanted to double check! How was your girl afterwards?x

Our son just had his done. They told us at the pre op that it was valid for 12 weeks

@Ichangedmynameonceyeah its up to 3 months, which is fine but just trying to figure out if it’ll clash with my child’s birthday party😂x

She was amazed that she could swallow properly! "Mummy I can swallow!"

And her voice went ridiculously squeaky about five days later for about two weeks!

Other than that no complications or mega pain.

@CharlotteFlaxbless her heart🥺I’m glad that it was a smooth recovery for her!!x

im in awe that you got seen so quick😳the waiting list for my area is 2.5 years......

My 1 year old didn’t have a pre op at all. We did go private though.

@Mrsmch123ours is 18 weeks from referral to first appointment, I just rang up one week and they asked us to go in the following week. Don’t know how on earth we got it so quick, but I’m grateful. I also chose a hospital an hour away because the one close to me is rubbish😂hope you’re not waiting too long!x

@Iocanepowderthank you. Ours is NHS x

I've had my tonsils out but that was in 1993 so probably no use to you. My 12 year old has had lots of operations on his mouth and I would advise that keeping in top of the pain relief is really important, otherwise they can get stuck in a cycle where they are in pain but won't take the painkillers as it hurts to swallow. My son had iv paracetamol in the end which worked like a dream but it took forever to get a dr to prescribe it.

@elliejjtinythank you, I had mine out when I was younger but don’t remember much. I’m worried about him not taking stuff, he’s awaiting asd and adhd assessment and he can be very reluctant about things when he wants but going to try my very hardest!

God that's good. We first went in April of 2024 to gp. Got referred. Then waited until sept 24 to see ent who advised sleep study and told me remove tonsils. May of 25 sleep study done. He's moderate so didn't get bumped up the list.

@Mrsmch123im sorry you’re waiting so long! We just went for his first appointment and he said yeah he meets the criteria, so we signed consent forms, and now just waiting x

By law a pre-op lasts six months. Every trust is different so it would be handy to know which trust you’re in.

@SoloTripSoloVibesours is 3 months, we’re with the northern Lincolnshire and goole (he’s under Grimsby) but it’s just a bit of a ache if they do it, can’t do the surgery then we have to drive an hour and a bit back to the hospital for another pre assessment. I’ve asked them to place him on the cancellation list too x

The pre assessment should be by phone, or a recheck by phone?

it really depends on a lot of factors - how long he waited to be seen by ENT, his urgency, the capacity of the doctors, how many cancer patients they get. I’d give the admissions line a ring and just see if you can get any idea xx

@SoloTripSoloVibeshe’s got to go in and be seen for his pre assessment. Yeah no I know, I’m not fussed at all, it’s just he has a birthday party scheduled so I was trying to see if it would clash but they wasn’t any help they just said the date it needs to be completed by is October next year but with them doing the pre assessment in December it should be sooner but they can’t say xx

@SoloTripSoloVibes also sorry his referral was received October 3rd 2025, first appointment October 22nd 2025, agreed for tonsillectomy, signed consent forms. He is a mouth breather, has large tonsils all the time, has had recurrent episodes of tonsillitis and snores x