Adenotonsillectomy 2yo experiences

[TonsillectomyExperiences123]

My 2yo needs an adenotonsillectomy 😭

It's in the priority urgent list so will happen soon. Anyone have any experiences with removal this young?

Yes my 2 year old had theirs out and it was the best decision I made. They had awful sleep apnoea and it changed everything. I have no regrets.

Make sure you’re well stocked up on calpol and nurofen as you’ll need to give it regularly for at least a week so they can eat and drink. It’s also very normally for them to take a dip once you get home, it can get worse before it gets better. But it was worth it.

My child was 3 when they had the operation (it was needed due to obstruction of breathing in sleep) and all went smoothly. I followed pain relief advice at home and I don't remember them ever complaining of pain and recovery was really smooth. The only part that sticks in my memory was waking up from the anaesthetic they were very out of sorts and couldn't be settled but some Coco pops on the ward soon sorted it all!

Thank you! Also sleep apnoea here. Did you have it done at local hospital or need to go to specialist centre?

Our local is a specialist centre.

Totally worth getting it done!
My DD had a hilarious Minnie Mouse voice for a week or so afterwards which was very cute and like a PP says was quite out of sorts after the GA but altogether the experience was so much better than the alternative (tonsillitis after tonsillitis)

ETA - DD had hers out at our local hospital. They do these procedures day in day out.

It was our most local hospital but that is a city teaching hospital. I think we stayed in one night and home the next day from memory. It's not that long ago but very little sticks in my mind as it went so smoothly!

my 2nd DS had his lasered to make
them smaller rather than a full removal and the outcome was so much better. Suffered no pain afterwards and healed so much quicker. See if that’s an option for you too.

We have been told we might need to go to a further away more specialist hospital due to 2yo weight being borderline for the anaesthesia equipment minimum - basically they can do the surgery but not sure they can safely anaesthetise.

Glad others have gone well, I'm going to be a complete mess 😭got to be done though, can't leave as is.

for a 2 yr old it's more usually done in the big centres because bleeding can have more implications at a lower volume and because of the possibility of breathing trouble immediately post op. The anaesthetic kit to stun a 2yr old will all be there in any old hospital (we have to be able to anaesthetise any age child in an emergency), but they will have more expertise and be in a better position to manage any of the uncommon but more serious risks.