Top tips for 3yo surgery and or tonsillectomy

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Just wondering if anyone has any advice or things they wish they’d known before their toddler had surgery? DS has just turned 3 and I’m not really sure what to expect recovery-wise!
What sort of foods did your little ones eat afterwards, and how quickly were they back to normal? Also any ideas for keeping a 3 year old occupied while he’s recovering would be very welcome 😆
Anything you found really useful to have at home beforehand? Thanks!

Our DS was older, so around 6 I think. He was fully recovered within a week. Says now that he “woke up hungry and has been hungry ever since” but he did used to lose a bit of weight every time he had tonsillitis.

Not sure on the food but they will advise you. I’d try and take him in his favourite water bottle and some cartons of nice juice to encourage him to drink plenty.

We kept him occupied with a DS but you might not want to introduce gaming at this age. Does he have a Tonie?

Just normal diet. Orange juice can sting so maybe avoid that. Sometimes it’s better to leave food they like around so they can pick.

Stock up on calpol and nurofen, give it regularly. It’s worth waking them up overnight for a dose as well. Give it for at least a week.

I’m a children’s nurse and one of mine had their tonsils out so I’ve seen it from
both sides.

Good tip about the orange juice. I wouldn’t have thought of that.

I’ve just had my tonsil out and it worse for adults I have heard but I found water really hard to swallow. Lots of jelly as it is hydrating and slips down! I also liked warm porridge or weetabix (warm kr cold) were easy to eat and chocolate milkshake when I needed calories! Scrambled egg were super easy to eat too. Ice cream and ice lollies too.

If you have a humidifier that helped having that a night to stop throat drying out- pain is worse in the morning . Also need painkillers in the night.

Ice pack and hot water bottle/heatpack - cold pack in the throat takes some sting out. Common to get earache too. Two weeks on and I’m feeling fine, still hurts a bit but I’m fine.

@ExplodingSmittensI’m so pleased to hear it was a smooth recovery for your son. I was around the same age when I had mine removed and don’t remember it being any more painful that bad tonsillitis. I’ve bought some special drinks and snack so hopefully that will help!

@TrojanDonkeythanks for the advice especially RE the organs juice, I hadn’t thought of that! The nurse did mention waking for pain meds and also that he’d be sent home with some oral morphine.. hopefully we won’t need much of that

@redboxerclubhope you’re nearly fully recovered! Thanks for the humidifier tip, I’ve pulled ours out and given it a good clean. Are you still taking painkillers now?

We have twins who both got their tonsils out on the same day.

My top tip is not to be stingy with paracetamol and ibuprofen, keep alternating them without any delays, especially in the first week. We missed one dose and both were in tears and one of our girls was begging me to put her tonsils back in!

I also remember that after surgery, the doctor said they can be a bit crazy for about an hour. This was true - one wouldn’t get up off the floor and was crying, screaming and hitting/kicking the floor (all totally out of character) whilst the other was very quiet but fine.

They both suffered from heavy snoring before the tonsillectomy and would wake up in the night not able to breathe - their tonsils were massive. Getting them out was the best thing we did.

Hope your little one has a speedy recovery.

Thanks @notpastaagain
Wow! I can’t imagine how tough that was on you, although I suppose as they both needed the operation it made sense to do it at the same time. I’m so pleased their breathing has improved.

We’re currently day 6 post op and had a pretty awful night last night. He was refusing all meds but inconsolable when he was awake and whimpering whilst asleep. He seems chipper this morning, but so far I’ve found it really up down. Fine one hour but not the next.. will keep up with the mess for sure.

I stopped taking them after about two weeks, but it’s easier recovery for kids

Also recovery isn’t linear so you may feel fine and the next day terrible Day 3 when scabs dry and 8 when’s they shed can be very sore

Little update! He had a small bleed yesterday (day 8) so we ended up admitted for 24hrs. IV antibiotics amongst other things and we’re home finally… phew!

My son has had quite a few operations on his mouth although not tonsils. Scrambled eggs were a favourite food afterwards and spaghetti hoops with grated cheese as well. My son got into a problem with his pain relief last time because he slept for ages after the operation so he woke up in pain and then he wouldn't take the oral painkillers because his mouth hurt. We managed to get him IV paracetamol in the end which worked brilliantly but it took ages to get it sorted because a dr had to prescribe it. Next time I will talk to the anaesthetist before hand so she can prescribe it just in case.