Tonsillectomy next week - any tips for DS 5yo?

[forbes]

Hello - i'm sure some of you wise people may have been through this and am after any tips and/or reassuring stories to put my mind at rest.

He's already had adenoid and gromits done when younger, but this will involve overnight stay (for me too!) and is a much nastier op and I know he's going to be in discomfort afterwards....poor little mite.

Am going through the expected worry about it although I know it it for the best and will hopefullly change his life for the better...

Anyone got any success stories for me?

Hi my niece had one yesterday and adenoids and gromits done at same time. Havent been to see her yet but have spoke to sister on phone and she is absolutly fine. Woke up around 7 last night had some toast and cereal did some colouring and went back to sleep x Woke up this morning fine, had breakfast after some painkillers and has now been sent home where she is eating jelly and watching tv x

Hope this has put your mind at rest a bit. I f there is anything specific you want me to ask her give me a shout and i will ask her for you

Yes, ds1 had tonsils adenoids and grommits done aged 4 - first thing in the morning though, so we were able to leave same day. He was absolutely fine, in fact able to eat a biscuit about 5 hours after the op.

The worst was seeing him come round after the anaesthetic, he was crying and screaming - but not really awake iyswim. Then he slept for about an hour, and after that was fine.

We were advised to give him lots of scratchy foods like cornflakes and biscuits as this helps with the healing. Also, you MUST keep on top of the pain relief schedule they give you - ibuprofen and paracetamol. Give it BEFORE the last lot wears off/before he complains of any pain, and you'll be fine.

I had one when I was 12 - what got me through it was a cuddly pink pig toy that I could squeeze whenever I needed to swallow, it just helped deal with the pain. So maybe a nice new cuddly toy for this special purpose?

Definately scratchy foods - do not think you are being kind by giving soft soothing stuff. I was, and haemmorhaged a week later.

Thanks so much for these, my head knows all the facts, it's just difficult to keep a calm head sometimes!
Good to hear success stories, I know he needs it doing and hate seeing him so unhappy and miserable because he must be feeling like crap..
I've already stocked up on pain relief and a new special toy is a good idea too - many thanks!

Both of mine have had this and were absolutely fine. With the first we visited toysrus on the way home the next morning.

I would suggest taking a couple of changes of clothes / nightclothes for you. Not wanting to worry you, but one of mine had a massive vomit of swallowed blood, all over me. Not a haemorrhage, but just as yuck.

I can't remember any problems with eating afterwards.

Hi,
My DS just turned 4 is having his taken out tomorrow. I am an absolute wreck today and he's taking it all in his stride hardly mentioning it all - we too have an overnight tomorrow night. I'm expecting the GA part to be horrendous as he is terrible with needles and im also concerned about his pain levels for the next week or so... Apparently the canula in his hand stays in until Sunday morning - im expecting this to be a big problem for him. I've stocked up with wrapped presents, loads of magazines, nice treats in a food bag etc to take in with us and to distract him if possible. I know it needs to be done - he's been ill for months, I'm just really upset for him as he is actually well at the moment and I have a big case of the guilts going on for putting him through it...

I must admit, i'm dreading the blood-vomit, i really don't want him to see me panic - I will definately pack more clothes than I thought necessary.

helinher, I can so empathise with the guilts and the worry, my DS is exactly the same about needles and i just know getting the canula in is going to be so traumatic. I just keep trying to remind myself that it'll be a few minutes of trauma for a lifetime without infected tonsills.

It's not just the tomisilitis, it's also that they're so enlarged all the time he's not eating or drinking well and as I said before has turned from my lovely happy little boy into a really grumpy one..... i'll be thinking of you tomorrow, please let me know how it goes. All the best x

thanks all for your responses

Good luck to you both, I have to say I was amazed that when ds1 came back from theatre he had literally a tiny spot on dried blood in the corner of his mouth and nothing else. They let me come into the pre-op part of the theatre with him and there were so many lovely staff all making jolly jokes with him, he really didn't notice what they were doing - he was literally out about 20 seconds after they asked him to sit on my lap.

I was reassured by the consultant that tonsils are NOT taken out in a child of that age unless it's really necessary. Ds2 was suffering from severe sleep apnoea and the difference in his sleep patterns, speech and even behaviour was astonishing.

He's five now and actually has no memory at all of being in hospital. Forgot to say before take lots of comics for them, and also magazines for you as there will be lots of hanging around, money for car park and cafeteria etc. And DON'T WORRY! It will all be over before you know it.

If they still do pre-meds these days, that might help with the cannula issue - if he will take the medecine. My older one (tonsils out 10 years ago) got quite high on it - knelt on the bed holding onto the headboard rails saying "wheeeeeee" all along the corridor. He stayed on the bed for the anaesthetic bit and all was OK.

He had needle phobia for years, and had several operations over that time. The EMLA cream really does help. Make sure he knows there is no needle left in his arm/hand, only a tiny tube - many adults don't even realise this. And it's likely to be bandaged over so he can't see anything much - we asked for extra bandaging and they did this.

Please do ask if you have any other questions - I'll be on and off PC this evening. Good luck tomorrow though.

sorry to put a downer on this thread but my DS aged 6 had his out in august and it was awful.

The operation was fine and he was great afterwards but it was the following day that he rapidly went down hill. He was in so much pain . The GP was useless and wouldn't give him anything stronger than OTC medicine nor a throat spray.

I would really advise you to ensure you have plenty of calpol and ibuprofen in the house and give max doses of it.

best of luck

Well it all went beautifully and we are home. The GA part was non traumatic and he went off to sleep with the gas mask so no knowledge of the canula going in. The worst part was when he woke up he was so upset and cried for an hour and refused to sleep off the GA, just kept fighting it. He wasnt sick at all as they gave him an anti sickness drug in theatre. They bandaged over the canula with a white bandage and he hardly mentioned it for the 24 hours he was in. He is now eating and drinking normally and we are keeping on top of the pain with calpol and ibroprofen and they have given us a bottle of liquid codeine to take before bed or if the pain gets too bad despite the calpol and ibroprofen.. I am so relieved - def not as bad as i had imagined - now just the next week ahead managing the pain and recovery...

Forbes,i also meant to say ask the hospital the correct dose of calpol and ibroprofen you can give which depends on your childs weight - my ds is just 4 but weighs 18.4 kg therefore he can have more pain relief than what it says on the box in the short term - eg, 3 x 5ml calpol and double the ibroprofen.. they can work it out for you and advise how much to give - hope it all goes well this week x

He will hit a low point 7 days after the op - they have no idea why but it will hurt far worse than it has already so be fully prepared for that.

DS had his out 6 months ago and it changed our lives - he went from a kid who was on antib's all the time and wouldn't eat a normal diet to a little boy who eats most things and rarely gets ill.

so glad you have got codeine. My son desperatly needed it.

paracetamol dosages are: 20mg/kg per dose every 6hrs for 48hrs to a max of 90mg/kg per day. Redse to 15mg/kg per dose. (Max per individual dose is 1g.)

ibuprofen: 10mg/kg per dose every 8 hrs. After 48 hrs 5mg/kg per dose. Max 30/kg per day.

This is for children over 3 months and more than 5kg

Thank you so much for all these replies - it really is helping to put my mind at rest and I have a checklist of things to ask now - very reassuring!

Helinher30s - i'm so pleased for you, sounds like it couldn't really have gone much better for you ( and him!) what a relief.

Am now just praying that we don't get cancelled or that he gets a cold etc to delay it until next month....thanks again to all.

hello - just an update - well, it's done and we are home. It was tough as expected but the hospital were amazing and he coped amazingly well - i'm very proud of him!

We're managing his pain relief fine during the day but the problems start at night, when it wears off in his sleep and then he wakes in pain and obviously doesn't want to swallow medicine. We tried last night to give him some when we went to bed, but he was so sleepy, he got really distressed, so we didn't force it down and then of course he woke up about 2.30 in pain! Fingers crossed each day will get better and better.

Many thanks once again for all the advice and comments - it really helped!

I hope he is continuing to recover. We also had suppositories with painrelief, which was great, as we just popped them up his bum.

My son has had both an appendectomy (aged 4)and a tonsillectomy (aged 5). He was off school for 2 weeks, and he was in a lot of pain the first week.

On both occasions, he was really forgetful the first two months after his GA, which made him appear really confused at times. I dont know if this is a common side effect, but if he starts behaving a bit forgetful, then it could be the GA.

Two years on, he has only had a throat infection once, which was 2 weeks after his op. He got an infection of the base of the operated area. Since then, he has been fine.
Now, he when he gets a cold, it does not turn into tonsillities, and he has not needed antibiotics now for 2 years, touch wood. We have also discovered that he has an appetite after all, and he loves food! Good Luck.

Hi - that's interesting about the effects of GA - hadn't occured to me so thanks for the heads-up!

Am collecting suppositories this evening from chemist - although i think we may have a job getting them in...my husband said we may be better getting him to try and do them himself, but the last thing I want to do is encourage him to insert things - imagine the trips to A&E!

Glad it went well. My ds had his out at 3yo. Like someone mentioned earlier he was more sore at about 7-10 days. Fruit juice was sore for him to drink then but it was fine before that for some reason. Something to watch out for anyway.

My dd turned 5 while in hospital and was pretty much fine. Terrible after GA and fine until about day 5 when she was miserable and in pain. Have to just keep up the medicine - surprising how many bottles we went through. But she has gone from being ill every 3 weeks to being a bright, healthy girl. So glad we had it done.

Hello - yes, seems like we're textbook then -he can't manage any sort of juice and I would say that last night and today he has hit the worst pain yet (day 5).
Poor thing is so distressed at night when he wakes in pain....jist got to persevere I guess.....tis hard though.

Hi, Glad the op went well. My DS was exactly like this last week - days 5-7 awful waking every few hours crying his eyes out.. kept up with pain meds incl. codeine - now day 11 he's on no paid meds at all.. a few more days and he'll be through the worst...

Thanks for that helinher30's - amazing how much it really helps to know others have gone through the same thing.
Yes, I just keep reminding myself ( and him!) that the worst is nearly over and pretty soon we'll be on the mend again - I think the run of disturbed nights is really affecting him.

So pleased to hear your DS is recovering well - at least we've got this out of the way whilst they're young - it's meant to be far worse the older you get!