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Original poster

Huge tonsils.......

39 replies

zephyrcat · 25/11/2006 18:32

I had to take ds to a day assessment for something similar to an asthma attack. Before we were allowed to leave we had to see the regiustrar who checked him over and when she looked down his throat she made me look and said that his tonsils were HUGE. (We were asking her about him dribbling so much still at 2.5)

I'm just wondering if anyone else has had this said to them/what the implications are/been to ENT etc etc.

DS is not eating properly lately and I can count on one hand the meals he's eaten in the last few weeks on one hand, so I am v interested to know if it could be an effect of having such big tonsils restricting his throat/swallowing...

OP posts:
DimpledThighs · 25/11/2006 19:01

my son had a few infections (mainly ear some throat) last year. He was recovered but one day I looked in his mouth and his tonsils were HUGE - they were alomst touching. Went straight to doctor and told that it is okay as long as he can swallow and some children just get enlarged tonsils and not to worry. He is 7 (DS not doctor!!!)

If he is dribbling though could be more of a problem.

ilovecaboose · 25/11/2006 19:03

my sister has always been told she has huge tonsils, but that they wouldn't take them out.

Most of her life she has been fine, but she ahs been run down a lot since she went to uni and gets tonsilitus repeatedly.

Still won't remove them though.

foxinsocks · 25/11/2006 19:05

does he snore at night?

We were told that if dd's tonsils caused problems with her sleeping (she too has asthma so I think they were extra thorough in checking for anything else that could be impeding her breathing), that they would take them out (she too has large tonsils).

Also, we were told it was probably a factor in her reflux because she used to gag a lot.

Our friend's ds had his tonsils out this summer (he was 3) because you could hear him breathing - it was all raspy and his snoring was so loud, you could hear him downstairs!

We were told the other factor in taking them out was recurrent throat infections.

2ndtime · 25/11/2006 19:58

DD2 had her tonsils and adenoids put this summer.

She always had HUGE tonsils that did meet in the middle. GP said huge tonsils in themselves are not a problem, unless they cause side effects or are infected.

DD had constant tonsilitis and snored like a trooper.
She was admitted to hospital this time last year with particularly bad tonsilitis.
At night when she was sleeping the nurse popped her head round the curtain to wake me as MY snoring was keeping the other kids awake. Needless to say it was DD.
The nurse called one of the docs over to listen as she was so shocked. She was diagnosed with sleep apnoea at that point and the tonsils were removed about 6 months later.

Heartmum2Jamie · 25/11/2006 20:15

My ds's tonsils are quite large, or it could be that his upper airway is narrow according to the ENT. He does snore, has sleep apnoeas and has always had a sensitive gag reflex. As he is only 2, the ENT said that he wasn't worried, but that ds may run into some problems as the tonsils & adenoids grow really quickly between the ages of 2 & 4 and don't really stop until the age of 7. It is rather embarassing when he is asleep in his pushchair and people are looking around for the noise, it is almost always ds snoring

Troutpout · 25/11/2006 20:25

dd (3) has just had both her tonsils and adenoids out.
She had scarlet fever a year ago and the tonsils just never went down. They were absolutely huge..they met in the middle and when the consultant showed us her throat tipped back he said she only had about 8mm gap to swallow with. She choked quite a lot when eating too...and we were told that once she had surgery she would have a huge growth spurt due to eating better and sleeping better. Her sleep is now sooooooooo much better!

Her snoring was apalling, but the main reason we were referred was because she kept stopping breathing during the night (only found this out when i had to share a hotel room with her ...frightened the crap out of me) She did it about 10 times a night.Long term there are risks of hypertension if sleep apnea is left untreated apparently.

Her adenoids were also huge so these were taken out too.

Apart from her voice being completely different(and a little disconcerting for all of us) she has recovered really well...and it has been a really good thing.

Original poster
zephyrcat · 25/11/2006 20:30

He does snore but not really loud. His tonsils are enormous and when we had a look you can't really see any opening in his throat - just tonsils!!

His main problem is his dribbling. I'm not sure if it could be connected or not - I guess we will have to go to the doc. The HV said to go and get a referral to ENT but I just wondered what to expect.

Heartmum2jamie did they say what kind of problems could occur as the tonsil/adenoids keep growing as ds is only 2...

OP posts:
nikkie · 25/11/2006 20:39

DD2 has huge tonsils, she is a dribbler (not so bad now she is 5 but she still slurps)She used to snoer a lot (again not so bad now) and had loads of ear probs/speech probs.
We were told she could have them out but that they wantedto wait until she was at least 3 ,not having major probs now so it hasn't been mentioned again.

Heartmum2Jamie · 25/11/2006 20:49

I think the main implications are that he may start having problems eating/swallowing, sleep apnoea getting worse, speech problems, very small attention span through tiredness, same with more illness as his immune system would suffer from lack of sleep.

My ds doesn't drool or dribble as such, but ALWAYS has his hands in his mouth and slobbers all over them, so that the drool drips off his hands

Original poster
zephyrcat · 25/11/2006 20:53

Nice ds is terrible, the front of his tops are always soaked, bless him.

Do you think it could be why he's not eating that it's uncomfotable swallowing? Obviously I will take him to the docs but we only really thought about it tonight that it may be a factor and he's so skinny

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Heartmum2Jamie · 25/11/2006 21:07

It could be. My ds doesn't show pain when eating, just plain isn't interested. I think I would take him to the dr just to get him checked over, bless him!

DimpledThighs · 25/11/2006 23:59

zephyrcat - the dribbling thing implies that he is not swallowing his saliva. My GP said if DS got to that stage they would have to consider other options. Also if it is a factor in him not eating much as swallowing is difficult surely they would do something?

BTW my DH was diagnosed with sleep aponea last summer. He now has a special machine and it has changed his and my lives. He is not depressed, doesn't require extra sleep, is not moody - no end of things. Sleep aponea is horrible if not diagonosed or treated.

Original poster
zephyrcat · 26/11/2006 12:04

I've been wondering if dh has sleep apnoea - he's terrible for falling asleep at every given opportunity. Maybe it's something ds has aquired from dh... not that I've ever looked at dh's tonsils and he doesn't dribble

Seriously though, I'm def going to get ds an appointment for this week.

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idontlikecrusts · 26/11/2006 12:07

I have always had Mahoosive tonsils. Been very lucky on the whole - no problems, until I Got Glandular Fever and then my tonsils were very affected. I have had a Quinsy and several bouts of tonsilitis as an adult. All calmed down now and they are still huge and very 'there'!

Original poster
zephyrcat · 26/11/2006 14:04

Do you find swallowing things like potato and meat hard going at all?

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idontlikecrusts · 26/11/2006 14:20

When I was little I used to have problems with choking (not that little because these are my own memories) and I struggled with meat and Krispies for some reason. I also used to take a very, very, very long time eating and had to sit through two dinner sittings at school.

Now, maybe I was just weird but I suspect that it all started with me struggling more than your average child to swallow and eat and some phobia of the situation set in.

don't have any problems with eating now

Original poster
zephyrcat · 27/11/2006 15:55

I've managed to get him an appointment for tomorrow so fingers crossed it will be useful!!

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Original poster
zephyrcat · 28/11/2006 11:11

Well I took ds to the doc this morning and she referred him to ENT as soon as she saw his tonsils!! She said they are HUGE and there is no gap in his throat at all when he opens his mouth. She said the final decision will be with ENT but she reckons they will want to get them out. Poor little man!!

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Heartmum2Jamie · 28/11/2006 11:28

I am pleased that you are finally getting somewhere Zc. Your poor ds. I hope that the referal doesn't take too long (we went private, I am faaaaaar to impatient a person to have to wait for things, lol!) Hugs.

The good news is, that the op isn't too bad. I went with my best mate in August when he had his tonsils out (for support and see what I may have to go through). Her ds was only gone 30 minutes tops and went home later that afternoon as he had his op in the morning. I was amazed that he was sitting up and taking, wanting a drink as soon as he got back to the ward

Original poster
zephyrcat · 28/11/2006 11:33

Thanks - it's really reassuring to hear that it's not too big a deal to have done and fairly fast... although the thought of him having anything done is horrible!! For the best though

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Heartmum2Jamie · 28/11/2006 11:39

Oh, I definately feel for you. Your ds is the same age as my youngest ds and he is my world. I know that my ds has already had a big op, but the thought of him needing even something like tonsils out still scares me . I was reassured quite a bit seeing my friends ds go through it

Troutpout · 28/11/2006 16:20

Ooh if it happens i hope it happens soon Zcat. I only had 2 weeks to dwell on dd's op.
She was fine though and i'm really glad she had it done.

madmarchhare · 28/11/2006 16:27

Just seen this. DS(just 3) has huge tonsils and dribbles loads and I was recently wondering about a trip to the docs. Mmm I guess I will make an appointmet.

Keep us informed.

Original poster
zephyrcat · 28/11/2006 19:01

It may well be worth it madmarchhare.. my ds is a terrible dribbler. How is your ds with his food?

I told my Mum what the doc said and she said that they do it with laser surgery these days so there is no bleeding or anything after which is def good to hear!!

How old is your dd troutpout?

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Jalexandra · 28/11/2006 19:59

Zephyrcat, earlier this year I noticed my ds's tonsils were huge. They were veiny and swollen. We were referred to ENT, but the appointment was 3 months later. By that time they had gone back to normal. They were swollen for a good 5 months though. I was told that it is normal for some children to have enlarged tonsils and not to worry.

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