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Original poster

Adenoids - would you bother in this case?

21 replies

PeachesMcLean · 15/03/2007 22:47

I've been thinking about this for a while and I've just been reading about bad breath and adenoids on another thread, so thought I'd post this...

DS is 6 and I'm sure has adenoid problems. He snores dreadfully, I mean, Dreadfully, and speaks in a very nasal way that often means it's difficult to tell what he's saying. Bad breath occasionally too. None of this seems to bother him - he doesn't seem tired during the day, he doesn't get ear infections (which I hear is a common associated problem), and so far does't get bullied for the way he speaks (although I know it's been mentioned in the way that kids do mention things).

We did talk to the GP about six months ago - who said yes, adenoids, but basically put me off a ENT referral because "it's fairly unpleasant" and he wouldn't bother unless DS was sleeping badly or being picked on.

Is he right? Should I be bothered? Will he grow out of it? (If his snoring carries on like this, he'll have to marry someone who's deaf... seriously, it's that bad)

Honest opinions and experiences please.

OP posts:

Bamzooki · 16/03/2007 09:24

I can't help with your decision, but will be watching for advice too as ds, nearly 4, is shaping up with the same problems. The sleep deprivation in our house comes from him keeping us awake with his snoring, which he has done since he day he wsa born, but doesn't seem to bother him at all. Also the nasal way of talking, and is also prone to chest infections, and more recently ear infections/perorated eardrums.
So far GP isn't interested in discussing treatment options, so we are 'waiting to see if he grows out of it'. [hmmm]

ScottishThistle · 16/03/2007 09:27

If you do go ahead with the op I suggest sooner rather than later as I had my tonsils/adenoids removed at 18 & it was awful!

Sounds very like he would benefit from it though it's your decision.

SSShakeTheChi · 16/03/2007 09:29

Recovering from the OP is awful for them I think and dd's grew back. I'm not doing it again. My specialist said they can recede of their own accord.

We had it done at the same time as she got grommets.

foxinsocks · 16/03/2007 09:30

I would get him checked out by an ENT. Are his tonsils large too? (that can also cause snoring and other problems at night). I think if he is snoring that badly, it may well be affecting his sleep but it's just that he's got used to it.

Not all ENTs are scalpel happy and they may well say the same as the GP but I think it's worth getting their opinion.

foxinsocks · 16/03/2007 09:32

we waited and at about 6, dd had a massive growth spurt and her glue ear (which had been severe) and tonsil problems suddenly got much better - ENT said it was something to do with a certain growth spurt they get at that age (somewhere between age 6 and 8).

frances5 · 16/03/2007 09:44

My son had his adeniods out and it was very quickly and easy. He also had grommets inserted as well. This was done to improve his hearing not for snoring. Maybe you should ask your GP for a hearing test to rule out glue ear. They might do the op for glue ear, but understandably think that snoring is trival.

My son arrived at the hospital at 7am, his operation was at 8am and we were allowed to go home at lunch time. My son was lively and bouncy the afternoon after the op. He even refused the calpol offered. I'm not sure, but I think they use lasers to cut out the adenoids and there is less of a risk of bleeding. Its nothing like when I had my adenoids out 30 years ago. I think your GP is out of date on this.

Incidentally my son still snores inspite of having his adenoids removed.

Original poster

PeachesMcLean · 16/03/2007 16:12

Thanks all for your comments, this is really useful. His hearing test last year was fine and he doesn't seem to get sore throats so his tonsils are probably fine too.

To be honest, I have reason to not trust this GP anyway from an incident when I was pregnant, so I think I will talk to one of the others next time we go.

What about the first ENT consultation? How do they look at what's going on?

OP posts:

frances5 · 16/03/2007 20:52

ENT consultations generally involve a hearing test and they look at the ears, nose and throat. Generally its fairly quick.

Original poster

PeachesMcLean · 16/03/2007 21:31

But is it all done with a torch and a good stare, or is it more complicated? The Not Nice GP suggested that getting to look at the adenoids was quite unpleasant in itself (Made me think of mirrors and sticking things in the throat...)

OP posts:

Bamzooki · 17/03/2007 12:05

Interesting thread, and certainly food for thought. My ds's tonsils do seem rather large to me, but not as big as I have heard some described. I think for him it is at least in part to do with his 'conformation', in that he seems to have narrow airways (like me), and the slightest inflammation in his nose is enough to bung him up completely. So I am hoping that growth and time will ease the situation, even if there is an element of adenoids/tonsils going on. I don't want to rush him into surgery unneccessarily, but in terms of the future for him, I do so hope that the snoring improves!
His cousin however (1.4) has had soo many problems with her ears over the last 6 months poor little mite, that she is now being investigated, and hopefully they can come up with something to help her.

monkeytrousers · 17/03/2007 12:11

DS (2.5) is having both out soon. Just waiting to hear back from ENT.

allieBongo · 17/03/2007 12:20

ds has just been diagnosed, his hearing is great, the snoring is awful Gp said he should grow out of it

Gingeme · 17/03/2007 12:35

What exactly are adenoids? My ds3 who is 2.11 is on the waiting list to have his tonsils removed as hes had 7 episodes in the last year and one this year. But my gp didnt mention anything about adenoids. Hes a terrible snorer too but his speach is fine and his hearing.SSSshakeTheChi what do grommits do exactly? Ive heard of them.

mears · 17/03/2007 12:38

When my DS3 was 4 years old he had his adenoids out and it was the absoulte best thing we did. His snoring and drooling had been terribel. DS2 had his tonsils taken out but his adenoids left in and that cured his horrendous snoring. There was nothing gruesome done at ENT referral then, just a torch and a look.
Best to get ENT referral and let them decide course of action.

Unfortunately my DS1 could have done with tonsils and adenoids out IMO. He had a post nasal drip from when he was 2 yrs. ENT decided nothing needed done. He is now 20 years old and snores so bad he has sleep apnoea! He went to ENT 2 weeks ago and had a scope passed down his nose to look at at the back - that would not be done with a young child though (is that the test GP is talking about?). He has got a nsasl spray to try to reduce inflamation - if that doesn't work he may need surgery which is not pleasant as an adult. I wish I had pushed it more when he was young.

Troutpout · 17/03/2007 12:52

dd had her adenoids and tonsils out last September when she was 3.
She had an deep voice (nasal tone)...huge tonsils, huge adenoids (neither were actually functioning as they should) and her snoring was appalling.She kept stopping breathing during the night and would sometimes gag on her own tonsils during the day when awake as they were so big they kind of overlapped.
We haven't looked back...the op was fine. She recovered quickly and no longer snores and sleeps much better.

easywriter · 17/03/2007 13:18

One of my dd's (now 3) had her tonsils and adenoids removed in sept aged 2.
Pretty much from birth she snored as I'd imagine a 45 year old 20 stone trucker would!

I saw 4 doctors over the first 2 years(we have a medical centre) who all fobbed me off telling me it was normal even though I kept saying that one of them was breathing abnormally as I could easily compare the two.
Her other symptoms included stopping breathing for up to 15 seconds at a go, breathing in but her chest going concave as it does when you exhale.

One day I borrowed the book "solve your child's sleep problems" by richard ferber for a completely different reason and it fell open on the "other sleep issues" chapter and basically I saw all my daughters symptoms listed. Armed with this I went back to the doctor and demanded to see a specialist.

We waited about 3 months for an appointment and after about 5 mins of questions and an examination said that dd had one massive tonsils, that it would almost definately affect her development (even though I'd said that she appeared to enjoy her sleep and have a decent quality of sleep) and that it could be rectified by an op.

Sure it was terrifying putting my baby through a general but she had the op and wasn't snoring even in recovery.

Now, not only does she sleep more soundly but she is generally a cheerier person to be with (even though she wasn't a misery before).
Like I said, make what you will of it.

collision · 17/03/2007 14:58

The test for adenoids is very simple.

We saw a specialist this morning for ds(5) and he said ds might need his tonsils out. I have to watch him while he sleeps to see if he stops breathing inbetween snoring!! (Triffic) If he does stop breathing he has sleep apnoea and will need his tonsils out.

For the adenoid test he simply put a metal thing under ds's nose (a metal spoon would do and it has to be cold) He told ds to close his mouth and he breathed through his nose onto the spoon. this showed that ds could breathe through his nose rather than his mouth and his adenoids werent a problem.

Gingeme · 17/03/2007 15:15

Ah right collisiion now I know,sort of.

monkeytrousers · 18/03/2007 07:21

I've read that this can affect development, but does anyone know exactly what this means? Whay kind of development? DS has inherited massive tonsils and was having sleep apnoea, which is terrifying! He's having his tonsils out soon which will hopefully help. Physically he is highly developed, but he is behind with his speach. Could this be one of the contributers?

SSShakeTheChi · 18/03/2007 14:14

Gingeme
grommets

During the op they make a small incision in the ear drum (sounds drastic I know) and then insert little tubes which are supposed to help drain fluid from the inner ear and let air circulate there. We had to have this done. The fluid which had gathered in dd's ear had already begun to cause deformation of the inner ear according to the surgeon. We never had ear infections afterwards so that was necessary and in dd's case, helpful.

We had the adenoids removed at the same time. Dd has enormous tonsils but I have always been advised to leave them although she has really had tonsilitis and scarlet fever a lot, poor thing. She was in a great deal of pain after the op for a week or so. Seems dc react very differently to it. It did stop her snoring but the adenoids grew back after a year. I asked a different specialist about having them removed again (I'm not keen remembering how upset she was after the OP last time) and he advised me to leave them be. Apparently they often recede of their own accord from about age 8 (she's 6.5). I've also been advised not to have her tonsils removed. so for the moment I am not planning on any more OPs.

Gingeme · 18/03/2007 18:40

Thats cleared my mind . Thanks.

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