Huge tonsils but not poorly - what would you do?

[DottyDot]

Ds2 has got enormous tonsils - they fill the back of his mouth and he's got a permanent cough, runny nose, snores like a train and is very adenoidal (and possibly doesn't have 100% hearing, or certainly doesn't hear things in the way we do).

The GP's said any time we want an ENT referral to have them taken out, we can - we just need to let him know.

But I'm really struggling with it because apart from the stuff mentioned above, he's really healthy - he never gets temperatures/flu/horrible colds, he never complains of a sore throat and I don't want to put him through an unnecessary operation.

He's 3.5 and I was thinking it would be good to get them out before he starts school next September, but as we get nearer and nearer to it, I'm starting to waver!

Has anyone else had their dc's tonsils out just because they were very big/had minor symptoms?

Suppose we should go back to the GP for advice, but I know he'll say it's up to us

You might find even if your GP referred you that the ENT consultant might try and put you off having them out. I know in my area ENT have very strict criteria for tonsillectomies (so many bouts of tonsillitis a year, days off school etc) and in your ds's case probably wouldn't operate.

HTH

my dd has this and was told by her doctor to wait and see if the problem was still there after she'd grown a bit.

Ah - hadn't thought of that. So it might be worth getting the referral so that the ENT doc could assess him. Good idea - I've got so worried about it I was imagining little ds2 being whisked off to theatre in an instant! He's never had tonsilitis so probably wouldn't be done?

50 years ago your GP would have just whipped them out on the kitchen table!! That's what heppend to my granny - she pickled them in a jar afterwards

my DD (nearly 3) has just been for an ENT consultation. She's had tonsilitis x4 in 2 years which apparently isn't enough to have her referred to surgery. But they did a hearing test and turns out she has glue ear plus they worked out from what I said that she has "obstructive apnoea" because of the size of her adenoids. That together with the fact that her tonsils are enormous and probably accounts for her being prone to gagging while eating, constant mouth-breathing, constant runny nose means that she's now been put on the waiting list for a tonsilectomy, adenoidectomy and grommits (sp?).

It might be worth going along for a consult. If you really don't want to have them out, I doubt very much you will be forced. But if I hadn't have gone, I wouldn't have realised that her hearing was affected and that her stop/start breathing at night was a problem .

That's not to say that I'm not cacking my pants about her having the op though

HTH xx

Yes, I'm worried ds2 has apnoea - and that's the main reason I wanted them out - he does seem to snore a lot then stop breathing for a bit, then start snoring again. He breathes with his mouth open all the time.

Sigh. Sometimes I just want them out - Ts & As - so it's done. Other times I feel guilty for 'wanting' him to have an operation.

Will go to the GP I think, see what he says...

I know exactly how you feel Dottydot

Ask me this question again the day before DD is due to have her op (some 4 months time I think) - I'll probably wish that I'd never been to see that ruddy consultant

On a serious note, I didn't actually realise the breathing thing was a problem so felt really guilty when the consultant said it was. I did feel vindicated by the fact that I still use a monitor. If you're worried, use a monitor and do a little count of how many times he does the stop/start thing in the night. I got a good tip - hold your breath when he stops snoring and then start again when he starts and you'll get some idea of whether or not it's actually something to worry about.

Of course, I could just be the paranoid mum of a pfb who's going just a little over the top

oh god - well you can tell ds2 is ds2 and not ds1, as we've never used a monitor with him I've noticed the breathing thing when we've all been in the same room, but to be honest I've just seen it as part of what he does - scares me when I hear him doing it though.

mostly we don't need a monitor with ds2 anyway - he's so loud - can hear him downstairs from his bedroom!

LOL! DD is the same - I do wonder why I bother with the monitor sometimes as she's soooo loud!

On the odd occasion when she does sleep at nap-time at nursery, apparently other mums picking up their kids after lunch have commented on her rather grandad-like snore

Have you got a nice GP you could have a chat with about it? It makes all the difference when you find a doc that's willing to listen to your concerns - even if you're contradicting yourself and constantly changing your mind like me!

yes he's brilliant - will go and see him.

And thanks!!

No problem, happy to help - will probably start my own thread just before DD has her op getting all jittery so promise to be nice and not make fun of my dithering

Definitely!

I know it is not the same, but I had my tonsils out in my early 20's, after years of catching tonsilitis.

Since having them out I have suffered less from colds, sore throats and flu.

DS1 had his tonsils and adenoids removed a couple of weeks ago. His tonsils were enormous and he suffered from regular tonsilitis, ear infections, colds, mouth breathing, snoring etc.

I too felt guilty about putting a 5 year old through this but am so glad we did go through with it. The operation was very straightforward (about 45 mins), quick recovery from the anaesthetic. He's back to normal now, the only difference being a slight change in his voice. I hadn't realised that often a tonsilectomy can affect a child's voice. His voice now sounds as it should have sounded originally - it is more high-pitched and child-like. Before he had quite a deep voice. He is speaking so much more clearly now, it's a joy listening to him.

I think you should see the ENT consultant and then make your mind up. Good luck.

Just seen this thread. My little boy is pretty much in the same position. He's 2.8, enourmous tonsils, mouth breathing all the time, sleep apnoea. We have seen a consultant who wants to do the T&A+Grommits operation. I am really worried about it and constantly go through the pro's and con's in my mind. A GA can be dangerous, the bleeding issue, the pain for him, he seems ok, not getting tonsilitus, but breathing badly at night..maybe the consultants like to do these procedures(easy,good on the stats, nice fee if private)..and so on....