Emergency Tonsillectomy/Adenoidectomy-any advice????

[Whooosh]

Well sort of emergency in as much as saw the consultant yeaterday hwo said she had never seen such uge tonsils and adenoids.Described the risks and reluctance to operate but would wait to hear.

Anyway,got a call today saying doc had reviewed the case and decided that it was a relatively urgent case.

DD goes in on Tues and is only 2.4-any advice of what to expect????????

My dd is being done on 14th Nov.
Still very scared about it!
How is your ds doing? Well, I hope
xxx

Hiaznerak. My ds is all better now. He is returning to nursery tommorrow. I know it is very worrying but it will be over before you know it. Wecant believe how quicklt these past two weeks have gone. I hope she is ok

Hi Gingeme, thanks for staying in touch ! My DS is going in next Monday, 22nd. He's been in such good health recently except yesterday started to cough! so we are keeping fingers crossed it does not turn worse. Sometimes I think the cough is just all the gunk that gets caught in his tonsils that seem massive at the moment. So how is your little one getting on ? last message seemed that everything is going well which is fantastic..

Dad12 thats brill that his op is so close and hell be all better by Christmas Dont worry about his cough my ds had a cough and his little brother too for about a week before hand and they said its not a problem as long as its not on his chest or hes not taking anti biotics for it which he wasn't.
Ds is doing fine thanks for asking. He returned to nursery this morning and couldnt wait to get in there.
I know its easier said than done but try not to worry. You realy will see a big improvement in him almost straight away. Keep encouraging him and talking about his stay in hospital with him and what to expect and hell be just fine.
Ill pop in later or tommorrow.
Take care xx

Hi Gingeme, thanks for kind words! I'm talking about the op and hospital visit when we do stories. He's got the usborne hospital visit book and a doctor kit, which he loves. He's an angel (normaly) when we see doctors, they put on their stethoscope -he pulls up his tshirt..they get the wooden spatula to look down his throat- he opens his mouth ready !! bit sad really because its cus he's had a good few visits to A&E with pnemonia and high temps and all these other side-effects from having the big tonsils. How have you noticed improvements in your DS breathing? was he a mouth breather before? my DS huffs and puffs through the night, can get a nice quiet rhythm going through his mouth but after a while starts the gagging noises, does a little bit of all-stop(about 5 seconds) then a loud sort of sigh and settles down..sometimes he sits up, tries to get air through his nose but can't so gives up..aaaanyway....sigh...things should change ..at least I might be able to sort out his sleeeping better, its all wrong at the moment, he sleeps in my room because I'm so concerned about the sleep apnea, sometimes I'm awake for ages, giving him little nudges to get him going again...when I'm not in the room I still use the monitor, just listening all the time, checking his breathing...all very draining

Hi all.
DD had her tonsils out on Tuesday and there were two "worst" bits-just to pre-warn you.
The first was when they anaesthetised her and I had to lay heron the trolley and say goodbye-she looked dead and I found that horrible.
The second was when she came rond-she was like a rabid anima,screaming and trying to get off the bed-nothing I could do would comfort her for about 15 mins.Once we got in the wheelchair and back to the ward she was fine and within an hour was eating breadsticks!
The suppository definitely helps on the pain front.
We did have a very disturbed night,she hated the canula in her hand and woke every hour or so.
We left the next day armed as everyone has said withparacetamol and ibuprofen but no anti-biotics.We were told to keep her away from people for 2 weeks,no pre-school or playgroup.
Today I had to take her to the GP as her breath has got so bad it almost makes me heave-Dr gave her some anti-biotics and I am hoping this will sortit.
Other than being slightly off her food and a bit clingy she is fine-we are both a little stir crazy though with only the odd trip to the park to amuse her outside.
Best of luck!

Hi Whooosh..hope your DD is still on the mend, poor little thing with the screaming when they come round..I've read about this from other threads..I wonder why it is..perhaps they just have no idea where they are, nothing familiar...or maybe its something to do with the chemicals in the GA..sounds pretty awful though..I hope the antibiotics kick in quickly, I was told my DS would be given them to take home and use immediatly..that plus the painkillers every few hours..fun days ahead! are you still using the painkillers? how was the bleeding?

Hi dad12, my DD recently had adenoids out and grommets in, just to reasure you that not every child screams, in fact dd has had two GA's, came out the first one very groggily but no tears etc. Well, the second one we got an incite as to what she would be like if she were to get drunk! very giggly, very high, found everything and anything highly amusing and would sit there laughing and giggling to herself.

Am reading this with interest as DS due to do in in December for his adenoids out.
l
Dad12 - that's interesting about how your DS is with his sleep and breathing. DS is on medication for epilepsy after having one full blown seizure and frequent day time "starts" These are now totally under control, but he does still have some very strange sleeping "does" which the consultant is convinced are epilepsy related but I'm not sure. It sounds very much like what you are describing - it's always just as he falls asleep and he takes a huge gasp of breath and sometimes kind of mutters with it We notice it mostly when he falls asleep in the car as he is so near to us!! I really hope that by having them out will put an end to it!

Let's hope the dribbling stops too - he looks a bit manky at the moment with sores around his mouth poor thing

Hi Sarahhal..gosh that would be a relief if your childs problems were not really epilepsy but breathing 'issues' due to the enlarged T&A's. My boy has had two kind of fits, one was linked to a really high temp, put down as that..but I did'nt really think it was, more him gagging and having a build up of gunk in his throat, being very young and just losing the breathing rhythm and struggling to settle again..if your child is not breathing through his nose you can check simply with a mirror under the nostrils, when my boy breathes through his mouth all night I can imagine how dry his throat must get, sometimes its as if his tonsils stick abit together then he does the gagging thing, mummbling, trying to get things working again... Hennipenni, thanks for a different reaction to GA story, fingers crossed for a giggly boy ! He's only 2.half, so probably will be freaked out though...

Yep-we are keeping up with the painkilers-were advised to do so for 2 weeks regardless and I have to say if we are late with a dose-it does show....

As for the bleeding-she did throw up a bowl full of blood the first night but other than that (touch wood) nothing-which is a great releif.I was told they are in danger fo bleeding for the first 10 days and if it happened thay would probably have to operate again.
I chose a very petite lady surgeon whom I hoped would be slightly more dexterous or delicate with a 2.5yr old than a "hairy trucker" type male doc

Hi Whooosh..I know what you mean about nimble dexterous hands...I am always frustrated about what you can actually find out about consultants, it seems impossible to find out what their record is of doing an operation, what other patients think, it seems such a closed shop..you are expected just to trust...or ask when you see them..but thats a bit difficult, as its not their opinion of themselves you are interested in but other peoples experiences as patients..particularly when you are having to entrust your child with them...Anyway, the bowl of blood sounded a scare but I can imagine they swallow quite abit and it does'nt actually mean there is still bleeding...About the consultant.. how did you find yours?

Dad12 What I mean by ds breathing being different is mostly at night. He used to stop breathing too like your ds does and that has not happened since his op. He doesnt snore anymore either. During the day he used to dribble like mad too but that has also stopped.
Sympathise with your stir craziness Whoosh. By the end of the first week your desperat to leave the house. I remember dh taking ds for a little walk just to the paper shop,about a 5 minute walk, he slept for an hour after.

Dad12-I did a websearch of local consultants and then cross checked with "specialist info" and another website.The one I found specialised in paediatric head,throat and neck surgery and also had a picture of her.She was lovely at the first consultation and whilst the hospital was further away than I would have liked I went with it and am glad I did.
They do swallow a bit of blood during surgery and as a friend had pre-warned me this might happen it wasn't a huge shock.

DD is feeling very sorry for herself today-temperature of 39 despite calpol and nurofen and really isn't happy at all.AM hoping the anti-biotics kick in soon.

BAck to see the surgeon tomorrow for post-op check.

This is all such useful stuff, so thank you for sharing it with us.

I have a couple of questions for those of you whose little ones have already had their tonsils/adenoids out. They may well have been answered already but thought it easier to ask again rather than hunting, so excuse the laziness.

How long does all the prep for the op take? ie we have to get to hosp at 7.30am and I was told she's likely to be first done. So realistically, what time will I have to leave her?

How long, assuming all goes well, does the removal of the tonsils and adenoids take? Where do I go during that time?

Do they come to say it is over and she is now in recovery? How long will she be in recovery for before she comes round and i can be with her?

Assuming she is then moved to a ward, do I bring food from home that I know she will be tempted by or do they give you food they want her to eat?

Think that is it for now! Thanks again for all your support.

Ask away aznerac the more you know the more youll be prepared for.
We were told to be at hospital for 7.30 too. They will put the magic cream and her bracelet on straight away then you should be taken down for about 9am.
We were told the op should take about 45 mins but ds didnt have his whole adenoids removed just some tissue shaved from the bottom of it. This bled quite badly so his op took 1 hour and 30 mins.
We had breakfast as soon as he was asleep as we have an 11 month old too and he was pretty cross with hunger by then.Went back to the ward as soon as we were finnished.
The operating room then rings the ward to let you know she has finnished. My dh was taken to the recovery room and walked with him and the nurse and porter back to the ward.
We were told to take in ds's favourite crisps but we took loads of snacks in and sandwiches for ourselves as we were there all day. They will offer breakfast to her more or less as soon as she is back on the ward and some sips of squash or water.
So depending on how awake she is depends on what they offer but they do like them to eat as soon as possible after.
Have you not had a pre op visit to the hospital? You meet the anesthiatist and surgeon who explain all this and what the op involves.

Hi gingeme

No pre-op meeting or anything. Just given a date and told to be there at 7.30am. Received a sheet of info about them not having and food or drink beforehand etc but in terms of the actually op, no direct info at all!

I will be there on my own with her, as my dh will be sorting our older ds and school etc. So I guess a good book, snacks for me and lots of bits and bobs for her.

I do hope she gets seen to before 9am - she is a really tiny eater, but breakfast is her staple and she wants it the minute she wakes up. We will have to get up for 6am to get sorted and get there in time, so the thought of keeping her calm if she is awake for 3 hours before the op without being allowed any breakfast or drink will be a killer.

Thanks again!

Aznerak-the food bit is difficult-my DD kept asking "drink please Mummy" andit was very hard to say no and try to explain.
The good thing is she will hopefully be wrapped up in going for her "adventure" that she may not notice.Once she is at the hospital it will be easier (providing you avoid the breakfast trolley).Most children's wards have a playroom so she could be distracted by that.
We had to hang around in the pre-anaesthetic room for ages signing consent forms and waiting for a little boy to have grommits put in.Once you are in the anaesthetic room it only takes about 10 mins to put the canula in and put them to sleep.
We were given the option of waiting outside or going back to the ward to wait for the call,but it was 7pm at night.I chose to go for a walk,buy myself a sandwich and by the time I got back up to the theatre she was in recovery.
If you need to know anything else-ask away.

Hi all..we have had a big dissapointment. our op was next Monday, we were all ready, but last two days DS started coughing quite badly, so much he threw up on first day, deff. a cold but as yet no temp. We phoned the consultants secretary who later called us back to say op. was cancelled. Also, he had no spaces for at least 7 weeks....so its like back to square one. DS has all this gunk in his throat due to his swollen tonsils, night breathing is difficult as its through his mouth, he's sitting up frequently trying to suck air through his nose..its very sad all round. Now I'm thinking of trying to find another consultant who can do it sooner but will then have to have all the pre-op consultations yet again...

Oh s**t Dad12. I hope your ds isn't too disapointed and hope his cough clears up soon. Good idea bout looking for another consultant. Keep us posted.

You should only have to do one pre-op consult if GP refers you...your poor DS.

Oh dad12, how awful for you.
Our ds has a nasty cold now and night times are horrid for her (and us).
I hope hers has cleared up and another hasn't reappeared by the time her op date arrives. It is 4 weeks today.

Can't believe you've all had pre-op visits. We saw the consultant a few weeks back, he confirmed they needed to come out urgently, and said we'd hear soon.

Got a call a couple of weeks later to book her in. That is it. We just arrive at 7.30am on the day of the op and there was a letter about no food/drink after midnight.

No info as to what to take, what to expect etc

NLNN same here!
Mahoooosive tonsils
nearly died with my quinsy...

Afternoon just remembered, well dh reminded me to say when you stay over night take your own pillows as the hospital ones are wafer thin
Dad12 hows your ds today?
Aznerak is your dd any better?

Hi Gingeme and aznerak, thanks for your messages..yes my DS is much better...two days of cough cough cough and then it stopped. Now its just the odd fruity cough from the throat. Actually as he gets older he seems to be getting stronger and dealing much better with the colds. He's still abit snuffly and has a cold so it was probably good that we called the consultant and he cancelled, perhaps they don't like to take any more risks than they have to when the child is so young, particularly less than three. We've already found another consultant who we can go and see, she has some places not too far in next weeks. Following Woooshs'thoughts I've booked with a female consultant at the Portland, who works at Gt Ormond..might as well try to make the best use of the private medical I'm lucky enough to get through work..