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Original poster

Can someone reassure me about enlarged tonsils/adenoids? I'm fretting - I googled and shouldnt have.

34 replies

VeniVidiVickiQV · 10/10/2007 22:15

DS always struggled with sleep - he's 2.5. (Very brief history).

He is also prone to nosebleeds - some for no reason, and sometimes because he's jammed something up his nose.

He's also always - since as far back as I can remember, had an unusual smell from his nose/mouth (I have an ultra sensitive sense of smell - most people cant smell it).

Anyway, just mucking about this evening with a torch and we were looking down each others ears and throats.

DP looked down DS's throat and boaked! DS has HUGE tonsils and a very large lump behind one of his tonsils. They arent red, or dotted with pus. Just very large and the lump around the back of one of them.

I'm now panicking about all sorts and sleep apnoea and stuff.....

Anyone know about this kind of thing?

OP posts:
Original poster
VeniVidiVickiQV · 10/10/2007 22:36

?

OP posts:
hunkermunker · 10/10/2007 22:39

Stay away from google. It is not your friend when worrying about children's health.

DS1 gets nosebleeds too and also has mahoosive tonsils. Me too, come to that.

Can you ring the doctor tomorrow? Or NHS Direct re lump?

Cashncarry · 10/10/2007 22:50

First of all - don't panic! It's a common problem and there are a few recent threads about it large tonsils and the associated problems - I'll see if I can find them in a mo...

Would second Hunker on the googling thing - defo don't do that! There's all kinds of crap about tonsils and what you should or shouldn't do - it just freaks you out unnecessarily.

It does sound like your DS's tonsils are infected though re: the pus thing. You would have noticed if it was tonsilitis as he'd have a temp and other symptoms, possibly starting with a cold IME. Best thing to do is go see a trusted GP who can actually give you a diagnosis as to whether they actually infected right at this moment.

The sleep apnoea thing - DD has this. Have you noticed that he has an irregular breathing pattern when he sleeps? DD snores terribly (has done since she was tiny) and does this thing where she will snore and snore and then stop for a heartrending moment and then do a massive piggy snort and start again. She's had tonsilitis about three times this year and twice last year but it's only the apnoea thing which has meant that she's now on the waiting list to take the tonsils and adenoids out. She's also got glue ear (had a borderline hearing test) so she will also have grommits when that's done.

Aaaanyway - I don't think I'm making you feel better Basically, if you're really that worried, ask your GP to refer you to an ENT consultant who'll be able to tell you categorically whether or not the size of his tonsils warrant surgery. There's no point worrying yourself unnecessarily by waiting - just get it booked and get it over and done with and then you can move onto the next problem which for me is sleepless nights at the thought of DD (nearly 3 yrs) have a GA!

Cashncarry · 10/10/2007 22:52

Just noticed that you said his tonsils aren't dotted with pus, sorry. Do you have a nice GP who is good with the more generalised questions about whether or not you need referring to a specialist? You could use the concern about the lump as an opening gambit, so to speak...

Original poster
VeniVidiVickiQV · 10/10/2007 22:54

It's the lump that is bothering me tbh. It's about the size of a marble!!!

But not red, normal pale flesh colour.

I'm going to ring the docs in the morning and get a same day appointment. Which is saying something for me - I dont do illness-panics.

OP posts:
Cashncarry · 10/10/2007 23:00

Do you know that I've never really had a good enough look in DD's gob to see if she's got any funny lumps in there! She always has had an odour problem though - her tonsils are so mahoosive that she often gags on her food

Found a link which might help:
one about having big tonsils

The only problem I find with same day appts is that you often get a less than desirable GP who wants to rush you through and get you out of there. DD has been through several bouts of tonsilitis before anyone thought to ask me about obstructive apnoea or give her a hearing test. Do you feel confident that you'll see the right person on a same-day appt? If you do, just ignore me. I'm not a very pushy person so am easily fobbed off

Cashncarry · 10/10/2007 23:03

BTW, DD has only ever had one nosebleed with her stonking great tonsils whereas me with my relatively normal ones, I'm always having them - I didn't realise that they were related to tonsil problems...

hunkermunker · 10/10/2007 23:05

Not a tonsil stone, is it, VVV?

Going to bed now, my love. Text me tomorrow - let me know how you get on with doctor, please.

xx xx xx

KristinaM · 10/10/2007 23:06

ask gp to refer your child to ENT specialist

Cashncarry · 10/10/2007 23:13

Here's a recent thread about the operation which might help with eliminating symptoms, especially with the apnoea thing: op thread

Hunker's link looks spot on given what you've said - I'm so sure it's nothing serious but hopefully the doc will shed more light and put your mind at rest.

Original poster
VeniVidiVickiQV · 10/10/2007 23:14

FArk - I get tonsil stones (well not so much now but ALWAYS as a child and regularly had tonsilitis).....

I will definitely go tomorrow. GP's are pretty good - they always set aside appts for emergencies every day.

Mind you, I'll also have to explain the enormous egg lump on DS's head that arrived due to my attempting to drag DS in and cracking his head against the wall [shit parent]

OP posts:
Cashncarry · 10/10/2007 23:19

LOL - thought it was just me who always injured their child trying to control them - accidently cracked DD's head on the sink today trying to get her away from brushing her teeth for the 7th time and get her to bed! She was such a farking drama queen about the whole thing it made me feel even more guilty

Do you think there's an operation that could fix them being pains in the arses?

Original poster
VeniVidiVickiQV · 10/10/2007 23:32

LOL

I'll swap you yours for mine

OP posts:
Cashncarry · 10/10/2007 23:45

God no! I wouldn't know what on earth to do with a boy

Hope it all works out at the docs tomorrow - will be thinking of you while I have my ears syringed for the first time

Original poster
VeniVidiVickiQV · 10/10/2007 23:49

thank you

OP posts:
hunkermunker · 11/10/2007 08:51

VVV, how are you this morning? Have you made an appointment?

CnC, hope your ears are OK.

Original poster
VeniVidiVickiQV · 11/10/2007 09:48

Got an appointment at 11.30am.

Had a brief look (he's not playing ball this morning), and his tonsils look quite enlarged and a little pinker, but no pus.

VERY bad breath though. Triage nurse said that this is first sign of infection, rather than a viral thing.

OP posts:
hunkermunker · 11/10/2007 10:15

Sounds like it might be tonsillitis then Give him a cuddle from me xxx

saggarmakersbottomknocker · 11/10/2007 10:18

VVVQV - all of my 3 have had enlarged tonsils and adenoids. The two dss had theirs out and grommits but in both around the age of 3. I know what you mean about the smell - I could always tell when they were brewing an infection and the ENT guy commented on it - particularly ds2. Oddly ds1's tonsils were probably more enlarged but her had less throat problems and more hearing issues. Ds2 also sufferd loads of nosebleeds, poor sleep, tantrums, night terrors, poor appetite.... the list is endless. Have the surgery was the best thing I could have done for them. dd didn't have hers out because of her other medical problems and did eventually grow out of the repeated infections.

SaintJude · 11/10/2007 10:23

Yikes saggar - that description of your DS2 fits DS perfectly.

His hearing seems fine....but I've often wondered about his ears and nose. He often sounds quite nasal when he speaks (he has a pretty deep voice as it is).

Ho hum. Hopefully GP will get us a referral.

DD has already been referred adn we are waiting for an appointment for her to have grommets.

SaintJude · 11/10/2007 14:45

Well GP says DS is fit as a fiddle. Lump in his throat had gone (so quite possibly a large tonsil stone), but GP suggested that I might not have got it right because I dont look down peoples throats regularly

He said DS's snoring could be of concern. But to keep an eye on it.

Also the bad breath. But he said that the common causes of bad breath are stomach - not likely in such a young child, throat infection - no signs of infection in his throat, or bad teeth and/or gums. He said to get his teeth and gums checked out but I'm pretty sure teeth and gums are not a problem. His teeth are brushed twice a day and DP ensures that he gives the a good scrub in the evening.

Am somewhat about it...but I'll get DS to a dentist just to rule it.

Ho hum.

hunkermunker · 11/10/2007 15:06

Yes, take him to the dentist.

And don't change your name on here to one I can't recognise [grr]

Glad his throat's OK though. Fingers crossed he doesn't get a throat infection.

NoNameToday · 11/10/2007 15:15

Might not have any bearing on this, but is his fluid intake adequate?

SaintJude · 11/10/2007 15:20

I think so Noname. He doesnt drink huge amounts in one go, he tends to drink more in the morning and at meal times.

Why do you ask?

hunker

hunkermunker · 11/10/2007 15:22

I was looking for an update.

But only this bloody SaintJude woman posting her personal tales on here.

[iamatwat]

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