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DS having tonsilectomy next week - any tips?

30 replies

Aggy · 17/01/2008 21:50

Ds 3yrs is having his tonsils and andenoids removed next Tuesday. I am extremely nervous and would love any advice for during and after op.

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motherhurdicure · 18/01/2008 09:52

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QuintessentialShadow · 18/01/2008 10:08

We are in the same boat. My son has a tonsillectomy on monday! He is 5 1/2. I am nervous too... I have been told to keep him off school for 2 weeks after the op to prevent him getting infections.

However, the hospital said he would be out the same day, all going well.

My friends dd had the op last year, she was sent home the same day, and was told to eat ice cream to get the swelling down, and crisps as swallowing something rough would prevent the scar tissue being sort of "lumpy".

Aggy · 18/01/2008 21:19

Thanks for the replies, dh has some time off work so will take it slowly with ds. Quintessential - will be thinking of you and ds on monday - good luck.

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Orinoco · 18/01/2008 21:30

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QuintessentialShadow · 18/01/2008 23:43

Orinoco. Thanks I have stocked up on juicy ice lollies (not the cream variety). Did you have any nausea and temperature after?

madrose · 18/01/2008 23:54

My dd had hers out the summer just gone. she was 2.5. It was the best thing we could have done, even though I cried during the op, cried when they brought her back, and cried a bit more the first 24 hours, - mind you by then I think it was because I was knackered (can never sleep in hospital).

Stock up on painkillers and use them religously, get lots of nice things to do if the weather stays crap as you must avoid crowded places. She had hers done during that awful rain last summer, we spendt the time potty training.

At first she refused all foods, until I gave her a packet of quavers, followed by toast. Rough food, cleans the pus/scabs that form in the scars and allows for quick clean healing. She was back to normal by day 4/5 and we could stop the pain killers by day 10. might have been able to do it before - but she likes the stuff. for the first few nights we woke up up at midnight to give her painkillers so the mornings wouldn't be painful.

on painkillers, she hated the 'generic' stuff they tried to give her in hospital, and the staff were a bit disgrunted that they had to give her the more expensive 'branded' painkillers, but hey.

Make dure you take food in for yourself and a couple of mags or a book. the other parents were quite nice to talk to when the little ones were asleep.

Its a good age, a 15 year old was having hers out at the same time and she found it very difficult, my dd found the toys and had a great time.

hope that helps

BITCAT · 18/01/2008 23:55

i HAD MINE OUT WHEN I WAS 7 AND I BELIEVE IT HAS ALL CHANGED SINCE THEN, (GOING BACK SOME YEARS) I REMEMBER IT WELL CAUSE IN THOSE DAYS THEY WOULDN'T ALLOW PARENTS TO STAY WITH THE CHILDREN SO IT WAS SCARY BUT 2 OF MY SISTERS HAVE ALSO HAD IT DONE AND I BELIEVE THEY ACTUALLY GIVE THEM TOAST NOW, IT WAS ICECREAM AND MASHED POTATOES,(ALTHOUGH NOT AT THE SAME TIME) IN MY DAY. SOMETHING TO DO WITH GETTING THEM BACK TO NORMAL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. tHEY ARE QUITE RESILLENT AT THAT AGE, SORRY BOUT MY TYPING GOT STINKING COLD AND MY 2 YR OLD ALL STUFFED UP SO I'M JUST TYPING WHILST FALLING ASLEEP

madrose · 18/01/2008 23:56

I gave her quavers because she loves them and wanted them

clam · 18/01/2008 23:57

Can't remember about food, but I would strongly advise you to stick to the pain relief schedule TO THE MINUTE! Calpol/Nurofen alternated, but with a slight overlap, because if it wears off, there's a danger it becomes too painful for them to swallow the next dose. We had this in the middle of the night with DS - still haunts me 3 years on!

Whooosh · 18/01/2008 23:59

DDhad hers out in Spetember at 2.4yrs-really bad tonsils and adenoidal probs.
Far more traumatic for me than her-was only in one night (pretty disturbed) but after initial mania in recovery-was sitting up inbed eating breadsticks an our out.
They do encourage "rough" food to slough all the "crap" off-sounds crule compared to jelly and icecream but as long as you keep up with the paracetamol-no problem.
We too were housebound for 2 weeks which honestly was the worst part-major cabin fever set in!
However,it was the best thing we could have done for dd-she now sleeps better than ever,a cold only lasts 10 days instead of a month an none of the ycky side effects.
Good luck-it honestly is a breeze and so much better in the long term.....

Riana2005 · 19/01/2008 00:08

All the best to you for next week Aggy. We're in the States (Texas) and my DD (4yrs) had adenoidectomy/tonsillectomy in November. It all went really well, and ended up not being worth the worry (but when it's your little one under GA, who doesn't worry?). I can second the recommendation of keeping up with pain meds on schedule, esp first few days. She ate lots of ice cream , stew, scrambled eggs, banana, yoghurt, oats etc for the first few days. By day 4 or 5 no pain anymore, but around day 10 (this is when scabs come off) a final day or 2 of moderate pain. Over here you are warned to expect the pain to return at around 8-10 days post-op, so it was no surprise, and after that she pretty much forgot about her sore throat.

She was very hungry in the hospital before surgery, and we found portable DVD player very useful.

KatyMac · 19/01/2008 00:13

I was really OK until about day 3/4 then I had a massive downturn was very miserable/depressed and weepy - just don't let them do too much in the first few days - it hits a bit later sometimes

QuintessentialShadow · 19/01/2008 18:50

I am prepared for the worst in a sense, my son had an emergency appendectomy when he was four, and was very ill, and kept in hospital for more than a week. The effect of the General Anastetics were quite pronounced in his case, as his memory was affected, and he was really forgetful for months after. The doctor said that was normal. He was on so much morphine, and anti sickness drugs and general painkillers, he was like a different child. So ill.

I am hoping this will be "easier". I have plenty of paracetamols to be taken rectum, so not too concern if the pain is too bad to swallow....

Orinoco · 19/01/2008 22:40

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Cashncarry · 19/01/2008 22:46

Hi Quint and Aggy

I feel your pain - DD (3 yrs) had her tonsils and adenoids out and grommits put in on New Year's eve just gone. I started a thread myself on which I had great advice but I see loads of people have given you fab advice here - I would second the quavers and toast that madrose tried with her DD - worked a treat for mine and I think it was all she ate for the three days after the op

The worst bit of the day is when they're going under the GA but I guess you're probably prepared for that - especially if you've got prior experience of your DS having it before Quint

Hope it goes alright for both of you and your DCs - will try to find that other thread and post a link if you're interested

mrspink27 · 19/01/2008 22:54

My DD is having her adenoids and gromits on Tuesday to. SHe is 3.5 and we are dreading it! She is in denial - despite all the books we have read! This will be the second time we are on standby as before xmas she managed to find a temperature from somewhere 2 hours before the op and we were sent packing. Today she has started sneezing... so not hopeful for Tuesday... will stock up on calpol and nurofen tomorrow in case though... and quavers!

QuintessentialShadow · 19/01/2008 23:12

I have bought my son a nintendo ds lite, and 3 games for it.

One tip, if your dc is scared for going under GA, promise something nice for afters to look foreward to.

Last time I had a real nightmare, my dh was in India, I was visiting my elderly parents in Norway, my youngest was just 6 months old, and I when DS1 was admitted I had to take the baby with me as my mum was not in a position to care for both my baby and my disabled dad. (Mum has terminal cancer and dad is paralyzed and in a wheelchair after stroke).

My son has very faint veins, and they could not find a good vein neither for blood tests nor drip, so they had been prodding a lot in his hands. When we went to Theatre he was in hysterics. But the nurse asked him, "what do you want most of all". He said a pirate costume, so nurse winked at me and said he would get it after operation. I took the cue and started talking to him about going to the shop to select his costume, and what sort of accessories he wanted, sword, hook, compass, etc. He relaxed enough for the nurse to put in his IV. After they praised me for being such a calm mum, and they would not managed without me playing on team . I am still a little traumatized myself.... But the point is, the promise of something really nice to look forward to after really helps! So now, we did not get him the Nintendo for Christmas but saved it till now. So now when he thinks about his op, he is more concerned with his DS that he will get after!

Alambil · 20/01/2008 01:08

Pack light pyjamas if you think you will stay in - childrens wards are very hot!

WATCH THEIR BREATHS post operative.

If their breath gets really smelly (more smelly than just not having cleaned their teeth) any time after about Day 3 after the operation - get them to a doctor.

It is the sign of an infection. Left untreated it turns into a hideous blood-coughing-attack from the wounds and is REALLY REALLY scary.

Please pay attention to their breath - the first sign of smell needs a doctor.

This happened to my DS and my sister - it is really very scary.

Also, if possible, stay near the recovery room and go in when your kids come out of surgery.

The nurses said they would call me to go down there before they woke DS up but they didn't. DS was brought back to me (on the ward) AFTER being woken up in a strange place with no friendly faces (well family faces) near him.

I found this really distressing - he was absolutely beside himself crying which of course hurt like hell - in fact, he was so upset he wasn't breathing properly and he wanted to cry but couldn't due to pain which made it so much worse.

QuintessentialShadow · 20/01/2008 01:19

Thanks for that Lewis.
I was planning on packing for both of us to stay overnight just in case. Also, I just assumed I would be able to sit in the "wake up room", as that is what happened in Norway last time. I shall pay attention to breath, that is really good advice. Thanks.

I am off to bed now.

Aggy · 20/01/2008 22:32

Thanks for all the tips, am going to take lots of books and will get some quavers on standby - my son is a very poor eater, so am hoping this won't put him off eating all together!

Quintessential and Mrspink27 - Good luck over the next couple of days, will be thinking of you.

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bossybritches · 20/01/2008 22:42

QS in case you missed me in t'other place!!

Arnica tabs are great for preventing swelling & bruising which is what causes the pain. You can take the capsules even when NBM (they are only sweetner size & go under the tongue.) If you can't get them before he goes down then give 2 of them every hour for 6 hours to load the system & then 2 three times a day.

My mum had to have major dental surgery & after the first side she was so swollen, black & blue & had to have a week off work. T'other side dental nurse recommended arnica, no swelling & only a faint green bruise, back at work next day- exactly the same op!!

QuintessentialShadow · 21/01/2008 18:59

Aggy,
Good luck tomorrow. My son had his tonsils out today, it went well. He is upstairs playing on his new nintendo. He is on 3 different painkillers, nurofen, calpol and codeine, and will be on antibiotics from tomorrow. He is recovering well, so far.

Bossy, shame I didnt know earlier about the Arnica, will see if I can get some tomorrow!

WatsTheStory · 21/01/2008 19:01

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Dropdeadfred · 21/01/2008 19:04

My eldest two dd's both had this done at the age of 3. dd2 sat up and had cornflakes for breakfast the next day and doritos on the way home!!

Aggy · 21/01/2008 20:41

Quintessential,
Glad op went well, you have made me feel a bit better. He is actually excited about going to the hospital tommorow and we had trouble getting him to bed. Will let you know how it goes.

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