DD needs her tonsils removed (long) update pg.2

[ash&abby'smom]

I brought DD for her 4 year checkup Wednesday. They checked her blood levels, she has low iron levels but not anemic. They checked her urine for diabetes and that was fine. She got her shots and handled it well. When her ped. checked her throat, she said her tonsils were enlarged. I knew this, because Friday she was sick and I could she they were swollen, but I thought she just had a sore throat. She said her glands are not swollen. She wants her to see an ENT about having them removed. She does snore at night and is a heavy mouth breather, so I wasn't so shocked by the news. I just hate that she will have to have another surgery. She has already had two chalazions surgically removed, which is a very minor procedure, but I hate the fact that she has to have anesthesia(sp?). She also has another chalazion that I am treating daily with warm compresses, eyelid scrubs, & putting tobradex in her eye twice a day. This looks better, so hopefully this one will go away on its own without surgery. I just wonder if all this anesthesia harms them.

Anyway, I figure I will go ahead and make her ENT appt and try to get it scheduled for either the Thanksgiving holidays or the Christmas holidays. For anyone who has gone through this what is your opinion: Do I do it the week of Thanskgiving or during the two weeks of Christmas holidays? We leave for Disney Dec. 5th. How long is recovery? Would she be up for Disney if I do it Thanksgiving week since we leave two weeks later or should I schedule it for Christmas? Thanks for your advice!!

Sharon

 

[Dan Murphy]

No answers on your questions, Sharon, but do hope your cute little button of a daughter is doing well soon. Always tough when our little ones are not feeling 100%. My best.

 

[piglet too]

When my oldest has his tonsils out, he was home that night. He did have to limit his activities for a few days, a week at the most. I would think that over Thanksgiving would be too close to your trip. Could you do it before Thanksgiving? I think that if she is not dealing with the tonsil problem that she might have more fun.

 

[lsyorke]

Now, this was a few years ago, but having my sons tonsils out was the best thing we ever did! He had constant throat and ear problems. After years of battling with it, the surgery was a relief. Look at it this way, years of antibiotics or a week of being uncomfortable? DS was pretty sore for the first 2-3 days and after that had NO problems at all. The worst part is thirst. They don't want to swallow, but are thirsty. I can remember DS trying different glasses,bottles,liquids trying to find one that didn't hurt. It was pathetic at the time, but now it's become one of many stories in the family. "I want juice in a cup, no I want milk in a bottle, no I want milk in a cup etc....." Ice pops were the answer!

His snoring stopped, he slept better and was much happier after. Are they taking out the adenoids at the same time?? Initially DS had his adenoids out and they didn't think the tonsils were bad so they left them. Well 6 months later it was back for the tonsils.

Good Luck, recovery is about a week. Kids are much better at this stuff than adults.

 

[spagheddie]

I'm recovering from having my tonsils taken out last week. I would absolutely schedule the surgery for Christmas, well after your trip. I scheduled my surgery ASAP so that I could recover for our trip in November. My doctor said it would take 7-10 days and I'm on day 9 with some discomfort still, though every day is an improvement.

It's a good thing that your DD is getting them out now unlike me who had to get them out at 33. The way my ENT described it was that getting tonsils taken out as a child was like planting a tiny oak tree and than deciding to pull it out of the ground after a year. On the other hand getting them out at my age was waiting for the oak tree and its roots to grow strong over 30 plus years then deciding to pull it out of the ground.

Best wishes for your DD. Lots of ice cream, noodle soup, and TLC.

 

[Trish5768]

DS6 had his tonsils and adenoids out in July. It took him a good week to get back on his feet ENT said it would only be a few days. He was in a lot of pain and on the couch every bit of 7-8 days. Disney trip on the 5th of Dec. I would schedule to have it done after Christmas.

 

[2bemarried]

Originally posted by spagheddie
It's a good thing that your DD is getting them out now unlike me who had to get them out at 33. The way my ENT described it was that getting tonsils taken out as a child was like planting a tiny oak tree and than deciding to pull it out of the ground after a year. On the other hand getting them out at my age was waiting for the oak tree and its roots to grow strong over 30 plus years then deciding to pull it out of the ground.

Best wishes for your DD. Lots of ice cream, noodle soup, and TLC.

I had my tonsils removed when I was 23. It took me over 3 weeks to recover. I think you should have schedule it for the Christmas Break. I don't know if she's going to be up for a WDW trip if she has them removed over Thanksgiving. JMHO

 

[Christine]

My DD had her tonsils removed when she was 9 for the same reasons you are. They were VERY large, almost blocking her throat, she snored horribly and was mouth breathing so much that the ENT said it was changing the shape of her face as she grew.

She was *down* for a good 7 days. They don't want you to do any strenuous activity for 2 weeks after the surgery because of the possiblity of hemorraghing. So she couldn't swim, jump around etc. It was a pain but I think you'll be glad you did it. I was only sorry that I waited as long as I did.

 

[Kimnicki]

My DD9 had her tonsils taken out when she was 7. Her tonsils were so enlarged, the ENT didn't know how she was even able to get any air! The first two days were the worst, but it certainly took a good 7 days to recoup. I don't know about anyone else, but boy can I remember that horrible smell of her breath
My DD also had the same problem as lsyorke did. She had trouble finding a comfortable way to drink and ice pops ended up being the answer. Good luck to you and your DD .



Kim

 

[robsmom]

DS had them out a 3. young kids do heal so much faster than we do and he was 100% in about a week. The doctor wanted him away from germs and closely watched for hemorraging for the second week. I think the 5th would be pushing it. Also, it is highly doubtful that you will get a time for thanksgiving at this point. By the time you have your appointment and all...every school age kid who found out since school started that they need them out is booked with the ENT that week! I was shocked at how early summer and holidays fill up.

 

[FroggyinArk]

dd's came out at 6,, was down for about half a day in hospital, then bedrest for 2, was running us ragged by day 4


Before htey put her to sleep the ent guy told her that he was going to fix it so her throat didnt hurt anymore,,, as soon as she came to she started hollering you lied to me you lied to me my throat hurts worse than ever noww can you imagine h ow hard it was not to laugh at her

 

[krissy3483]

I had mine out when I was 19...ouch. I was down for 3 or 4 days, and my throat bothered me for a little over a week. The only things I could eat were soup, ice pops, and jello. I know I was definitely cranky for a while though so I would make sure your daughter has at least a week to recover. I'm really glad I did it though, I was a mouth breather my entire life, and now I can finally breathe through my nose.

 

[eek40]

My nephew had his last year about this time! Definataly wait until after the trip! I remember when he woke up, we had told him and told him how horrible he would feel he just couldnt see it but when he woke up he was screaming that they had made him blind, the one thing we hadnt told him is how the pain meds would make him blurry eyed. He was laying there in recovery and he looked at me and said. " I know you told me it would hurt when I woke up, but I didnt think it would be this BAD!" We have pictures before surgery, all smiles and playing with the nurses, after surgery looking miserable! They are so cute
Good luck you will be glad to get them out of her it will make a world of difference
Aimee

 

[MAC3]

My DD had hers out this year, she is 12. I was mortified to watch them wheel her down to the OR (I had to force DH to go with her as I was in tears)!

For years she was plagued by strep throat!
I am waiting to see what this year will hold for us.

1 Day of being scared to death and a few others of her being uncomfortable may be the payoff for a great year of health!

 

[clh2]

Just a quick question - your DD is only 4 - why do you feel the need to do it during a holiday week? Why not wait until some time in January. Even if she is in a k-4 program - she most likely will not be missing much.

My DD had had a T/A when she was 4. She was definitely not feeling well for 1 solid week after the procedure. It took a good 2 weeks before she was "back to normal". With many of the previous posters - it just may not be good timing to take her to WDW so soon after the tonsils come out.

I also think it would be difficult to find a doc that is doing elective procedures during a holiday week. I work at a hospital - and it seems like they all would prefer to vacation the week between X-mas and New Year's - because that is when their kids are off from school too.

 

[mudnuri]

DD7 had sleep apnea, and after 2 years of going through what we thought were asthma cough spells, medicine, nebulizers, steriods, etc.... it was finally figured out it was the size of her tonsils causing the sleep apnea- which in turn was causing the coughing!

She had her T/A at just under 4 (3 years 11 months)

We had it done at Dartmouth's CHAD (chidrens hospital at dartmouth)...Originally she was not suppose to stay over, however, given her breathing issue's previously- after the drugs given for the surgery- the ENT wanted her to stay for observation.

She was a real trouper!...took her about 1 1/2 weeks to be back to 80% herself. She was sick and tired of pudding/jello/ice pops though let me tell you!

We were given a prescription for a cough medicine with codeine, because of her previous coughing spells, they were very worried about her ruptering the blood clot where the tonsils were. I gave her this every 4 hours for a week!...the hospital is about an hour from us...I didnt want to have to call an ambulance, should that clot give way.

after about 3-4 days DD wanted to do more, and it was hard to keep her from playing outdoors etc.. but I really didnt want her running around.

As a side note since this surgery DD has had NO PROBLEMS with any cold/breathing/cough/asthma nada!

DH really didnt want her to have the surgery- and was actually upset with me, as I refused to have another opinion (this was already our 2nd)....but now he's very glad I stood my ground.

Good luck to you guys!

Brandy

 

[mudnuri]

Forgot to add

DD was a horrible sleeper- SNORE! She could outsnore most grown men! Horrible mouth breather...well...come to find out this all played a part in the apnea- and the tonsils!

Please make sure that your daughter is NOT suffering from Sleep APnea- if she is DONT wait till christmas...

the 48 hour wait from doc to ENT was horrible- I had to tape record her sleeping for the ENT....I was litteraly heard on the tape saying "come on dani- breath now...breath "....very scary once we realized she wasnt breathing regularly!

Brandy

 

[mom23boys]

My son also had is toncills/adnoids(sp) out two years ago. He was eight at the time. Best thing we ever did. I am not going to sugar coat it. It was an extremely hard recovery, two weeks. But I heard the older you are the harder it is to recover. My friends daughter had her's out the very next day, she was 4. She recovered in less than a week..

My DS had snoring problems along with sleep apnea. He is a big child and had a hard time running, since then he really has better stamina.

I hope this helps.

 

[disneychrista]

If your DD can wait I would do it just after Christmas. She will not have enough time to heal before your Dec 5 trip if you do it Thanksgiving. When my DD had her tonsils out last year she was out of school for two weeks (16 days) after the surgery, it took her a good 10 days to begin to feel better. And most of the two weeks to get back to normal.

 

[ash&abby'smom]

Originally posted by clh2
Just a quick question - your DD is only 4 - why do you feel the need to do it during a holiday week? Why not wait until some time in January. Even if she is in a k-4 program - she most likely will not be missing much.

I also think it would be difficult to find a doc that is doing elective procedures during a holiday week. I work at a hospital - and it seems like they all would prefer to vacation the week between X-mas and New Year's - because that is when their kids are off from school too.

The reason I would like to have it done on a holiday is so she doesn't miss anymore school. She is only in pre-k, but we are already taking her out of school for a week. I like to stick to a routine as much as possible with her. The ENT I have scheduled her appt with today on Oct. 18th has done surgeries during Christmas holidays (my nephew had his out at that time). If not, I will take her out of school, whatever is best for her. I would like to get it done before year end - since I have already met her deductible on her previous surgery.


Thanks for everyone's advice. I will definately have it done after our trip. I am curious about the sleep apnea. I have read up on it and it is one of my concerns to bring up to the ENT. Hopefully everything will work out great. My DD is a real trooper. I will post an update after our appt. Thanks and keep her in your thoughts.