DS needs adenoids out. Any experiences?

[alecam]

My DS (6) needs to have adenoids out. He has had ear tubes three time, the most recent being in November! He woke up calmly and asked for me last time because I told him he would not be in any pain, just groggy. I want to tell him the truth about how he will feel when he wakes up this time so he can be prepared. He is scheduled for this coming Friday 2/24.

Any experiences with this would be greatly appreciated ie: how your son/daughter felt after the surgery, pain levels,etc!
Thanks in advance!!

 

[daisylove]

DD^ had adnoids and ear tubes the same time last november. No pain!! She did great. Ask your doctor to be sure but in our case it was the best move to make.

 

[staci]

DS also had adnoids out and tubes in at the same time last March.

I cant give many comparisions to JUST tubes, becuase that was our first experience.

He screamed and cried the whole time in the hospital (about 2 hours after he woke up) but the second we got outside to the sunlight he was fine. I think the whole experience scared him more than anything being so little. He was laughing by the time we got to the car, and acted pretty normal but a little groggy that afternoon, and COMPLETELY normal by that night.


He was only 18 months old so he cant really tell me how it was.

 

[First-timer]

my dd was 5 when she had her tonsils and adnoids out..... she got so many ear infections when she was little i was happy when they finaly decided to do it..... well we got to the hospital at like 6:00 am and she was so tired... she did wonderfull they let me in the surgery room till she was out.... i left and i cant remeber how long it took but right before she woke up they let me in to see her so she would see me first.... well when she was comming out she was like rolling her eyes and going in and out that made me real queezy!! i felt faint and they needed to get me a chair and some water... i felt so stupid... well she was most excited to be eating popcicles and pudding and jello while we all had to eat dinner and lunch she loved it..... after like 3 days she was back to normal.... so i think your ds will do just fine.... good luck vicki

 

[Donnaly66]

My son will be three years old next month. He had his first set of ear tubes at 12 months and just had his second set of tubes plus his adnoids taken out in October.

The doctor warned me to take a week off of work to take care of him because he will be miserable. I didn't believe the doctor but she was right. The first 24 hours it was like nothing ever happened and I thought the doctor was nuts, but after that, he was miserable for a week. Very sore throat - drank a lot but didn't eat much. And, their breath smells horrendous (which the doc says is normal during the healing). He was pathetic.

Because your son is older, I suspect he might not have as rough a time, at least I hope so! Stock up on lots of popsicles!

 

[minniedisney1]

Best thing I have ever done for my son. He had chronic ear infections (50% hearing loss in one ear, 45% in the other ), URI's from birth. He had tubes put in & his tonsil & adenoids out last March. He had just turned 2. I chose to have his tonsils out before surgery. I asked friends, family, people in the ENT's waiting room about the tonsils. Everyone I asked that had NOT had them out wished that they had. He did great!! He stayed he stayed in the hosp. overnight, but I think that was mainly to keep an eye on his asthma. He recovered great!!! Once the drugs from surgery wore off & he was on pain meds he was pretty much his normal self. If you are in doubt, get a 2nd opinion. I did even though I new he needed to have it done. Good Luck! & hugs to your son!!!

 

[alecam]

Thanks so much guys!! I just like to let him know whats going to happen because he is older and I think handles situations like this better when he is informed!! Thanks for your well-wishes!!
Kristi

 

[lauritagoddess]

My DS had ear tubes put in and his adenoids out when he was 2.5. He had a very bad reaction to the anesthesia and had hallucinations when he came out of it and was very violent for a couple of hours. Even when he came out of it he was very agitated. He refused to drink and lashed out at everyone. They were very reluctant to even let us leave the hospital and if I wasn't able to get him to drink at home I would have had to take him back and have him hospitalized. His throat was very sore and his mouth too. It was a miserable, miserable day. Then he woke up the next day feeling perfectly fine and asked me to go to IHOP where he ate a full sized adult breakfast. His breath did smell pretty bad for a couple of weeks but that was the only after-effect after the first day. And knock wood, he hasn't had one ear infection since.

Good luck with the surgery.

 

[anty30]

My DS5 just had his tonsils out on Feb. 8. I expected it to be a lot worse than it was. He did'nt talk or cry for about a week. He did not complain once. Never said he was in pain. I gave him Tylonol with codiene the first day and then switched to reg. tylonol for the rest of the week every 4 hours. He did great. Keeping them hydrated is key. It helps with the recovery. Good luck.

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

My DS18 months had tubes/adenoids at the same time. He came through with flying colors. The OR nurse was our neighbor and everyone took great care of him.

We went to a restaurant after his surgery and he ate a soft scrambled egg and some of my husband's pancake. He was starving!

No tears, no complaints at all. Good luck with your son.


Lori

 

[missymagic]

My daughter was 3 and was just a little crabby that night and the next day. She has a sore throat but we haven't had a sinus infection in three years since she had them taken out!!!! Would let them do it again in a heart beat.

 

[alecam]

Thank you all so much for your advise and thoughts!! I look forward to updating you after his surgery which will be this Friday morning!! You all made me feel much better!!
Kristi

 

[disneyfor3]

My DS5 just had his tonsils and adenoids out Feb. 6. They were wonderful at the surgery center with him. As far as tonsils go I was told days 4 thru 7 could be a little rough and boy were they right. But a week and a half after surgery he was doing great and the past 3 nights I've gone in to check on him while he is sleeping and I've had to put my face right next to his and even then I couldn't hear him breathing. He always sounded like a freight train before or darth vader. He looks like he is sleeping so much more comfortably now which makes it definitely worth it. I'm so glad I got it done right after he turned 5 instead of when he is older.

I was able to stay with him until the operation started and go into the operating room with him until he was put under, and they also let him keep his stuffed dog with him so he would have it when he woke up. His was done at a surgery center on an outpatient basis and we were there at 7:00 a.m. and home by 11:00 a.m. There is a little movie online at www.entnet.org about a little bear that goes to the hospital to get his tonsils out - it is interactive and my son really enjoyed playing it before the surgery.

 

[dznygurl]

DS2 just had ear tubes/adenoids. He did very well. He had to eat soft foods for just that day and the next. After that he could eat anything. No fever and no complaints at all. I just wish we would have taken out his tonsils too! We'll probably be back for that real soon!

 

[swillis]

My son now 10 has been in and out of the hospital for severe complications due to ear infections. I can honestly say that I think all of your child's experiences will depend on several things....

What kind of kid he is? Is he frightened by new/different/loud/strangers? This may be the biggest factor when dealing with his experience. I think the doctors and nurses will do everything they can to manage his pain, but if he wakes up and is frightened by what he sees, his crying may be mistaken for pain.

Also...your reaction to this situation. He will feed off your anxiety, and if you are nervous he is going to pick up on that for sure. Of course, we are always nervous when our children hurt, and even more so when they have to go under anesthesia, but try your best to be as nonchalant as possible around your son.

Explain to him that when he wakes up he may feel like his head is full of stuffing, and that his throat might be sore. Explain that he may smell funny smells, or even that his belly may feel funny.

My son had to go under anesthesia a few times, and I found he usually complained about the smell (gas anesthesia still smells even after sx is over) I found that using the correct terms, and explaining what things were- helped him to feel just a little bit in control of things.

I have a veterinary backround, and therefore my kids and I are more at ease with medical situations, but I do think that your son will feel better if he knows as much as he can. My son was 5 the first time he had a major surgery and hospitalization. He's now 10, and has had 26 spinal taps with no sedation simply by being told what to expect.

I hope your son does well. You will both be in my thoughts.

 

[princessboogirl]

My daughter had them out when she was five. The best advice I have is don't let the pain meds wear off and fluids, fluids, fluids. If you keep the throat wet then it doesn't hurt to swallow, I used a cup with a straw and had her drink every 10-15 minutes when she was awake. I did that for the first 3-4 days. Also are they taking out the tonsils too? Just my 2 cents but I would get them out too. Good Luck