OT-Tonsils and adenoids coming out

[frtchr]

My DD3 is having her tonsils and adenoids out Friday morning. Any advice or tips?

 

[livsmom04]

Make sure she has plenty of pudding, ice cream or frozen pops. My daughter had her Adenoids out last year but hasn't had the tonsils out yet. They said though if she continues to get strep that she will have to have them out. She's had strep 3 times since school started. Good Luck and I pray everything goes well on Friday!

 

[unionville]

My son had both removed when he was five. It's a fairly routine procedure. He was told to stay home from school for a the week, but he was really fine the very next day. We never even used the prescription pain killer, just motrin. Have some ice cream on hand and some quiet activities. I would have a bag in the car for the ride home in case they get sick. The throat "drainage/blood" caused some gagging the first evening for us.

My son is 10 now. I think that the procedure reduced the ear infections/sinus infections/sore throats, but we have had strep throat every year since having them removed. My doctor is always kind of surprised when the test comes back positive.

 

[Best Aunt]

Here's a thread I started last year on this subject.

There have been other threads on this board more recently.

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32044356&postcount=1

 

[Binnie]

DD4 had hers out a year ago next week.

The key is to keep them hydrated, by any means possible. The night DD came home, she ate an entire box of popsicles. And then for the next several days, I was nightmarish to get anything into her, but she'd take drinks from a spoon.

Also, no sippy cups, no straws, no sucking at all. Challenging when they're that little, but workable. I had a hard time remembering, and she was so used to using straw cups, etc. that it was a little awkward.

Good luck--it's an awesome view from the other side (DD was really sick before and has been so much better since the surgery), but to get there it's a tough 7-10 days.

 

[dizneemom]

A month ago both my daughters 9 & 6 had theirs out at the same time and let me tell you it was no picnic! Buy lots and lots of popcicles! My girls couldn't eat pudding or ice cream because it made their throats thick. The second day my daughters could drink the broth from chicken noodle soup luke warm through a straw but then it went down hill. Days 3-7 were very tough. My girls went through a lot of tylenol w/codeine to say the least. If I didn't give it at the 4 hr mark they were in a ton of pain. It was very hard on their stomach though so be careful if you use it. My 6 yr old ran a little fever also but was told many kids do. Follow the directions by your doc and remember: buy lots and lots of popcicles!

 

[sohappy]

DD4 had hers out a year ago next week.

The key is to keep them hydrated, by any means possible. The night DD came home, she ate an entire box of popsicles. And then for the next several days, I was nightmarish to get anything into her, but she'd take drinks from a spoon.

Also, no sippy cups, no straws, no sucking at all. Challenging when they're that little, but workable. I had a hard time remembering, and she was so used to using straw cups, etc. that it was a little awkward.

Good luck--it's an awesome view from the other side (DD was really sick before and has been so much better since the surgery), but to get there it's a tough 7-10 days.

I completely agree with all of the advise, but specifically with this. We had to set a timer and then syringe liquid into my little one (2 at the time). He didn't want anything other than to be held (by me only). It was a trying few days, but he is sooooo much better now. For perspective, his first set of tubes took about 3-4 days to recover. Most kids bounce back much faster than that. So our 7-10 days recovery for adenoids might be on the longish side.

 

[Kit'smommy]

Ask your doctor about drinking from straws. My ENT said they were fine, and we used them without any issue at all. We were just told that my son could not eat a smoothy or milkshake through them as those things are thick and harder to drink with a straw.

My child refused popcicles and most other sweet things and wanted Kraft Mac & Cheese, egg noodles and pudding the first day. Day 2, he wanted chicken and ate a chick-fil-a breast from a sandwich cut up very small. Our doctors said to give him anything he wanted except for chips, pizza crust or anything else sharp and crunchy.

We had very few issues with his recovery and he was pretty much fine within5 days.

It has been 6 weeks and we haven't had a single illness, or any snoring in that time. Also, he is eating and sleeping better than he has in a year.

Good luck to you!

 

[4luv2cdisney]

We are currently on day 6 post-op for DD8. She had "the works"...tonsils, tubes, adenoids. She's pretty much living on applesauce and Gatorade right now. She actually ate more the day of surgery (mac-n-cheese, cream of potato soup). We had a friend bring her a Banana smoothie from Jamba Juice and it was the best present ever!

Our doc said to give her nothing red in case she throws up (makes it difficult to tell if it's blood or not). Wish I would have known that before I went shopping. And that dairy makes the mucus thicker, but if all you can get 'em to eat is ice cream, so be it. I was told that hydration is way more important than food. I bought clear Gatorade (some kind of punch flavor) and make sure she drinks at least 1-2 per day. So far she is pleny hydrated and doesn't have much pain, but I have to remind her to eat or drink every 20 minutes or so. She's just not interested. I guess if it's not "real food", she figures why bother!

Good luck! I've heard kids have really bad experiences and some have really "easy" ones. Prepare for the worst, hope for the best! Hope you get an "easy" one! My DD8 has a pretty high threshold for pain, and only needed regular tylenol for the first 2 days. Then, her ears hurt yesterday and I gave her 1 dose of Tylenol and she was fine for the rest of the day. I have a feeling if this was my DD11, it would be a whole different experience.....

 

[iwrbnd]

When my daughter got hers out at 2 yrs old they stressed to us the importance of fluids! I thought we were doing well but she got dehydrated and almost had to be re-admitted! Push those fluids!!!

 

[squirrel]

I'd add applesauce and Jello to the list if your child like them.

I had my tonsils and adnoids out when I was three. I don't remember it at all.

 

[swkmom]

My DS 10 just had his tonsils and adenoids out on March 19. The first few days were rough but he is going back to school tomorrow his doctor stated no gym though until he sees him again. I truly think keeping them hydrated is the key to a smooth recovery.

I woke my DS up a couple of times a night to make him drink, if I didn't he was miserable in the morning. He preferred ice water, crushed ice, and blue jello. He is now doing well with most foods, still no chips, popcorn, etc. Our doctor also said no straws.

 

[Sadie22]

DS had his out at age 4 after many rounds of strep. He ate scrambled eggs in the hospital the morning afterward and was also served bread but was too full to eat it. We were told to have him drink sufficient liquids and get him on a regular diet as soon as possible. No straws or sippy cups at first. Older children of friends who kept with soft foods for too long due to fear of pain had a longer recovery.

 

[summerrluvv]

We were told no straws, nothing red (so it's not confused for bleeding).

My son had to stay overnight since he has a bleeding disorder. But, right after he was okay. A little out of it. It was the next day that he was in incredible pain once the meds wore off. Stay on top of the pain meds.

Wishing for a speedy recovery!

 

[frtchr]

Thank you so much for all the advice! I'm trying not to freak out. My parents are coming to help with DS18 months as I have a feeling DD will only want Mommy.

 

[tink1969]

My daughter had her tonsils and adenoids removed when she was five. The doctor prescribed codeine.
She threw up a little in the hospital after the nurse gave her some codeine.
We went home and in the morning there was a small patch of blood on her pillow. She seemed okay, sore throat, obviously. She had one sip of water.
I gave her some more codeine. Shortly after she threw up. It was then I figured the codeine was too much on her stomach. Then she threw up a TON of blood. I rushed her to emergency. Her blood pressure had dropped to 60 over 40. They had her in surgery within 45 minutes and re-closed the incision in her throat. It had opened from the force of her vomiting. That had to be the scariest day of my life. My daughter fell into the 5% category of children who have complications after tonsils/adenoids removed.
She was fine after a few days in the hospital. We had our own room and I had my own bed too.....woo hoo! lol

 

[tink1969]

Sorry, I forgot to add.....liquids, liquids, liquids. And obviously I wouldn't recommend giving codeine.
She will be fine.......

 

[bwilcox]

Sorry, I forgot to add.....liquids, liquids, liquids. And obviously I wouldn't recommend giving codeine.
She will be fine.......

My son had his tonsils and adenoids out when he was 3, and the codeine made him throw up as well. I'm won't lie-it's very scary seeing them roll your toddler away, but the surgery only lasted 30 minutes. He lied in bed for about 3 days, and then after that was good as new. Better actually-no more sleep apnea caused by enlarged tonsils.

 

[monorailsilver]

My son was just under 5 when he had his out in 2008.

He lost a good 5 pounds following the surgery which wasn't good for him since he was about 39 lbs soaking wet pre surgery & around 32-33 lbs post surgery/well that week.

He got an overnight stay in the hospital which included IVF otherwise he wouldn't drink.

I only wish I spoke up & told them to give him his drugs via IV vs orally at that time. My nurse brain wasn't in my head at that time.

OK no red fluids just in case vomittint occurs although I did give in & get watermelon since that was the only thing he ate for a few days.

My son was giving a cup with a straw at the hospital so it was OK by our ENT. He drank out of that cup for a good few days. But we had to force him to keep taking sips otherwise he would not of drank & he'd be back in the hospital for dehydration.

The scariest part was when the ENT took our son from us. He already had meds so he was totally out of it, awake but out so the ENT carried him in his arms.

Then when we saw him in the recovery area, it was so sad as he was just laying there.

He was always the kid on the go, runs like crazy, plays like crazy, never tires. The ENT said "he will have more energy now." Um...how can that be??? It took him a good 2 weeks to get his energy back, I am not sure if that is longer then norm since he wasn't eating well & lost a ton of weight (for him) or what.

But we did got to WDW about a month after & he did not nap!!! OK he stopped napping when he was about 2 but we were up at the crack of dawn for the park you'd think he'd pass out like my older dd & my younger dd did during our mid day break, but no. He was the energizer bunny & kept going & going & going until it was bed time/lights out & even then he was stiill talking.

Anyways, good luck.

 

[Max1*]

My DD had both done at 3 and nix any milk products including ice cream! It creates a milk film in their mouth it's an old wise tail to eat ice cream. The things that worked out best for her were actually hot items like soup the cold things made it worse. She could eat soup, noodles with butter she even managed some soft foods like mashed sweet or white potatoes. Cold made it worse for her.

My DD only took Motrin, no other pain killers. These day's it's an out patient procedure but my DD has asthma so she had to be kept post op for observation. After the effects of the anesthesia wore off she was running down the halls playing and having fun. She felt fine so 5 hours post op they got us out of there. She never felt sick she was just a bit tired here and there but was back on her feet in no time.