Adanoid Removal

Updated on January 16, 2009
S.P. asks from Brentwood, TN
18 answers

My 7 year old daughter is going to have her adanoids removed. Can anyone share experiences with this? Is it painful and does recovery take long? I understand the procedure is much less serious than taking out tonsils, but my daughter is getting herself very worried and I want to reassure her.

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So What Happened?

Well, we went to our doctor today and after reviewing the CT scan found that she does not have a proper drainage cancel for her sinus on the left side. In addition to the adenoid removal (to prevent further infections) they are going to have to cut a hole in the sinus cavity. Routine operation for adults, but not recommended for children. I saw the pictures and concur with the problem. Just changes it from routine to a little more risky.
Thanks for all your shared thoughts.

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K.A.

answers from Nashville on

I had mine taken out when I was ll along with my tonsils. I don't remember any pain from the adnois, just my throat was sore.

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M.T.

answers from Nashville on

Why is she getting her adnoids out without having her tonsils out? I think that is what I need but don't know how to go about doing it or telling a dr that is what I want. So ...... I was wondering what kind of problem she was having that called for the removal of andoids but not tonsils.

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H.P.

answers from Raleigh on

My 5 year old son had his tonsils and adenoids taken out this past September. It took a full week for him to feel well enough to go back to school. In fact, after 7 days, I sent him on Friday, and the school called me because he was having a hard time. The most important thing is to keep her hydrated - which is a little difficult because their throats are so sore after the surgery. I just talked to him about what was going to happen during the surgery - not in too much detail - and told him he could eat all the ice cream, ice pops, jello, he wanted to afterwards. It's only been 4 months now, and he remembers having it done, but he's not traumatized by it by any means. In fact, he feels so much better after having it done, that it was well worth it! Good luck to you!

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H.F.

answers from Nashville on

My DD was 3.5 when she had them removed (last July) and my only problem was keeping her calm for 3 days & keeping her in the house for 2 weeks!!! It went great & she sleeps much better now. Of course, she did get a frosty on the way home & unlimited ice cream & popsicles for a few days!!! I don't regret my decision at all & I'm sure you won't either. You're daughter will love the extra attention & ice cream!

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M.C.

answers from Nashville on

Well, I haven't experienced this surgery alone. My daughter had her tonsils and adenoids removed when she was 3. My son had his adenoids removed and tubes placed in his ears when he was 11mths old. My daughters main recovery was due to her tonsils being removed and even it wasn't too bad at all. My son, who had tubes placed at the same time his adenoids were removed, had virtually no recovery at all. He came out of surgery, which was extremely quick, and jumped right back in to life. =0) He took a little longer nap that afternoon, but still ate, drank, and played like normal. I'm sure your little girl will be pleasantly surprised at how quick and easy it will be. She just made need to take a little rest when she gets home to sleep off the rest of the meds. I'm sure they will take excellent care of her. Heck, we're all super nervous before any type of procedure. She's old enough to totally "get" what's going to happen. That's probably more nerve-wracking than those of us who have to put our little ones through it. But, both of my experiences with this surgery weren't bad at all.....especially my son's. =0) Good luck to you both!

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R.B.

answers from Greensboro on

My daughter had her adenoids removed when she was 5, and begged to go back to school the same day... after the anesthesia wore off, she was bouncing off the walls like usual. She never complained of any pain, but i did keep tylenol or ibuprofen in her system for 24 hours following surgery. I think tonsils are a lot more painful, but she only had the adenoidectomy.

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K.M.

answers from Charlotte on

I had my adenoids removed when I was six and all I really remember is being wheeled into the OR from my room. (Back then you had to stay in the hospital the night befor and for another night or two.) My hospital stay plus a normal weekend is all the school I missed and I was not feeling bad according to my mom. Sometimes I think the old way of having kids stay in the hospital was better. I got to go on a tour befor my stay, and thought it was like a slumber party, lol! I hope all goes well with her surgery.

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B.L.

answers from Jacksonville on

My son was often sick (constant ear infections), and sounded like he was snoring day and night because he had to breathe through his mouth because his adenoids were so huge that he sounded like he was completely congested all the time. He had obstructive sleep apnea. His tonsils and adenoids were removed. He has hemophilia, so that complicated the procedure and they kept him an extra day because of that - otherwise he would have gone home the same day.

No surgery is fun or without risks. There were moments while he was recovering in the hospital when I regretted having had it done, because yes he was miserable. But so was childbirth, and going to college, and pretty much anything worth while, and I don't regret those things. The surgery has dramatically improved his quality of life; he sleeps now without snoring, or stopping breathing, or waking up all the time, and doesn't mouth breathe all day, and is in better health.

If your daughter needs it done in order to have a better quality of life and improve her health, then it's worth the temporary discomfort. Focus on the positive outcome of the procedure with her, rather than the short term pain. Get a second opinion to ease your mind if you are unsure. We took him to a Naturopathic Doctor, whom I totally trust and has helped me immensely with my issues. However, I decided that his problem was anatomical, and couldn't be "cured" with diet and such. Exhaust all other alternatives if you are uncomfortable, before going ahead with it.

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R.S.

answers from Jacksonville on

My twins had their adenoids removed right before they turned 4. It was a relatively quick procedure....we had to be at the hospital at 7 am and were home by 1pm (and that was with two kids). They were a little groggy when we got home but that was about it...no soreness or other side effects! Good Luck!

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J.A.

answers from Raleigh on

I assure you it is a piece of cake! My six yr old daughter just had tonsils and adnoids out last wednesday and she was up tryingto play within 2 hours of being home. She is still on pain meds for sore throat but once she has her pain meds she is up running around. The worst part of the whole thing is immediate after they wake up from the anastesia they look a little rough but again I would tell her it is a piece of cake. She should be fine.

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C.A.

answers from Nashville on

My son had his removed at age 4. When he woke up, he wanted Wendy's for lunch. Other than being very tired he was fine. He had to take pain meds for a few days, but since it's not tonsils he was able to eat and drink anything he wanted.

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M.D.

answers from Louisville on

My daughter's ent doctor recommended this procedure when she got her ear tubes the 2nd time. She was 2 1/5. So during the same surgery they placed new eat tubes and removed SOME adanoids. It wasn't much more difficult than the 1st time she got her ear tubes put in. She wasn't scared and recovered well. She does have bad breath often, I wonder if that is a side effect?

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P.K.

answers from Knoxville on

my daughter had adnoids and tonsils removed at same time. there was no pain for her not even a sore throat she wanted to play and eat afterwards of course she couldn't but she tried so i believe your daughter will be fine.goodluck

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J.S.

answers from Chattanooga on

My son had his tonsils/adenoids out at 20 months old. The first day we kept him on the pain meds on schedule. By the second day we were backing off the pain meds. He ate jello for those first two days and then by the third day was already eating chicken nuggets again. She will be fine. Reassure her that it will hurt to swallow, but they will give her meds to help with that.
Good Luck

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K.K.

answers from Huntington on

my son had this done last year he was 2 and a half he really didnt have much pain i did give him the prescribed meds the first day just to put my own mind a ease but from then on out he just too kreg tylenol and it was over so please let her know that im sure it isnt painfull and that she will feel much better after it is all over

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S.C.

answers from Memphis on

My daughter had her adenoids out when she had tubes put in her ears at 26 months old. The recovery was nothing - really, she didn't miss a beat, and the surgery only took minutes. Since your little girl is a bit older, the surgery and recovery might be a little more involved, but hopefully you will experience the same wonderful results. My husband and I always joke that our daughter is the poster child for adenoid removal - we really can't say enough about the wonderful results! I know the tubes were a big help, but she has never had a runny nose, cold or sore throat since the surgery, and it has been almost a year. I have many friends that only got tubes, and went back later for adenoid removal because the results were not what they hoped with tubes alone. Before the surgery she always had a snotty nose and open mouth breathing, and now she is perfect! I wish you all the best, and I hope you get wonderful results!

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D.J.

answers from Greensboro on

My daughter had her tonsils and adanoids removed at the age of 7. She did experience pain but not for very long. It was an extremely quick procedure and she was very scared when they took her back but the staff was great with her and her recovery went well. She actually liked all the attention afterwards and the fact that she could lay around and eat and watch tv not to mention being waited on. She said it felt like a bad sore throat but cold drinks and ice cream made it feel much better. She was up and going within a couple of days.

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