Adenotonsillectomy (Removal of Adenoids and Tonsills)?

My boys had their adenoids/tonsils out exactly one year ago after a horrible winter full of strep infections and sleep issues. We haven't had a problem since. We used Dr. Murray in Coppell. He is wonderful and full of information but he is very NO PRESSURE. For us it was clear that it was optional, but would likely be beneficial. We went home and thought about it for a while. One thing I would STRONGLY recommend is whoever you use, make sure they use the COBLATION method rather than the traditional scalpel method. My sons had their surgery on the same morning one had the traditional method, on the other he used coblation (we found this out at the follow up appt). While we had NO complications afterwards, the son who had coblation experienced much less pain and was ready to get back to his normal routine after about 36 hours! The other son was still using his pain meds for another 2 days!

I would probably get a consult with an ENT (we love Dr. Murray) and also try the diet changes recommended in the other posts. If you're consistent with the diet changes (no slips) you should see some changes pretty quickly if diet is the issue.

Best of luck to you!

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We haven't dealt with removing adenoids or tonsils, but chronic congestion/ear infections are often linked to a milk allergy. The ENT might even be able to tell you about it. I'd try switching to soy milk or goat's milk. If it is a milk allergy, you should see changes pretty quickly -- maybe in a week. If you go for goat's milk, the brand is Meyenberg Farms. It's in a purple and white carton. Buy it fresh. The canned or powdered stuff is nasty. For soy milk, the vanilla flavored tastes best. There is also "very vanilla" from Silk brand. We haven't had but one or two runny noses in our house since I switched my kids to soy 2 years ago.

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Hi T.!

Sounds like your guy has a very sore throat which is why he won't eat and only wants milk. I found that when my older son was small that the milk actually encouarged the bacteria to grow. So I switched him to a juice that he liked and served it ice cold and it helped with the pain. I let him have milk during the day when he was active and the juice in the evenings. Water at bedtime. My daughter was my child that had to have the tonsills and adenoids taken out. That in itself was a very unpleasant experience. I would use it as a last resort. Good luck and I am sorry your little guy is feeling so bad.

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Hi I didn't have a child with this but had a child with it when I taught school. After he had surgery, he was like a different kid! He didn't breathe through his mouth anymore, and he could hear a lot better too!

Good luck!

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I'm so sorry... I don't have any advice at all, just wanted to say I'm lifting you both up in prayer. It can't be easy to even think of your kiddo going under the knife.... I just have a 2 year old that won't eat... and I complain about that... and to think of all the other things that could be going on... I should be thankful. Just know you're being thought of. Good luck
A.

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Have you tested him for reflux?, My 2 yrs had similar symptoms, he had silent reflux, now he is in soy milk and zantac and is doing much better, even when still wakes up once in the middle of the night (used to be every 2 or 3 Hrs)he is eating much better. Milk was his only food for a while and I was affraid that he was not going to eat anything else if a removed it from his diet, it was hard the first couple of days but once it was out of his system, we notice the difference. Now he is trying new foods and has a healthier diet.
Good luck I know Its really hard when a kid doesn't want to eat.
L.

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T.,

My 9 year old just had his tonsils out on Monday. He would jerk himself awake several times a night. Did not sleep well and was always a crab. The DR. told me he would eventually have to have them out, so we had it done before school started. I have 4 kids and he is my 3rd to have them removed. Also, I had mine out over Christmas break in 2005. The older you get the rougher it is. My 13 year old had his appendix out and they scared his tonsils and had to have them removed. My 10 year old had very large tonsils and had hers removed. I had some of the worst tonsils this DR. had ever seen. I really believe the longer you wait the worst they get. My 9 year old is doing very well, he isn't in alot of pain, and is healing very fast. If he's having that many problems I would have them removed. It's the best thing I ever Did. Hope this Helps. If you need anything just e-mail me ____@____.com

L. S.

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Hi T.,

My son had an adnoid and tonilectomy just this past April. You can take him to an ENT. We see Dr. Evan Bates in Plano (also has Dallas office) and I ADORE him. He was voted in D Magazine as one of the top dr.s in the area. He's easy to talk to and oh so knowledgable and he's conservetive. If there are other alternatives to try first before surgery, he will try them and let surgery be a last resort.

First, you need to ask for a sleep study from your ENT before any kind of surgery is suggested. I've seen ENTs that just assume that my child needed surgery but didn't take the time to order a sleep study... and we did not see those dr.s again. If they can't order one then you go see a pulmonologist and tell them about the sleeping problem as it may be associated to reflux or sleep apnea. (DR. Bates can order a sleep study for you and you'd go to children's medical in dallas to do it. Our pulmonologist is Andrew Gelfand at Dallas Presby)

After the sleep study, they may or may not call for some other tests depending on what they see. Dr. Bates will tell you waht to do next and then you'll probably do a follow up sleep study.

Let me know if I can help in any other way.

Best regards,

R. Wolverton

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My son had his adenoids, Tonsills and Tubes put in his ears about 2 1/2 years old. I highly recommend it as soon as possible if that is a problem. He had problems snoring, breathing, and other problems ....He does not snore no longer. I find it better if you do it at an earlier age then later, but it is fast and recovery is only like 2-4 days.

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I love our ENT... Dr. Paul Bauer at ENT for Children in Coppell. He put tubes in twin's ears (last year) at 27 months and they've not fallen out yet. He also removed my daughter's adenoids, due to excessive sinus infections. He is cautiously progressive and does not jump right in to surgey. He discusses all options available which is a nice change in today's busy life.

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My son also had this problem and we saw many doctors, finally we saw an ENT doctor who put him on a 2 month medication there were 2 medications he had to take 3 times a day for 2 months but I cannot for the life of me remember the names of the medication but I can Find the name of the doctor. This series of medication worked so well my son has not had an ear infection in 3 years. If the medication did not work the doctor was going to put tubes in his ears. Please let me know if you would like for me to find the name and number of that doctor, my email address is ____@____.com

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I have a daughter that is 22 months and was born at 29 weeks, she has had a lot of ear infections as well and her ped. adviced me on taking her to and ENT and so I did. They did a hearing test and checked out her ears and told me that she had fluid in her left ear. They started to tell me that they might take out her adenoids but then the doctor came in and told me otherwise. We scheduled for another visit and she had tubes put in her ears. and so far so good. no problems thank god.

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Has anyone else noticed all the responses are about boys?

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Dear sweet T.... I am so sorry you are having such a hard time with your son's health. PLEASE, PLEASE do as much research as possible before having the filtering mechanisms in your child's body removed.

There is nothing more phlegm-inducing than dairy products. If you remove your son from all dairy for just a few weeks, you will see VAST improvement. Never give your son a bottle (or a drink) while he's laying down (ear infections).

I lived for the most of my first 12 years with chronic ear infections, tonsilitis and mouth ulcers. I had inherited a rare sensitivity to milk cultures from my father, and when I took raw dairy out of my diet, everything cleared right up.

Please, PLEASE try to adjust your son's diet BEFORE resorting to surgery. It's worth a try!! Switch to Soy Milk or Rice Milk. Should be an easier switch with a little one, but may take some coaxing at first.

I will send warm, healing thoughts to you and your son. -R. (____@____.com)

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My son just turned two and had had repeat ear infections for about six months. They said he averaged one every month since starting his MDO program a year ago. After six months and repeated use of antibiotics to treat the ear infections (that he was becoming immune to) we were referred to an ENT. In January it was decided he would have tubes placed in his ears and a possible adenoidectomy due to enlarged adenoids. During the procedure his ENT noted that his adenoids were infected and lasered them. It was a very simple procedure and since then he has not had one ear infection. Also, he has stopped snoring. Right now we are in the process of getting him evaluated for speech therapy because during the six months that he had so many ear infections he did not hear, therefore did not speak. He now has a slight speech delay which they say is normal. My son does not suck his thumb but still uses his pacifier. He has never had tonsillitis. I hope this helps.

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My son had his tonsils & adenoids removed at the age of 3, and we are SO glad we did it! Wish we'd have done it earlier. We barely even got to enjoy his babyhood, because of all the ear & throat infections that he constantly had. Constantly on a medicine schedule. After the surgery, we had NO MORE PROBLEMS. We do keep him on a seasonal allergy medicine (Zyrtec), but that's a piece of cake compared to what he (& us parents) had to endure before the surgery w/all the decongestants & antibiotics. We took him to Dr. Mark Littlejohn in Longview. He is wonderful !

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I just wanted to tell you, I had my adenoids removed when I was about 8. It was simple and not too painful of a recovery either. Mine were about the size of golfballs too... the DR. said this caused my tongue to push against my teeth which made them reallllly bad! Thank goodness for braces!! I just wanted to let you know b/c a lot of moms are worried about their babies having surgery!

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While I have not had this problem, a friend of mine did and she took her son off all dairy and wheat products. Once that was out of his system, he didn't have another problem with his tonsills or his ears. I don't know if that is helpful. One other thing, I had my toncills out at 33 and my husband had his out at 34 and we both decided if a doctor suggested our children needed them out early, we would do it. It was just too painful to do as an adult.

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Hi T.,
I would really try removing all dairy from his diet. This can really change a child's illness pattern. When i am working with breastfeeding dyads I have found that it take a full 3 weeks to clear both mom's and baby's systems. There is usually a significant change after 1 week though. If removing dairy doesn't completely solve your son's problems and you suspect other food intollerances there are parctitioners that can help identify the other problem foods.

Good luck,
R.
PS I have also seen children change behavior patterns after the removal of dairy from their diets.

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My son had some of the same symptoms when he was 3 yrs old. He is 5 years old now. He had both his tonsils and adenoids removed and has done remarkably well since the surgery. Technology has come a long way over the years and they performed his as day surgery. He was a little groggy for most of the day, but for the most part was back to normal the next day.

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For 2 years my daughter was sick with strep throat & had ear infections. She had strep so much that she never really acted sick. She was just "use" to being sick & I wouldn't realize it until she had a fever or just wasn't eating anymore.

I took her to see an ENT & my 4 yr. old came along for the ride. My 2 yr. old was diagnosed immediately to get rid of her tonsils & adnoids. The Dr. just looked at my 4 yr. old for the heck of it& realized her adnoids were growing into her nose! She also had her tonsils out too! Yes, I had both girls have their tonsils & adnoids taken out on the same day & none of us regret it! My 2 yr. old is finally gaining weight & hasn't been sick at all (except for a small common cold).

My mom is 60 yrs. old who never had her tonsils taken out & I didn't want my girls to go through what she does every year. She gets horribly sick & has to take steriods to get rid of her strep throat. But she has been told my several Drs. & even my daughter's Dr. to not have surgery that it could be life threatening at an adult age.

If your child has to have this surgery done I highly recommend it now! My girls were up & going about 3 days after the surgery! Everyone kept telling me I had to keep them home (which they were highly about to go crazy) so I called the Dr. on what to do & he said take them to McD's NoW for some
Ice cream!!!

I just am happy that my 4 yr. old went with us to that Appt. I had found out that with the adnoid blockage (which was creating her snoring at night) would eventually cause sleep apnea & can affect the heart. Yes, it's scary as a mother to see your children go into surgery but it was the best thing for my daughters. Plus they were so happy to drink as many smoothies & shakes they wanted!!

Take care!
~K.

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There is a good chance they will want to remove them. It is really simple now, in fact they can do it all with at lazer (nothing like it was when we were kids). As far as the weight, dont worry. I have 4 kids, and my daughter that will be 4 in about a week only weighs 29 lbs and is completely healthy. DONT GIVE HIM MILK!!! If the infection is still there, even dormant, this will cause it to flair up. Their is bacteria in milk, so no milk products. I would just wait to see what the dr says. Don't worry till you know there is a reason, and im sure there wont be =)

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My son was snoring at 2 years old and had OSA(obstructive sleep apnea).....different symptoms and issues but wanted you to know that we did have his tonsils and adenoids removed in surgery and he was instantly cured of this problem....used ENT specialists in Irving....they were great! My nephews have also had tonsils and adenoids removed for similar issues to your childs....they were much improved after having the surgery....no more ear infections, etc....feel free to email me with any further questions.
T. L.
Flower MOund
SAHM to 7 and 3 year olds

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