Ear Tubes and Adnoids Out

The 4 year old will be running around like crazy right afterwards. The 8 month old will not even realize what happened.

Both of my kids got tubes when they were about two years old. They both recovered perfectly. They were both fine that day, but I did opt to stay home that day with them. Good luck! =)

Hi,

My 3 year old daughter had tubes put in and adnoids removed last month. I was very nervous about the surgery too, so I understand your feelings.

She was a little upset and tired after she woke up from surgery, but that faded within a few hours. The next day she was running around outside and as happy as ever. The doctor said some kids have drainage from the ears, bad breath, and/or a hoarse sounding voice, but we didn't experience any of that. The only minor area of concern for me was a bit of wheezing right after surgery and in the morning for a few days. The doctor said this is common from having a tube in the throat. The esophagus may swell some and cause some weheezing. I hope your childrens surgery goes well. Try not to worry and good luck.

I've heard teh younger - the quicker the recovery. My son had it done when he was 6 and that afternoon wanted to eat Fruit Loops! Just keep the COLD fluids going for a day or two and I'll bet your son does just fine.

As far as just having tubes - your daughter should be just fine the same day - no pain to speak of that I can recall either my son or daughter having. She may be a bit "groggy" from the anesthesia (sp?) but should be back to normal in no time flat.

Relax and enjoy a 1/2 hour with a book and a nice cup of coffee(?). You won't get far into the book b4 they are calling you back to your child. :)

K.

my oldest son had them and so did my youngest son ..he had them 2x...the 2nd time he had his adnoids done too....they both were up and running within a few hrs to a day.....all depends on the kid....hope everything goes well with them

Good luck with the children and their ear tubes and adnoids. My son had tubes put in when he was about 3 due to cronic ear infections. The surgery went very well and we had a very quick recovery. As he got older he has continued to have ear infections. Now 12 years old we just had him to a specialist because the Pediatritian just recognized there is a hole in the one ear which tends to get the most infections. The ENT has informed us that although the tube is gone (I remember him loosing them at about 5) the hole could be a result of the tube that had been but in there. That possibly it never closed which would explain the cronic ear infections he has had almost everytime he gets sick it all ends up in an ear infection we had to pull him out of swimming because he would get swimmers ear all the time. Now after all these years and all these infections we are moving forward to keep the ears dry and to possibly batch the whole that is there which is additional out patient surgery. Ear tubes is a very common surgery and I don't regret having it done for him. I wish I had asked more questions or pushed my pediatritian and had the hole discovered sooner. Good news is the correction for this is a patch which is an out patient surgery and we will see how that goes. Good luck!

Hi J.,
My son had his adenoids out when he was 2 1/2. At the same time, my older son had ear tubes. The whole thing was harder on me (my nerves) then them!! When my younger son first woke up form anestetic, he looked aweful. He was fussning and crying and miserable. He hated the IV in his hand. After he completly woke up and they removed the IV, he was FINE!! He actually asked for McDonald's on the way home. By the time we got home he was playing and eating! My older son did complain about his ears "burning" for a couple of hours.
The place we had the procedures done at, allowed one parent to scrub up and go into the O.R. and hold the child until they fell asleep. This really helped everyone stay calmer!
On a side note, my younger son also had to go back in and get his tonsils removed 2 years later! As soon as they took out his adenoids, they slowly started to enlarge, and he started having problems! A tonsillectomy is MUCH worse, since the area is not stationary. (you constantly move your throat muscles) I was told that this doesn't happen too often, so hopefully it won't be the case with your son.
Good luck!!

The tubes in the ears and the adnoids will be a breeze, my son was up and running as soon as we got home.. Tonsil surgery is a little more for recovery time so I think the responses that mentioned a week or so and popsicles etc were thinking of tonsils. Some kids are sleepy from the anistetic but most are tearing around back to normal at least by the next day.
I bought a small toy as a recovery surprise so he could have it when he woke up from the anestetic and he was excited and just fine.

Hello J.,
My daughter got her tonsils and adnoids out when she was 3 at the place on e paris(In G.R)they were great there.
I think I was just as nervous as my daughter. It took about 2 days for her to be up and adam to how she normally is. Get some sherbert and 7up and make slushies..that feels good to their throat.Dont freak out if he throws up, my daughter did when we got home the Dr said alot of kids do from the anethesia(spelling?).Bring him a new toy for when he gets out of surgery hell se it and it will lift his spirits, even though he wont feel like playing,my daughter was happy to see her new doll.Just remember to give lots of cuddle time, it's going to be tough because both of your children will be needed cuddles.Good luck to you and the kids!!

My son also had tubes in and adnoids out, I thought for sure he would want to sleep and just relax for a few days. I was actually looking forward to the down time. Well that didn't happen with us. He had his surgery in the morning when we got home around 10 or 11 he slept for about 1to 2 hours but then he got up and wanted to play. We gave him popcicles for his throat and he ate a very small lunch. If I remember right the next day he was just about back to normal. Hope this helps I don't know if this was normal or not. Good Luck!!

My son had tubes when he was 10 months old and then had his adenoids removed and replacement tubes put in when he was 2. His surgery was in the morning and by the next morning he was back at daycare with no residual effects. They gave us pain drops for his ears, but I think we only used them once. As long as you feel comfortable with the ENT doctor doing the surgery, the kids should be back on their feet in no time!! Good luck.

tubes only is a very quick recovery... Adnoids takes longer as tissues are being cut into and have to heal (and it is a 'wet' environment.). I think it will totally depend on your little one and his current state of health. If he if very healthy and recovers from wounds quickly, then you can just go with what the doctor will suggest.

My nephew had this done. I still do not recall how long it took him, but the first few days are VERY PAINFUL. I did work on his feet and this helped to bring him down a bit (to relax him; the pain levels where not as bad; and he healed faster than the doctor estimated...so my SIL was ecstatic!)...

Just make sure you have 'friendly' foods on hand and nothing that can aggravate it. (my nephew was truly bummed he could not have his favorite: pizza!).

Best of luck and give lots of love as this is still stressful to both of them! (even if the tubes are a quick thing, the body does have to be put under so she doesn't move; and anytime a child is in the hospital it can be scary to them. (from my experience.) Even if they do not show it. (my nephew put on a 'brave-face' and still had some bad dreams afterwards...

Hi J., you are right, the tubes will be a breeze. I had my son's done on this past Friday, they came and took him at 8am and we were on our way home at 920am. It was SO easy. He was a bit agitated and cried for a little while, like 15 minutes off and on, but once that was over, we took him home, fed him and he slept for like 4 hours. My older 2 boys (14yo and 10yo) both had tubes/adenoids done at the same time. They both vomited a little when they were in recovery from the anesthesia, but not like projectile or painful, just a normal barf :o) and then they were still a bit fussy, but the recovery is not bad. Once you get through that first hour or so after surgery, and the fussiness passes and he may have nausea and vomit, but then we went home and we were good to go. It was a long time ago, and it may be even easier now. But, please, don't stress about it too much, it's really not bad. The worst part for me was they told me each time that my son would need to be not very active for the first day or so and getting them not to hop and jump and be "kids" was probably the worst part. But, overall, it's not bad at all! Good luck!

My son had his tubes done 2 times and the 2nd time they did the adnoids also. Recovery was the same day, he was fine within 1 hour of waking up and we were out of the hospital as soon as they could run the paperwork. He was outside playing later that day. What I was not prepared for was the odor a few days later (and I guess it's different for everyone, someone else I know had their's done recently and there was no odor at all). I accused my son of not brusing his teeth, made him chew gum, take lots of showers, etc, but come to find out - the odor was natural and went away in about a week or so. I was worried that other kids would tease him, but they did not. It was from the adnoids being removed and the clots they preformed. Other than that, we had no problems at all! It was also really important that he used earplugs while swimming and such, they made them right in the ENT office, a perfect fit.
Good luck :)

J.,
If I remember when my son had this dbl procedure done, it was pretty much out patient. And a couple day's out of school. If it was done on a Thursday, e.g., he's out Th/F, plus has the weekend off, and by Monday back to school, but taking it easy on the food/drink/talking.

The tubes...they eventually fell out anyway. I don't remember my son having any discomfort after they were put in. The discomfort of the adnoidectomy would be the reason for not noticing any ear ache.

My boys had their tonsils and adnoids removed and tubes put in but not during the same surgery. Both were about 1 1/2 - 2 yrs old when they had their tonsils and adnoids done. One spent the night in the hospital (only because that was required by the dr) and the other one came home after surgery (different dr). The recovery time was very extremely different. The one that came home was running around the next day. The other one was scared in the hospital every time the nurse came in to check his vitals. It was just not a good experience and he took longer to recover - about 3-4 days. They both had the bad breath (I can't remember how long that lasted). For tubes, they were both running around as soon as we got home. Good luck!

My grand-daughter had tubes put in her ears the first time a couple of days before her first birthday (Jan.7,2007)...Everything went well...

Last Friday morning (7:15am) she had the second set of tubes put in..they live 3 hours away, and made it to our house by 5pm ....you would never know she had surgery that morning....We all could see how much better she must have been feeling (what a different child we had the pleasure of having with us last week-end).....

My daughter and son-in-law of course were worried but that is natural, she was in and out and on their way home by 8am...No Problems...

I'm sure your children with go through it all just fine!!!!

Good luck..

B.(Emilie's Grammy)

My son had tubes put in his ears at about 1 1/4. His recovery time was about a day. We had early morning surgery. He came home, ate/slept and was ready to go the next day.

My daughter got her adenoids out when she was 18 months. It was pretty sad when she woke up after surgery, bloody nose, vomit, puffy eyes, but she was back to her old self that same afternoon. Just be prepared for what he might look like when you first see him, but remember it won't last long. My daughter also had to go back and get her tonsils out six months later, and that was a complete nightmare! I know some kids go right back to normal, but mine did not. I just hope your son doesn't have to go back--I would have much rather them taken the adenoids and tonsils at the same time! Good luck.

My kids had tonsils and adenoids out at 5 and 3. My 3 year old got tubes placed at the same time. He was down for about 7 days and my daughter was down for 11 days, lost 6 lbs and needed IV's for dehydration. My friends kids were both up and around after 3 days. I really think it depends on the kid.

Stock up on popcicles, ice cream, yogurt, etc. and get some movies from the library to watch. Mine camped out on the hide a bed in the living room. Neither wanted to eat for a few days, even the ice cream. Another thing.....they both had dragon breath. They warned me, but good grief, was it bad.

Good luck,
C.

Hi J.,
My daughter who is now 5 had tubes in twice and adnoids removed with the second surgery. I can honestly say it was harder for me than it was for her. I got to go to the operating room with her and had to leaver her as they were putting her out. The first time she was maybe 2 years old and was really crying (which made me cry) When the put the mask over her face she quickly went out but was breathing really funny. The doctor said that was completely normal. She was in surgery for only about 20 minutes. She had no pain or discomfort and as a matter of fact went to day care that day. Although looking back I probably would have stayed at home with her, Butthe doctor said it was perfectly fine.
The second time with having her adnoids removed also was a little easier to leave her in the operating room. She had a little more recovery time at the hospital. She never complained about any discomfort but was a little groggy for most of the day. I did stay home with her this time and she was just kind of quiet and laid on the couch. The next day she was normal. That was about 2 uears ago now and the tubes have come out and she seems to be doing fine so far. After the first time they came out she immediately had ear infections and hearing problems so I am relieved that everything seems okay this time around.
I hope this helps. Just remember everything will be okay and better for your kids in the end.
R.

Hi J.,
My son had tubes in his ears when he was 2 1/2. I can't speak for the adnoid part, but I would guess your daughter's procedure will be a breeze. Our son was a little groggy for about 3-4 hours after coming out of the anesthesia, and he did vomit once on the way home. I wasn't prepared for that as they told me he would "bounce right back!" after the surgery. He didn't right away, but he was fine later that day. I would bring something to keep both kids occupied before the surgery, as they cannot eat and they will most likely want to. I hope both procedures go well!
K.