Tonsil & Adnoid Removal

My son had his tonsils/adenoids removed when he had just turned 4. His were so large they almost touched each other at the back of his mouth. We tried reducing them with steroids but as soon as we finished the series they swelled right back up again. He didn't have a fever and they weren't infected, but they had become an obstruction that was having him snore all night and have trouble eating and swallowing.
He had him at the hospital very early in the morning and we brought him home around 11am. The pain medication was very effective. He didn't feel like eating at first but then Popsicles and jello were good. He liked cold things, then warmer things were ok (soup, etc). In a few days he was eating scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes. They heal up really quickly and he was fine before 1 week was up.
The snoring was gone right away and he slept so much better.
We were very glad we had them out when we did.

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This was our no complications experience at Children's Hospital in Boston, your hospital may have different rules. My 9 year old daughter had her tonsils removed and stayed in the hospital overnight to make sure there were no complications with bleeding. The "tonsil beds" (where they get cut off from the throat) can bleed immediately after surgery and again about 7 days later when the scabs fall off. For that reason they need to stay home from school for 10 days. Also, going into and coming out of anesthesia can be frightening for them. Our surgeon let me walk into the OR with her on a moving bed, they then gave her a balloon to blow up (face-mask) that had strawberry flavored gas to which they gradually added the anesthesia. So at first it is just sort of fun, the added anesthesia tasted bitter, but it works really fast. Coming out of anesthesia she was a bit bewildered - they left her slightly constricted under tight bedding since patients can flail and panic when they awake. Mom can be at the bedside when they awake and she calmed after a few seconds. She spoke of very strange dreams, and was only allowed ice chips for the first hour or so. She was observed in a recovery room with other kids who had the same surgery (Thursday is tonsil day at this hospital). If you do not need to stay overnight then you will stay in this room for about 2-4 hours. My daughter was moved to an inpatient room and we stayed overnight. She received oral Tylenol with codeine for the pain on a regular schedule and we continued that for only 1 day at home and then switched to regular Tylenol since she hated the taste of the codeine. She stayed in bed maybe 1 day and then just slept late and moved to the couch for the rest of the day. I was told to watch for blood on her pillow, and if I do see that to look into her throat to see if the scabs are bleeding - neither happened. She was bored after about 4 days and wanted to go back to school so I think the experience was easy and fairly painless for her. Her tonsils actually closed her nasal passages they were so big. She no longer snores at all (I could hear her through 2 closed doors before), sleeps much better, has no more morning stinky breath since she can now breathe through her nose. The ENT doctor said that some huge tonsils cause no problems and other smaller ones do, so it is not just a matter of size. I drove her home the next day laying down in the front seat with a big comforter all around her - she is tall and I felt it was safer to lay the front seat down so she could wear a seat belt than laying on the backbench with only a hip belt.

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I didn't have my tonsils out until I was 31 years old. My throat felt like i had swallowed glass for about 3 days post surgery.

I ate Jell-o and broth for 3 to 5 days....I LOVED the Freezer Pops!! YUM!!! REALLY HELPED with the soreness....I used liquid advil (yep for kids) as the first couple of days did hurt in swallowing a pill. After that - I would say it was 5 days, I was good to go!!

One thing the Drs dont tell you is that 3 days later when the lanocaine wears off is the worst day. The tylenol with codeine works but only if you can get it in them (it tastes gross). Offer a treat after taking it,something really sweet and special that they dont usually get. Another thing I wasn't expecting was parents to handing out wrapped presents in the recovery room. Boy did I feel like a heel when my son saw everyone in the waiting room prepared with presents to give and then the kids opening boxes in the recovery room! Oy!!
My son didnt eat at all for about 7 days, drinking is important though. No citrus! It will burn. Just cool sweet liquids like gatoraide,iced tea,nothing red or sour. Hell be fine,he may throw up a bit, hell sleep a lot and his throat will hurt a lot but it will get better and then you will all sleep again. Good luck and a speedy recovery.

My daughter had hers removed last year when she was three and she did great. The pain meds really did seem to help alot. I woke her up at night to give her the medicine even if she wasn't complaining because by the time the pain woke her up it would take awhile for the medicine to kick in. Be prepared for REALLY bad breath, my doctor said that was part of the healing process. She was up and around in a few days but make sure they don't overdue it because you don't want him to tear his scabs and start bleeding. We also stocked up on alot of popsicles and coloring books so she had something to do while laying around. Good luck!

My 9 1/2 year old daughter had her tonsils and adenoids removed on January 5th. The surgery itself went fine, but the recovery was horrible -- much worse than I had expected. She was in a lot of pain, and her jaw hurt a lot from being held open for so long, so it was practically impossible for her to eat. She could barely swallow more than the smallest sip, so the fluids went in very slowly. The tylenol w/ codeine was so hard on her stomach that she threw it up, along w/several hours of fluids. The antibiotics that were supposed to prevent infection caused other problems. With significant fluids coming out both ends, and hardly any going in, we were back at the ER on day 5 for IV fluids -- doc agreed that she was dehydrated. She went back to school 13 days post op, and could barely handle it. Came right home each day this week and took a nap. Also, her voice sounded much different right after surgery, like mini mouse, but this is improving with time. And, because the adenoids were so big, now that they are gone, she is getting food and drink up into her nose when she swallows since the soft palate doesn't make a tight seal against the back of her throat any more, but they say that this can take 6 weeks to fix itself and it does seem to be improving at 3 weeks post op. Everyone is different, I recomment plan for the worse and be happy if it doesn't happen. I was not prepared for how rough she had it and that made it harder. Good luck!

Different kids react in different ways. Some bounce back quickly, others don't. You won't know which your child will do until it's over.

You've got a lot of great answers below. I'll just add to try your hardest not to act worried in front of him because he will pick up on that. And don't let a bunch of people come over to see him the first 3 or 4 days - too much going on will upset and exhaust him. Play soft music or quiet TV for him. But don't play TV all day long - he'll get used to that and give you a hard time after he's well - TV is addictive (like Mamasource! LOL!)

The other thing I want to recommend after having children in surgery is the use of versed. They also call it "giggle juice". It helps you kind of konk out before being in the operating room, and it takes away some short term memory. They really like to use it for children because it helps a child keep from having post traumatic stress from being in the hospital. Ask your doctor if they are considering doing it - hopefully he says yes. If they aren't planning on it, you can ask for it. It keeps them calm and happy and when he goes out that door away from you, you won't have to stand there crying to yourself, worried sick that he's screaming in the operating room, where you can't go to be with him.

Hope this helps,
D.

My two nephews and my cousin all had this procedure and they were all different.

The first one was in maybe 4th grade (had other health issues including asthma) and had a tough time. He was chubby but ended up loosing a lot of weight because he wouldn't eat and then was a bit sick. It was probably just over two weeks before he was feeling better. The next was in 3rd or 4th grade and his appetite went from that of a bird to an appetite that would rival grown men. He was eating bacon before the week was out. No problems at all. My other nephew was 3 when he had his (and another procedure at the same time) done. He was a bit sore but they gave him pain meds the first day or two and regular tylenol after that. Within a week he was fine.

Ice pops, popsicles, italian ice, ice cream are all great things to help keep them hydrated and sooth the throat. If they are able to suck, milk shakes are good too. Outside of that, think soft foods...mashed potatoes, pudding, jello, soups (make sure it isn't too salty or spicy), and cold drinks.

There is a wide range of what is normal so if you son deviates from what your doctor says, don't stress too much. As with everything, every child is different so is their surgeries and recoveries.

My son was about the same age when we did his. The first week was the worse and then each day after gets better. Have plenty of popsicles, that's about all mine ate the first week. Yes the pain meds worked for us. I think the worst was his breath, oh my goodness, it was all I could do to snuggle with him. HORRIBLE!!! Stock up on lots of movies, he will be laying around alot.

My husband had tonsils, uvula, and the upper pallet cut back and they did keep in the hospital overnight but when he got out he seemed fine. He said it hurt, but he seemed to recover well. His pain meds were liquid and he insisted on eating food.

My daughter was also six when she had hers removed. As for pain meds working, we don't know since she refused to take them (has always had an aversion to liquid/chewable medicine.) So she held her own as far as pain. She did sleep quite a bit the first two days. We gave her drinkable yogurt, jello, popsicles, anything that was cool and easy to swallow. It's true that after the first week the pain may get worse again when the scabs fall off. Oh, and your son may complain of ear pain as well. I will tell you we were hesitant about the surgery but so glad we had that done for her. It made a world of difference in her quality of sleep!

My son was two when he had his out and I am so glad we did it when he was so young. He doesn't even remember anything about it. The first night was really bad and was so much better the following day, the nights were really bad. I ask the ENT a ton of questions about food, because as most two year old he didn't eat a ton of soft food. I bought Jell-0 pudding pops, popsicles and ice cream. He could have mac and cheese, I bought the frozen stouffers one, with the big soft noodles, and cut them up into little bites. We also did oatmeal and applesauce. The thing he loved the most of frosty's from wendys. He had never had them before and all he kept saying was more. My son was in normal range weight, but lost three pounds because he wasn't eating and drinking as much. It took about two weeks before my son would even take a bite of something that wasn't super soft. About a month before he return to his normal diet. We did continue the pudding pops and yogurt tubes for a while, I am sure that they felt good and were a comfort for him. I would also make sure he has a cool mist humidifier in his room at night to keep the air moist. We bought different Juicy juices and juice boxes hoping anything would work.

My son hated taking his pain meds. I thought they burn while going down. They did seem to help, but I am sure that is different for everyone.

I bought new books for him and one of his grandma's sent new books too. Since your son is six maybe getting a few chapter books, and some fun workbooks would help pass the time. Hard to tell because everyone recovers differently. He may sleep a lot or me may not. I am sure he will have homework sent home so that could keep him busy.

Good luck!