My daughter is 7 and has large tonsils. She wakes often in the night and is very restless. I took her to the dentist and he commented on the size of her tonsils and told me to take her to a sleep clinic or an ENT. I took her to an ENT (Recommended by a friend) and he wants to take her tonsils out. Here is the question Should I take her for a second opinion? My mom thinks I should, I am confident that the Dr. know what he is talking about. Thank you for your help.
I would get another opinion, but from personal experience tnonsils can cause pretty big problems. Mine were never removed and I have AT LEAST two throat infections a year, which are typically simultaneous and cause serious issues. Unfortunately, doctors are very hesitant about removing them at my age now.
I was 7 when I got my tonsils taken out and they were the size of golf balls. They made me snore and caused me to have sore throats all the time. I was a little sore the next day but all was well. I am glad I had them taken out at a young age. I am now 23 and it was the best thing that ever happened to me. It was an in and out procedure and I do not snore anymore and dont have chronic sore throats anymore. Hope this helps.
My son is 2.5.
He has been having reoccurring ear infections & doesn't pronoune words properly. He has been on numerous antibiotics. None of which took away the build up in his ears. after numeroud visits to his dr., we went to an ENT and had him hearing tested and requested a treatment plan.
He also has very large tonsils. He snores very loudly and is a mouth breather. The ENT said they are a 4+ (they use a scale 1-4). To give you an idea of size: the tonsils almost touch the dangly thing in the back of his throat. I honestly don't know how he breathes!
The ENT said due to his hearing issues (he hears as if he has his fingers in his ears) and the fact that antibiotics do not alleviate the problem, we should get his adenoids removed and tubes put in. This will alleviate all hearing issues and get him back on track for pronounciation.
We also had him look at the tonsils. He agreed, they are extremely large. However, we were informed the only two reason to remove tonsils is if there are sleep apnea issues (ie--quits breathing) and/or reoccuring tonsilitis. Even though his tonsils are quite large, he does not have apnea, nor reoccurring tonsilitis, so we are keeping the tonsils. As for the snoring, removal of the adenoids, has been known to cease snoring. So we are hoping that's the case with our son.
To remove the tonsils is an overnight inpatient stay in a hospital. It's a lot more invasive than adenoids and tubes which are outpatient. And requires a longer recovery time. We were told 1-2 days vs. 5-6 days.
My husband and I are not big proponents of surgery unless necessary, so we are keeping the tonsils. If he should start to have reoccuring infections and/ or develop sleep apnea then those will have to go also. But, we don't want to unnecessarily put him through that recovery.
I would recommend a second opinion. Any time someone is going to put your child under anestetic and remove something, you definitely want to make sure it's the right thing for him/her. For my son's circumstances, it's not. For your daughter's, it might be. But for peace of mind, I'd make sure another doctor concurs.
Good luck!
It sounds like she needs them out. Not sure why you're hesitating except that there are always risks with surgery. This is not a difficult surgery and may make a huge difference in keeping her healthy.
Tonsils are part of your immune system, it is not recommended to remove them unnecessarily. I'd have a sleep study done to confirm that they're really causing a sleep issue worth their removal.
Always get a second opinion!
Well, if her tonsils are causing issues, then get a second opinion but its likely you will get the same opinion.
I'm 30 and just had my tonsils out last month. It wasn't bad, but they should have come out when I was a child. Recovery for a child is so much easier than it is for an adult, and if its causing her issues, then go for it. I don't regret having mine out at all, even though I'm 'old'. :)
i'd let him do it. It's much easier on kids then adults and most people need them out at some point anyway. So if it might help and he thinks they should come out then i'd go with that.
Are they thinking the tonsils are causing sleep apnea? Because that could get very serious with the whole not being able to breathe several times a night. Oxygen doesn't get to the brain like it should. My son had large tonsils, snored all the time, and woke up constantly (and fell back to sleep but I could hear the restlessness). We decided to have them taken out when he was 12 months old. We saw immediate results. No more snoring, no more restlessness, and a more alert little boy. Yea!
no i wouldn't as long as you feel confident about what he said. I hve a daughter who needs hers out and he won't do it till it becomes a problem my other child had it done at 9 and it was worse for her i also know another little lady who is 7 and hers out because they where inlarge and she was getting strepp alot so shehad hers done and she had a easier recovery. I want my daughters done. She actually does have abstruction a little bit but nothing major so they won't do it yet.
This is my opinion, I'm not a Doctor but when I was little I got sore throat's ALL the time. My parents took me to the Doc , he wanted to take mine out. My parents couldn't afford it, so I still have them. Now that I'm older I never get sick don't have sinus or hay fever. Your Tonsils are there for a reason. Personally Leave them in. Have her Gargle with Salt water. AND SPIT lol. Its an old remedy but it works.It takes all the yellow stuff thats on her tonsils. Oh and I am 59.
YES - I would take her to get a second opinion. My daughter had to have ear tubes and her adenoids removed at a young age and while I trusted the doctor I took her to, I just needed to make sure I was doing the right thing. I got a second opinion and the doctor confirmed what I had already been told. My daughter is now almost 12 years old and I'm so glad I did it because she was having a lot of trouble. I hope this is helpful.
My son who was 4 at the time had tonsils the size of golf balls in his throat. He would constantly gag on food and snored when he slept. It took a years worth of ear infections, 3 blown ear drums and the loss of hearing in 1 ear to finally get the required recommendation to see the ENT - which it was immediately clear my son needed surgery to repair his ears and remove his tonsils and adnoids.
Trust your ENT - especially one that was recommended by a friend - your friend obviously trusts them too.
Good luck!
