Tonsils and Adenoids - Clarkston,MI

Hi C.,
As a mother, I understand your concern to do what is best for your child. After reading all the other responses, I'm not surprised but I am disappointed to see how many people have chosen the surgery option. I am not a supporter of surgery, unless appsolutely necessary.
I am a chiropractor and I specialize in pediatric care. Children can have large adnoids and tonsils normally. It is normal for them to be larger until they are around 8-9 years of age. The tonsils and adnoids are a defense mechanism for the body. Just like your nose blocks irritants, and other things we breath from getting into the body, the tonsils are the mouths blockers. To remove them will probably solve your concerns now, but can lead your child to have a suppressed immune system down the road. I aggree with the other writers about the issue of sleep and how important it is, so I ask you.. Have you looked into any other options besides the traditional medical surgical route? The air filter is a great suggstion. Also, look at her diet. If she is eating dairy, then I suggest you remove that to start with. All dairy, espcially milk, yogurt, cheese, are mucus producing products in the body. If a child has a weak system and tends to get ill easily or get ear infections easily, than dairy products just add fuel to the fire. Is she taking any multivitamin or essential oils? Cod liver oil is generally great for children even if they appear to be healthy. It helps build their nervous system. Mentioning the nervous system, making sure that is working at 100% is key to keeping the immune system at top notch also. That is exactly what chiropractors do. Kids don't come to us for back pains, they come in because their immune system is weak because the nervous system is weak. If you want to read more about it go to: www.MCPAkids.org or www.icpa4kids.org
Good luck with your decision. I hope I helped giving you an alternative way to look at it. If you have any questions, please email me or call me at ###-###-####.
Take care, Dr. Heather S.

1 mom found this helpful

Take her off all dairy for at least a week before you decide. My son had his out, so i'm not necessarily opposed. But if you give the non-dairy diet a try, her tonsil/adnoid tissue may shrink a bit. I know it sounds strange, but that is what works with my daughter. We were going to have hers removed (uggh!) but then I removed dairy from her diet and her tonsils literally shrunk. Her sensitivity to dairy was making her body react to it like most allergies...inflammation.Get her off all dairy,including butter, and see if that improves her situation.By the way, most traditional doctors will scoff at such a theory. Try it anyway. Tonsilectomy is not fun!

my younger son constantly snored and had ear problems until the ENT removed his adnoids..he left the tonsils since they weren't causing the problem.....he hasn't had a problem since and he got his hearing back(he lost most of his hearing)...if the drs feel she needs it done it may need to be done....they don't just take out tonsils and adnoids anymore....it was an out patient surgery...we were home a few hrs later and he was playing...hope all goes well

My daughter had the same problem when she was 4. We had problems with the snoring but none of the infections and that sort of thing. We had her tonsils and adenoids out just before Christmas last year and it was well worth it! She sleeps much better and we don't hear a bit of snoring! I was really torn about going through with it, surgery for any little person is scary but it really wasn't bad at all for her. She was groggy that day but never really had any pain or anything. Good luck whatever you do!!

My daughter has always been a loud breather when she sleeps. We had her on nose spray when she was really little which did seems to help. After a horrible winter and so many ear infections we were referred to an ENT. She had tubes put in and her adenoids removed. Her tonsils are VERY large but the ENT decided to wait and thinks it will get better as she grows. She was 2 1/2 when she had surgery and both me and my husband feel that removing her adenoids was the best thing we could have done. We saw results right away, she breaths so lightly I have to go up to her just to make sure she is breathing! We used to be able to hear in our room even when her door was shut! Also, she isn't as restless at night when she sleeps. Your daughter will be fine, we were very nervous and recovery wasn't the most fun but it was worth it for us! And now we are wishing they would have just removed her tonils at the same time. She has had strep a few times already this year and whenever she gets sick her tonsils swell up.

Good luck!

C.-

I work in the pathology field and I can tell you that we see MULTIPLE tonsils and adenoids on a daily basis. It is a VERY common procedure for both infections and sleep apnea (the snoring problem that you mentioned). The younger the child is, the much better they cope and a much faster healing process. You will have to check with the ENT for sure, but from my experience and knowledge, it is best to do this now... the tonsils and adenoids are not going to 'shrink' (since there is no infection) and the problem will not subside. Although I'm not sure if it is less painful, as another poster mentioned, there is another way of removing the tonsils and adenoids... they 'suck' them out through an aspirator bag, rather than completely resecting them with a scalpel. It definitely might be worth mentioning when you see the specialist. Good luck!

Hi C. -

The sooner you get them out the better. I had two of my three boys' tonsils and adenoids out when they were just 18 months old. The younger they are the faster the recovery. The older they get the more possibilities of complications. Chances are she won't grow out of it so I'd get it done asap.

Good luck - S.

My son had the same problem - we decided to wait and then he developed sleep apnea, so developed sleep deprivation issues due to the apnea. Also the tonsils got so big as to affect his speech, words like "goat" came out as "doat". We went ahead with the tonsils and adenoids removal, and ALL problems went away - even improved his temperament. Wish we had done it a year earlier. Good luck.

Both of my daughters who are 8 and 5 had theirs removed in April. People told me i was nuts to do them both at the same time(and with a 8 month old also at home) but it was not to bad actually. The first couple days were horrible, but then besides the eating they were fine. My 8 year olds adenoids were blocking 80% of her breathing through her nose and had large tonsils ( she also was snoring since she was little-She doesn't snore anymore only when sick: ) My 5 Year old only had huge tonsils but he said it was better to take out both. Well i hope I have helped. N.

When I was younger I had the same problem. I also would get Strep throat a lot. My mom wasn't sure that she wanted me to go through the surgery and the doctor didn't want to pressure her - though I wish he would have. I just had them taken out 3 years ago (when I was 23) and it was such a tough surgery on me! My ENT said children usually do MUCH better with the surgery and actually warned me prior to having it, but said he felt it was still necessary. Deciding things like this are never easy - best of luck!

Hi C.---It's so hard to even contemplate your little one having to go in for surgery. My oldest probably was in outpatient surgery at least 7 times, mostly for tubes and straightening eye muscles. Because of the recurrent ear infections, she did have her adenoids removed but not the tonsils. Can't remember exactly why (she's almost 25) but it seems she never had problems with those. But the kids recover quickly.

From what I am learning about health and wellness these days, is that I'd be more concerned about your daughter getting a good nights sleep because of the blockage. Lack of sleep is a very serious health issue and could be very detrimental to her health in the LONG run. I've read articles and it was mentioned in another post that kids behavior and performance in school can be directly related to the quality of sleep that the child gets. Who knows how long it would take for her to 'grow out of' having swollen tonsils and adenoids.

These are just my thoughts. Good luck with your decision. In health, D.

My son had his tonsils and adenoids removed when he was 7. He has had a huge snoring problem and would gasp in the middle of sleeping for air. He could not sleep peacefully, he would toss and turn allll night! They told us when he was 2, that he needed this done, but I was worried about the surgery and he was so young! But, looking back of course, we should have done it earlier, it would have saved him from a lot of bad nights and also trying some prescriptions for allergies. After the surgery we saw a huge difference immediately and felt bad that we didn't do it sooner.
He was sore for a few days, and lots of slurpees, but it wasn't too bad.

wow that's a major problem. she is still so young. if you're torn on whether she'll grow out of it you'll never know if you start removing her tonsils and adenoids. talk to your pediatrician about how other patients fared after the surgeries. this is a toughie alright. for now move your sons sleeping quarters to a quieter side of the house.

Hi C.,
Chances are that if you deciide to skip out on the precedure your daughter will not grow out of her snoring she will in fact get worse. Many people believe snoring is not a big deal but snoring is a sigh of a sleep problem of some sort and chances are that she along with anyone who shes waking is not getting a good nights sleep. My son had his tonsils out at t he age of 5 and recovered well and very quickly. Its definatley worth the problem being solved. One thing you should know, that is VERY commen,(7 of 10 kids) but a bit scary is a child reaction coming out of anestesia. My son kicked, screamed, attempted to rip out his iv's and so on. Now he is not the type to so much as tell me no so as you can imagine I was shocked!!!! However As I said it is completley normal because of the effect and wears off quickly. Just nice to be aware of it so your dont think your little one was possesed if it should happen to her. Anyways I hope this helps and if you have any questions feel free to send me a message! Good luck and try not to worry!

C.,
We had a very similar issue with our daughter, Alli, who is now 8 years old. She has VERY large tonsils, which were so large relatively speaking when she was little that you could barely see down her throat. She was having ear infections and had some really bad cases of strep throat. Our family doctor referred us to an ENT specialist, whose immediate recommendation was that we needed to have her tonsils removed. Our family doctor had explained to me that "new" research indicates that it is actually better to NOT remove the tonsils because they are the sentinels of the body, and adults who have their tonsils are less likely to get severe infections because the tonsils will forewarn if there is a problem much earlier than the lungs, etc. My husband really wanted Alli to have the surgery, and I did not based on what our family doctor suggested. We ended up putting Alli on over the counter claritin for awhile, which really cleared up her sinuses. We also bought a hospital grade air filter for her room, that runs every night (and we still have). It has made a significant difference for her. She doesn't snore anymore, and we never had her tonsils removed. I am happy we made the decision we did. My husband commented very recently he was happy I held my ground on this issue.
Good luck making your decision. Now that Alli is getting bigger, she has "grown" into her tonsils, but they will likely always be relatively larger than "normal".
H.

My niece had her tonsils and adenoids removed shortly after turning 4 years old. She's fairly tiny as well, weighs probably around 36-39lbs. She didn't just have a snoring problem though, it was causing her to wake up coughing/choking. Her surgery went really well and she was back to her old self in just over a week's time.

Hey C.!!
I had my tonsils out at 18. its Major Surgery for an Adult! and it should be done on Kids! its Painless and easy for a kid! its was horrible as an adult, Missed many days of School and work ended up bleeding and had o have it repaired, So do it ASAP! and she will be so much healthier cuz of it!
Blessings to YOU!

I had this same problem with my 3yr old who is now almost 5. I went ahead and got them removed. The snoring problem may only get worse before it gets better. Plus she can end up having sleep apnea like my daughter did, which is life threatening. Its a tough week when/if you do decide to get them removed. Plan on being home with her all week. They now let you go home that same day, they used to keep you child overnight, which was nice...more IV fluids. Kids do well though. You also should be chosy about the doctor. I work with these ent docs everyday and parents should be chosy. If you have a friend or something that has been to one, get there opinion. Good luck!

My son needed his tonsils and adenoids out when he was 3yrs 9months old, his tonsils were blocking his air way and he never had a good night sleep, would wake up atleast once. A couple days after surgery he finally started sleeping through the night! The first night was bad, my husband ran to 7-11 at 3:15am for a slurpee, we bought a huge one and froze it into smaller cups, then microwaved them. I am glad I did not wait, the ENT never even said it was an option. My son is now in 2nd grade and he has a few friends that are having the same surgery and I believe what people say, the older you are the longer the recovery. We did take him to Toys R Us the night before and he picked up a small portable race track ($20) which was something he looked forward to playing with. The only other suggestion I would give you is if you decide to have the surgery, make sure you tell the nurses in preop that you want to be waiting for your daughter in stage two recovery before he arrives. It certainly helped my son seeing us waiting for him.

Hi C.
Our daughter had her adenoids removed when she was 18 months and then come to find out, her tonsils were obstructing her breathing, so she had those taken out when she was 2. She didn't snore, but she did sound congested and drooled a lot while she slept. They did a sleep test and she had obstructed sleep apnea from her tonsils. I know 3 yrs sounds young, but I guess better get it done now if that is what the docs recommend. The ENT will do a great job as it is their specialty. I know that some kids recover very quickly; however, not to scare you, but it took three weeks for our daughter to be fully recovered and back to normal--it wasn't fun and to see her in pain was horrible. I guess expect the worst if you have it done and hope for the best. The overall results were terrific and her she no longer has sleep apnea or drooling issues. Good luck, she'll do fine.

My oldest son was 5 when he had an adnoidectomy. Didn't have snoring problems. He also had the tubes in his ears.
Middle son was in high school, I think, or maybe even out, when he decided enough was enough with the sore throats and wanted his tonsils out.
Youngest son never had any problems with tonsils or adnoids or snoring for that matter.
3 years just seems really young to me. I would consult a doctor that prefers to 'rule out' a disorder before going in for surgery. I mean maybe her tonsils and adnoids have just grown at a faster rate than the rest of her. It happens.
Snoring can also be a sleep disorder that could be treatable but looked into as well. I'd consult a sleep disorder doctor.

I have read that there is a method to take out tonsils that is less painful and heals better and faster.

You might want to ask the ENT about this.

I seem to recall that a dr at St john was one of the few drs that were doing the tonsillectomy this way.

I had my tonsils and adenoids removed when I was 4 years old, actually the younger you are the easier it is on you. However, I had mine removed due to excessive infections, not snoring. This surgery does have it's risks so I would give it careful consideration before going through with it.

I went through the same thing with my son when he was 5. He was sooo tired every morning from snoring. I heard that NO child should ever snore, so we did end up getting the surgery for him. (tonsils and adenoids were removed.) He was 100% better after the surgery. We went to Dr. Sharon Ray in Southgate. She's wonderful with children.

My son will be 8 in a week and had the exact same issue. Snored like a truck driver!! As a result he wasn't sleeping well and would sometimes wake up really cranky. Never had any ear infections or illnesses so when it was suggested to us that we have the tonsils and adenoids removed, I was a little surprised. Since the surgery, which he had done at 3 1/2, he has been a different kid - easy to wake up, cheerful and pleasant in the mornings, and appearing much more well rested.

My husband, however, was one of those who was supposed to "grow out" of the problem and never did. He snores like a truck driver - between the snoring and me making him roll over all night long, he is now the cranky-pants in the mornings! He's not willing to consider the procedure for himself (I think the prospect of knowing what it's going to be like after is what makes him unwilling) so we continue to try any and all various snoring/sleep remedies on the market to no avail.

I wouldn't have made my decision about the surgery any other way. What if he didn't grow out of it and becomes an adult with the same problem? If the problem is solved by a routine procedure that, while uncomfortable, will be something he won't even remember in 1 year, then I would rather do it. The alternative would be to potentially leave him with a chronic problem that could follow him well into adulthood. Now if only I could get my husband to have the surgery.........

C.,

My son was the same way. HE was always (still is) thin. Once he had his tonsils and adnoids out, he gained 10 pounds in 2 weeks. I hope you come to an answer that feels comfortable for your family. I don't believe having them out should be the first answer. S.

Hi C. - My son was a snorer, too. We were referred to an ENT when he was 3 years 9 months and - based on the consultation/exam - chose to have his removed.

I have to say - you can't imagine how much better he sleeps now that he doesn't snore. It still freaks us out - almost a year later. He sleeps quietly and soundly - which HAS to help him developmentally.

It's so hard - isn't it? I wrote a similar email to mamasource last year as yours - asking for the same info. Go see the ENT and see what she/he has to say. It was a tough week following the surgery (pain managment and getting him to eat) but well worth it.

GOOD LUCK!

Hi,

My daughter was also 3 when we had hers removed for the very same reason. It worked wonders, she is 10 now and still snores every once in awhile but the loud noises stopped. It is also important they get enough oxygen in, that was my main concern with the snoring. She was sore and they gave her ice´cream. She now only remembers the icecream. She was also a little one but they adjust the dosis by wei´ght so that should not be a problem

Good Luck, J., mom to Vanessa 10 and Mark 16, working full time and living over seas.

Hi C.;

My daughter had hers removed when she was 8 years old, and like your daughter her snoring was outragious! The reason though that our doctor decided to remove my daughters was because of constant sore/strep throat. She had them removed and for a few days she was in some pain, but with some TLC she was back to her bubbly bright self in no time. My daughter is now 16 and she never gets sore throats nor does she snore. My doctor had told us she would not out grow it. She is much happier being able to breath. Her tonsiles and adnoids were the size of a golf ball. Best wish to you and your little girl.
L. T.

This sounds exactly like my son. He had snored since he was an infant, and by the time he was a toddler he had sleep apnea. He had fallen right off the bottom of the growth charts. He never had ear or throat infections, though. Also, his speech was a little delayed--he didn't use consonants like m, n, or v. Aside from these things, though, he wasn't a sickly kid and was obviously very bright despite the speech delay. We decided to have his tonsils and adenoids out when he was 25 months old. As soon as they took them out, his lungs filled up with fluid (post-obstructive pulmonary edema) and he spent the night in intensive care on a ventilator. Apparently, his little body had gotten so used to functioning with less oxygen that his lungs were shocked by the sudden increase in oxygen! (I'm an ICU nurse and had never heard of this.) The ventilator was removed the following morning, and he went home the day after that and recovered like a champ. I'm not saying this to scare you, just to let you know that if something like this happens, it's not as bad as it seems and will resolve itself quickly. Anyway, the change was dramatic--he gained 20% of his body weight in 6 weeks, his appetite improved (poor kid couldn't eat and breathe at the same time), his speech became much more clear, and the snoring stopped. I wish we'd done it sooner. Feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions!