Any Advice

My son had the same surgery when he was four. I would say just follow your daughters lead. She is going to be in a lot of pain. Get her RX for pain filled and keep her on it until she feels better. Mine didn't want much of anything for a couple of days. He would sip cold Sprite, but he really didn't want any food. She's gonna yell because of the pain, it's hard for them at that age to understand that you did it for the best. We kept my son home from preschool for 3 days. One of the worst things about this surgery is the "dragon breath" they have after the surgery. It stinks pretty bad until they heal. I'm so glad we did it for my son. It cured his sleep apnea, and he really began to grow afterwards. It's a few days of misery, but worth it in the end. Best Wishes!

My daughter was just shy of her 4th birthday when she had her T&A surgery. She came through fine; the only issue we had was keeping liquids going--you have to really push them. Also, her ENT prescribed 5 phenergan suppositories in case she started vomiting from the anesthesia--you really don't want vomiting with area still open where the tonsils were. No crunchy, scratchy food for 7-10 days, til the wounds completely heal. You can actually see them get smaller & smaller each day. Our daughter ate lots of yogurt, ice cream, mac & cheese, anything smooth & soft. She stayed home for a week from day care, mainly because of infection risk per the ENT. She felt fine after about 3-4 days. You may be sent home with a Rx pain killer--you will have to wake her in the middle of the night the first 1-2 nights & keep it going before the pain starts--every 4-6 hours, whatever the directions are. If the pain starts, it takes too long for the meds to help, and too much crying, yelling, etc will slow the healing process. As far as singing goes, I'd just check with the ENT. Probably fine after 10 days, I would think. If the wounds look healed, you're good to go. Best wishes to you all! You'll have a very happy child once she gets over the surgery. Best thing we EVER did.

Hi C.,

My son had his Adnoids out last year when he was 3. We were tied up in the house for about 3 days after the surgery. My little guy didn't want to eat or play. He was miserable.

I understand this is not the norm. The doctors/nurses say the children will be up and running the next day.

Although my son was miserable for a few days after the surgery we saw a huge difference in his runny nose immediately!

Best luck to you!

C. Roeschen
The Trinity Group
Keller Williams
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Hello C., my son had his tonsils removed at Childrens about 2.5 yrs ago... he had no complications, but did experience quite a bit of pain, he was 9 yrs old then. He wanted popsicles, strawberry milk (Nesquick that comes already prepared), mashed potatoes and crossoints (the kind you buy in the refrigerated section and bake at home) and scrambled eggs, he didn't eat anything the first day and only popsicles and milk the 2nd day, and we gradually added these other foods as he was wanting more to eat. We kept him on the tylenol/cod alternating with Motrin every 3 hours, we did this for 2 weeks, then just the motrin for another week. We had this done in the summer so he would be able to rest as much as he wanted to. He was back playing after 2 weeks, but still got tired, it took him a full 4 weeks to completely get back to normal. GOOD LUCK!

If you are able to, you should call your mom (or dad) and ask them what your complications were exactly, and if they remember if it was due to the anesthesia, or another medication. You should also be sure and let your daughter's doctors know (the surgeon and the anesthesiologist, as well as her pedi). This is because whatever reaction YOU had, SHE might have, as well. Be prepared for her to stay a little extra time, because they may decide to keep her longer for observation, since you had the reaction you did. That will be easier for you, too. If she does have a reaction, she will already be there, instead of you having to try to rush her back to the hospital.

Other than that, you were right...the doctors will give you a detailed list of instructions as to what type of foods to give her, and the pain meds, and how much talking, etc she will be allowed to do. Go ahead and write down your questions now, as you think of them, because your mind will go "blank" when they ask you if you have any!! (Been there, down that, have too many t-shirts!) :)

Children's is a great hospital, and your daughter will be fine! :) (That's where our friends are with their newborn, right now.)

Warm fuzzies to you and your daughter!
~J.~

Well I just recently had my tonsils taken out and so did my niece who I had to take care of after surgery. Let me tell you it was a very dramatic difference between her and I. It took me like 2 weeks before I was able to eat anything solid but with her the next day she was begging for a cheeseburger, which I eventually gave into and she was fine. No bleeding, no pain, nothing. Also I didn't feel like doing anything but she wanted to go outside and play the next day. Now we wouldn't let her because she needed to rest. From what I have heard a lot of kids are like this and the next day are fine. As for foods I like Popsicles and we bought her the sugar free ones, yogurt, soups (the soup at hands are great), and tea. The warm things always made me feel better. Good luck.

My children both had this done, plus had tubes put in their ears at the same time (they were much younger than your daughter when they had it done). Since I had had my tonsils removed at 10 and had complications due to the lazers not sealing all the way, I was VERY concerned that my children would have the same problems, but they both did very well.

My son loved popcicles and donuts (not very healthy or substantial, but the doctor said if he would eat it...give it to him). The only thing that got my daughter through was "sonic ice" We bought a 10 pound bag of Sonic's crushed ice and she ate it by the cup full. Once she had eaten a cup of ice she was ready to eat just about anything. She really liked soup (not very hot) and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Pretty much anything that your daughter will eat or drink is the best thing for her. I got pediasure for both my kids thinking that they would drink better than eat, but no. They hated that stuff. They did like gatorade and powerade very well though.

Hope that helps. I have no idea about the chior practice, but I assure you she will not need to be careful with her voice. She will only use it when she needs to, because her throat will be so sore for a while.

My best advice is to keep her medicated for several days, and then start alternating the drugs with tylenol or motrin.
Go to the store and buy tons of juice, juice boxes, gatorade - whatever she might like. My son wasn't used to getting so much juice, so he drank it up. This isn't the time to be worried about the empty calories of juice or popsicles - the more that she drinks, the better she will feel. Our ENT said that the younger kids typically do better, and most kids are either down for 3 days or 10 days. Ours was a 10-day kid, but he was functioning after just a few days, just mopey and having some pain. He wouldn't run or play until after 10 days - I don't know why that's a magical number, but he just did that on his own. Rent a lot of movies, get some fun school workbooks and have some great quality time together.

I wouldn't send her back to choir until she asks to go.

my daughter had the T&A at 3.5 yrs old. She had a lot of pain when she woke up, but the next day she walked out of the hospital singing (softly) and dancing. I had to take her by the surgeon's office to see as I could not believe she felt so good. We did not have a lot of complications and she was good to go in about 7 to ten days. I think they have better pain meds now than they did when we were young. good luck.

Hi C.,

My son had his tonsils and adnoids removed in Feb. 2006(He was 4.5)In Austin, TX
He ate alot of yogurt, ice pops, lots of liquids to drink.
He did very well after the surgery, sore but no blood afterwards and in 48 hours he was back to his old self again.
Running, jumping playing etc.

Good Luck

D. B>