Help!!! My 20 Month Old Just Had Her Tonsils Out She's in So Much Pain!

Updated on November 07, 2017
K.P. asks from Lancaster, SC
13 answers

My daughter had her tonsils and adenoids out Thursday. They wouldn't give her any pain meds. I'm at my wits end here. She is in so much pain. She won't eat or drink I feel awful!!! Anything I can do?!?!

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H.M.

answers from Dallas on

Call the ENT find out what you need to give her. She may have been too young for the narcotic meds they normally give.

1 mom found this helpful

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T.F.

answers from Dallas on

If I were you, I'd be on the phone with my Dr and possibly at an Urgent care to get help.

5 moms found this helpful
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V.V.

answers from Louisville on

Alternate over the counter children’s acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Either follow the package directions for dose or call your doctor. But what will make her feel the best is keeping her throat moist.

Get a syringe or eye dropper and give her a few mL at a time. As her throat gets moist and the Tylenol/ibuprofen kicks in, she should be more willing to drink. Drinks should be cool, not cold. A cool mist humidifier in the room can help, too.

Of course, it’s never wrong to call the doctor, especially if the inside of her mouth looks dry, she no longer has tears when she cries, or she hasn’t had any urine in over 8 hours.

(I’m a pediatric icu RN. Every week, we have 2-3 tonsillectomies admitted to my unit.)

5 moms found this helpful

C.T.

answers from Santa Fe on

What? The doctor won't let her have children's Tylenol or children's Ibuprofen or anything? Call ASAP because that is not right after surgery. If she gets dehydrated go right away to the ER or emergency care.

4 moms found this helpful
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G.♣.

answers from Springfield on

What do you mean the doctor refused to give her pain meds? She just had surgery! She needs pain meds. Call the doctor and insist she be given a prescription! At the very least the doctor should let you know how much ibuprofen or tylenol she can take. Sometimes a higher dosage can be recommended after surgery.

Call the doctor. No one should be expected to tolerate post-surgical pain, least of all a 20 month old!

4 moms found this helpful
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J.C.

answers from Philadelphia on

She is going to get dehydrated if she is literally drinking nothing. Does she still have wet diapers? Dehydration is a medical emergency.

Call the doctor who did the surgery and talk to them. They need to know how much pain your daughter is in.

4 moms found this helpful

W.W.

answers from Washington DC on

K.

Welcome to mamapedia!

Why aren't you on the phone with your ENT or the Doctor who performed the surgery? That's REALLY young for the surgery and REALLY young NOT to give pain meds to.

Take her to the ER. NOW. Call the doctor who did the surgery that you are taking her to the ER because they didn't give her pain meds and she's not eating or drinking....

I was 31 when I had my tonsils out - I thought I had swallowed glass.
My youngest son was 12 when he had his out. His uvula looked like a GRAPE - thank God he had pain meds.

Good luck~!

4 moms found this helpful
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Z.B.

answers from Toledo on

You could give her Advil and Tylenol. You could probably alternate between the two every 3 hours.

But I'd have to really question a doctor who wouldn't give your baby pain medicine after having her tonsils removed!

2 moms found this helpful
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M.G.

answers from Portland on

Good answers below - we alternate Advil and Children's Tylenol so that our kids never came off one entirely so the doses overlap (but you're not overmedicating). They can advise you on this, that way your child is always comfortable and not in pain.

I would call the doctor pronto or at the very least, call the pharmacist to get advice on how to use (OTC) over the counter pain relievers for her. There should have been a pamphlet they gave you and this info on it when she was discharge - also a number on who to call. Start there - if it gets worse - then you may want to take her back in. She needs to have fluids at minimum.

When our kids had surgeries (ears and adenoids) we did the overlapping meds and our kids were fine - just propped them up to watch movies with popsicles and fluids.

Hope she feels better soon :)

2 moms found this helpful

B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

Our son was 4 when he had his out.
I didn't know they could take them out so young.
Prescription pain meds are usually for the first few days - she is already past that.
Some liquid childrens over the counter pain meds should help.
Have her suck on some Popsicles and taking small sips of fluids.
I hope you are in contact with her doctor and keep reporting on her progress (or lack of progress).
Doctor should be checking on her and if she gets dehydrated she'll need to be on an IV to get her re hydrated.

1 mom found this helpful
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K.G.

answers from Fort Myers on

I was 4 when i had mine removed. My mom said i lost 11 pounds afterwards. I was skinny to begin with, she freaked out. Call the doctor. Or just show up at the office.

J.N.

answers from New York on

Omg so young to go thru that! I'm so sorry to hear this!! Yes I agree with the moms go to to doctor or urgent care or ER asap!!!!

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D..

answers from Miami on

She is too young for you to allow her not to drink anything. Things can turn bad fast...

Go to Urgent Care. She probably needs IV fluids.

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