Sugery for Removing Tonsils and Adenoids

Updated on March 18, 2007
L.M. asks from Utica, MI
16 answers

My 6 yo son has to have his tonsils and adenoids removed. I was looking for some support and advice from anyone who has had a child go thru this. How long was your child down and has it helped?? Thanks!
L.

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So What Happened?

Well, we did it! My son had his tonsils out yesterday. He is doing so well. He wanted chicken yesterday so the hardest part of the whole thing, so far, is keeping his appeptite satiated with soft foods. He looks like a little chipmunk and isn't moving his mouth much but he is doing far better than I anticipated. Thanks for all of your support. Now, lets hope this helps him to stay healthy....
L.

Featured Answers

A.W.

answers from Kalamazoo on

Get lots of soft and cold foods and rent some new movies. My mom gave me a bell to ring when I needed something because you're not supposed to talk very much and definetly not yell to the next room if you need something.

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L.W.

answers from Detroit on

Hello L.,

Both my boys had their tonsils/adnoids out at 2yrs old. They both had sleep apnea, and it really helped. They both went home that same day and recoop time was not long. They are 13 and 15 now.

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D.M.

answers from Saginaw on

Hi my son had his Tonsils and Adenoids out when he was six also !! Yes It has help him alot !! He was really down for the first 3 days !! The first night wasnt very good for him!! He was out of school for about 10 days!! It was hard but I would do it again !! I love to scrapbook and read also and I also work and really enjoy it !!

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N.G.

answers from Kalamazoo on

my daughter had her adenoids removed and she was down for not even a whole day...my dr. advised us to let her do what she's comfortable...i didnt let her go outside...kinda made her lay down and watch movies or play quietly w/ barbies...he'll let you know how he feels...let him do what he feel like doing...he'll be happier and so will you!! good luck!!

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C.G.

answers from Detroit on

my son was 6 when he had tonsils and tubes in his ears and my oldest had adnoids and tonsils out. Tonsils is sore throat so anything cold is wonderful. Just have to keep an eye out due to medicine it makes them unstable in walking and playing but overall my sons did well and I am glad to have it done! The worst part is when they come out of surgery they are disoriented and unsure where they are. Ensure your there and they will be ok and all will be fine. Doesnt hurt to say a prayer either. Hope this helps!

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J.J.

answers from Detroit on

My son has not gone through this however, I did when I was his age. He will be done for a good week. First few days will be lots of sleeping and needy. Have lots of popicles on hand becasue he will not want much else, if he even wants those. From what I have heard from others is that now the down time is less due to advancements. When I had it done the first time had to spend a couple of days in the hospital. The second time when I only had my adnoids removed it was out patient. However, I was still down for a week. (I was in 7th grade that time). Hope this helps good luck to your son!!

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S.N.

answers from Saginaw on

I had mine out, when I was a kid. I went into the hospital early in the morning, and left in the evening. I was prone to tonsilitis. So, they finally decided to get rid of them. While they were in there, they noticed the adenoids were enlarged, so they yanked those too. It was sore for a short time. But, not really any worse than the tonsilitis I had before hand. If your child has ever had strep throat, you know what to expect. They usually prescribe an antibiotic just to be safe, too. It would be wise to stock your home with alot of soft foods, and mild beverages(I don't suggest anything more acidic than apple juice, as orange juice and stuff kinda burns). Perhaps alot of pudding, ice cream, popsicles, applesauce, soups, etc. These will help avoid too much pain during swallowing. And the cooler items will help soothe the soreness. I was really only sore a couple days. Mine was done at the beginning of our christmas break. But, I assume that I would have been ready to go back to school Monday(my surgery was Friday.). I was completely fine, like nothing had ever happened within a week.

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T.B.

answers from Grand Rapids on

Hi L.,

My daughter just turned 10, and she is having her tonsils out and her deviated septum fixed next week Friday. Obviously, I don't know how it will go yet, but I will try to keep you posted. She had her adenoids out when she was 4 (while she was getting tubes in her ears) and there was almost NO recovery time from that...she bounced right back. But, I'm sure this is going to be different.

The ENT told me that she will be home from school for 7 - 10 days, and that she can't eat any bread, or bread products for at least a week (for fear of pulling the stitches).

I will keep you posted.

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C.R.

answers from Detroit on

My children have not had to have this surgery but a few of my friends have..I think the first day or so was the worse for them..Out of the four kids, two of them vomited alot the first day.I guess from anesthesia..So thats something to watch out for.But both of the moms said that it was really not a big deal.I was at the hospital for one of them and literally 15-20 minutes later they were coming out to tell us it was done and that Liv was waking up..I know the surgery has helped tremendously with the ear infections and sinus infectiond the kids were getting..Also my nephew was behind in his speech as well as a friends little girl.Seems within a couple months of the surgery they were right on track with there talking.They could not hear before it...It seems to be such a worth while surgery..

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T.C.

answers from Detroit on

L.,

My son didn't have his tonsils out until he was 12 but it was recommended at a much earlier age. It didn't get done when he was younger because I was a single mother with no health insurance and there was no way I could pay for surgery. However, when they say hind sight is 20/20 they aren't kidding. When he was 12, I took him in for braces. The orthodontist said that from chronic tonsilitis he had not gotten enough oxygen in his nasal cavities over the years and it caused the upper bone in his jaw to be underdeveloped. This was the first time I had ever been told that the tonsils were causing a physical development problem or I would have come up with some way to get the surgery done when he was younger. Anyway, the orthodontist would not even start his teeth until the tonsils and adnoids were removed. He is still possibly facing oral surgery because of his age and his early growth spurts but it is all due to the underdevelopment of the jaw bone. Before the surgery, he was a loud snorer right from birth. He hasn't snored a bit since the surgery and he is no longer sick with sinus infections all winter long. Sorry this was a bit long but it puts a different perspective on reasons to have this done. I wish someone had told me years earlier.

T.

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K.

answers from Kalamazoo on

L.,

My daughter is 6 now and had her adnoids removed the first time when she was 2. Her surgery was due to recurring ear infections. They thought removing the adenoids would help. Insurance wouldn't cover tonsils, so they did not remove them. When she was four, she started to develop another ear infection, so while putting having surgery to put another tube in, they mentioned removing her adenoids. I said they were gone, they said we will check anyway, and they found they had grown back and were larger then before. She was down both times for about a week, had a sore throat most of the time, but ate soft foods well, both cold and warm, and drank a lot of juice. She lived on Ramon noodles (both the broth and the noodles), refused her favorite drink, Milk, because dairy produces pleghm, and makes you cough more, which really hurt her. What I remember the most was the breath - horrible bad breath a few days after the surgery that lasted a few weeks, and occasionally it comes back. Daycare thought someone had a messy diaper - only to discover it was her breath :) I would do it again though. Prior to the surgery she had constant, almost non-stop ear infections in both ears. After the surgery....twice we have found the "start" of an ear infection, and those were 2 years apart.

K.

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M.H.

answers from Lansing on

My daughter had hers out a 2 which was kind of dangerous but at that point it would of been more dangerous leaving them in. It really helped alot. Just give lots of popsicles and jello and love. Is your son having tubes put in his ears also?

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A.I.

answers from Lansing on

dear L.
my daughter had her done in early november and it took so so long to get back to normal her doc who did it said 1 and 10 kids recover slow like adult and she was one in ten she lost alot of weight like 13 pd and it was a rough month in a half to feal better give your son what ever he want's to eat or drink try to avoid anything with red dye hope i helped

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M.C.

answers from Detroit on

Step daughter just had this surgery. She was out for a good week. Stayed on the couch the whole time. All she could get down was juice at first, she couldn't even suck down a chocolate shake that I made her. Ask your Dr. but I would also get some carnation instant breakfast or Ensure. My step daughter lost ALOT of weight during her recovery!
Another thing that we weren't prepared for. She had terrible ear aches. I guess this is part of the process but they hurt more than her throat did. We bought her eardrops, but I don't know how much they really helped. Keep the painkillers close by!

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C.S.

answers from Detroit on

My 4 yr old niece just had the surgery. She was down for only 2-3 days and could probably have been running around as usual on the 3rd if not for mom restricting her. Kids rebound quickly and have pretty high tolerance for pain. The only difficult part was keeping her away from certain foods for 2-3 weeks - apparantly, nothing with rough or sharp edges (like toast) because it would tear the scab at the back of the throat and delay healing and recovery. Prior to surgery she battled chronic strept throat and tonsilitis; since surgery (several months ago)she has had no illness. Good Luck.

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M.

answers from Saginaw on

L., My son had them out I so wish I could have done it much earlier. He had tons of episodes of strep. Last week me and my two daughters had a really bad cold and he never got it. I think that it was really taking a toll on his immune system. His where really big, pitted, and scared from so much sickness. He also sleeps much better he does not wake up in the night like he was. He did great but he had really good care. afterwards is a little hard make sure you give the pain meds on regular basis dont wait till he is hurting. The frist two days afterward is the hardest after that he'll be fine I swear kids do better then adults. Take Care, M.

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