Adnois/tonsil removal

[Connie106]

Just found out today that my soon to be 4 year old needs to have her adnoids removed. They are severely enlarged and she is constantly congested. She is a snorer and holds her breath at night. While, I know this is probably the best thing for her - I am freaked out about the anesthetic (sp?). Has anyone experienced this surgery with their young children??

[VeeVee]

My niece had that procedure done when she was almost 3. She used to stop breathing when she would sleep, thats how bad it was and she snored like a trucker so loud you could hear here in the next room. Now, you can't even tell she is sleeping she is so quiet.
She had the surgery at 8am and when I visited at 3pm she was watching Dora and eating a Popsicle lol

Try not to worry, its for the best and before you know it she will be back to normal! I think its worse on the parents then the kids.

[KrazE]

My oldest had his tonsils & adenoids removed at 4 as well as tubes in his ears (he will be 18 this year).

He was a snorer, and the swelling from both caused numerous ear infections for him. The surgery is not too bad at all, and recovery time is pretty minimal IMO.

Things noticed immediately - his hearing improved dramatically, his snoring went away, he stopped getting ear infections, and because this all helped his night sleep he was so much more alert and less grumpy.

[alicia]

Different perspective but I had my tonsils/adenoids removed when I was four (22 years ago). I am sure it was scary for my parents but it all worked out extremely well. I was clinically deaf as a young child and with those removed along with growths in my ears, I only needed a few months of speech stuff/hearing tests. I stopped having all the ear infections that I had then. From what my parents have told me the surgery made all the difference in the world. I know it is hard not to worry but it will help her tremendously.

[Connie106]

thanks so much for your quick responses everyone - I know it will make a difference for her, she has so much trouble sleeping. The surgery is not until the beginning of April, just have to keep myself sane until then ... thanks again.

[slayer_glade]

I had my adenoids out when I was 5. Lots of ear infections (which caused me to be mostly deaf in my left ear) and I had stopped breathing in my sleep because of the adenoids being so swollen. I remember being in a plastic covered bed after getting out of surgery and them putting an IV in my right hand which I did *not* appreciate lol.

After the surgery, the infections pretty much stopped being as bad as they were. I still get ear and sinus infections almost every year tho. My sleep improved a lot, too. I still snore (not as badly), but that's because my tonsils are large (but not infected so I get to keep them... Yay *sigh*).

And I was able to rub in the fact that I had to eat cold foods afterwards in my little sister's face :D Popsicles and ice cream and no school? It was fun XD.

This was over 20 years ago and I'm sure techniques have advanced where a hospital stay won't be as long as mine. I have no doubts she will be perfectly okay!

[Connie106]

I had my adenoids out when I was 5. Lots of ear infections (which caused me to be mostly deaf in my left ear) and I had stopped breathing in my sleep because of the adenoids being so swollen. I remember being in a plastic covered bed after getting out of surgery and them putting an IV in my right hand which I did *not* appreciate lol.

After the surgery, the infections pretty much stopped being as bad as they were. I still get ear and sinus infections almost every year tho. My sleep improved a lot, too. I still snore (not as badly), but that's because my tonsils are large (but not infected so I get to keep them... Yay *sigh*).

And I was able to rub in the fact that I had to eat cold foods afterwards in my little sister's face :D Popsicles and ice cream and no school? It was fun XD.

This was over 20 years ago and I'm sure techniques have advanced where a hospital stay won't be as long as mine. I have no doubts she will be perfectly okay!

Thanks for sharing your story Slayer. The surgeon is giving me the choice as to whether to remove her tonsils because they are swollen but not infected or as bad as her adnoids. I am leaning on doing both - don't want to have to risk further surgeries.