https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 04 May 2026 08:54:38 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tonsillectomy-experience#post-2887799 Thu, 13 Jun 2019 18:29:42 +0000 ShootingStar 2887799@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS had tonsils and adenoids removed and tubes in ears last month. The recovery was a lot harder than I expected. </p> <p>It took him a long time to come around from the anesthesia. They wouldn’t let him leave until he ate/drank 2 things. So a juice and a popsicle or 2 popsicles or whatever. He would kind of open his eyes and then go back to sleep. So we tried shoveling liquids in him and he just threw it all up. They said sometimes kids feel much better after throwing up. So again with juice and popsicles. And again he threw it all up. We almost didn’t make it out that day because it took forever for him to keep stuff down. </p> <p>Then he was not himself for days. Th first morning he was screaming in pain and said he cried most of the night. He continued to be nauseous and throw up and barely wanted to eat anything. Day one he had a couple bites of ice cream and that was it. I think he barely ate for 3 days. Then he slowly got better. The nausea stopped and he was able to eat soft foods. </p> <p>It was worth it though. The surgeon said behind his ears was filled with thick fluid and that his adenoids were gigantic (and blocking the fluid from draining). And he now has normal hearing for the first time in over a year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tonsillectomy-experience#post-2887749 Thu, 13 Jun 2019 12:07:22 +0000 MrsMom 2887749@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son had his tonsils and adenoids removed when he was 3.5yo. It did not go as bad as I had prepared myself for it to go. Letting him go was the hardest part. After surgery it was just lots of cuddles. He coughed a lot from the crying so try to keep her calm. Stay on top of the pain medicine!! I let it go a little longer one day thinking he might be over the worst (waited 6 hrs instead of the 4hrs) and He started shaking in pain and it took forever to get him comfortable. Buy lots and lots of Otter pops, applesauce and Gatorade. When he was finally hungry for actual food we gave him Chow mein since it's soft and kind of rolls down the throat (plus it's his favorite), I can't remember if that was the same night or the next day. </p> <p>Lastly, if you didn't get the pain meds beforehand, make them give her a dose of pain medicine before you leave because we had to try several pharmacy's in order to get the full dose of pain medication. Apparently the pharmacy's run out of narcotics toward the end of the month. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tonsillectomy-experience#post-2887623 Tue, 11 Jun 2019 22:27:25 +0000 MamaG 2887623@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did this almost a year ago with our then 3.5 year old. Skip dairy. Buy popsicles. She was tired of popsicles in about 24 hours. Only pain meds are OTC. Stay on top of them around the clock. Breath will be horrendous. Push fluids. The throat hurts more when it is dry. She wanted real food pretty quickly but we held off as long as possibly not wanting anything to scratch her throat. She was home a full week. I slept with her the first two nights to watch for fever, give meds and fluids. DH handled most of it as he stayed home. You will both survive. And day 3 I believe is the worst. So prepare for it and know after that point it gets better. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tonsillectomy-experience#post-2887558 Tue, 11 Jun 2019 07:19:43 +0000 Ajsmommy 2887558@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had mine out (both tonsils and adenoids)when I was in 2nd grade. It was not too bad... although I remember my mom saying that when I was coming out of the anesthesia that she thought I was "crazy/losing it" I guess it was really tough for her.. I was inconsolable and they couldnt' understand me... </p> <p>I don't remember the recovery being too terrible.. lots of smooth cool stuff.... I DO remember throwing up dried blood a day or two after the surgery and it hurt and it was terrible.. I'm now 42 and I still remember it!! so be prepared for that.. not sure if it happens often or not.... </p> <p>But all in all it wasn't that bad... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tonsillectomy-experience#post-2887548 Mon, 10 Jun 2019 21:09:47 +0000 Lindsay05 2887548@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My daughter had hers both tonsils and adenoids out on her 5th birthday. I was a mess. It was so hard to send her to surgery but it went really quickly. She was in lots of pain for about an hour after but recovered fairly quickly. She ended loving the hospital because she got so much attention from the nurses. Plus a ton of gifts because it was her birthday! Our doctor advised no visitors for 10 days after due to infection. The surgery made a world of difference. She had sleep apnea and was so lethargic all the time. She was instantly better once they were removed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tonsillectomy-experience#post-2887540 Mon, 10 Jun 2019 19:17:40 +0000 jhd 2887540@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@helloperidot: my nephew just had his out recently. It went so much better than my sister expected. She bought tons of popsicles. It took him a few days before he was back to his normal self and he’s doing so much better now that they have been removed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tonsillectomy-experience#post-2887535 Mon, 10 Jun 2019 18:16:30 +0000 MrsADS 2887535@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So my 3.5yo had his adenoids out in March (adenoids only, no tonsils). So, our ENT said there is a range of how fast kids recover, some are bopping around the next day, some not so much. My kid, not so much. I don't want to freak you out, but it was worse than we were expecting/were told, and this was just adenoids. Now, my son's adenoids were huge, swollen, inflamed and he had been sick for 6 months, so I think he had a lot of pain. </p> <p>Ok - waking up from anesthesia was really rough, he was hysterical and inconsolable. They gave him morphine and that helped. Apparently at our surgery center they don't give them any pain meds except oral Motrin after they wake up?!?!?! Which is crazy to me! So ask about that. My son was just sobbing and moaning and the only thing he could say was "hurts, mouth hurts". After he got IV morphine, he slept about an hour and woke up a lot better (not great). Still did not want to drink.</p> <p>He ran quite a high fever for about 4-5 days. I mean 103-104 fever. This is apparently a normal reaction from anesthesia but it was hard b/c he was up all night sobbing and miserable from the fever, but I didn't know if it was from the fever or from surgical pain or what.</p> <p>We did tylenol/motrin round the clock - you may want something stronger for tonsils, I would, in case. My son DID NOT want to drink, so I bought a ton of different options. What actually worked the first 1-2 days post op was diluted Coke (caffeine free). </p> <p>The final thing I'll say is that my son was just not getting better, still running high fevers, etc. and our ENT had to put him on antibiotics and steroids which helped A LOT. He got a post op infection/swelling, which is quite unusual. BUT if you feel like something isn't right, harass your ENT. </p> <p>The surgery helped my son a lot and I wish we'd gotten his tonsils out at the same time, tbh. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tonsillectomy-experience#post-2887532 Mon, 10 Jun 2019 18:05:31 +0000 KT326 2887532@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So when I had my tonsils out at 20, they said absolutely no ice cream because it causes phlegm which is hard to deal with after surgery. I don't know if this is just for adults or if kids too. Popsicles were my best friend as well as Sonic slushies. </p> <p>Also, kids bounce back so fast from this surgery! My sister had hers out at 2 years old and my mom said she was eating normally the next day. When I had mine out there were kids going into surgery after me and going home before me! </p> <p>Everything will be ok! I know there are other bees on here who have gone though it with their kids, hopefully they will pop on with lots of advice! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tonsillectomy-experience#post-2887529 Mon, 10 Jun 2019 17:36:29 +0000 helloperidot 2887529@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So my 4.5yo is scheduled next week to have her tonsils and adenoids removed. 😮😥 Anyone have experience they can share? Any advice? Please hold my hand and tell me my baby will be okay?</p> <p>Should I just buy her body weight in ice cream???</p> <p>Grahhhh this sucks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/2-year-old-tonsillectomy#post-2830533 Mon, 25 Jun 2018 13:59:13 +0000 AnnabelleG 2830533@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaG: the first night we did every 3 hours and then we stretched to every 4 hours for the next 4 nights. By then it seemed like the exhaustion was worse than the discomfort so we let him sleep. He was grumpy in the morning but slept through the night so we continued to skip nights. Good luck!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/2-year-old-tonsillectomy#post-2830532 Mon, 25 Jun 2018 13:51:46 +0000 MamaG 2830532@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@AnnabelleG: I don't look forward to the night waking either!! How many days did you do meds for? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/2-year-old-tonsillectomy#post-2830407 Sun, 24 Jun 2018 14:30:11 +0000 AnnabelleG 2830407@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaG: thank you so much for asking! It went really well, we didn’t even have to stay overnight. Honestly, the hardest part was having to wake him up every 3-4 hours at night for pain reliever. The second worst was when they wheeled him back to the OR without me. Even though he was loopy from meds, he cried. It was also horrible not giving him water or nursing all morning before surgery. But overall, really smooth and he’s breathing much better! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/2-year-old-tonsillectomy#post-2830406 Sun, 24 Jun 2018 13:34:17 +0000 MamaG 2830406@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@AnnabelleG: how did it go? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/2-year-old-tonsillectomy#post-2824959 Sat, 26 May 2018 09:03:54 +0000 Ms. RV 2824959@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No experience with tonsillectomy, but my 2.5 year old recently got anesthesia for ear tubes. She was a mess after she woke up. She was so disoriented and just cried and cried. It was an outpatient and she didn't stop crying until she fell asleep in the car. So... no advice, but hang in there. I can't imagine a toddler having to stay overnight. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/2-year-old-tonsillectomy#post-2824903 Fri, 25 May 2018 15:59:11 +0000 AnnabelleG 2824903@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BabyBruins: Thank you for sharing! That's really sad about coming out of anesthesia and good to be prepared for.<br /> @looch: That's so sad that they wanted him fully awake before you could be with him, I wonder why that was... Thanks also for the heads up!</p> <p>I'm mostly worried because my son is so young and can't be reasoned with very well. He doesn't have the attention span for movies yet, so keeping him calm afterwards is going to be a challenge. I'm also a little nervous about the overnight in the hospital, but it'll all pass. Fingers crossed! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/2-year-old-tonsillectomy#post-2824852 Fri, 25 May 2018 13:01:20 +0000 MamaG 2824852@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BabyBruins: She is used to a cup, but we often use a closed water bottle at home so that I'm comfortable with it being carried around. I asked our ENT nurse about the no straw thing, she said it was primarily so they don't poke their throat, but the actual act of sucking isn't a problem :) Thanks for the heads up on that though.</p> <p>I figure I will be sleeping with her a few nights as well. They told us to stay on meds even through the night (ugh - no one wants to wake a sleeping child!). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/2-year-old-tonsillectomy#post-2824849 Fri, 25 May 2018 12:51:26 +0000 BabyBruins 2824849@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaG: Do whatever you can to have them drink. Our ENT wasn't concerned if he wasn't eating (he was), but really wanted to be sure he was drinking. We were told no straws for 1 month, so if your child isn't used to drinking from a cup, maybe practice before. I really liked the munchkin 360 cup so we could still have a lid. Cold things really were best for him at first. I took him shopping the day before and he got to pick out the ice cream and popsicles he wanted. Applesauce and yogurt were also hits.<br /> I ended up sleeping with him for 5 days just because I wanted to be there when he woke up and needed medicine. He got lots of movies and iPad time after. A few new toys and legos, too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/2-year-old-tonsillectomy#post-2824841 Fri, 25 May 2018 12:18:53 +0000 looch 2824841@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BabyBruins: agreed, that was the worst part! They want them fully awake before the parents come in, so imagine waking up all alone with all those strangers. My son was crying hysterically when we went in. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/2-year-old-tonsillectomy#post-2824829 Fri, 25 May 2018 11:32:58 +0000 MrsMom 2824829@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BabyBruins: That's great to hear. Our pediatrician is sending us to an ENT to determine if my sons tonsils need to come out. They are REALLY large and he snores &amp; drools a lot. He's also 3. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/2-year-old-tonsillectomy#post-2824773 Fri, 25 May 2018 08:33:42 +0000 MamaG 2824773@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BabyBruins: Thanks for sharing! My 3.5 year old will hav the surgery end of June. Hers is for recurrent strep, but same procedure regardless. I saw a few food tips, any other recommendations to help manage recovery? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/2-year-old-tonsillectomy#post-2824734 Thu, 24 May 2018 23:09:45 +0000 BabyBruins 2824734@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@AnnabelleG: We did this surgery for my 3 year old in October for the same reason - trouble breathing at night. It totally helped. He doesn't snore anymore and doesn't hold his breath while he sleeps.<br /> The worst part of the surgery was coming out of anesthesia. He was very angry and really wanted his IV out. Once it came out, he was able to settle down and rest. We did not have to stay overnight. He was good about drinking water so I never worried that he was getting dehydrated. I could have been better staying on top of the tylenol and ibuprofen dosing. I would definitely alternate every 3 or 4 hours for the first 2 or 3 days regardless of if he seem like he needs it. He ate lots of ice cream and mac n cheese and soggy cereal for about a week. He went back to school for just a few hours 10 days after the surgery and was back to school and pretty normal behavior in 12 days.<br /> I prepared for the worst and it wasn't as bad as I thought. And we're very happy we did the surgery. He breathes much better.<br /> Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/2-year-old-tonsillectomy#post-2824667 Thu, 24 May 2018 15:50:47 +0000 AnnabelleG 2824667@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaG: It's in mid-June. Since he's so little he has to stay overnight in the hospital :meh: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/2-year-old-tonsillectomy#post-2824538 Thu, 24 May 2018 10:47:39 +0000 MamaG 2824538@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@AnnabelleG: when is his surgery? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/2-year-old-tonsillectomy#post-2824470 Thu, 24 May 2018 08:14:49 +0000 AnnabelleG 2824470@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <br /><p><i>This comment has been deleted by the original poster.</i></p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/2-year-old-tonsillectomy#post-2824469 Thu, 24 May 2018 08:14:17 +0000 AnnabelleG 2824469@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <br /><p><i>This comment has been deleted by the original poster.</i></p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/2-year-old-tonsillectomy#post-2824468 Thu, 24 May 2018 08:13:36 +0000 AnnabelleG 2824468@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaG: good luck! I hope it all goes smoothly </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/2-year-old-tonsillectomy#post-2824410 Wed, 23 May 2018 20:37:10 +0000 MamaG 2824410@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just found out today we will have this surgery too for our 3.5 year old. Hers is due to recurrent strep throat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/2-year-old-tonsillectomy#post-2823292 Thu, 17 May 2018 16:21:25 +0000 AnnabelleG 2823292@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi all,<br /> My just-now-2-year old is scheduled to have his tonsils and adenoids removed next month due to restricted breathing, especially when he sleeps. Anyone do this with a child under 3? If so, how was it and any advice?</p> <p>TIA! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/experience-with-congenital-kidney-problems#post-2654739 Sat, 19 Nov 2016 10:39:57 +0000 littlecasita1122 2654739@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are dealing with a different vague diagnosis with one of our twins and just wanted to say I know how much it sucks to have no control right now. Ours may have a closed rectum and may need surgery after birth - but it's still too soon to tell. Preparing for something like this is stressful to say the least. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/experience-with-congenital-kidney-problems#post-2654729 Sat, 19 Nov 2016 10:27:52 +0000 808love 2654729@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yellowbeach: By the way, from stories I heard I hated taking my meds before surgery. Only my grandpa could easily give them to me but I was a champ in the hospital. Everyone else was way more concerned about me while I was so young but I was oblivious to anything wrong. I kind of liked it. I just talked to my mom. She said my surgeries at age 4 and 5 (almost 6). </p>