[jessibird]

My little guy is 5 and has had strep and now tonsillitis in the last 2 months. I knew something was up when the dentist said, "wow, his tonsils are huge!" I had my tonsils out at 24 and it was terrible! Anyone have dealings with little ones and having their tonsils removed?

[thundrrds]

Yes. One of our children had her tonsils and adenoids removed at age 5. it was done outpatient. She did very well with her recovery; much better than we expected.

[startedover]

I had my tonsils out at 4 and then again at 18. Horrible both times (alot of bleeding). With that said, my son had his out at 5. He was kinda small (not the reason they took them out) But his were so hugh that they said he has to chew do much to get food down (I never realized it) that he was burning alot of calories that way. He also snored (and his chest caved in when he would breath in his sleep) and they said that the largnest of the tonsils were causing his labored breathing at night and could effect his heart, lungs kidneys with that affecting his size. He had them out (with just a small problem not wanting to get fully awake) which was no biggy but they made him stay the night. I had to learn to trust the professionals and immediatey I saw they were right as my runt of a son is now 13 and 5 foot 7. Trust the ones you pay to take care of your childs medical needs. Good luck

[PiperH]

Just my own at 5. Everything went fine, and I got chocolate ice cream.
I think it is easier when they are younger, at least that is what I've always heard (of course, I've heard that with chicken pox and a lot of other diseases, as well.)

Good luck. I hope he feels better soon.

Violet

[xxsurroundedbyxy]

The current way to remove tonsils is WAY better than the "in the hospital" way of years ago. Children do much better than adults in the recovery of this procedure. Stock up on popsicles and ice cream and pain reliever!! Good luck!
Kim

[Happy2Bhere]

My daughter had her adenoids out & tubes in her ears last week.
She did remarkably well- she was back in the game by noon the same day!
She is also small, and her tonsils are large. I asked them if they'd do the tonsils too, since they always say they are large, but she's never had an infection, and they said she'd grow into them.
When we were there, we saw some friends who happened to be getting their daughters tonsils out. I saw them at Walmart last night- and asked how she did. They said she INSISTED on pizza for lunch the same day- and she did great, acted like nothing ever happened.
Kids sure bounce back fast. If it were us, we'd be milking it, off work, miserable.
The day of surgery, you'll be worried, scared, it's the unknown- it's understandable. But, after the 15 minute procedure, and 30 minutes in recovery, you'll get to hold your "baby" and then in a few hours, it will be like it never happened.
GOOD LUCK!

[sak9645]

I had my tonsils and adenoids out when I was about five, as it was routinely done on children at the time, and even back in the 1950s, when hospitals were still using very old fashioned anesthetics and such, it was no big deal.

I stayed overnight after the procedure, and awoke hungry and annoyed that I was allowed only soft foods. I wanted oatmeal cookies! I went home that day, and even though I was supposed to refrain from eating hard foods for a week, I had my oatmeal cookies the next day. The only bad things I remember from the procedure were the nasty smell of the anesthetic and a slightly sore throat.

If your child has the procedure done in a children's hospital, it will probably be done in the ambulatory surgery center. You may be encouraged to bring your child for a tour of the facility a few days before the procedure, so that she can see what is going on and what will be done; this really helps to reduce anxiety. You may be allowed to stay with your child right up to the minute she goes into the O.R., and to come into the recovery area so that you are with her when or just after she awakens.

Children's hospitals tend to be ideal places for surgery on children, because they have specially trained pediatric anesthesiologists and pediatric surgeons, the latest equipment sized for procedures on children, and "kid-friendly" waiting, prep, and recovery areas that tend to reduce anxiety. The nursing care is usually very, very supportive.

In most cases, your child will go home the same day. If your child has respiratory problems, like asthma, if she has had a good bit of bleeding, or if there is some other good reason for doing so, she may be kept overnight. In a children's hospital, parents often "room-in" with their kids, and the rooms may have a recliner or a sofa where you can catch a little sleep when your child sleeps.

I am a great fan of children's hospitals, as I volunteered in one for four years, helping to meet the non-clinical needs of some very seriously ill children, especially children who did not have involved families. I changed diapers, fed, and rocked babies, played with older kids, dealt with tantrums and sleep avoidance, cleaned up kids on chemo who were nauseated, and so on. I also worked on the management side for a short time.

That is not to say that general hospitals or general ambulatory surgery centers are bad. Some do a great job and a few have developed special areas for children. But overall, given the choice, I'd have surgery on my daughter done either at our local children's hospital or at a pediatric ambulatory surgery center that it runs in a suburban location.

Oh, one more thing. The new anesthetics don't have a bad smell. In fact, some facilities have children breathe the scent of their choice, such as bubble gum, as part of the anesthesia induction process.

Sharon