[Pudding]

Okay so my three year old son is going to have his tonsils and adenoids removed on Monday. I am scared to death. Is there anyone who's child has had this surgery? Is there anything that you wish that someone had told you? I am afraid my little guy is going to freak out. Did you feed him an extra large supper to sustain him since he can not have any food after midnight and not even water up to four hours before surgery. How in the world do you explain all this stuff to a three year old? Please send me well wishes and advice on how to make this easier for him.

Worried in St. Louis!!
Beth

P.S. How soon was your little one able to eat something? What did you feed them? Did you stop short of anything warm like soup? Help, help, help!!!

[michelemk]

It's going to be ok!! None of my kids have had a T&A, but I'm a nurse at SLCH (if you're in St. Louis you should know what this acronym stands for!!) and have worked in same day surgery and seen kids pre and post surgery. If you're going to a kid-friendly hospital, the not eating/drinking will be ok...they'll have enough toys and fun stuff to be distracted. If they are upset about not eating and drinking, just keep reminding them that when they wake up they'll get a popsicle or juice or whatever your child would be excited about drinking.
Don't give your child a larger-than- normal meal. Just feed them as you normally would. The fact that their child can't eat or drink before surgery is seriously one of the biggest concerns of most parents--you're not alone!!!
As far as what to eat afterwards, every kiddo is different. Some say that warm liquids like clear soup actually feel good on their throat. My biggest advice is to give the pain medicine on schedule for the first few days after surgery. Don't wait for your child to say that their throat hurts.

Make sure you take any comfort-type items that your children needs--blankie, stuffed animal, etc.
Good luck!!

Michele

[djhuebner]

My grandson had this surgery when he was little younger than 3. It was actually his second adnoidectomy(1st Dr. botched the job). He really did quite well. biggest thing is trying to keep a child that age quiet and not doing really strenous activities for a few weeks.

As far as food, he really enjoyed Lipton Chicken Noodle Soup - the one without meat chunks, (not too warm). I made it and then put it in the freezer for a few minutes to cool it down. Still his favorite when he doesn't feel well.

Hope you son does well. Will prayer for quick recovery.

[mommytoEli]

my son had one days after turning 2. i got them to keep him overnight one night bc i am neurotic and he had some other issues i was concerned about. i am so glad...bc i was able to see it really wasn't a big deal before he came home. once home,he didn't really sleep for a few days. two nights in a row we "slept" on the couch and had a video of baby einstein on repeat all night long...lol...so when he woke up, if he didn't need anything, he just watched quietly while i still slept. lol. for a few days he had nothing but jello and popsicles.

they'll tell you this too...but don't buy any red popsicles or jello. you'll want to be able to tell if the red in his mouth is blood. so no red foods for a while.

my son was fine. he didn't LOVE the hospital. but he got a new friend for the experience....and the hospital even gave his friend a medical bracelet like my son got and fake admitted him to the hospital. lol. it was very cute. another procedure my son had, the hospital sent in like a child psychologist who helps kids understand why they are there. i didn't even know they had this! our dr set it up for us. it was awesome bc she explained to my son about iv's, and the other things that would be happening to him. she showed him on a bear, which he got to keep....so he had a "friend" to comfort him that had an iv lead in his arm just like him. that was helpful too. don't be afraid to ask your hospital if they have a program like this.

i didn't feel like there was a need to overfeed him the night before. our dr told us we really w anted his stomach to be empty the next day. and at our hospital they take kids in order by age...so he was in by 7 a.m. hunger wasn't even an issue.

this son had several hospital surgeries and procedures from about 18 months-4. i don't remember ever getting really into what was going to happen. but i always talked about it a few days in advance. let him know that the doctor was going to help him *whatever* feel better, sleep better at night, not feel sick, etc. we always got a new friend. and in the case of the t and a, i was able to promise no shots, as they knocked him out with a liquid med mixed in a little juice before they rolled him into surgery. they did not hook him up to anything before he was out.

[luv2teach2]

my dd had her adenoids out 3 weeks ago. We were home 2 hours after the surgery, and she was running around, eating and being herself. I have heard that tonsils are a little rougher, but kids bounce back so much faster then adults.

[momtomiaj]

My daughter had her tonsils out 1 year ago today. She was 22 months old. Give the pain medicine around the clock. I did for the first 3 days and then stopped. She still needed it because she would not drink any liquids. Kids are resillient, they may not wantt to eat but drinking is very important. Mia did not eat for 8 days... I was freaking out. The doctor said as long as you get them to drink that is fine. They need the pain medicine because it hurts and they won't drink anything with a very sore throat.
Also be prepared for their foul smelling breath. It's due to the cautery they use in the OR, and also the scabs they form where their tonsils used to be.
Get lots of gatorade, popsicles etc. I was feeding my daughter with a syringe anything to get her to take at least some liquids every hour.
Hope this helps.

[PackGirl]

My middle son had this done in June at 3.5....

He did wonderfully....

Make sure you keep on the pain meds... every 4 hours (or whatever time it gives...) do NOT miss the pain meds... once it begins to hurt it is more difficult to stop....

Make sure they drink...but dont push food.... my son wanted room temp liquids.... and then after a few days he wanted room temp pudding and cottage cheese....

Good luck!

[Pudding]

Thanks for all of your advice and words of encouragement. I can not wait to get it over with and move on. Did any of your children have a growth spurt after the surgery?


Beth

[mommytoEli]

Originally Posted by Pudding

Thanks for all of your advice and words of encouragement. I can not wait to get it over with and move on. Did any of your children have a growth spurt after the surgery?


Beth

YES! i heard it had something to do with the amount of good sleep kids get after the surgery. lol. before the surgery, he woke up all night long. he woke up tired. he was crabby. after....he slept all night long. he no longer woke up. and he wasn't as tired. he went from being kind of short and skinny, to VERY tall and skinny.

[michelemk]

Hope it goes well today!
Michele

[annaguat]

Originally Posted by Pudding

Thanks for all of your advice and words of encouragement. I can not wait to get it over with and move on. Did any of your children have a growth spurt after the surgery?


Beth

Yes, two of my boys had this done, tonsils and adenoids, and both had growth spurts. Also it resolved the sleep apnea. With DS 1 he was very well after the surgery. Before he would not eat and just drink while after he ate and ate. We did have a rougher time with DS 2 after the surgery. We could not get him to eat or drink and he was becoming dehydrated. After an out patient rehydration by IV he was slowely on his way.

I will be looking at good news from you after your little ones surgery. there is nothing routine if it is your little one.

Anna

[JustBarbara]

How did the surgery go? DS had this procedure six months ago just before he turned 3. He had sleep apnea and they also held him overnight to monitor him. Of course, the nurse came in every hour so I didn't get much sleep and occassionally one of the monitor things would get disconnected but ... the most difficult part was keeping him on mushy foods - mashed potatoes (luke warm after a few days), yogurt, pedilyte popsicles were a huge hit, cool watered down juice. Really, it's the liquids that are much needed. Too long between liquids and the throat would get dry and hurt. Anyway, DS did not need any pain medication after five days - first day or so out of hospital he was great. Third and fourth day he could feel the pain but after that he was fine. He is still not going to be a basketball player but he gained two inches in the last six months and sleeps so much better, as does his Mama.

[Pudding]

John had the surgery on Monday. He is doing okay. He is drinking juice and eating lots of popsicles. He is starting to eat mushy food like waffles drenched in butter and syrup. His worst time is clearly in the mornings when his throat is dry. You know I never thought that John had trouble hearing but now it seems like his hearing is amplified. He covers his ears when a commercial grade toilet flushes. He did sleep through the night last night which is pretty good for his first night at home. He did spend one night in the hospital. I am hoping everything continues down a good path.

Beth