Re: Tonsils and edenoids in toddlers
Asked by sarahznidarich

Question:
 

Hi my name is Sarah. My sone Nick will be 4 yrs old this Feb. He has been having tonsolitis numerous times, every month for the last 6 months of last year.

So we took him to an ENT specialist and he is having his tonsils and adenoids and cauterization of his nasal passage done this Friday. He also suffers a bit with some obstructive sleep apnea. I am so worried and anxious about the whole procedure and the pain afterwards. Hsas anyone out there had a similar operation?

Thanks xx

My Advice:

 

Hi Sarah and family

My son Zak had his tonsils out when he was about 7 (hes 9yo now). I had mine out when I was in grade 5 for the same recurrent infections as he had. Without having much experience with children and anasthetics (not sure if that's how its spelt) I was alot like you and extremely worried  about how I felt about my son going into an operation. What I did do was reassure Zak that all was ok and I did go into theatre with him when they took him in (not sure about procedures these days but i know they gave the option of it and even if they didnt I would have asked  as my other son had an op at the royal childrens hospital in Melbourne when he was 3 weeks old to repair a hernia and letting them just take him away was very distressing for me). I have to admit that I was anxious about accompanying him into the theatre, they asked that I wear some protective hygienic clothes and a cap, which felt quite weird, but I was holding my sons hand and there to reassure him that all was going to be fine and so it felt right I guess to be there... I had not had my mum there for me when I had mine done and i really think it would have helped rather than the humphrey B bear I clung to for support instead!!.

Ok, from what I witnessed with the putting him to sleep thing?? they gave him some pre op med through the bung in his arm, and he went all happy go lucky for a little bit, I kept eye contact with him and told him that he was doing a really great job and a really brave boy deserves the pressie that I bought him for when he wakes up. He asked me if it was spiderman and I said ofcourse and he smiled as the anaesthetic made him go off to sleep.. It really wasnt as traumatic as I thought it would be, he just looked like he was sleeping and the docs ushered me out, I wouldnt change it for the world that I had that opportunity as I always plan to be there for all 6 of my children thoughout their lives.

He woke up out the other side with an appetite actually, they said that part was unusual because usually children have a sore throat so it was kind of unexpected. They came and got me from the ward when he was in recovery out the other side and again I could be there to hold his hand as he woke up. The staff were really good and explained what everything was and what its likely that he was feeling/experiencing etc...

He had tonsilitis all the time and  the operation has been wonderful, nowhere near the amount of problems that he had beforehand and much happier, with a better sleep and less pain.. You will likely notice the differnce in him if the tonsilitis and apnea has been worrying then it will make life soo much easier once this procedure is done. My Zak was impressed that he had some time off school and more ice-cream than he needed for his throat.. Try to stay relaxed and calm, I tend to do my panic stations when the kids arent looking because I think they pick up on how you feel alot of the time when we sometimes dont realise it.. your reassurance is everything to the kids and they know if you are calm they can let their guard down a bit.

I hope that your little one comes thru it just as well as my Zak and my thoughts are that this is the normal way things turn out with these things. Generally the surgeons and specialists do soo many of these operations and most of them see it as a relatively minor procedure these days.

Wishing you all the best. Cheers from Mel xx