Daughter Needs Surgery

Hi, My son had his out when he was just over 3 yrs of age. He had them out on 11/16 and didn't start to feel normal or even want to eat util 11/24. He didn't want to even swallow his own siliva. Overall he felt ok but had a soreness that would bother him. Just keep up on the meds to keep pain and swelling down. We had to stay over as well but that was just the policy of Childrens Hospital in Milw. and he has asthma. It was the best thing we ever did!!!! His asthma symptoms have subsided and his much better overall! Good Luck!!!

Hi S.,
My son had his adenoids and tubes put into his ears at 2 years. I didn't do the tonsils though. It was a same day procedure, a little different from having to stay the night. Please make sure you have support with you there at first when she goes in because I didn't and it was a nig mistake because I didn't know what to expect either. They had me hold him until he went to sleep so he felt comfortable with someone he loves there holding him. Then right after he fell asleep, his chest starting going up and down, and I freaked out, asking the nurses "what's wrong with him?". They said that was normal but they had to take him right away because they put a tube down their throats for breathing. I don't mean to scare you, and please forgive me if I did, but it's better to be prepared for that than not know, like myself, because I completely lost it. I was bawling in the waiting room and I just wanted someone there with me. The turnout was great though. He has barely gotten sick since then and he is 7 now. Hope this information helps and I know it'll turn out good for your baby too! Take care!
Blesst

A lot depends on what hospital it will be at. We have spent A LOT of time at Children's in Milwaukee. One parent will be able to spend the night. She will come out of recovery and you will meet her up in her room. It may not be a private room with it being tonsils and adenoids. They will probably check her blood pressure and temperature at regular intervals to make sure she doesn't get a fever signaling an infection. She will get ice cream, jello and pudding of coarse. It should go pretty smoothly. Good Luck and try not to worry.

Hi S.,

My daughter, who is four had her tonsils and adenoids (T&A) out when she was three and spent the night in the hospital (Methodist). My son, who is now almost 2.5 is having his out March 21, 2007 at Methodist. I am also a RN, so I'll try to give you the Mom and the nurse perspective.

Each hospital has a different policy on anesthesia and the child falling asleep. The best thing for Natalee will be for you to be calm and relaxed. Bring with any comfort items from home and if you have a spare or two, bring them with also (hide them in a pack along bag). Also bring diapers, pull-ups and wipes or whatever you are using. The hospital usually has them, but it is easier to have what you use with. Expect to spend the night with Natalee, so bring a bag for yourself with a toothbrush and etc in. I did not bring a change of clothes, and wish I had as my daughter threw up all over me. We talked a lot in advance about the hospital and the surgery. Methodist did not have parents in the recovery room. We waited in her hospital room after the doctor talked to us while she was in recovery. It took he awhile to wake up and come to her room (at least 2.5 hours, which is a bit longer than usual). The nurse told us she woke up calm and relaxed. From experience as a nurse, the calmer anyone is going under, the calmer they are waking up. They did give her a drink with atropine (to dry up spit) and versed (a nice sedative/relaxing medication) in purple juice prior to taking her to the operating room. We did not accompany her to the operating room.

Once back in the room her vital signs (blood pressure etc) were taken frequently. She had an IV hooked up for hydration and a pulse oximeter (clip with a light) on her finger to monitor oxygen saturation. We brought plenty of her favorite DVD movies and I pretty much watched movies with her for most of the entire stay. She had no pain for about 3 hours after she arrived in her room. She drank quite a bit. Once the pain hit, it was difficult to get her to drink. Dehydration is serious, so in advance think of ways to get fluids in. In the hospital it is not an issue when the IV is going, but is a huge issue at home.

My daughter threw up at least 4 times and I can't imagine the pain she felt when she did. Most likely it was the morphine (given IV) for pain. The other pain medication is usually Tylenol (liquid infant as it is more concentrated, not the big toddler bottle) or Tylenol with codeine. The Tylenol is easily tolerated by kids. The Tylenol with codeine burns the throat when they take it, so after the first dose, my daughter refused it and I had a hard time getting her to take any. Your daughter will also be on an antibiotic afterwards and if she associates a burning hurting throat with medication, it will be nearly impossible to get her to take any of it. I would strongly suggest using only the Tylenol for starters for the pain for the first 3 days or so. Stock up on the infant Tylenol (the kind with the dropper) in advance. FYI I think generic is just as good as the brand name.

Since you have two children, I would recommend having extra family at your house for a few days once Natalee comes home (usually before noon the next day). Natalee will most likely occupy all of your attention and will be clingy, crying and whiney (expect the worst). Lucas would do best to have someone give him some attention etc (Grandma, whomever). Natalee will be on a no activity (running, jumping) restriction for 10-14 days usually--so plan ahead for this if she is in daycare or whatever.

Find ways in advance to bribe her to get her to take sips of water, ice chips, sorbet, popsicles, jello and etc. She will not be allowed to use straws or any suction forming sippy as the suction could break off the clot and cause bleeding, so practice ways now to get her to drink.

One of the other moms mentioned using liquid aloe. I am going to the health food store to try it now--my son's surgery is coming up also.

On the tough side, it was three weeks of hell after surgery with our daughter. On the good side, she has hardly had a cold or illness since the surgery and is sleeping better (bad snoring before). She was instantly night time potty trained 2 days after surgery (was daytime only prior).

Oh and the bad breath is normal and does smell very bad. I think it took about 3 weeks to go away.

Best wishes with the sugery. My son's is about the same time and we have children at similar ages.

J.

My son just went through the same thing. He slept a lot the day of the surgery. The most important thing is that she keeps hydrated when she is awake and that she starts to eat some soft foods such as jello, ice cream, and pudding. This will be true for the first week after the surgery. My son only wanted me during this time also so I didn't leave my house for almost a week. It was very hard to see him go through all of this but now that he is pretty much healed, I have noticed such a difference. I'm glad I did it when I did. Hope everything goes well.

Hi S.!

My daughter had her tonsils taken out in 2005. She did awesome, ate right away, and was back to school in 3 days. This is very unusual.

I suggest you go to the nearest health food store and get your daughter some drinkable flavored aloe. It tastes like juice (you can mix 2 ounces with juice as well). I gave it to my daughter every day for the month before the surgery and I brought it to the hospital to give to her after and kept giving it to her. Aloe heals and has over 200 nutrients.

She barely bled during surgery or after. My daughter ate as soon as she woke up and ate alot! The doctor was amazed.

Good luck!

Granted it was 18 years ago, but I was 5 when I had the same surgery done just before I went to kindergarten. It is something that I remember quite well. No pain, popsicles and ice cream all the time, the bubble gum smell that put me to sleep within seconds, and getting to hit the nurse button whenever I needed anything. My mom stayed overnight with me. I would suggest talking to your daughter about it, making sure that she isn't scared. Because she is only two and probably doesn't understand it, she may not even think anything of it as long as you are with her. I would make the best of everything, like the fun bed ride on the way to the operating room, letting her push the nurse button and having them appear with a favorite treat, watching cartoons, playing with the bed controls, things like that. The only thing that might slow her down is an IV. Make sure you get some balloons and coloring books and things lined up so she doesn't get bored just sitting there. It's a routine surgery and the older you get the worse it is to get your tonsils out. No worries and best of luck trying to keep that little one entertained! Don't forget some things to keep you company as well.

My neighbors little one had all of that done at age 3. It was a in and out procedure. I just remember the little girl didnot want to talk for almost a week and couldn't run and jump around for like two weeks which was really hard because it was summer time. So March would be a good month to do it and rest. I guess I would just expect to take things extrememly easy for one week and be careful for two weeks. I know the little girl has had much better health since then and she always had a very hoarse voice and snored real bad and that is gone.

When I taught Preschool one of my students had her adenoids removed. Her surgery was fiune but I must warn you for a week after the surgery your daughter will have bad breath. It's a very Normal and very racid after afect of the surgery.

Happy Valentines Day! I had my adenoids (no tonsils) but I can try to give you my insight, as an "adult" going thru it--I was about 18 I think. I had mine performed at a Hospital in Madison and was treated as an outpatient surgery. I got thru surgery and then I was brought back to my room to basically get back to normal after surgery. At the time of my surgery, my "requirements" for going home was to drink something and go to the bathroom. I was determined to go home, so I made sure to do both right away. What I didn't expect is that my uvula was so swollen that when I attempted to get up it touched the back of my throat and made me gag--so much that it really scared me, till they showed me what my issue was. When I was home I don't remember really having pain, but I do remember that I snored like a buzzsaw for a while after surgery. That was probably my biggest surprise. Best of luck with your daughter's surgery

My son had the same surgery. My husband held him while they put him to sleep using gas. The surgeon made sure that my son got to hold and play with the mask for a little bit prior to surgery to get him familiar with it. After surgery, they rolled him into the "recovery" ward and called us in to see him when he woke up. Then he spent the rest of the day at another part of the hospital while we waited for a room. In the meantime we continuously fed him popsicles. Be sure to keep him hydrated. Ice cream is actually not recommended since it thickens their saliva. Popsicles was most of what he had for the first hours after surgery. He was also hooked up to an IV, so not to worry about his not eating. Pretty soon he was up and about and walking around. The first week at home was a little more difficult. Expect her to be crabby with no appetite! Soft foods was all he ate for the most part. We also gave him pediasure for some of his meals (I diluted it so it wasn't so thick)jello, yogurt, chicken noodle soup were some of the things he liked..and of course, more popsicles! No running or other strenous activities for the first ten days. My son goes to a daycare center so we had to make some minor adjustmentes with them to make sure he doesn't run around. We also packed some mac and cheese for him to take to his daycare for his lunch. Also, don't panic if she coughs some blood - it's her wound healing. Of course, if it is fresh blood and continous, bring her to the ER. I was cautioned that this could be serious. But I was told that this was rare - so don't worry...I'm sure she'll be fine! And just focus on the end result - my son's development took off and I know that difficult week was well worth it!

My son has had 3 surgeries. The worst is when you have to hold them while they put her under anestesiaw. Then you wait. Most hospitals have screens so you can keep progress on her every part of surgery. AS she wakes up, they get you. Some kids respond fine to waking up. SOme cry.Some freak out and flail their arms/body. My son did fione the first two times. The third time he was inconsolable for an hour. ALl responses are normal. They will givewr her popsicles and juice and there are movieds to watch in her room. You will be fine. it was hard going thru it, but 6 months later niether one of us remember much, ya know?
S.

When she wakes up the way she feels from the drugs will really scare her, my son freaked and didnt even want me touching him. Just try to stay calm for her.....I broke down and my son was even more scared then, and his surgery was just for tubes.