If your kiddo has had a tonsillectomy...

[flamingo]

I have a question for you. 

Generally, how long was your child out of school/normal activities post-surgery? I know that there are a lot of variables, just trying to get an idea.

B's is scheduled for a Thursday; I was kind of anticipating he'd be down for about a week but maybe I'm off.

Any other tips or hints are welcome, too! 

[snoopmommymom]

When is his scheduled? Are they doing adenoids too? I’m waiting for the ent surgery coordinator to call me so i can schedule O’s. I don’t have many weeks where it will work though.

[tgrimes]

wedding lfig

[tgrimes]

Not sure if this is helpful but I copied it off our ENT's website. (Although I could have sworn MX2 said her doctor told them to take it easy for at least a week...)


What should I know when my child comes home:

Tonsillectomy

Pain: Children do have pain and we suggest giving Tylenol (especially ½ - 1 hour before meals). We will also provide you with a prescription for Tylenol with Codeine to help with the more significant pain in the first few days after surgery. Again, do not give aspirin. The duration of pain varies. Younger children heal more quickly and may have pain for only a few days. Teenagers may experience discomfort for up to 10 days. The sooner the child is eating and back to regular activities the quicker the pain will be gone. Occasionally, children complain of an earache. This is normal due to irritation of the nerve that services both the ears and tonsils. In the back of the throat, you may notice a white patch in the region of the tonsils. This is normal and is part of the healing process.

Bleeding: Bleeding occurs approximately 1% or less after a tonsillectomy. This most often occurs 5-10 days after the surgery when the scab falls off. It is an emergency if your child coughs or spits up blood. Do not hesitate in seeking help. The risk for bleeding is greatly reduced by regular eating/chewing behaviors. If your child is cared for or watched by someone other than yourself during this time, be sure they are aware of what to look for and who to call for assistance.

Temperature: A mild temperature can be expected but should not exceed 103o.

Diet: The child must eat a normal diet with regular chewing foods. Plenty of fluids are necessary! There is no need to restrict any type of food - let the child eat whatever they like.

Activity: Your child is to resume normal activities AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

Including returning to school.

[wedding]

C had his on a Thursday and was out through the following week. His pain was not controlled well at all with just Tylenol and Motrin, which is what they told us to do. He ended up dehydrated and in the ER on Monday I think. He got a prescription for Vicodin there and once that was on board he improved a lot quicker.

We woke him at night to dose with pain meds if due so he wouldn’t wake in pain. My coworkers daughter had a very hard time in the morning when they didn’t wake to dose.

I bought all sorts of liquids and he wanted none of them. When he finally started feeling better he just wanted milk, water and yogurt. As long as he was getting something in we were fine with it. You want to avoid abrasive foods that may take the scabs off. Although I see that contradicts what is posted above.

He napped more because of the meds and pain but snapped out of that by the end of the week. We probably could have sent him to school that Friday after staying most of the week but we didn’t want to push it.

He had no bleeding. His breath smelled bad due to the scabs.

It wasn’t a great experience for him since his pain wasn’t controlled. Looking back I wish I asked for pain meds from the start but I trusted OTC meds would work.

[snoopmommymom]

My dr said there is nothing he can prescribe for a child this young in terms of pain meds. He said he only recommends Tylenol, that Advil and Motrin can thin the blood or something.

I would also assume to give soft foods at first.

wedding Did he have to have a liquid diet at first? Was he refusing all water and everything?

Also, if i have the option to do his surgery on a Friday that is 8 days before his bday party, would you do it? Or will he not be himself at his party?

[flamingo]

snoopmommymom 's B is scheduled on Thursday, 11/8. I figured that was as good a date as any...plus the following Monday is Veterans Day and our preschool is closed then anyway. But not like I'm having to take off work or he's missing really critical stuff at school. And yes, he's having adenoids out, too.

wedding That is the biggest tip I got from my friend in FL whose son had this done...stay ahead of the pain (wake him up from naps/at night to dose, etc). Her son got upset stomachs from the Percoset or whatever they gave him so that caused another set of issues, hoping we won't have that problem. The pre-op info packet they sent also said to stick to soft foods, liquids, etc. 

Our doctor said they'd give us an RX for pain so hopefully that will help.

Thank y'all, this is helpful!

[wedding]

Oct 16, 2018 17:23:02 GMT -6 snoopmommymom said:

My dr said there is nothing he can prescribe for a child this young in terms of pain meds. He said he only recommends Tylenol, that Advil and Motrin can thin the blood or something.

I would also assume to give soft foods at first.

wedding Did he have to have a liquid diet at first? Was he refusing all water and everything?

Also, if i have the option to do his surgery on a Friday that is 8 days before his bday party, would you do it? Or will he not be himself at his party?

He was on a liquid diet but they said introduce solids as he wants. He was refusing everything. I got the same answer about pain meds but they were quick to give them at the Children’s Hospital ER.

I think he would be fine by his party.

[wedding]

Also I was surprised at how upset he was right after. He had anesthesia before and woke up fine. This time he was in so much pain and sobbing. He was he only kid there doing that though so I think he just had a hard time. It took an hour for him to stop crying.

Keep in mind he was 3.5yrs old. Big difference in a 5yo. I think it would have been less horrible if he was older.

[flamingo]

B has been under anesthesia twice now and both times woke up groggy, crying and out of sorts, so I'm prepared for that.

Ugh, not looking forward to all this but if it will eliminate the sleep apnea and some of these colds and whatnot he keeps picking up, it'll all be worth it.

[wedding]

The upside is C has only missed 1 day of school since having surgery. And that was recently for strep. It was definitely worth it.

[snoopmommymom]

Omg the sleep apnea is awful. I can’t sleep when i hear him struggling at night.

Other question: if November is already booked, would you do the surgery when YH is out of town or make O wait until he is back? If i wait then we are looking at a Dec 14 surgery date. I’m sure mh already has his answer but i wanted to know your thoughts.

[nam2013]

Oct 17, 2018 5:37:28 GMT -6 snoopmommymom said:

Omg the sleep apnea is awful. I can’t sleep when i hear him struggling at night.

Other question: if November is already booked, would you do the surgery when YH is out of town or make O wait until he is back? If i wait then we are looking at a Dec 14 surgery date. I’m sure mh already has his answer but i wanted to know your thoughts.

I’d wait I think, because what it is two extra weeks? I would like the idea of having an extra pair of hands to help, I would have more attention.

[wedding]

Oct 17, 2018 5:37:28 GMT -6 snoopmommymom said:

Omg the sleep apnea is awful. I can’t sleep when i hear him struggling at night.

Other question: if November is already booked, would you do the surgery when YH is out of town or make O wait until he is back? If i wait then we are looking at a Dec 14 surgery date. I’m sure mh already has his answer but i wanted to know your thoughts.

It would suck, but I would probably just do it when YH is out of town. How helpful will he really be anyway

[flamingo]

Oct 17, 2018 5:37:28 GMT -6 snoopmommymom said:

Omg the sleep apnea is awful. I can’t sleep when i hear him struggling at night.

Other question: if November is already booked, would you do the surgery when YH is out of town or make O wait until he is back? If i wait then we are looking at a Dec 14 surgery date. I’m sure mh already has his answer but i wanted to know your thoughts.

My H is a huge help so I would want him around, and honestly he’d want to be here to support B and myself.

Especially having C (in your case Z) to consider (and we don’t have family locally) I’d want the extra hands. I just think about having to run out to the pharmacy, or God forbid if there were complications, etc., and you’re solo with both children 😳

If you have to do it when he’s away could a family member come stay to help out? That would be my plan if my H was deployed or something.

[guster]

No experience with anesthesia or surgery, but I would absolutely want mh there, and I know he wouldnt want to be away either.
I also think it would be very difficult with a younger child in the house and one recovering from surgery if there wasn’t some kind of tagteam relief happening.

[jewels]

snoopmommymom , I agree with the others, I would try to wait for MH to be home or I would see if someone else could help out at least for that first day.

B just had his adenoids out and tubes in, but I had to be at the surgery center at 6:30. I would have had to take S with me, since DC doesn't even open till 6:30. This way, I woke B up, and he and I went there, then MH got S up and to school and met us there, just as B was going into surgery (Around 8:30). I was glad to have the extra hand when he got out, and also MH was able to get the prescription filled while I brought B home so I didn't have to drag him there all loopy.

All that to say, an extra set of hands is helpful, even if it's not for help with O, just for help with everything else, and with Z if O needs all your attention.


Edit to add - I put off B's surgery an extra week so I could have MH home. 

[lfig]

Late to this but S was out of school for 1 full week. Surgery was on a Friday. Popsicles were the only was I could get liquids in her at first. She refused all drinks. But she actually ate fairly well which surprised me. She was eating Mac n cheese on the second day like it was going out of style.

We had Oxy on board to help with pain in addition to Tylenol. They said no ibuprofen.

I think by the end of the first week she was back to eating a normal diet.

[wedding]

You’re right lfig-no ibuprofen. I forgot about that.

[snoopmommymom]

I’m a little worried that your kids were given real pain meds and my doctor already told me it’s Tylenol only.

Also, O’s is scheduled for Nov 2nd. 2 weeks away!

[tgrimes]

Oct 19, 2018 5:16:15 GMT -6 snoopmommymom said:

I’m a little worried that your kids were given real pain meds and my doctor already told me it’s Tylenol only.

Also, O’s is scheduled for Nov 2nd. 2 weeks away!

Could you ask your pedi about their thoughts on the pain meds?

[snoopmommymom]

Oct 19, 2018 7:16:13 GMT -6 tgrimes said:

Oct 19, 2018 5:16:15 GMT -6 snoopmommymom said:

I’m a little worried that your kids were given real pain meds and my doctor already told me it’s Tylenol only.

Also, O’s is scheduled for Nov 2nd. 2 weeks away!

Could you ask your pedi about their thoughts on the pain meds?

The pedi wants to see him before his surgery so I’ll ask then.

[snoopmommymom]

wedding lfig

O is having his surgery this Friday. I’m so nervous. I just found out that we aren’t present when he goes under. They wheel him away and he goes under anesthesia after we are separated. He is going to flip out. I thought i would be present until he is put under so he won’t know I’m not with him.

What was it like for your kids? Am i freaking out over nothing? I seriously just cried when i got off the phone with the nurse from the surgery center.

[tgrimes]

snoopmommymom I wasn't present for H to be put under either time. He'll be fine. I'm sure they're used to dealing with kids all day.

[guster]

I would be nervous too, @snoop. Do you know if they give him a calming drug (it might be versed) that they often use before anesthesia?

[wedding]

snoopmommymom C wasn’t put under until we weren’t with him. But he loves new things and was pretty chill. I would ask what they can do to help ease the transition. They must deal with this a lot and have ways to calm them.

[lfig]

snoopmommymom S wasn't put under until after she was wheeled away also. She was totally fine...but she doesn't know a stranger. She could care less that she was being wheeled away from us. Some places will have an ipad or something for them to watch so it would distract them at the time. Maybe don't make a big deal about saying bye or anything (I know easier said than done). Also, the doctors did ask us if S would have a problem leaving us. In our case it was a no...but I imagine if they were asking, it was to set up a plan if we had said yes. So maybe some versed like Guster said. That stuff is amazing. It kept S still and calm for an MRI a few weeks ago when she had her latest issues.

[snoopmommymom]

Oct 29, 2018 11:56:41 GMT -6 guster said:

I would be nervous too, @snoop. Do you know if they give him a calming drug (it might be versed) that they often use before anesthesia?

I think there is some sort of gas sedation involved. I’ll find out more info tonight. My stomach is in a knot though because the phone call today triggered anxiety.

[tgrimes]

Oct 29, 2018 15:37:46 GMT -6 snoopmommymom said:

Oct 29, 2018 11:56:41 GMT -6 guster said:

I would be nervous too, @snoop. Do you know if they give him a calming drug (it might be versed) that they often use before anesthesia?

I think there is some sort of gas sedation involved. I’ll find out more info tonight. My stomach is in a knot though because the phone call today triggered anxiety.

This may not be the same thing, but with H they used the mask to knock him out and that's when they inserted the IV, etc.

[trtlcrzy]

I don’t know if this will make you feel any better but I went back with S to the operating room when they put the mask on to sedate her and she still freaked the f out, so I don’t know if being with him until he’s out would be any better.