Today my sweet little boy had his tonsils and adenoids removed. This surgery was a long time coming. As I mentioned in my last FPIES update we were basically referred for this by all of D’s doctors. He’s had gigantic tonsils from birth, but it wasn’t until his endoscopy just before his 2nd birthday that we were told that when he laid down his tonsils touched each other.
I wanted to document this process because I couldn’t find much out there in the way of a toddler’s experience with Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy. I am a researcher. I like hearing about other people’s experiences with things before we dive headlong into them. Obviously I knew no matter what I read that we were going to do the surgery, but it’s nice to know what helped or didn’t help with other people going through the same stuff.
Ginormous Tonsils:
Our major deciding factor into this surgery was not chronic illness or sleep issues like some, but rather that we were concerned that his tonsils we so just too big and hindering his ability to swallow food.
As he has made strides in his eating beyond his allergy issues, D still couldn’t swallow solid foods. So we finally got in to see the ENT and sure enough he too was shocked by the size of his tonsils. He told me he had read our chart and was actually going to try and talk us out of removing them, until he saw them. And once he saw them he knew they would have to come out.
He said he couldn’t believe that we had gotten along this long without removing them, and he was certain that this would be a great step towards helping him swallow food. The space that his tonsils left in his mouth simply was not enough to allow him to swallow without gagging. He told us they were among the biggest he’s ever seen at that age.
He also told us we could expect to hear a completely different voice from our toddler because he was talking behind golf balls. He also said to expect a great improvement in the hours and quality of sleep he was getting. (This would have been nice to know when he was a baby – no wonder he preferred to sleep on his belly from nearly day one. When he was an infant he so frequently woke up choking, and wouldn’t be able to get back to sleep. It was pretty miserable.) And of course we could be really hopeful that he would be finally able to swallow solid foods.
Day 1 and Already Seeing Big Changes:
Top Right: Playing Before Surgery. Top Left: Waking Up.
Bottom Right: Eating a Pouch Post-surgery. Bottom Left: Sound asleep with his Dream Blanket.
Today is day one, so I am sure we have about 2 weeks of recovery in front of us, but after he woke from surgery and shook off some of the anesthesia, he saw his Doctor and said, “HI DOCTOR (his name)”. It was almost like music to my ears. It was a completely different voice that the voice I’d been listening to talk non stop since he could. It was clear, and loud, and not stuck in his throat. It was beautiful.
We are spending the night at the children’s hospital. Mostly because he’s under 3 years old and just over 30lbs (33.4lbs to be exact). So far I couldn’t be happier with how he is doing. Other than the medicine he was given during surgery and right after, he has only had Tylenol. No additional pain meds. He’s been very mellow, but also very happy. I’m certain we will have some rough nights ahead of us, but I can honestly say I am very hopeful.
Currently, and the only reason I am able to blog this as quickly as I am – he is sleeping very very soundly.
We are currently stocked up on his favorite flavors of Nuun (electrolyte tabs – because he won’t drink Gatorade or pedialyte), sorbet, and all his favorite TV and movies. Fingers crossed for as uneventful recovery. I promise to post a recovery update so if your toddler will be having this procedure you are able to read about our experience and what worked best for recovery.
Did you your little one ever have a similar surgery? How was their recovery? Any tips? – Let me know in the comments
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Glad the surgery went well. I remember my sister having this done when she was 5 or 6 because she had CONSTANT ear infections. It helped her a lot and she got a lot less infections after the surgery.
Aww. Poor baby! I’m glad the procedure helped her, but that had to be so terrible for her.
this was a pretty interesting read- it sounds like your son was a great trooper and you made a great decision. I’m curious to hear how his sleep improves and how his body adjusts to the new changes/ It sounds like there will be many positive outcomes!
Addie still had tonsils, but she did have her 2nd set of tubes and adenoids removed last summer about 2 months before her spinal decompression. With all the surgeries, we’ve seen a vast improvement in her snoring and obstructive apnea with no more screaming wake ups. It was a kind of gross recovery with her breath smelling to the high heavens, but worth it. I wish your sweet one much success!!
I am glad it went well. Both kids had the surgeries and it took few days to recover
Wow I didn’t know this could happen at such an early age. My daughter had hers out in middle school or high school. It wasn’t long before business as usual but the sore throats were pretty bad.
Awww, poor little fella! Hoping for a quick and speedy recovery. My daughter had surgery when she was 3. I know how scary it can be. I cried for hours. lol
I hear that it’s common for younger kids to have to go through this. I hope he gets to feeling better!
Hope his recovery continues to go smoothly. Praying that this will help with his food issues too.
So happy that the surgery went well! Surgery can be a very scary thing to go through as a parent!
Awwwww! I am glad everything turned out okay. Thanks for sharing this valuable information and your story.
My friend’s son just had this done he’s almost 6. she couldn’t find much research for it for him at his age either
I am so glad your child is getting relief. As hard as it is now I am sure it is much better than being older and feeling it all ten times worse!