Tonsillectomy with Adenoid Removal and Tubes in Ears

My 2 yr old just had an adenoidectomy and it was a pretty decent experience. The ear tube will hardly be noticeable and is about a 1 minute procedure. The adenoid and tonsils might take 20 minutes or so. Our son was at the Pediatric Surgery Center in Plano. He wore his pajamas in. They didn't have to put him in a gown, so he kept the PJs on for the whole procedure. They brought us back to a waiting area where they're stocked with portable DVD players and a huge selection of DVDs for the kids to watch. The anesthesiologist came by first and a nurse gave him "goofy juice" so he started acting kind of drunk. Then the anesthesiologist came back after a while to get him. She just picked him up and carried him off (didn't put him on a bed or anything at this point). We were sent back out to the main waiting area.
About 20 min later they called for us and we met with the surgeon who told us how the procedure went, gave us an antibiotic prescription for him, and told us what to expect as far as pain, what he could eat, and about limiting his activity level, though he said he'd be self-limiting on the activity.
After talking to the doc we went to the recovery area and waited for our son to wake up, which took about 10 minutes.
He was a little disoriented and cried about the IV (tried to pull it out!), but they wouldn't take it out until he drank something or ate a popsicle. Someone from the surgery center had called us the day before to prep us and advised us to bring a sippy cup from home so it would be familiar. We brought his blanket too.
He was pretty upset, but after about 10 minutes of rocking/comforting he finally took a drink. As soon as that happened, they unhooked the IV, helped us gather up our things and walked us to the door. I don't think we were there much more than an hour and a half.
They said he'd have pain for 2 or 3 days. I think you can download info on what to expect after surgery at www.entforchildren.net
He was kind of grumpy the rest of that day, but woke up just fine the next day and ran all around the house like nothing was wrong. We figured he just had a quick recovery. What we didn't know, and what other parents told us later, is that the NEXT day (so, 2 days after surgery) is when the pain and fussiness sets in. So, we had that for a couple days, but it wasn't too bad. We kept him on children's motrin for those couple days after surgery, then stopped it and he seemed fine.
Good luck! Stock the fridge/freezer with popsicles and gatorade and she'll be fine :-)

My only advice is that you really be prepared for her to be very upset when she is coming out of the anesthesia. I was not prepared for the almost tantrum like fit both of my kids threw, and with her being older, she will be stronger!! Of course, later when I talked with others about it, they said it was common, but all I was told was that they should be dilerious and upset, not histerical!! It was hard for me, but bring whatever comforts her, and I agree about the sippy cup from home. Put in it anything you think she will drink, even if it is Kool-aid (which is my personal big no-no)!! Better yet, take a few so that she can choose between gatoraid, juice, or even just water. I dont think that she can have any milk though, just juices. Honestly though, once that subsides, she will be calm, and probably tired. The best thing you can do is rent some movies and let her have anything she will eat, and Maggie is right on, it is 2 and 3 days later that are much harder than the day after..it will be over soon though, and all of the ear infections, sinus infections etc will be gone. Good luck, you will be in my thoughts! ~A.~

Both of my children went through this. Every child is different. When my son drank the "happy juice" to calm him down as they took him to the OR, he was so happy and silly. My daughter on the other hand threw a fit all the way down the hall. It was very heartbreaking. They both came out about the same way, very sleepy, very adgitated. Neither wanted to drink anything. They only stayed at the hospital for about 6 hours after the surgeries. The hospital requires that they drink something or eat a popcicle and go to the bathroom before they leave.

My son was very hard to get to take his medicine and thus would not eat or drink. We ended up back at the hospital and the doctor told him he needed to drink or he would give him an IV (needle in his arm). That is all my son needed. He went home and began eating, drinking, taking his meds, etc. He was back to normal in less than a week.

My daughter was harder at the hospital, but she LOVES ice. As soon as we got her a cup of ice and a spoon, she ate and ate and ate (ice of course). On the way home from the hospital, we stopped and bought a big bag of Sonic ice (10 pounds). She had eaten the entire bag of ice in a week. After she would eat a cup of ice, she would eat anything (soup, peanut butter and jelly, whatever). We gave her what she asked for except chips and stuff like that. She was only really down for a few days.

Good luck to you. Your daughter should do fine. Just make sure you push fluids once she is at home, and if she likes ice, get a bag of Sonic ice. It will make life so much easier.

Hi C.,

My little boy who is 3 also has had tubes and his adenoids out.

He had the tubes put in first, which took a whole 15 minutes! He was home, and running around about 2 hours after the procedure. We noticed a huge difference after the tubes, it was amazing how much better our little guy started talking, his hearing was dramatically improved!

About a year later, we went ahead and had his adenoids out. This procedure took a little longer for him to bounce back. We needed up having a fever for about 2 days, and had flu like symptoms. My doctor told me this was normal, and that after a couple days they are back to normal.

Good luck and call me with any questions.

Best Wishes,

C. Roeschen
The Trinity Group
Keller Williams
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www.TheTrinityGroup.org
www.ValueMyNeighborhoodOnLine.com

My 3 yr old just had her tonsils and adenoids out about 3 weeks ago. First she drank some medicine that made her fall asleep, then they did the surgery with anesthesia. When she woke up, she was very uncomfortable for a couple of hours. I held and comforted her during those 2 hours, then she fell asleep. By the next day, she left the hospital singing and skipping and full of energy. I took her by the surgeon's office so they could see how good she looked in just one day! Yes she had pain and discomfort for a couple of weeks; she had pain medicine and a sucker with a numbing medicine in it. She had a cough at night from the drainage and you have to be very careful about what she eats, but otherwise she hardly noticed. She is completely recovered now. I pray your daughter's surgery goes just as well.

I had my adenoids out when I was about 7. I remember waking up and having a lot of blood on the medical apron I was wearing around my neck.

I remember being in pain and uncomfortable, but if was any more terrible I would have remembered it! Pudding, jello, mousse, ice cream, slushes and good ole chicken noodle soup should help. Also, the anethesia may have her feeling pretty nauseous for a day or two, so the BRAT diet may help.

http://www.ccsu.edu/healthservice/General%20Information/B...

I had never heard of a child so young getting their tonsils and adenoids out so young. Poor little girl having it all done at the same time. I suppose at least she won't have to relive it over again with another procedure down the road.