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4 year old getting tonsils removed

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  • 23-06-2015 2:42pm
    #1
    Gal44
    Registered Users Posts: 751 ✭✭✭


    Hiya, My 4 and a half year old daughter is getting her tonsils and possibly adenoids out next month in UCH Galway. Anyone have any advice? what should i expect? I'm so nervous!! thanks


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    #2
    pwurple
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,449 ✭✭✭✭pwurple


    Bring her favourite drinks and foods in for when she is allowed them. We visited a child who got those out, brought some nice soft raspberries and cream and she nearly ate the hand off us!

    Books, maybe a game? Boredom is the thing to overcome in hospital for those procedures. They will have plenty of painkillers on hand, and the op itself doesn't take long. Just keeping the child distracted.


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    #3
    skallywag
    Registered Users Posts: 2,992 ✭✭✭skallywag


    I had the same procedure done at a similar age, and I remember it being a piece of cake, in fact I enjoyed the novelty and the attention :-) Things can only have improved since of course as well.

    I agree the boredom could be the biggest challenge, lots of colouring books and other distractions, etc.


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    #4
    Das Kitty
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 17,231 Mod ✭✭✭✭Das Kitty


    Be prepared yourself, for when she comes around, she may be awfully confused and upset.

    My lad had a tooth removed under general anaesthetic at the start of the year. It was very upsetting when he woke up and was roaring and fighting. However, he doesn't remember any of that. He remembers the jelly and icecream they gave him. :D

    Entertainment is your big thing. If you have a tablet, load it with cartoons and bring headphones. If you don't, you could see about borrowing one for the day. There's a lot of waiting around in UCHG, even when you have an appointment time.


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    #5
    Gal44
    Registered Users Posts: 751 ✭✭✭Gal44


    Thanks everyone :)


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    #6
    bp
    Registered Users Posts: 1,731 ✭✭✭bp


    Gal44 wrote: »
    Thanks everyone :)

    How did go? Facing something similar soon for our 3 year old


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    #7
    Gal44
    Registered Users Posts: 751 ✭✭✭Gal44


    bp wrote: »
    How did go? Facing something similar soon for our 3 year old

    It's the end of the month... So hopefully all goes well!


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    #8
    amor3
    Registered Users Posts: 833 ✭✭✭amor3


    I'd also like to know how it went. My 4 year old is in the 28th of this month for the same. He had a general anesthetic before so i know how confused and upset he will be when he starts to come around. We plan on going shopping to buy us both new pyjamas for our "sleep over " we watched a video of the children's department which they recommended is to do. I've tried to talk him through the procedure in a child friendly way of course and how his throat will be sore at first but when it starts to get better it wont be sore ever again!!(fingers crossed)

    Did they remove the adenoids? How is the recovery going?


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    #9
    Gal44
    Registered Users Posts: 751 ✭✭✭Gal44


    The Op is the 31st of this month, Great idea to watch the video gona look into that


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    #10
    amor3
    Registered Users Posts: 833 ✭✭✭amor3


    Gal44 wrote: »
    The Op is the 31st of this month, Great idea to watch the video gona look into that

    It's nerve wracking isn't it. I think I'm more nervous than he is!


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    #11
    angelll
    Registered Users Posts: 537 ✭✭✭angelll


    My 2 yr old (at the time) got them out in jan this year along with adenoids, went fine, pain really came back up on days 5-7 so watch out for that.


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    #12
    Gal44
    Registered Users Posts: 751 ✭✭✭Gal44


    amor3 wrote: »
    It's nerve wracking isn't it. I think I'm more nervous than he is!

    Absolutely! They've just cancelled her originally date for surgery so back waiting again for another date :(


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    #13
    amor3
    Registered Users Posts: 833 ✭✭✭amor3


    Gal44 wrote: »
    Absolutely! They've just cancelled her originally date for surgery so back waiting again for another date :(

    Oh no! Poor little mite ( and poor mammy! ) waiting just makes the anxiety worse for everyone. Fingers crossed they wont leave you waiting to long.


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    #14
    uck51js9zml2yt
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,268 ✭✭✭✭uck51js9zml2yt


    My son has had a couple of ops and probably needs another one in a few months.

    He got agitated last time with getting the gas. The ENT Manager recommended that next time we get the play therapist to talk to him before his next op and to give him pre-meds to relax him.

    Its traumatic getting a big mask over their faces with the "funny smell"

    Once he got over the initial confusion on waking up he was bouncing around the place :)


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    #15
    allybhoy
    Registered Users Posts: 1,686 ✭✭✭allybhoy


    Hope everything goes well, im sure it will.

    Do you mind me asking how you went about getting the operation for your little one?

    Our 4 year old is constantly getting throat infections and her poor tonsils are like angry red golf balls all the time even when she doesnt have an infection. When she does get an infection they inflame to the point where she cant swallow and have developed holes in them where a white fungus type stuff builds up and the only way to get rid of it is antibiotics. She has been to the GP at least 5 times in the last 12 months with her throat and when we asked about getting them removed the GP told us she was far too young and to wait until she was at least 10 or 12, but id like to get them removed before that. Wondering should we use another GP, Our current GP will obviously has a record of the amount of times she has been to the clinic with throat complaints over the last 2 years or so.


    I had similar tonsil issues and had mine removed when i was 20 but I wish I had them removed at a younger date as i havent had a throat infection since.


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    #16
    amor3
    Registered Users Posts: 833 ✭✭✭amor3


    D-day tomorrow!! I'm a bundle of nerves, ds doesn't seem fazed at all. I'm sure it will be a different story in the morning, we've to be in for 7 so hopefully somewhere near the start of the list and get done early enough.

    Gal44 did you get another date yet?

    Allyboy, i just got fed up and got my gp to type up a referral for me. Your little one definitely meets the criteria so i dont know why they would wait so long.


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    #17
    Gal44
    Registered Users Posts: 751 ✭✭✭Gal44


    amor3 wrote: »
    D-day tomorrow!! I'm a bundle of nerves, ds doesn't seem fazed at all. I'm sure it will be a different story in the morning, we've to be in for 7 so hopefully somewhere near the start of the list and get done early enough.

    Gal44 did you get another date yet?

    Allyboy, i just got fed up and got my gp to type up a referral for me. Your little one definitely meets the criteria so i dont know why they would wait so long.

    Got a call for August 7th, so I'm nervous but glad to get a date so soon. She's starting school in September so I'm happy it will be over and done with for her. I was chatting to another parent who's child had her tonsils out and they got the child to blow up a balloon and that's how the child went to sleep, clever idea I think!

    Best of luck for tomorrow! :)


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    #18
    bp
    Registered Users Posts: 1,731 ✭✭✭bp


    I just rang an ENT myself to get an appointment. No letter from doc.

    I hope the operations go well


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    #19
    amor3
    Registered Users Posts: 833 ✭✭✭amor3


    All done!

    He put up a bit of a fight earlier, he was first up. Got down to theatre and had a bit of a meltdown , got so far as to blow up the balloon but when the "smelly gas" came in he wouldn't breathe it in. He is so strong for a 4 and a half year old. They then tried the needle in his hand approach but as soon as he felt it he wouldn't keep still. So we went back out to the waiting room and they gave him a seditive and it took about 20 minutes to kick in. Then off back into the theatre and we managed to get the mask on with minimal fuss. So he was in and out in a little over an hour. Only took out the tonsils, i was convinced the adenoids would go to but they said they were quite small. He is snoozing on and off now but seems to be doing ok. They are recommending to eat as normal but they are really encouraging crunchy foods, toast, cornflakes and even tayto they said! Gonna try him with some toast first and take it from there.


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    #20
    Gal44
    Registered Users Posts: 751 ✭✭✭Gal44


    amor3 wrote: »
    All done!

    He put up a bit of a fight earlier, he was first up. Got down to theatre and had a bit of a meltdown , got so far as to blow up the balloon but when the "smelly gas" came in he wouldn't breathe it in. He is so strong for a 4 and a half year old. They then tried the needle in his hand approach but as soon as he felt it he wouldn't keep still. So we went back out to the waiting room and they gave him a seditive and it took about 20 minutes to kick in. Then off back into the theatre and we managed to get the mask on with minimal fuss. So he was in and out in a little over an hour. Only took out the tonsils, i was convinced the adenoids would go to but they said they were quite small. He is snoozing on and off now but seems to be doing ok. They are recommending to eat as normal but they are really encouraging crunchy foods, toast, cornflakes and even tayto they said! Gonna try him with some toast first and take it from there.


    Hi how is your little lad getting on since?


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    #21
    cassid
    Registered Users Posts: 811 ✭✭✭cassid


    My son had adenoids done 3 years ago and they stupid things have grown back so booked back in for another op and tonsils coming out as well. He loved the fuss last time in the hospital so he does not mind getting it done again


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    #22
    amor3
    Registered Users Posts: 833 ✭✭✭amor3


    Gal44 , he is doing well. He had a nose bleed during the night so he was kept in for about 6 hours longer than he should. Got home about 3 o'clock today. He hasn't really been complaining about pain yet but I have been assured it will defo kick in so I'm just keeping on top of his medicine and keeping him in my bed tonight to keep an eye because any slightest bit of bleeding and its back to a&e. But fingers crossed he will be fine!


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    #23
    amor3
    Registered Users Posts: 833 ✭✭✭amor3


    cassid wrote: »
    My son had adenoids done 3 years ago and they stupid things have grown back so booked back in for another op and tonsils coming out as well. He loved the fuss last time in the hospital so he does not mind getting it done again

    Wow,didn't realise they could grow back!!


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    #24
    bp
    Registered Users Posts: 1,731 ✭✭✭bp


    So glad it went ok


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    #25
    Gal44
    Registered Users Posts: 751 ✭✭✭Gal44


    amor3 wrote: »
    Gal44 , he is doing well. He had a nose bleed during the night so he was kept in for about 6 hours longer than he should. Got home about 3 o'clock today. He hasn't really been complaining about pain yet but I have been assured it will defo kick in so I'm just keeping on top of his medicine and keeping him in my bed tonight to keep an eye because any slightest bit of bleeding and its back to a&e. But fingers crossed he will be fine!

    That's great he's doing good, how's his eating?


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    #26
    amor3
    Registered Users Posts: 833 ✭✭✭amor3


    He really doesn't know what he wants most of the time. When he came around from the anesthetic the first day he had a cruchy cornflake muller yoghurt, half a chicken and stuffing sandwich on granary bread and half a banana and walnut muffin. He picked at his dinner that evening, a few wedges. But we were advised to just get him eating, by whatever means, the saliva from chewing apparently helps a whole lot. We got him a packet of starbursts and this meant he had to chew and swallow alot. Yesterday and today (2nd day post op) it's taking about an hour for the medicine to kick in before he even thinks of eating first thing in the morning. But once it does he seems brighter, and willing to eat. I've really just let him pick what he wants. I even got a box of coco pop cereal bars which I'd never buy but it done the job earlier and got his appetite going ☺ he just seems to be doing to well pain wise as they were really stressing the fact it will be "misery"!! Calm before the storm maybe!


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    #27
    amor3
    Registered Users Posts: 833 ✭✭✭amor3


    A week post op today, the last 2 nights were bad. Waking every 2 hours from 1 o'clock on, this would be the longest time without medicine but he is even starting to get an aversion to that now, won't take any drinks during the night either. During the day he is like a different child, not a bother but still not great eating.

    Gal44, you set for friday?


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    #28
    Gal44
    Registered Users Posts: 751 ✭✭✭Gal44


    amor3 wrote: »
    A week post op today, the last 2 nights were bad. Waking every 2 hours from 1 o'clock on, this would be the longest time without medicine but he is even starting to get an aversion to that now, won't take any drinks during the night either. During the day he is like a different child, not a bother but still not great eating.

    Gal44, you set for friday?

    Nervous but looking forward to it been over and done with.

    How's your little lad since?

    Anything you recommend to bring with us to the hospital? Apart from clothes pjs and things to distract her..


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    #29
    amor3
    Registered Users Posts: 833 ✭✭✭amor3


    Gal44 wrote: »
    Nervous but looking forward to it been over and done with.

    How's your little lad since?

    Anything you recommend to bring with us to the hospital? Apart from clothes pjs and things to distract her..

    He only woke once last night,so I'm hoping he is on the up now. Appetite still not 100%, living on cereal mostly, but I'll let that slide til the two weeks are up and then get a bit more stricter.

    I can't really recommend anything, i brought an ipad but i had to bring in a seperate mobile broadband thing because the hospital didn't have wifi, he was groggy for most of the day,slept on and off and when he was awake he looked at a movie or 2. So all going well you will be good to go early the next morning, so you just need entertainment so to speak for the 1 day, maybe a new book or small toy for being so brave when she comes round ☺


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    #30
    Gal44
    Registered Users Posts: 751 ✭✭✭Gal44


    amor3 wrote: »
    He only woke once last night,so I'm hoping he is on the up now. Appetite still not 100%, living on cereal mostly, but I'll let that slide til the two weeks are up and then get a bit more stricter.

    I can't really recommend anything, i brought an ipad but i had to bring in a seperate mobile broadband thing because the hospital didn't have wifi, he was groggy for most of the day,slept on and off and when he was awake he looked at a movie or 2. So all going well you will be good to go early the next morning, so you just need entertainment so to speak for the 1 day, maybe a new book or small toy for being so brave when she comes round ☺

    That's great he only woke once, hopefully onwards and upwards :)

    thanks for all your helpful info


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    #31
    amor3
    Registered Users Posts: 833 ✭✭✭amor3


    Best of luck today Gal44 and especially little Gal44. It will be all over before you know it.


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