Nightmares after tonsillectomy?

Weezy · Guest

My 7 yr old son had a tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy on Feb.9(6 days ago) Of course he was in a fair bit of pain the first few days, and he hasn't slept well at all since the surgery. He wakes up numerous times throughout the night crying and it seems as though he is having nightmares! Is this normal? It seems almost impossible to settle him down, and once I do, within a couple hours he is up again crying, and seems very out of it!! We were told to give him Children's Tylenol every 4 hours, so we have been. He really hasn't eaten much of anything since the operation, and will only drink water if anything at all. I have been after him to drink drink drink...but it hurts and he is not too willing. Do you think it is pain that is waking him or could he be having some post op nightmares? Look forward to your reply. Thanks

Guest · Guest

Our son is 5 and had his tonsils out 8 days ago. He started the "night terrors" about 4-5 days after the surgery. He is also waking up in the middle of the night. Usually about 1-2 hours after he falls asleep and then sometimes every hour after that until about 3-4 hours before he wakes up. Those last 3-4 hours are usually the most peaceful. Our doctor said it is usually caused by the narcotics. Apparently, they affect the brain and cause the night terrors. I did some internet research on night terrors and some people had luck by sticking their child's feet in cool water or leaving socks off their feet and not covering them. We tried that last night - no luck! But it might work for you. Good luck!

sjess · Posted: 03/03/07 - 22:27 Post subject:

Hi, I am 16 yrs old, I found for about 3 days after my surgery I had the worst nightmares ever, I think it was just all the meds. I'm on day 8 and I still get some pretty wacky dreams but not as bad as the first couple of days.

kay81 · Newbie Joined: 13 Feb 2007 Posts: 84

it is most probably just medication. i am 25 and still have weird dreams post surgery and on meds.

Guest · Guest

My son is 34 months old and just had his tonsils and adenoids out last week on April 12th. He has gone thru the usual not eating, etc, but our problem is he wakes up every night since Sunday (3 days post op) every hour during the night. I have called his Dr's office 3 times but they aren't offering any help in this matter. He can'e be comforted no matter what we do, and my husband and I have to take turns sleeping in shifts. Does this sound familiar? I thought at first that it was nightmares of some sort too, since they come and rip your child from your arms with them screaming, and take them away to surgery! When our son finally woke up, one of the frist things he said while holding his throat was"They cut Me"! Now we didn't know that they were taking his tonsils out until 15 minutes after they came and took him away, so I know he never heard us say anything about "cutting" him. We just thought that was too weird, and also, a few days later, he held his hand over his mouth and nose and said this is what Dr. *** did to me!

damomoto · Newbie Joined: 09 May 2007 Posts: 3

Hi

I just read your posting regarding your 34 month old son.

Correct me if im wrong but isnt it against the law to do any surgery on a minor without prior written consent by their parent or guardian?

I dont understand why then he was going into surgery without anybody knowing what was happening to him.

Anyway-Im sure if he was getting the op, the doctor would have probably have told him before they put him under - they always do.

Regarding the nightmares - im exactly the same - im 3 days into it and im dreaming about them being cauterised and smelling the burning. Im also dreaming about Super Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog but i think thats down to getting back to childhood and feeling vulnerable.

I hope your kid has come thru all of this

kay81 · Newbie Joined: 13 Feb 2007 Posts: 84

I'm sorry but that makes no sense at all. What do you mean they ripped your child out of your arms and did not know they were taking his tonsils out until 15 min later? Either way, I'm sure upon waking up from that surgery that he knew that's what was done by how it feels (as if something was cut out of your throat) and that him covering his mouth and nose as the doctor did was in reference to when a gas mask was put on him for him to go under the anesthesia required to perform the surgery.

sorrymom · Newbie Joined: 27 Jul 2007 Posts: 3

Please let me know how long the night terrors last. What my 8 year old is experiencing sounds a lot like your child. I never thought about terrors. I just assumed he was in pain. Does this go away? When? We've had some really LONG nights and I am so completely exhausted. I don't know how to help him other than holding him and calming him enough for him to fall asleep again.

hdpbjs · Newbie Joined: 30 Jul 2007 Posts: 3

My son is 7 and had surgery 6 days ago and I thought maybe it was just him as he's always been a restless sleeper, but he too seems to be experiencing these "night terrors." I have been lucky to get 2 hours of sleep at a time since he had surgery, except for the one morning my husband was home from work and able to sit up with him. He'll cry out in his sleep and thrash around. He hadn't taken any codiene for 2 days becuase he was more able to deal with the pain then the nausea from the hydrocodone. He was still having them. Last night the outburst turned into him wide awake and crying in pain. He finally took the pain medicine and was able to get about 4 hours of good sleep. If anyone has any suggestions to this please share.

sorrymom · Newbie Joined: 27 Jul 2007 Posts: 3

My son was doing exactly the same...waking up crying and thrashing...this is the time the scabs are falling off so they start hurting again. The codiene will burn going down because that area is raw (for lack of a better word). I was told by my doctor to use a humidifier. THAT WORKED WONDERS!!! Get one and let your child sleep close to it. This will prevent him from drying out while he's asleep. I know the two hour thing. Not fun at all. We went back today for our post-op (day 14) and everything is healing perfectly. Thank God!! I was completely drained. I could only imagine how he felt. Good Luck!!

Nightmares after tonsillectomy?

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