child post tonsillectomy recovery age 6

My 5 year old son had his tonsils and adenoids removed 8 days ago.  On Days 1-2, things didn't seem so bad.  He ate pasta with butter, popsicles, ice cream and drank tons of water.  Every day since, his pain has gotten worse.  We called the doctor 2 times since his surgery and all of the complaints my son has fall under the "normal" category.  He is complaining that his cheeks hurt, throat hurts and his brain hurts, which I am assuming means jaw pain, throat pain and headache.  The days seem to be much better than the nights.  Night time has been extremely difficult.  He has been snoring more than usual (up until last night) and has obscenely bad breath...which again is normal according to our doctor.  He has white patches in the back of his throat that are the scabs, I believe.  During the nights, I truly believe my son wakes up hallucinating or is completely delusional.  He talks jibberish and I have no idea how to help him.  He cries and whines in his sleep most of the night whether he is awake or asleep.    Tonight I am just giving him motrin before bed rather than the hydrocodone because I think it is causing some of the restless sleep and confusion.  It is so difficult seeing your child go through this kind of pain.  I need to remember that this decision was made to help him in the long run.  When I was 21, I had my tonsils out and I recall how difficult it was for me.  I was under the impression that the recovery experience was easier on children, but my little guy has had it just as bad as I did.  My son has been sleeping in my room and my husband is on the couch.  Waking up every few hours reminds me of what it was like to have a newborn...I have gotten a few hours of sleep each night since my son's surgery.  If I am this exhausted, I can only imagine how badly he is feeling.  I know we had to to this, but I just wish the recovery was easier.

My son is 6 years old and had tonsils/adenoids removed on Tuesday.  Terrible experience coming out of anaesthesia, he had to be given morphine in addition to lortab to calm him down. I def was not prepared to see him so upset. The first two days (T,W) we went through rough cycles of: waking up in pain/stress, coercing to take medicines (30 mins), trying to eat/drink/be merry for about 1.5 hours, sleep for 2 hours and then repeating over and over and over. Day 3 (R) was the best day so far. He woke up in much pain, but was willing to take the medicine, so that was easier. Then he was actually hungry and WANTED to eat. He ate a biscuit and sausage, smoothie, and milk but then said he felt sick (oops). We continued cycles of medicine/sleep, but it was much easier because he was willing to take the medicine and I didn't have to fight him. Today, day 4, was more like the first two days. I have forced him to eat two spoons of smoothie, one spoon of pudding, one spoon of jello, and two spoons of mac'n'cheese. I did use bribery multiple times and will prob have to continue if he refuses to eat/drink again. He seems to get chills at night but does not have a fever. He's complained of being nauseous all day. I don't know if his scabs are coming off or if it's something else, but we're making it. I can't seem to get him to enjoy anything cold. He wants his water room temperature. I never had my tonsils removed so I can't say I understand. I just hope this is over sooner rather than later. He's so pitiful and says he doesn't forgive me for doing this.  Oh well, at least he won't stop breathing at night now ;-)

My 4 1/2 year old daughter had her tonsils/adenoids out on a Friday.  Bad reaction to anasthesia and vomited quite a few times in recovery.  They wouldn't let us leave until after trying 3 different anti-nausea meds and she finally ate a popsicle.  That night, she ate and drank quite a bit.  However, about 8:00 things went down hill.  The Tylenol with Codeine is alcohol based so it REALLY burns when they take it and she would NOT take it without us forcing it down her.  She did not eat or drink anything ....no ice cream, ice, popsicles for 27 hours so doc said go back to hospital.  We went through ER where they admitted her.  We had to stay three DAYS until the pain could get under control with i.v. meds and she would start drinking on her own.  we finally came home.  We are on day 6 post surgery.  She doesn't want tylenol at all, but I can tell she feels bad.  she is just laying on the couch.  When I get Tylenol in her, she will get up and play.  Drinking, but not eating much.  This surgery was WAY harder recovery than we were led to believe.

On the 23rd of August my daughter got her tonsils out keeps on getting sick water and is ok in the day but not in the night ? Is this normal ???

My 10 yr old had t & a surgery yesterday. She woke up this morning @ 530 in pain and started crying, which caused her to clear her throat and cough a little. Which also made her panic that she cldnt breath, I had to get after her to calm down as she was being her own worst enemy. My question for anyone who has only followed the Dr. rules (ie: no aspirin, motrin, ice cream, hard foods) did you wake your kids up in the middle of the night to drink and take pain meds? I think that wld have made for a better morning since constant liquids keep the throat loose and moist. I think I am going to set an alarm for every two hours to drink liquids and on the 4th hr to take pain meds. My advice to parents follow the rules No aspirin products, No dairy products, No hard foods! I am amazed at the parents listing hard foods, dairy, and aspirin products, no wonder there are complications! Follow the rules! Push lots of liquids, sherbet, crushed popsicles, and broth (warm not hot). My daughter just told me after a sherbet smoothie she felt so much better, I will definitely do the nightly wake up tonight and post how that worked! Sherbert smoothie = blender, 2 ice cubes, sherbet, Gatorade and blend....she loves them!

My 9yr old had this surgery 6 days ago and has been doing great. He woke up at 2:30 this morning in pain so we did our routine of pain meds & he started spitting up blood. We went strait to the ER & then strait to his surgeons office. The bleeding stopped and a good clot formed, but he has been in excruciating pain ever since. His tylenol w/codeine isn't working and neither is the magic mouthwash that the surgeon rx'd earlier today. He is unable to drink or eat due to the pain and even though I feel horrible for him my patience are wearing thin because I don't know what to do to fix it. I have tried ice packs, popsicles, ice water, smoothies, slushies. Anyone have any other ideas?

 

My 5 year old DD had a T&A done yesterday morning for sleep apnea.  Yesterday she had some vomiting and slept most of the day.  I tried to get her to take her tylenol every four hours, but by 5pm she was in so much pain that she wouldnt even swallow her own spit.  I was finally able to give her about 1/2 of her tylenol with codeine dose before she went to bed for the night.  We woke up a few times during the night crying and gave her some regular tylenol, which she seems to take better than the one with codeine.  I am worried though because I can't really get her to eat or drink anything.  This morning she said she was hungry, so I tried apple sauce, but as soon as she tried to swallow it, she was done.  After that, I tried to give her another dose of codeine so that I could maybe get her eat a little bit more, but she vomited that up along with the little bit of fluid I was able to get her to drink.  My DH is firing the humidifier up right now so hopefully that will help a little.  She hasnt complained of any ear pain yet, but by the sounds of it, day 4 or 5 is the special day to start looking forward to that little bonus.  Thank you for all of your suggestions; wish me luck.  I have a feeling this is not going to be a quick and easy recovery like I was lead to believe.  Im having such a hard time trying to control her pain that I can't even get close to getting her to take her antibiotic, Im definitely going to have to change my strategy.

Hi my 8 year old son had his tonsils out a week ago.  he is still in a lot of pain.  during the day not too bad, but cant sleep at night and is up most of the time.  i am giving neuofin and calpol regularly, but wonder when he will get a night sleep and when he will get back to normal.  I didnt think he would have been in so much pain as everyone told me he will be fine he is a kid and he will bounce back!! how long will it take before he get back to normal. 

 

My son, 8, had tonsillectomy and 2nd adenoid surgery (yes adenoids grew back.) He is on the 5th day and really having a hard with the headaches and pain in jaw.  He is on liquid Lortab and I'm stilling giving it to him every 4 to 5 hours.  Please tell me this will end - when will he turn the corner?  Thanks

Hi,  My son is almost 7 we are going on to day 5 of his recovery . It has not been an easy road an he still wakes up 3 times a night with a very dry throat .  After reading all the posts I am getting a humidifier today and hoping to god it helps......It is currently 4:26am and we are both wide awake PLease tell me this will end please.......

My daughter is 5 and her doctor has suggested that she have this procedure because her tonsils are enlarge and tend to close while she is sleeping, causing her to snore very loudly and have breeathing complications. I'm very nervous and scared about her going through surgery again. Two years ago she had nasel surgery to help with her breathing and after surgery she wouldn't breath on her own for the first couple of hours. Reading about your child has helped a lot because now I at least have some kind of idea of what can be expected from my child when she gets home. I'm still scared about the actually procedure but it was nice to hear about the sucess of other kids her age who have had the same surgery.

My daughter was 9, and just had her tonsils and adnoids out on July 3rd. She did VERY well. Im not going to lie, it was rough about the 3rd and 4th day, but we found that she preferred warm food or drink opposed to cold.....its all trial and error like most everything else with our kids.

I know that all children respond differently to surgery, but my 3 yr old just had his tonsils and adnoids taken out due to severe OSA. The doctor used this guaze called Quikclot that the military has used for years. He had me keep track of his recovery including pain, fluid intake, foods he was able to eat, and how many times I had to give him narcotics for pain. I must say it was a simple task because he was back to normal the very next day. Since he had severe sleep apnea he had to stay one night in the hospital and I was so worried about keeping ahead of the pain that I made sure he got his narcotic as scheduled. The next day when we got home I switched to motrin and tylenol and he never complained of pain and was eating and drinking fine. I urge you to ask your doctor about this gauze. My son had his surgery done at CHKD in Norfolk Va by Dr. Derkay. He has been using this guaze for a while and had noticed significantly quicker recovery times because they do not have to cauterize as much or put in stiches. My son acted like he never had anything done! I am amazed and will tell anyone who will listen to look up Quikclot and ask your surgeon about it, it will save you alot of headache!

My 8 year old daughter had her tonsils and adenoids out on Wednesday 2/6/13. I was scared after reading about the recovery and almost let it talk me out of making her get the surgery. She had sleep apnea and it was important, and I didnt want her to go through the surgery as an adult where I have read recovery can take a lot longer. I swore I would respond to this post if it was positive and give all those worried parents a little hope that it wouldnt be so bad. Day one- I wont lie. Watching her sleep after the surgery still under anesthesia was hard. I stayed by her bed for 5 minutes and asked her grandma to sit with her till she woke up cause her throat was swollen and her breathing jerky and I couldnt handle it and started crying like a baby. she woke up about 30 minutes later and I went back. She was groggy and spitting up some thin mucus but was ok other than that. She was released about 45 minutes later! I got her home and settled in the front room where I was going to be sleeping with her for 2 weeks. She watched some TV and slept and drank very little, which worried me as I have read that is the most important thing. She would take a drink after I gave her the medication to clear her mouth. The doctors did not prescribe any prescription pain meds- and had me buy Motrin and Tylenol to give every 3 hours. Yes, I asked about the Motrin as I have read no asprin products but she said recent studies have made no link to giving Motrin and post operative bleeding. I watched her like a hawk for 2 days... waiting to see blood so I could rush her to the emergency room... but nothing! Not even a streak! I kept up on her pain meds and pushed water the best I could, and day two she was playing crazy eights and smiling- still would not eat or talk... just kept a notepad handy for her to communicate with me. Day 3 I went back to work and she went to grandma's. When I got there to pick her up at 5, she was throwing up. No blood, and I am sure she was feeling sick from a.) taking pain meds with nothing in her stomach and b.) Having had nothing to eat since 7:00 Tuesday evening. I got her home and tried to get her to take some pain meds as she hadnt had a dose since 11:30 am and I was worried the pain would become unmanageable if we did not get back on track. Up to that point she said her throat was a little sore, but her stomach is what was bothering her most. Well, we gave her the Tylenol, she took a drink, and 20 second later she threw up again and refused to take any more pain meds. I tried to get her to drink milk with ovaltine so as to give her something to fill her stomach and she did take 2 drinks, but that was it for the night! I called the advice nurse later to see if I should bring her in. Is she urinating? yes.. Does she have a fever? no.. then no, just let her sleep and push fluids. So I did. Saturday was day 4 and I was getting nervous for day 5 which I have read numerous times was a bad turning point. I tried to get her to take the pain meds and she refused. She did, however wake up thirsty and started drinking regularly again which eased my worry a little. Other than that we watched movies, played games, and napped! Day 5.. Sunday. Same as day 4!! I asked her if she had jaw or ear pain? no... was still drinking good, but would still not eat!!! I will state that I bought ice cream, frozen yogurt, popsicles, pudding, applesauce, and went out to get her icees and milkshakes and she wouldnt even take on sip or bit of any of it!! She took a short trip with me to the store to get a puzzle for us to do together. She was ok, but got tired fast and napped when we got home. Today is day 6, and she woke up the same as the other days. I am speechless, cause I dont think i have mentioned she slept through EVERY NIGHT!.. including the day of surgery with not one episode of crying. The only time she woke up was when I was giving her the medicine. Thanking God it has been as easy as it has so far. I am expecting the pain to come in the next 3 days due to the scabs falling off, but totally manageable so far. I hope this helps other  parents nervous about the procedure. :)

HI, My son 7 yrs old, is having his tonsils out tomorrow am, hospital at 6am.. He had his adnoids and a reduction inside his nose done about a yr and a half ago, not sure why they didnt' do it all at once.. He's having it done due to snoring, sleep apnea and asthma.. All of these replies have helped me, and I know now what to have on hand.. Just bought a bunch of popsicles today and already motrin and tylenol on hand.. thanks everyone.