Nightmares after tonsillectomy?

My 5yr old is doing the same thing, and I find that it helps her when I just hold her and sing her soft songs, she eventually calms down and even communicates with me what's bothering her. She mainly tells me she is just scared and asks me if it's gonna be okay. It is a very hard thing, I have resorted to sleeping right with her and that helps.

My four year old son has been dealing with some of these same issues. However, he did not have his tonsils removed. Rather, he had some dental work done at an outpatient surgery center under general anesthesia. Every night since (5 nights so far) he has woken up multiple times with nightmares. The difference I am noting is that he has not had pain meds like the people in most of the other posts had. So could it be possible that the nightmares could actually be from remembered trauma? He has never been a child to have sleep disturbances like this and i feel so bad for him!

My son is 4, he just had his tonsils out 4/17/12. I am relieved to read that we aren't the only ones. the first 2 nights after surgery he only was up once. We are now on day 5 and he's getting worse. He's up every other hour. He doens't want to go to sleep saying he's scared. Last night I slept with him in his bed. He still woke every other hour. He always wants to et out of his room and go downstairs. I've stopped giving him tylenol w/ codeine after the first 3 days, and weaned him down to nothing. He was constipated with it too. Here's to hoping this ends soon as we're leaving for Disney on May 5 and our ENT said he'd be fine to go

Having the same experience here and also very relieved that this is a common phenomenon and not some new psychosis my child has developed! My five year old has been able to tell me a couple of times that he feels like he is drowning when he is in the panicked, screaming, crying state. But he also very often does not remember any of these episodes. They have been happening every night since about post op day 2 and we are on day 7. I even took him back to the ENT who just told me that he's just having more  of a rough time and that we should stop the Tylenol + Codeine.  I wish I had known that this was a possible side effect- then I wouldn't have been so scared. I was worried that perhaps he was having apnea with the swollen throat and that was causing the thrashing and panicking. I guess I will just need to hold on a little while longer and thank God when this insanity ends!

Hey Max's mom... how are you guys doing now? My son is 5 as well and started the night terrors post-op day 4. I stopped the Tylenol with Codeine last night after reading some other blogs about stomach aches and I prayed that he would have a more restful sleep tonight. (Unfortunately it hasn't been better) I'm so glad I came across this site bc at least I know it's somewhat common but I just wish I knew how long it would last!

Thank you so much for your post. As with the other parents, my son is having regular night terrors. This was the only post that provided an answer to the question... "how long will this last?" It is comforting to know that hopefully we're nearing the end! It's very upsetting to see your child terrified and out of control.

We are on day 8 and last night was so much better! He had one small terror at about 9:30 then slept all the way through until 7am! I noticed a significant difference when his breathing improved. He has never slept this quietly or peacefully before! It was a long stressful week but I am grateful we did the procedure!

My 4 yr. old daughter had tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy Aug16th and were 7 days post op. 3 nights ago she started having the night terrors just an hour after she falls asleep and every hour after until about 3 hours before she wakes up. i'm so relieved that i found this site and see that it happens lots. Its just awful not being able to do anything. I try talking to her because her eyes are open but she just stares right past me and cries. she finally told me shes having bad dreams and that she loves me but will say nothing past that and doesn't remember anything the next day. I just cuddle her and tell her everything is going to be okay until she finally falls off again. I wasn't sure if it was the medication because she was given morphine at the hospital then the prescription i was sent home with was a huge bottle of morphine. after the first dose given to her at home i took her right off of it because she could barley  lift her head let alone get fluids. She was so out of it. I told the doctor about taking her off so they prescribed me Tylenol with codeine. I never picked it up and only gave her regular Tylenol since half of the first day home. So she hasn't been on any crazy drugs unless the morphine is still in her???

I'm 41, 6 days post op.  I am also having the worst dreams.  I cant tell when I am awake or dreaming.  Its really odd.  So far I have had little pain so I stopped the meds on day two because I thought that it was causing these dreams.  So far this is the worst of the side effects.  I am so exchausted.  At best, I get 90 minutes of sleep and then wake up again from the dream.  Whats worse is when I go in and out of dreaming for hours at at a time.  I feel like I'm on a rollercoaster.  It at least makes me feel better knowing that I'm not going nuts.

I am sooo so glad to know my 3.5 year old son is not alone in this! I have had to wake up several times a night with him the past 5 nights because of his nightmares.  He had his tonsils out this last friday and every night has been a nightmare for both of us!  He wakes up crying and shaking and gets on all fours in the bed, saying that he's scared...it's very strange behavior for him.  I haven't given him anything other than Motrin.  I don't think he hurts until he gets terrified and starts sobbing, and then I think it starts hurting him because he's crying so hard.  He tells me when I go in that he's scared and that he sees monsters.  Before if he ever got scared he would just come get in the bed with us.  It's odd for him to get scared and just stay in his room.  I put him in the bed with us last night and he still woke up crying, almost hysterical.  At least now I know it's fairly common and hopefully will be over with soon!

My Uriah had his tonsils removed Sept 25 he is 2 1/2. I am a lil relieved its not just happening to us ,the night terrors. But I still haven't found how long this might last or how to help him. He even has them during naps. So worried and stressed. If anyone figures something out please share . Blessings

I don't think it is the codeine. Our 4 year old son had his tonsils and adenoids removed 6 days ago, and hasn't had any codeine or other narcotics--just tylenol and ibuprofen. He started with the night terrors around the 3rd night, and they have steadily gotten worse. He doesn't seem to scared to go to bed though, but like others, it is difficult to reach him when he's crying during these episodes, he just cries and can't get settled or communicate what's wrong.

As most of you have written, I"m so glad I found this!  My husband and I thought something was seriously wrong with our little girl (she's 6 yrs old).  She's 8 days post-op and her's started on night 4 and have gotten progressively worst.  I keep saying the good thing is that she doesn't have a clue they are happening but was upset when I called the ENT's office and a nurse told me she had never heard of this...hopefully she's just new!  It's so sad not to be able to do anything to help.  We just put a humidifier in her room tonight...it can't hurt!  I'll try to reply back if it helps and when they stop.  Thank you all who wrote!!  Now we feel better that we don't have crazy child on our hands.  Just keep sayin our prayers that she gets better.

My 27 month old had his taken out 4 days ago, they wont give him nacotics but hes having the same night terrors... im so tired.. I try to comfort him but cant... help anyone

My 3 year old son had tubes placed in his ears and his adnoids removed 6 days ago. On day 3, he started waking up about 2 hours after going to sleep with severe terrors! There is no consoling him! He screams for an hour! After walking around hugging him and assuring him that he is okay, he will sleep for about an hour and then do it all over again. It is as if he is afraid of something. I took him to his doctor to make sure his tubes were okay and that he was not suffering from pain. She told me it might be anxiety. A 3 year old! If so many people experience this, why aren't we warned or at least told about it? I would have NEVER put my son through this had I known.