My 5 Y/o Needs Surgery

Hi J.-
My son had this done at 2 and it went perfect..He was running around and eating by the end of the day!!!! the tubes never fell out so they had to go back a year later and take them out, but that was no big deal and only about 5 mins of surgery..My daughter is having this done after she turns 2 and after how well my son did I am not concerned really.. My son had speech problems also because he had fluid in his ears for 2 years, but once we got the tubes it turned around and with a little help from a speech pathologist he was back to normal in about 18 months.. I hope this helps..
Good luck,
M.

Hi J.,

My daughter had her tubes done and adenoids removed when she was 2 years old.Everything went well and the whole surgery was fast. It was a little shocking when the drugs run out. She was very upset and crying a lot, but once we left the hospital (the same day) she was fine. It took her 1 week to recover and we noticed a huge difference in her behavior and hearing, after 2 weeks. She never had ear infections again. She also has large tonsils and now they became a source of infections. The doctor didn't want to remove them because of her age, but now that she's 4 she'll have them removed. The tonsils are important part of our bdodies, but when they become the source of infections because of their size, the best thing is to remove them. It's not unusual for my daughter to have tonsilites every month. We don't regret having the first surgery at all. Good luck with your daughter's surgery.

Hi J.,
I haven't experienced this personally, but my sister had to have tubes put in my neice's ears when she was real little. It's actually a common surgery, however any surgery, especially on a child is a scary thought, and I feel for you. My neice who is now 16 years old, (wow how time flies), is doing great. Her tubes eventually fell out (this is normal), and she is doing very well with her hearing.
As far as the tonsils go, very common surgery as well, it's an in and out thing, BUT...BE WARE...some surgeons do it too quickly and sometimes children bleed a little afterwards because the stitch had come loose, or out. Make sure you watch out for signs of this..and ask your surgeon to reassure you of the proceedure and advise you on what to look out for if this should happen to your wee one. OH, and after your child has the tubes in, I'm pretty sure that you have to make sure that no water gets into her ears. (check with your surgeon to be sure). I'm sorry I don't have any more information for you other than this. I wish you well and I wish your daughter the best during her procedure. Hang in there girl. It will be ok. She will do just fine. :-) G.

Hello, my name is S. and my oldest son had to have that surgery when he was 5 years old. I wasn't scared about the surgery process as I researched everything including the Dr. that performed the surgery. I also am a Christian so I believed what I asked God for is what I will get. The night before the pre-op Dr. visit I prayed that the fuild in my son's ear would be gone and that there would be no need to get tubes in his ears. The next day at the Dr. visit she informed me that there was no fluid in my son's ears and that with my permission she would like to still put the tubes in as a precaution and that they would fall out in 6 months to 18 months, which they did. The surgery went smoothly no complications no bleeding no problems with anything and the Dr. told me that she was impressed about how my 5 y/o son handled the surgery and that she has never seen a more calmer child during prep for surgery and while the surgery took place. Recovery went smoothly it did take 30 minutes for my son to wake up from all the meds that knocked him out, and then a total of 1 1/2 hours before we left the surgery center. My son recovered in 1 day and began to be his normal self. The only advice I can give you is explain everything in detail as to what the Dr will do to her, what she should expect and that you have complete confidence in this Dr to take care of her and make her better. Remember the key to her being ok and calm about it is you have to be too. I know as a mother we worry about our children, but if you can remain calm it will be so much easier for your daughter. I also let my son pick out lots of popcles and ice cream for the recovery days when we went shopping the day before his surgery. You and your daughter will come through this, it is a very common surgery. My son had to have it because he would snore very loud even during the day because of his Adenoids were so big it was hard for him to breathe. It's been 3 years and he is just fine. Hope this has eased your mind, and God bless...

S.

My son had this done when he was 3 and everything went just fine. He was fine that first afternoon and a little sore that night. After that, he was running around like normal and totally bored because the doctor had us keep him home from his sitters for three days. He couldn't wait to go back! We also read a book called Good-bye Tonsils by Craig & Julia Hatkoff which is about a little girl getting her tonsils out because of sore throats. The book describes where the tonsils are, what they are and the girl's experience. I know your situation is a little different, but it really helped my son understand what was going to be done to him, why, and how he would feel better. Good luck to you, everything will turn out fine!

Wow, that is alot of stuff to be done...I highly suggest getting a second and maybe third, opinion! Tonsils are a part of the body's first defense line...make sure it is an absolute neccesity to get them removed. Think about this, would you want to knock out an entire army just cause it was weak? No, you'd want to strenghten it first, right?.
Ear infections that come back and back aren't always best treated by tubes (sometimes, but not ALWAYS,... diet, environmental((smoking)) and the way your child handles blowing her nose, could make or break an upcoming ear infection.
There are great herbal preparations that help knock out sicknesses.

I use Herb Pharm ear oil.....it's garlic, mullien, and olive oil, you put in the ear(s) at the slighest sign of pain...within a couple days it'll be gone, there are also many immune system building preparations...check it out for your daughters sake, I know you trust your doctor, but I urge you to find some others doctor(s) to look over her as well.....

Surgery is a BIG decision and getting things REMOVED is BIGGER.... Probiotics, healthier food choices, little dairy, find out if there are any food allergies, garlic oil, all those things help and can maybe prevent surgery.... God bless you and I hope I've helped.

my nephew was 5 and had the same surgery done he was living with me at the time we explained to him that the dr was gonna fix it so he wouldnt get sick all the time wen he left the surgicenter grogy as can be he said thank u docter and was very quiet for the next few days he had his new big stuffed dog he layed on and his favorate movies and cds he also had som bloody drainage for a few days then he was fine

When my daughter was 4 1/2 she had to have her tonsils and adnoids out because they were abcessing. The surgery was short with no problems. But, it was done at an Out Patient center and we had to take her home and manage her pain with oral medication. I'm sorry, but how do you get a four year old to swallow medication when her throat hurts and it taste bad. It was a nightmare. Her father and I both have medical experience, but it was still aweful. I swore that if my other daughter ever needed it done, that they were going to either admit her overnight or give me injuectable medication.
Also, I went in to the operating room with my daughter and stayed with her until she was under anesthesthia. It took some convinceing to get them to let me go (we told them that either I went with her or we took her home), but I was not going to let a stranger take my child, strap her down and put her under.
I was told later, that they have to let you go with your child, but you cannot stay for the operation.

Not personally but a friend of mines son had it don. Well he is just over a year and was constantly getting ear infections so they (doctors) decided it best to put tubes in and take out his adenoids all in the same surgery. Well they got the tubes in but could not take the adenoids out the same surgery for some reason and are taking them out in a different surgery. Anyways it has helped and he isn't as fussy and he did throw up more than the "normal" child and that has STOPPED all together. It seemed to have made a positive difference
Good Luck!

I know you had the surgery and everything came out ok but my daughter got her tonsils and her adnoids out several years ago. while they were laying in the lab getting ready to be tested as with everything that is taken out of your body is, a technician commented on the doctor will be in trouble because he took out perfectly healthy tonsils and stuff out TIL they found out it was in a 4 y/o child. the reason she got her tonsils out was because they were so large and she had trouble sleeping because she snored so loud she woke herself up (made it nice for me when she was a baby I never ever had to wonder if she was breathing or not like you do for newborns)---- she had the surgery and was able to breathe and sleep with no problems