My three year-old little girl just had a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy (T&A). When I first received the recommendation, I took to Google and read some very harrowing stories about the recovery period that had me trying to talk myself out of the procedure every day leading up to the big day.
Background
When I speak to other moms about the T&A, the first question I get is “what were her symptoms that led to the surgery?” My daughter had ear infections off and on but her ears always healed quickly. Whenever we would go to the pediatrician for these ear infections and post ear infection check ups, the pediatrician we saw that day would always comment on her “huge” tonsils. It was always said as an after-thought, and I never thought much of the comment. At our three-year well visit, our primary pediatrician recommend we see an ENT, just as a precaution.
The ENT conducted a hearing test and looked in my daughter’s ears, quickly declaring the ears healthy. “Yea! No tubes!” my inner voice declared. Then he said the tonsils were abnormally large and proceeded to ask me a series of questions. Yes, she snores. Yes, she is an “active” sleeper. Yes, she often wakes up a little grumpy. Yes, she is a somewhat picky eater. These responses, coupled with her large tonsils and ear infections, led him to recommend a T&A. Despite my anxiety and doubts as a result of way too many Google searches, I decided to defer to the experts and schedule the surgery.
The Procedure
We did not give my daughter very many details of what was about to happen to her. She knew we were going to the doctor to fix her ears. Luckily her only reservation at the surgery center was getting in the hospital bed. The sweet nurse offered to carry her back which saved all of us some tears. The little patient had already been given her “silly juice” so she was pretty relaxed by the time they took her back.
Only 30 minutes later, the ENT was out letting me know that all went well. Her tonsils were enormous and a little infected, confirming that we made the right decision.
Waking Up
The nurse came to get us as soon as my daughter started to wake up. I had read and heard many stories about how tough this part can be, so I thought I had prepared myself. Seeing my sweet girl confused and in so much pain was by far the hardest thing I have gone through so far as a mother.
I tried holding her and rocking her, but she was so agitated. She wanted her IV out of her foot. After that she was better, but it was still tough. I dreaded the days ahead. She got a popsicle (and one for her brother at her insistence) and off we went with our instructions of no activity for 7 days and round the clock meds every 4 hours for 5 days. Hello newborn days!
Recovery
The first two days were filled with sleep, movies, ice cream, applesauce and 
yogurt. I was a little tired from getting up during the night, but everything was going extremely well. My son was staying at grandma’s, but his presence was quickly requested by his sister…love the twin bond.
Day 4 was probably the toughest. This is approximately when the scabs start to come off causing a lot of pain in the throat. The breath is also just rancid. I can’t imaging what taste that caused in the mouth.This is also about the time we were told to expect some bleeding, but fortunately never had that issue.
The tough little patient was a trooper. She wasn’t eating or drinking as much days 4 and 5, but still getting enough liquids to avoid dehydration. By day 7, she was back to her old self with me constantly telling her to stop jumping and to take it easy!
We were back to our summer fun activities on day 8, with some rest breaks 
just to be sure everything was ok. All in all, my little girl was such a trooper.
I was hesitant to give her the pain medication every four hours for five days, but I honestly believe it helped her recovery. I also gave her Motrin three times a day. After day 5, we reduced the pain medication to half doses and then went to Motrin only for the last two official days of recovery.
Obviously every child is different, and I am by no means writing this from a medical professional perspective. I just wanted to share my experience from one mom to another.
One last recommendation – get a trusted sitter once your little one is on the mend and have a nice dinner with your husband. You will have earned it.
Results
One month post-op, the little girl who would snore and moan during the night sleeps so soundly. She has not complained of any ear or throat pain and wakes up very happy.
Has your child gone through a T&A? What was recovery like for you?
Thank you so much for sharing. My 3 year old has to have a T &A and I was terrified. I pray that her healing process is easy. God bless all of your babies that has to have this surgery as well!
My 2.5 year old is having a T&A, as well as Ear Tubes and and Endoscopy (for GI issues) next month, and like you, I have done too much googling, hence finding this page. We have a great children’s hospital here, and I know he will be in great hands, but I worry about him not knowing what happened to him, and how we can explain to him that the pain isn’t forever. Good thing he lives for ice cream!
Thanks for posting your experience. We are scheduled to get my daughter’s tonsills & adenoids out next week. I’m so nervous. I’m not 100% sure that we need the surgery. She doesn’t have frequent strep or ear infections. But she does get swollen lymph nodes & sinus infections and always seems to have a stuffy nose. Did your little one have any of these symptoms? And do u see a significant difference after the surgery? Your reply would really help me.
We’re in the same boat and not 100% sure we need the surgery either for the same reasons you described for your daughter. Since this post is a month old, did you end up having it done? Is your daughter better now?
I’m sorry we have to put our little ones thru surgery. It wasn’t an easy decision for us to put our 4 year old daughter thru adenoids and ear tubes surgery . She was getting recurrent nasal infections so often, the situation was getting out of control (specially that she is in pre-k environment). I had tried everything to avoid it, but nothing was working. The surgery itself went ok (not that scary as it seems), but after it she got very congested and she was snoring at night. Now week and a half later we are finally starting to see the improvement. I did some research and the recovery can take up to 4 weeks, my dr didn’t tell me that so I was very concerned that the recovery was so bad at the beginning. I hope this helps someone. I was praying a lot which helped me to get thru it.
Hi, my daughter is ten and unlike you guys, I waited to see if she’d get better probably longer than I should have, but I wanted to try every other option. Netti pots, humidifiers, whole house air purifiers, menthol vapor pads, homeopathic remedies, restrictive diets – you name it I tried it. Especially with her primary and mine telling me to avoid surgery. We’re three weeks out and even though she said repeatedly she thought the pain was worst than death, now that she’s healed she tells me she’s never been able to sleep or breathe like this and she would endure all of the pain again. To have your child tell you that is priceless and I feel so relieved. The first week will be rough, but the joy of seeing them no longer have that discomfort is amazing. Especially when meds didn’t work, and who wants to have their kid medicated all of the time? She no longer tosses and turns through the night, she sleeps in now, and her eyes look brighter from getting rest. Not to mention she can breathe through her nostrils, BOTH of them (which was hardly ever before) after mouth breathing for a lot of the year. I would highly recommend this if your children have trouble sleeping through the night or have constant congestion that cannot be relieved by any medication, prescription or not. Best wishes, stay strong with your kids through the pain and know it will be better in the end! Good luck!
I had mine out when I was 18, and it was awful, but I was finally healthy again! I’m glad she is doing better, and thanks for sharing because we thought about trying all the other routes too.
We are about to go through this same procedure in a few weeks with my 3yo son. Thanks for your story, it definetly help me know what kind of to expect!
Thanks for this comment.. Both my girls go in for their op next Friday ? So nervous, we have already had grommits done and they helped but the sleeping is still an issue.. Hoping that recovery is just like you discribe ?
It’s the night of day 4 and I’m searching Google for answers to “if my child screaming in the night” is normal. L has been such a trooper through it all. He too has very enlarged tonsils which caused lots of snoring and restless nights and very long naps. (i hope he still takes naps) Thank you for your insight. We moms must stick together! And date night is definitely happen I g after this. I’ve not had a kid in my bed in 5 years.
How long did screaming at night last? My 4 year old had his surgery 6 days ago and has had horrible night terrors multiple times every night since.
We are on night 4 of post op. Our journey has been quite hard and I have been super paranoid all the way through. She has never been a great sleeper and always had re occurring tonsillitis (2.5 years old) I’m praying that from tomorrow it is much better. She has been super miserable and will only eat toast and drink water and milk… Did you moms wake your little ones up in the night for the pain meds?
I’ve been surfing the web a little to see what to expect for my five year old. She’s having tonsils and adenoids out in May and, of course, I’m terrified! She’s always been a loud snorer and lately I’ve noticed she stops breathing in her sleep. Her Pedi said she would only need her adenoids out but I wanted ENT second opinion. Her ENT said her tonsils are “abnormally humongous” and wants both tonsils and adenoids out. I’m worried about how long recovery will be. I’m asking a week off of work but was thinking it wouldn’t be long enough. Thanks for the insight, hopefully her recovery will be as smooth and fast!
This post gives courage for any parent who is thinking about the post operative trauma that parents would face which I believe is even more painful than that the child would face. I would like to pose with a different question on the same subject.
Please let me know if these conditions of sleeplessness with enlarged adenoids and tonsils a cause for ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). My kid who just turned 3 do not concentrate on anything for more than 2-3 minutes and always hops on different toys/activities that she thinks.
I would like to know if the surgery has brought better control of the kid.