ear & tonsil surgery for kids

[Kris10]

I took my daughter to the specialist the other day and was told she has to have tubes put in both ears and have her tonsils removed. I pretty much knew this day was coming because she's had bad ear infections for the past year and her throat as always been a problem right along with the ear infections but it still hurt hearing she was going to need the surgery. I don't remember if she needs to have her adenoids removed or not, after the Dr told me I just remember sitting there staring at her and feeling helpless. I know its a routine surgery, its a same day procedure but she has no idea what is going on at this point.

I had my tonsils out when I was 7 but I was under the impression they 'grew back'. Apparently, tonsils can't grow back so they weren't taken out properly and I still have mine. Part of me is ticked off that I went through that surgery when I was younger for nothing and don't want my daughter to have to deal with it herself but I'm sure my experience was a fluke accident.

The tubes I really don't know much about. I know they are really small and she is getting them because she has fluid in her ears which is causing the infections. Apparently, they either fall out on their own or the Dr. will have to take them out after a year.

I have a pre-surgery appt on May 22 where I can ask what I need to at that time which I'm thankful for because I wasn't prepared at the initial appt, my friend was suppose to go with me and I was hoping he would have because he could have asked the questions that I was drawing a blank to but it didn't pan out. Her surgery is scheduled for May 28 so I have some time to get comfortable with the whole idea myself as well as my daughter.

Has anyone else had children who went through this? What was their experience like? How did you deal with it and their questions?

[JPMNICK]

i had tubes put in and my adenoids taken out. it was the best thing ever. no more ear problems since then. i am very glad i got it done.

[DiabloSammich]

My younger brother had tubes put in both his ears and his tonsils taken out. As hard as it was on my mom to put my brother through surgery, she could no longer take the constant ongoing pain of ear infection after ear infection. His recovery time was pretty quick, and after the surgery he was a new kid.

Of course, he still grew up to be an asshole, but I don't think the tubes had anything to do with that.

[Thebazile78]

I just read something about ear tubes in the NY Times.

Here's what came up when I did a topic search in the Health section for

Ear Tube Insertion (http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/surgery/ear-tube-insertion/overview.html?WT.z_gsac=1)

(Registration required; FREE)

This particular guide has a "Questions for Your Doctor" section that you might want to go over if you need more information. It's kind of numbing to hear that your 4 year old needs surgery, no matter whether it's outpatient or inpatient ... it's terrifying as a parent. (I am not a parent, but, judging from the way my dad reacted to my brother having to get stitches when he was 3 ... and again when he freaked out when I had hand surgery...and I was 25.)

[Heather 8]

I had tubes put in my ears when I was 6, along with having my adenoids removed. I really don't remember much, other than having incredible throat pain for about a week or so afterwards and not being allowed to go outside for recess for the rest of the school year (the doctor was overly cautious about getting "cold air" on my unhealed eardrums). I also recall the doctor tried to put the tubes in during an office visit without the benefit of any anesthesia or any kind of numbing meds... that didn't go so well.

The odd thing is, the doctor let the tubes stay in my ears for years. One was removed when I was about 8 or 9, and the other one just fell out somewhere along the way.

In retrospect, maybe I just had a bad doctor.

[Kris10]

I just read something about ear tubes in the NY Times.

Here's what came up when I did a topic search in the Health section for

Ear Tube Insertion (http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/surgery/ear-tube-insertion/overview.html?WT.z_gsac=1)

(Registration required; FREE)

This particular guide has a "Questions for Your Doctor" section that you might want to go over if you need more information. It's kind of numbing to hear that your 4 year old needs surgery, no matter whether it's outpatient or inpatient ... it's terrifying as a parent. (I am not a parent, but, judging from the way my dad reacted to my brother having to get stitches when he was 3 ... and again when he freaked out when I had hand surgery...and I was 25.)

Great article!

Thats the other thing, she would ALWAYS complain she couldn't hear the tv and it would drive me insane because I'd have no problem hearing...turns out it was because of the fluid in her ears, I had no idea and felt like the biggest ass when I was at this appt. I've never felt more guilty in my life regarding my daughter for not believing her. Plus with the ear infections she's had 7 in the past 12 months and her primary dr has been giving her medication and I was getting tired of giving it to her because I knew it was pointless. This specialist also said somehow her weight is effected by all this... I'm not sure how though. She's 4 and a half and teeters between 31-33 lbs but I know another girl in her daycare class is the same age and weighs 42 lbs.

Diablo...I miss you! lol I hope Alexis doesn't turn into an asshole but if so, you were the first to warn me!

[ZigZagBigBag]

i believe the surgery is considered routine, but make sure to have your child's hearing tested fairly frequently...maybe like every 6 months for a few years...to ensure she is following developmental milestones for speech, language and auditory comprehension.

[Drunky McBetidont]

i was very reluctant to follow doctor's advice for my son (who is now 10.) in all honesty, it was the pressure of family (my mom especially) that caused most of the drama. when the doctor told me the boy was looking forward to chronic hearing loss i decided to let go and trust the process. up to that point he had ear infection after ear infection and when he was 3 the doctor wanted to insert tubes. 7 years later and no ear infection (knock on wood.) i don't think he has had a fever or required anti-biotics since then. :)
the downer is NO SWIMMING until the tubes fall out. he had to watch his friends swim for 3 years and he hated it. we tried earplugs, but he was still not allowed to put his head under and we had to watch for too much splashing. that was a drag in the summers for sure, but...
if i had to do it again, i would.

btw, kid #2, my daughter (who is now 6,) never had issues with her ears and never needed tubes or any of the such. all kids are different.

[PapaBear]

My youngest son had to have his tonsils and adenoids removed when he was only 2. It was a terrible experience for him. All he knew was, he felt fine before he went into the hospital, and he was miserable when he got out. It was heart wrenching to see the pain he was suffering. It had to be done, though. His airway was being WAY too obstructed in his sleep, and there was the risk of suffocation (you wouldn't believe a two year old could snore like that!). The condition is actually hereditary. I have the same problem, but I can't afford surgery.

[cougarjake13]

i had tubes put in it was the best thing ever. no more ear problems since then. i am very glad i got it done.

i had the exact same thing, and no problems

[Kris10]

Betidon't---what about showers?? I never even thought about swimming. Crap, summer is really going to blow for her considering she loves the pool.

Papa---when I first had my daughter and was in the hospital she was sleeping in my arms and I remember saying "omg, my baby snores!" I NEVER heard a baby snore before. I know right then and there I was going to have problems with her! lol

[FUNKMAN]

not tonsils but my one daughter had her adnoids out at approx age 11. she made it through fine but it was very emotional when she awoke from the anesthesia and became hysterically upset not really knowing what was going on and being afraid... it took 5 minutes or so to get her to calm down makes me teary just thinking back on it

[cougarjake13]

i was very reluctant to follow doctor's advice for my son (who is now 10.) in all honesty, it was the pressure of family (my mom especially) that caused most of the drama. when the doctor told me the boy was looking forward to chronic hearing loss i decided to let go and trust the process. up to that point he had ear infection after ear infection and when he was 3 the doctor wanted to insert tubes. 7 years later and no ear infection (knock on wood.) i don't think he has had a fever or required anti-biotics since then. :)
the downer is NO SWIMMING until the tubes fall out. he had to watch his friends swim for 3 years and he hated it. we tried earplugs, but he was still not allowed to put his head under and we had to watch for too much splashing. that was a drag in the summers for sure, but...
if i had to do it again, i would.

btw, kid #2, my daughter (who is now 6,) never had issues with her ears and never needed tubes or any of the such. all kids are different.


had the same problem with swimming and earplugs helped a little

[JPMNICK]

had the same problem with swimming and earplugs helped a little

same here. i got special ear plugs made at a place that specializes in hearing aids.

[Coach]

I had the same problems as a Kid.. doctor said it was because I breathed through my mouth rather than my nose..and I was not filtering out all the bad stuff that normally would be filtered out through my nose..he told my parents to encourage me to breath through my nose more and come back in a mont to see if I still needed surgery..well I still have my adnoids, tonsils, and no ear tubes 32 years later.
Also, for Ear Plugs..Try Mack's Pillow Soft Wax Ear Plugs. They are disposable and made of sticky soft wax, so you can mold them for a tight fit. They run about 5 bucks for 6 plugs..which last about a week per pair if you swim every day.
Another thing..if she has long hair..make sure she has it pulled back off her ears after bathing and swimming wet hair over the ears just traps the bad stuff in there and it gets warmed up that way as well.
Also, a capful of rubbing alcohol held in each ear for about 30 seconds dries out the water in there and prevents infection..you can buy Swim Ear or Auri-dri at the drug store for about 6 bucks..but it is 3 parts rubbing alcohol 1 part vinegar..save bucks and buy rubbing alcohol for 1.79 a big bottle...Chloroseptic Throat Spray works wonder as well..basically a disenfectant for the throat....Just some ideas from a coach and a person whose been there.

[zathrus]

i had this procedure done as a kid. it wasn't that bad. the hardest part was trying to keep water out of my ears. so when ever i went swimming, i had to wear one of those horrible swimming caps.

[DonInNC]

When I was 5 about to turn 6, I had tonsils and adenoids removed. I was supposed to have tubes put in as well, but once the surgery was under way the doctor decided that I didn't need them. Apparently my adenoids was the cause of the ear problems. I went from having ear infections constantly to not having one until ten years later when I started smoking. Even then it was an infection every couple of years until I quit.

I had a sore throat for a couple weeks after, but I got through it with lots of sherbert.

Maybe your daughter should quit smoking?

[Kris10]

Maybe your daughter should quit smoking?

She told me once she smokes in her castle. I told her I'd find her castle and light it on fire so she wouldn't be able to smoke there anymore.


Thanks for the suggestions Coach!!!! I printed them all out!

[Coach]

She told me once she smokes in her castle. I told her I'd find her castle and light it on fire so she wouldn't be able to smoke there anymore.


Thanks for the suggestions Coach!!!! I printed them all out!
Hope they help.

[nate1000]

Rouski,
Don't know about the tubes- I've heard that it is a simple routine procedure, but have no first hand knowledge.

However, my daughter had her tonsils and adenoids out when she was around 5- she had golf balls in the back of her throat that were interfering with her breathing when she slept. It turned out to be one of the best things we've done for her- cleared up the breathing issue immediately.

Unfortunately, it was a miserable experience and it hurt. She was pathetic for about three solid days before she started to feel a little better. We just made sure we kept up with her medication and followed the doctor's instructions to the letter, eventually, she started to feel better.

Also, be prepared for post surgery- she's going to be under a general and will wake up groggy, surrounded by strangers and likely in pain. Apparently, my daughter was pretty upset when she came out of the anesthesia and the doctors/ nurses let her calm down a bit before they let us know she was out of surgery. I have mixed feelings about this as I would have liked to have been there to help her through that, but I don't know if I would have just made it worse. Anyway, when we were brought to her, she was a mess- still groggy from the general, her eyes were red and her face was puffy from the crying and she was obviously in discomfort. It was the most heart breaking sight I've ever seen, so just be prepared.

I really, really don't want to freak you out, but I do wish that someone had warned me before I saw her like that. So, just keep in mind that it is surgery and your daughter may show some signs of it when you see her.

Finally (I f-ing hate to do this) about a month after Maddie recovered, a classmate of hers had the same procedure, but had her sutures tear while she was sleeping. She bled into the back of her throat and asphyxiated in her sleep. I had no idea that this could happen- our Doctor made no mention of this as a possible risk- and the news flipped me right out. It's probably a one in a million chance, but we walk by a little garden in front of my daughter's school every day, which was planted in memory of that little girl, so I can not in good conscience fail to at least mention it 'cause I know no one mentioned it to me and I'm pretty sure no one mentioned it to that little girl's parents. The point is, a rolled up towel placed under the side of your daughter's back will keep her from sleeping flat on her back, god forbid.

Re-reading this post, I really sound like an ass with nothing good to say, so I apologize, but this was our experience, I am certain other people had better. The net is that she was fine and healed up great- despite the discomfort. It turned out to be one of the best things we've done for her. She sleeps great, no more sore throats, no more snoring/ apnea. A great outcome for us. Good luck!

[Justice4all]

i had tubes put in and my adenoids taken out. it was the best thing ever. no more ear problems since then. i am very glad i got it done.

Yep....same thing happened to my sister. She is prefectly fine. Went on to be all State in both softball and field hockey in high school. Also went to an Ivy League school.


I am sure it wuill turn out ok. I will still cross the fingers for you.


Oh yes...and my sister did have some bleeding out of her ears when she slept at night, but it was easily corrected. Not saying it WILL happen but if it does.....don't worry.