And it sounds like there are some other MS kiddos that will be doing the same.
It's so funny (not ha ha funny) but when I have heard previously about other kids and "routine" surgeries I always think, well, it's routine surgery, probably not a huge deal. Now that it's my kid having "routine" surgery I realized there is no such thing as routine surgery when it's happening to your sweet little 4 year old.
Anyway, Gavin has been a very loud snorer for quite some time. But until recently he seemed to sleep fine other than putting his head in a weird way which we now think it to help him breathe while he sleeps. Just recently he started waking up several times during the night and coming into our room. We finally figured out why the other night. He was sleeping in our bed and he would snore really loudly, stop breathing, and then gasp for air, flail his arms and wake up. Over and over and over and over...and over! Poor guy.
We took him to his pediatrician that day and he said his tonsils were not red at all (which would mean some kind of infection) but they were pretty huge. He said "on a scale of 1-10, I'd say they are an 8.5." The thing is, he sees Gavin frequently for croup so he knows that they weren't always like this. He is also pretty conservative about referrals (as in, he doesn't just do them even if there is no need) so when he referred us right away I pretty much knew he'd have to have them out.
So, saw the ENT yesterday, he said "have you looked at his tonsils???" I told him I hadn't because honestly I don't know what they are supposed to look like. Then I told him what our Doc said. He said, "they are HUMONGOUS! I'd say they are a 10.5 out of ten!" So, surgery is scheduled for June 14th.
There are tons of pros. Hoping it helps with the recurrent croup. It also gives us a lot of answers about his eating and gag issues that he has had. I am praying this is an answer for us to help get him eating and putting on a little bit more weight. He's healthy, but he's small and it sort of doesn't make sense considering how big his Dad is and how big his brother is. (Even though he could just be a small kid for now.) The snoring and the sleep apnea should really get better so I am happy about all of that.
Cons...well, of course I am stressed about the surgery and not looking forward to the recovery. I hate seeing my kids sick and in pain and having nursed Gavin through a lot of sicknesses I know he isn't a great patient. But I am off for the summer so I don't have to add work in as stress. The big thing is that it is going to cost us a fortune. We picked the "budget" insurance because it was going to save us money this year. We knew things might come up (broken arm, something you can't plan) but were hoping it wouldn't. Oh well. Took a chance, didn't go our way.
I know this is long. I know I could have just said this in a few sentences. I think I just needed to "tell" someone so I could stop going over it in my head. I know that sounds weird. I think Emily has had it done but I'm not sure if I'm making that up or not. How is the recovery?
-- Edited by Juni on Saturday 24th of April 2010 12:20:49 PM
Juni, as you know, Elizabeth is having hers out May 6. Yes, it is scary when it's your own child. I was unsure how to really explain it to her without it being really scary. Lucky for us, our ENT has a site we can go to and there is a little factual video that explains it. E watched it with me and did pretty well. The illustrations are drawings, but fairly realistic. The only thing she did was ask if it would hurt when they were taking them out, which I told her no because she would be sleeping.
I am also going to look at the library and see if I can find any good books about it. I will let you know if I find any.
Elizabeth has some of the same problems you described and her tonsils are rather large too. My ds had even bigger tonsils and had it done when he was a little younger. I know most of them recover pretty fast and come through it just fine. My ds was fine after a day or so. I am hoping I am getting that lucky the second time around.
I will try to update you on what I find. I hope that it really helps Gavin. Routine or not, it's not an easy thing to do.
My oldest son had his tonsils out at 4 and it was the turning point for him.
Up until then he had had 3 sets of tubes in his ears + his adnoid removed but when the tonsils came out and the 4th set of tubes went in he started putting on weight and was so much healthier.
Recovery was really easy for John - the doc said take it easy, things like applesauce, scrambled eggs, etc. I think by that point he was used to being worked on!
Also - Jake has those same huge tonsils (and has for as long as I can remember) - every doc that sees him almost always comments on their size. Our ENT says we don't take them out just b/c their big. He does snore some times and we've watched him sleep (at our ENT's recommendation) to make sure he wasn't having any of the symptoms you've described with Gavin and luckily he has not.
I will be thinking of you guys - you are right, when you hear about others having "routine" surgery you do not think it's that big a deal but when its your turn and you have to hand your sweetie over it is a bit overwhelming.
We'll say some extra prayers for Gavin on June 14th!
When Henry had his tonsils out, the ENT said that he GUARANTEED Henry would put on 10 - 20 pounds over the following year. Henry was always really skinny.
Now, several years later, Henry is right in the average weight range for his age/height. So it seems he was right.
Thanks SO much for the info. I am really hoping this is the turning point for us too. I hope it does help Gavin put on some weight...although then I'll need to reassess the carseat situation since I've banked on his scrawniness all this time. ;)
This helps me out so so so much. Seriously, thank you. I am worried about after because he is such a picky eater - he won't eat mashed potatoes, eggs, applesauce. But I'm not going to worry about it. The nurse was really kind and just said - I don't care if he eats nothing as long as he stays on top of the fluids. So, for now I'm planning on doing the ensure drinks and getting him liquid calories. I'm really glad we are doing it before he goes into Kindergarten and hoping he won't miss as much school next year. :)
Just seeing this. Sorry that he's going to have to go through surgery, that sucks. But, he will get through it and sleep so much better. Does he like jello? That counts as fluids. Make/buy lots of frozen juice pops too.
Andrew had surgery at 6 months for blocked tear ducts. I was so worried about that tiny 15 procedure. In the waiting room at Childrens, there was a mom who had a 4 mth old having heart surgery. I felt like a dork for being worried about a poke, and her baby was having her heart worked on.
You'll worry. You'll get through it. Things will be fine.
Just seeing this. Sorry that he's going to have to go through surgery, that sucks. But, he will get through it and sleep so much better. Does he like jello? That counts as fluids. Make/buy lots of frozen juice pops too.
Andrew had surgery at 6 months for blocked tear ducts. I was so worried about that tiny 15 procedure. In the waiting room at Childrens, there was a mom who had a 4 mth old having heart surgery. I felt like a dork for being worried about a poke, and her baby was having her heart worked on.
You'll worry. You'll get through it. Things will be fine.
Nope, no jello. Picky little booger. But I never let him have juice so he'll be all over that I'm sure. Thanks for thinking of us!
I totally understand the stress... and the need to talk about it. Glad you did. (I would be a basketcase.)
FWIW, I had my tonsils out at 17. SUCKED. It's SO much easier to do it at this age... and even at 17 and the crappy recovery I had, it was still way better than having strep throat every other week.
I totally understand the stress... and the need to talk about it. Glad you did. (I would be a basketcase.)
FWIW, I had my tonsils out at 17. SUCKED. It's SO much easier to do it at this age... and even at 17 and the crappy recovery I had, it was still way better than having strep throat every other week.
Prayers coming your way...
Thanks. I do feel a little silly worrying about it so much so what you said makes me feel a lot better.
I am banking on a better recovery because he is so young and really really banking on this being a huge help in our long time battle with croup. He has never had tonsillitis or strep (thank goodness) so this sort of came out of nowhere. But then once I looked into it more there were so many things that we have dealt with that I'm hoping this will help with.
i really hope this helps gavin! i'm sorry you have to go through watching it though, but he will be fine! will he eat pudding? jello? yogurt? smoothie?
caroline had hers out last year *right* after she turned 5 for the same reasons - snoring, poor sleep and HUGE tonsils.
there were no complications and she sailed through the surgery.
she had a rough 2 days or so but after that it was almost back to normal. just keep up on the pain meds and have the medication flavored - otherwise it's nasty.
