Adenoid Removal Surgery

[Anonymous]

I want to see if anyone here has any experience with adenoid removal surgery.

For what feels like months now my 2 year old has had a constant runny nose, It's constantly runny and thick...kinda yellowish green looking. It often turns into either a chest cold or an ear infection. About 6 weeks ago during our vacation, his right tube fell out. He also told me that since the tube fell out, the drum closed right away (vs. staying open) causing tons of fluid to build up behind the drum. He said that it looks pretty bad and has probably had it since they fell out. (He had tubes 15 months ago and has been great for a long long time, in fact, longer than most kids with ear tubes).

It so runny that it sometimes makes him cough at night and first thing in the am. We took him back to the ENT again today and he looked up his nose and agreed, replace the tubes and remove the adnoids. He feels they are probably the cause of the constant sinusitus type cold!

Finally, I brought up the fact that my son sometimes just falls over and often takes many small steps in circles to get his balance. He said, water in the mid-ear absolultely can cause this and hopefully after the surgery, that will improve along with the hearing in the right ear.

I know the recovery from tube surgery is not bad, I'm more concerned with the adnoids. Hopefully someone here has been through this before and can reassure me it's not so bad.

[Anonymous]

I had adenoids removed when I was around 4-5. Very easy recovery (I happen to remember it very well). I think there were some restrictions on what I could eat for the first few days (no hard stuff). Good luck.

[Anonymous]

My four year old may be having this surgery in the spring. Our ENT explained that the surgery is longer and more complicated than tubes, but recovery is pretty quick - a day or so. I would follow up with your ENT and get all the info.
Good luck! We have friends who had this surgery for both of their kids and are so happy they did it!

[Anonymous]

At 16 months old, my son had to have his adenoids and tonsils out. His were so large and infected that he was unable to swallow solid foods. The surgery was quick. Maybe 20 minutes. Not to scare you, but it was a rough 2 weeks after the surgery. With the scabs in his throat he didn't want to eat or drink much at all. However, afterwards he was a changed boy! Slept so much better, was happier, and started eating and swallowing solids. I think because he was so young it was harder for him to understand the pain and the need to drink and stay hydrated. In the end, it was a good outcome. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

I had mine out at 10 years old. I remember a very sore throat for about a week and that was it.

[Anonymous]

my son had his take out at 1 year. It made such a huge difference. He was sick for months and couldn't clear a sinus infections. After the surgery, his temperament is so much better as is his sleep schedule!!!

[Anonymous]

If you go forward with both adenoids and tonsils, check to see how the tonsils are removed. There is newer technology that uses radio frequency instead of heat. Heat is what causes the lengthy (full week) recovery. DD had both A and T out at 3.5 a year ago and was eating soft foods the next day without pain. I wrote a lengthy post on the procedure a year ago when it was fresher in my mind. If I can find it, I'll post the link.

[Anonymous]

PP here. Here is the link from last year. I understand that Adenoid surgery alone is much easier than A/T.

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/41036.page#274746

[Anonymous]

My daughter who is 2 had the exact symptoms you describe, a constant runny nose, greenish/yellow snot for months (June-November). She was never able to clear a cold and always needed antibiotics. She always sounded like Darth Vader when she breathed. We went to an ENT in October who did a x-ray scan of her adenoids. He said they were very large and he recommended removal. He did not recommend tonsil removal because he said they dont do well with recovery at 2 year old. He said the adenoid removal would help a great deal with her breathing and being able to clear colds. We had it done in November. Of course we were nervous but the Dr.s were great. I was with her when they put her under. We were in the waiting room 20 minutes (at the most) and they were calling us back to because the procedure was over. During the morning she just wanted to cuddle. By the afternoon she was running around playing. She did have terrible breath for 2-3 days.

[Anonymous]

My DD is having adenoid removal tomorrow! Thanks for the details, 8:29 - it makes me feel better to know it's not so bad. It's hard to find people who didn't have the tonsils out as well as the adenoids, and I think it's the tonsillectomy that makes it more difficult to recover. Our ENT warned us about the breath, but frankly, my daughter's breath is so funky already (I think from infected adenoids) that I probably won't notice!

The ENT said that any kid who has a persistent chronic sinus infection and/or RAD/asthma should most likely have the adenoids out. he described them as clots of lymph tissue that hold onto infection like a sponge. My understanding is that he'll zap them with a tiny jholt of electricity or heat and then they shrivel up and go away. Hence the bad breath.

Our DD is also having some sinus surgery, as well - turbinate ablation, I think it's called. Anyone know about recovery from that??