There are health consequences for not treating pediatric sleep apnea, that is why the surgeon recommended it. Per web md:

Large tonsils and adenoids can partially block the airway at night. This can cause snoring and poor sleep.

That, in turn, may lead to attention problems the next day. In one study of 5- to 7-year-olds, snoring was more common among children with mild ADHD than in other children. In another study, kids who snored were almost twice as likely as their peers to have ADHD. However, that doesn't prove that snoring caused ADHD.

Children who snore tend to score worse on tests of attention, language abilities, and overall intelligence. Some studies have shown that taking out the tonsils and adenoids may result in better sleep and improved behavior without the need for medications.

How are you going to treat the sleep apnea if you don't do the surgery?

My son had his adenoids removed and tonsil shaving at 4 after much debate because of sleep apnea. We are happy we did it. I would make sure to ask about tonsil shaving which has an easier recovery since they are not cutting into muscle.

Anonymous wrote:I have sleep apnea. It is a big deal. It affects concentration and mood. Why would you put your poor son through (sleep apnea) especially after a doctor gave you their educated opinion that you should do the surgery??

I obviously agree; I pushed to have him checked out because I was concerned about this. His dad has sleep apnea and I know all about how it can cause other issues. However, the ENT told me that adult sleep apnea and childhood sleep apnea are completely unrelated.

As to your question - I’m not sure why you felt the need to be rude - but because surgery is a big deal, because the doctor said his is a borderline case and it’s ultimately our call, and because there are potential risks and complications TO having the surgery.

Tonsils only get worse and cause more problems. I had mine out at 33 after suffering as a teen and young adult who avoided the "optional" surgery. its much easier for kids to bounce back from. Schedule it and get it over with.

Also, to the parent not treating their kid’s sleep apnea - sleep apnea causes weight gain!! It is foolish not to have a tonsillectomy for fear of weight gain when sleep apnea is so much worse for weight gain, especially while they are young enough for surgery (it gets riskier as you get older.)

https://www.formhealth.co/blog/sleep-apnea-and-weight-gain/

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We decided against it for my mild sleep apnea kid who at age 12 still does not sleep well. Honestly, it was the association with weight gain that really gave me pause. We may think it’s a useless organ, but the body is too dang complicated for me to do it unless there was an assured benefit.

How is (s)he doing now? Do you ever consider doing it or still a definite no? Has he/she had another sleep study at any point?

Wow. You should read up on sleep apnea and the dangers. I have sleep apnea; it affects mood, concentration and chronic disease. If your kid has ADHD - poor sleep can cause or exacerbate this. I feel really bad for your kid. Also, my child had tonsils and adenoids removed when they were young (not for apnea). They are a perfect BMI and are a teen.

I have sleep apnea. It is a big deal. It affects concentration and mood. Why would you put your poor son through (sleep apnea) especially after a doctor gave you their educated opinion that you should do the surgery??

Sleep apnea can really cause other health problems if not treated. He is not getting enough sleep and 2 events per hour is a lot. I'd do the surgery.

From my understanding the risks of not treating even mild sleep apnea are far worse than the potential side effects of a tonsillectomy. You can read up on what untreated sleep apnea can do to the body.

Both of my kids had tonsils and adenoids removed around age 4 and it was the best decision even though it was scary. My older child is now 11 and has put on some weight, but I am not convinced it has to do with the tonsillectomy. She is going through puberty where getting chubby is common, plus DH and I were both chubby at that age as well. She also eats a ton and doesn’t have the best diet, which we are working on. My 8 yo is still a string bean 4 years later.

Anonymous wrote:We decided against it for my mild sleep apnea kid who at age 12 still does not sleep well. Honestly, it was the association with weight gain that really gave me pause. We may think it’s a useless organ, but the body is too dang complicated for me to do it unless there was an assured benefit.

How is (s)he doing now? Do you ever consider doing it or still a definite no? Has he/she had another sleep study at any point?

Anonymous wrote:I can’t give an opinion about this, unfortunately. I did want to raise the possibility that more tantrums than his sibling at the same age might be because, in part, younger siblings hav to deal with sharing and less attention in a way that the eldest doesn’t necessarily have to do. Just one thought as you consider your options.

I definitely agree; they’re completely different kids (in so many ways) so it’s hard to know what to attribute to what.

Anonymous wrote:I would do it. Ours ended up with tonsils and adenoids out at age 3 after I waited thinking he would grow out of it. Best decision ever! Slept better, and was a different kid (sunny/happy)

Thank you! Did you think of him/her as an UNHAPPY kid before, or was it more like ‘wow, I didn’t realize how much you were struggling’?

Anonymous wrote:we waited and did it at 7 and regretted waiting. things just got worse, chronic illness. initially was just sleep apnea.

Ohh this is interesting to hear. I think it would feel like an easier decision if he was getting sick all the time, but I guess I hadn’t thought about the possibility that that could start later

Do it! But I’d wait until 5. If not urgent, it is helpful if your child is able to understand and be reasoned with when you say you need to take your pain meds. Otherwise it is negative feedback cycle hell of it hurting to swallow so they don’t want to take meds or fluids so pain gets refuse so they refuse more adamantly to swallow.