XP: Removing adenoids

babystella08

Has your DC had their adneoids removed? If so what was the reason for the surgery?

DS has sleep apnea and the ENT said we could either remove both his adenoids and tonsils or just try removing the adenoids first and see if that works. He said his adenoids are abnormally large and his tonsils are mildly large.

We are just concerened with removing his adenoids and if it doesn't work having to put him through another surgery. But because removing his tonsils is going to cause him a lot of pain we are not sure it is a good idea to put him through that if removing just the adenoids would work.

Also DS had a new set of tubes put in last August and and a portion of his adenoids removed. The ENT we had then doesn't believe in removing all the adenoids. Our new ENT said the adenoids did grow back and are abnormally large (he looked up his nose at his adenoids with a camera during our consultation). After the surgery is when we noticed DS started snorning and breathing through his mouth alot which makes me wonder if the adenoids are the true problem.

If you have dealt with something similar to this please share your experience!

TIA

molldoll71

My son had tubes put in and his adenoids and tonsils removed in June.  He had recurrent ear infections and sleep apnea.  His tonsils were huge.  We went ahead and did all 3 since our ENT thought he would probably need them done at some point so decided to just deal with it all at once.  He has not had one ear infection since then, is so much more active since he sleeps better and has finally moved from 25% in weight to 75%!  The recovery from the tonsilectomy was really hard but by a week he was back to himself.

Sharon&Paul

I would recommend looking into a second opinion. I am a PA and trained in ENT over 10 years ago. Adenoids are usually removed to prevent recurrent ear infections because they block the opening of the Eustation Tube. I have not heard of them removed for sleep apnea, since most kids are mouth breathers. Adenoids do not block your airway. However, large tonsils can cause sleep apnea. Sleep Apnea can cause longer turn problems. If he has true sleep apnea I would consider removing the tonsils.

However, if he does not have significant apnea I would not do anything. Since tonsils and adnenoids do not grow as a child grows. They will inturn become perportionally smaller with time.

babystella08

Sharon&Paul:

I would recommend looking into a second opinion. I am a PA and trained in ENT over 10 years ago. Adenoids are usually removed to prevent recurrent ear infections because they block the opening of the Eustation Tube. I have not heard of them removed for sleep apnea, since most kids are mouth breathers. Adenoids do not block your airway. However, large tonsils can cause sleep apnea. Sleep Apnea can cause longer turn problems. If he has true sleep apnea I would consider removing the tonsils.

However, if he does not have significant apnea I would not do anything. Since tonsils and adnenoids do not grow as a child grows. They will inturn become perportionally smaller with time.

 

We did a sleep study and my son does have sleep apnea and has reocurrent ear infections. He has had 2 sets of tubes and still gets ear infections.

WendyK

DS had his tonsils and adenoids removed last year...he is so much better. He also had sleep apnea and recurrent ear infections. Not one since the surgery!

Pesky

My DD just had tubes put back in her ears (her old ones fell out) and her adenoids removed last Friday.  She would snore softly but no sleep apnea.  Her tonsils have always been fine.  Surgery went well and while she hated the IV, once it was removed and we were home, she was fine.  Granted she has high pain tolerance but within 15 minutes of being home, she was bouncing on couch calling "popsicle!  popsicle!"  I'll warn you I've heard the hardest recovery is the tonsillectomy.  After hers were removed, the snoring has stopped and she seems to be sleeping better through the night already.

MrsT1209

DD had her adenoids removed when they put her tubes in at 10 1/2 months.  Hers were enlarged and preventing fluid from draining properly.  They'd force fluid to build up in the ears which caused ear infections. 

Her allergy/asthma specialist stated that her tonsils are abnormally large as well but he doesn't want to remove them just yet.  Until they are what he refers to as "kissing," and then they will have to come out. 

She didn't do well coming out of the anesthesia and was inconsolable and thrashed around wildly completely unaware that we were the ones holding her.  It took a good few hours before she calmed enough for the hospital to release her to go home.

Temp174496125006552

My (now 16 yo) had her tonsils and her adenoids removed when she was little.  She snored like a grown man and her adenoids were huge.  The recovery was not too bad.  She was back to her usual self the next day.  She also had tubes, a few times.  My daughter did wind up having the adenoid surgery again because they grew back. 

If it were me, I would have the tonsils and adenoids both removed and just be done with it.