Age for tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy?

[SuzySunshine]

So A has always been a heavy mouth breather. People have issues sleeping in the same room as she does because it sounds like she's snoring even though she breathes out her mouth. You can be sitting in the same room with her watching TV and you can hear her breathing from across the room. Her doc in Roch had told us at her 3 year check-up that it looked like she had large adenoids and we would probably need to have them out at some point. Today was her 4 year check-up and the doc referred us to Peds ENT to have them look at them and give us their opinion.

I haven't called and set up the appointment, I want to talk to DH first but I'm just wondering if any of your kids have had this done how old were they? I hate to put her through something like this at age 4 but her ped says she thinks if they are the issue that she'll sleep better and we may see some of her behavioral issues clear up because she will be better rested...

[diggitydot]

I think she's old enough to have her adenoids removed. I think I was 5 or 6 when I had my tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, and tubes put in my ears. It made a HUGE difference in my health and ability to get to sleep and stay asleep.

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

DH had his done at 5. Tonsils and adenoids.

[peggyfromwastate]

Ds had adenoids out at 22 months.

It's not a major surgery, but with just loud mouth breathing and no real issues otherwise (chronic ear infections) I don't see why they'd do surgery. I'd keep the Peds ENT appt, but I wouldn't assume they'd schedule surgery. Adenoids shrink as kids get bigger. So do tonsils.

[SuzySunshine]

Oh that is good to know Peggy, I went ahead and scheduled the consult for next Thursday, we'll see what they say.

She's never had ear infections that I have been told she has had fluid in her ears, both by her Roch ped and when she tried to take a hearing test before we left Roch.

[Pollyanna]

My friend had both her son and daughter have the tonsil/adenoid procedure at 2 and 4. They had back to back surgeries.

[weeniegeniewife]

DD had hers out at 4 1/2, and it made a massive difference in her sleep and overall health. She also had tubes put in when she was 1. She felt so much better after the surgery that it was tough to keep her down to recover. Being able to breathe helped her sleep and energy levels, and her ear infections went away. Now is a good time to do it because she's young and will heal fast.

[Deebs]

Ok - tonsils shrink? That's awesome. DD1's are so big and block her throat anytime shes sick. She has had strep once this year, but tested for it three times because she has symptoms of it with every freaking illness. Cheri - i have no advice, just hugs (and thanks Peggy). See - IMSN think tank at work again.

[peggyfromwastate]

Cheri- dh says they will probably try to get a closer look at her adenoids (scope or X-ray) and that they do take adenoids out for heavy mouth breathing. It's a "quality of life" thing. Like WGW said- usually they feel better bc they can breathe so much better. They might recommend a few months on Flonase to see if that shrinks her adenoids at all-- but since you guys are moving so soon I don't know how helpful that course would be.

He'd go for the surgery if they can fit her in before you leave.

Tonsils generally aren't taken out with adenoids unless there's an obvious problem-- sounds like the adenoids are the big issue.

Dh also says to watch her breathe in the middle of the night, when she's in REM for instance, and check if she stops breathing. If she does, they will take the tonsils out too.

[SuzySunshine]

Thanks Peggy, that is all good to know. If they recommend we take them out I'll have to ask DH if he wants it done here or in KC. I'd rather just get it done but his last day is 4/9, I wonder if our insurance will run until the end of April?? I guess we'll see what they say and if they can get her in...

Anyone know how that works?

[HouseofWool]

C had both tonsils and adenoids out at age 4. He wasn't really a mouth breather, but you could hear that his airway wasn't as open as it should have been. The ENT walked into the room and before he even got the door shut he said that based on the breath sounds his adenoids were impacting his breathing. They rate tonsil size 1-4, 1 being normal and 4 meaning they are touching (IIRC) C's were a 3.5.

The surgery was 15 minutes tops and it was such a huge quality of life improvement for him.

[SuzySunshine]

So A will be having an adenoidectomy sometime in the next few weeks. They'll call Monday or Tuesday to schedule it. We decided just to take her adenoids at this time but he did say there is a 20% chance that they'd have to go back in in a few years and take her tonsils even though they look fine now. I answered yes to every question on their form so I think without even looking it was pretty obvious to him they needed to come out. Luckily I got a good recording of her sleep breathing last night, which she stopped breathing in, so its definitely needed. Standing there recording her instead of shaking her to wake her up about killed me and I'm not sure I wanted to know that she is stopping breathing in her sleep. Hopefully this fixes it.

ETA: one thing I did find interesting was that they said this may be why she is not potty trained at night because when they sleep like this their body doesn't regulate like normal sleepers.

[HouseofWool]

It should really help. *hugs*

[SuzySunshine]

On the way home I was explaining to A that she has a small gland in the back of her nose that is causing some issues and that they're going to take it, its not a big deal, and that she will be able to breathe better once they're done. She said all of this was fine and threw her brother under the bus saying, R needs to have his glad out too.

Of course I also played the resident/fellow wife card and asked him how much of the surgery he will be doing versus his residents. If it was a fellow that would be one thing but I have issues with a resident learning on my 4 year old - you can all string me up now! Luckily he knew DH's mentor and was a very nice guy so I don't think he was offended by the question.

[Pollyanna]

If it was a fellow that would be one thing but I have issues with a resident learning on my 4 year old - you can all string me up now! Luckily he knew DH's mentor and was a very nice guy so I don't think he was offended by the question.

Are you kidding. I know way too much, I wouldn't let most of those folks close to my dog let alone my kids. I think you did good.