Question Re: Tonsils and/or Adenoids

[Axl4Prez2004]

I will most definitely  keep you folks updated...thanks for the support, everybody!!!

Well, no white spots...yet.  The breathing deal is what I'm most concerned about.  He's restless at night and we know he's not getting restful sleep. 

Ha!  Bandita too!  That's funny.  My mumps isn't too impressive now, I'll have to bust out the whooping cough or something next time! 

Now we're looking at the various procedures.  I hate not being in control.   

[Bandita]

I will most definitely  keep you folks updated...thanks for the support, everybody!!!

Well, no white spots...yet.  The breathing deal is what I'm most concerned about.  He's restless at night and we know he's not getting restful sleep. 

Ha!  Bandita too!  That's funny.  My mumps isn't too impressive now, I'll have to bust out the whooping cough or something next time! 

Now we're looking at the various procedures.  I hate not being in control.   

I challenge your whooping cough with my bout of Scarlet Fever!  I was a terribly sickly child, ya know we can probably go head to head like this for a while!

Aww, your son will be ok-you are doing the right thing by getting it looked into early in his lifetime.   

BTW, have any of the doctors considered an inhaler or nebulizer in the interim if it is really affecting his breathing?  I also have asthma and have gotten bronchitis and pneumonia from it and always carry the inhaler but I had the nebulizer when I was hospitalized. 

[Axl4Prez2004]

well, since the whooping cough was pulled out of my ass, you've got me beat.  You were one sick chick! 

I remember a nebulizer thing with the croup when we went to the E.R.  To be honest, it didn't do jack.  The one thing that has worked had to be a fucking steroid.  Steroids happen to have every side-effect under the sun unfortunately.  Here's the deal though, we only use it when things are really bad (usually a croupy cough at night).  We've used very small doses and we've used it like a magic bullet.  It works every fucking time.  Every fucking time.  The doc today said that makes sense.  The prednisone was probably shrinking the tonsils and adenoids down to allow for a more open airway.  Over the course of the year it's been used 6 times if I'm not mistaken...at about 1/3 of a teaspoon each time.  2 teaspoons in a year really is nothing...but damn if it didn't make a huge difference those terrible nights.

On an Axl-related note, I wonder if he's familiar with prednisone.  I remember hearing David Lee Roth talk about meds they would use to be ready to perform.  I think prednisone was one of 'em.  It really is a magic bullet...but the side effects with large dosages are scary.

Listen, I know this is small potatoes in the grand scheme of things.  There are kids out there with far greater problems...I guess it's all relative.    

[Bandita]

Yea that prednisone can be dangerous stuff.  My father was on it for a very long time but I think in the way you are using it, the good is outweighing the bad. 

[crazycheryl]

My daughters have had this before - croupy cough, crying, can't breathe. I used to put them over my shoulder and go into the bathroom, close the door and run the shower very hot so steam would fill the room. I was hot as shit in there especially with another person on you but it worked. It helped them to breathe better and they were able to sleep. I would only do this when it got bad.

But look at the alternatives definitely. If you guys are going to the doc or hospital alot for the same thing, it makes sense to look into medical procedures. And I take steroids constantly because i have COPD. You are right. The roids shrink the swelling and allow breathing more easily. I have never had side effects so don't worry too much. I don't think they put too much in there. I know it's different with a kid but the doc has never prescribed roids for my kids yet. And believe me, I am a hypochondriac so I take my kids all the time. And with them being in school and day care, there is a period when they catch everything under the sun and it seems like they are sick constantly but it passes even though it seems like forever. I think they do a lot of immunity building in this time. 

[Layne Staley's Sunglasses]

Prednisone?  Yeah, I took that too.  It's the worst thing ever!

Is your son taking it?

And why would DLR take prednisone before performing?

[Axl4Prez2004]

^  Yo, something about easing the inflammation on his vocal chords.  It makes sense.  The shit is like a magic bullet.  A lot of folks with allergies carry it in case of anaphylactic shock (allergic reaction which closes the throat).

Yes CrazyCheryl, we've done it all.  Vaporizers, (cool and warm with cool being preferable), hot steamy showers (only last so long), walks out in the cold night air (temporary minor relief), over the counter cold medicine, ibuprofen, Vicks, you name it (nothing).  breathing treatment albuterol.  Trust me, we'd have him on our shoulders all night long if it meant it would help...in fact that's how we normally handle it.  and yes, the kids do a lot of immunity building at this age, but they also develop a lot, and if they aren't getting restful sleep that development can be stunted.

We're taking the fucking tonsils and adenoids out.  If I had pliers I'd do it myself!  Just kidding!!!!!!!  The method of extraction will have very minimal duration of post-op pain, just a few days.  Here in Delaware we've got a nationally recognized childrens' hospital (A.I. DuPont).  The care is top-notch.  I'll keep ya'll posted.

and Bandita, yeah, I tallied the prednisone use up for the year...5 treatments, a little over a teaspoon and a half of the stuff.  I'd prefer to not have to use any, but damn if it wasn't amazing in those times of need.

[freedom78]

I had both removed as a kid, and it wasn't a big deal.  I don't remember it as a bad experience...not a great one, mind you, but not bad.

My basic thought it this:

If he gets tonsillitis, get 'em out.  If they're problematic, get them removed.  If they aren't, leave them be. 

[Axl4Prez2004]

Freedom, you said you got 'em out as a kid?     Oh shit!  What happened to you could happen to my son?
                      

Seriously, how old were ya man?  My boy is 4 1/2.  We're looking at the beginning of February.  Send positive energy!  (yes, I know I don't believe in paranormal stuff...blame it on my upbringing!  Thanks.  )

[journey]

I had my tonsils and adenoids taken out when I was 8 years old.  It wasn't painful, that I can remember. There was some soreness after the surgery, but it didn't last too long.

[Layne Staley's Sunglasses]

I'm glad you guys have decided on something.

February eh?  Good, your son won't have to suffer much longer.

Can't say anything bad about an institution with the DuPont name on it.

I will be sending my positive vibes across the nation!

[Axl4Prez2004]

Cool man.  Much thanks.   

[Cornell]

My youngest son had both of his out at age 5.  It was the best thing for him.  He can breathe and hear better now.

[Axl4Prez2004]

Thank you Cornell.  Another reassuring tid-bit was talking with 2 of our friends whose kids had to go under for a frenectomy.  I think that's what it's called.  They snip some connective tissue underneath the tongue that allows for normal tongue protrusion.  Anywhoo, just knowing other kids "go under" and come out just fine is reassuring.   

A co-worker of mine was telling me about a friend of hers whose daughter was found to have a tumor in her brain.  11 months old.  That's gut-wrenchingly horrible stuff.  Things like that really put things into perspective. 

[Axl4Prez2004]

today's the big day.  wish us luck.   

[freedom78]

today's the big day.  wish us luck.   

I hope you and your kid have a "Super Tuesday"!

[Layne Staley's Sunglasses]

Hope it all goes well!

[Axl4Prez2004]

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Despite the fact my son was running a 103 degree fever on Friday afternoon, had to go immediately to the pediatrician's office, had his 4th positive strep test, had to get a shot of antibiotics in his buttock...the anesthesiologist and doctor gave the go-ahead this morning for the operation. 

Tonsils are sized on a 1 to 4 scale with 1 being normal.  My son's were a 4.  Everybody in the operating room commented on there large size.  The adenoids were a 3. 

My son will be able to breathe normally soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

It was an emotional day.  Seeing him after the surgery was a great feeling.  We had to wait extra because the kid in before our son was having trouble with anesthesia...what a nightmare.  Anyhow, when he woke up, he was still groggy with morphine going through his system.  There was some crying in between eyes opening and closing every couple minutes.  The thing that hit me the hardest was when he opened his mouth to cry, you see the spit strings in a dry lipped mouth, that looked ominously similar to the mouth of severely disabled wheelchair-bound c.p. kids.  It's that realization that yeah, my kid just got his tonsils out...there are kids in this building with horribly debilitating ailments, cancer, cp, muscular dystrophy, etc.  When it's your kid, perspective gets thrown out the window.

Thanks for all the kind words guys and gals.   

[Bandita]

Aww, I am so glad he had it done. 

[Axl4Prez2004]

Aww, I am so glad he had it done. 

Thanks Bandita!  You would not believe it!!!  Already, the 1ST night!  He is already breathing better...and this is with soft tissue swelling.  I can't tell you how awesome this has been so far.  I am just fucking astounded. 

Thanks again.