A lot of kids have this surgery, so it shouldn't be that bad, right? Pretty routine? Teddy had his tonsils and adenoids removed a few weeks ago. I wouldn't say it was a rough experience, but I would say it wasn't quite how I expected it to be. Cal had an ear infection at the time. I think Teddy must have had an infection going into the surgery or right after the surgery because he needed an antibiotic to kick his high fevers. That definitely complicated our experience and his recovery. I don't think I was prepared for the magnitude of this surgery.
Maybe because of his unique situation, my experience is not common, but there are a few simple things I wish I had known/did beforehand. 1. Stock up on the kids Tylenol and Motrin - We had to alternate these every 3 hours for a few days. Luckily, my mother in law happened to get us some large packs at Sam's Club a few weeks before. Otherwise, I would have been scrambling to find these with the shortages that have been going on. Also - I couldn't leave Teddy and he was in no condition to go anywhere, so that would have been tough! He also had to take the medicine consistently through the night or else his fevers would get high again. The doctors explained to me that the body goes through trauma with the surgery and responds with a fever. I think Teddy's were higher than average because of a competing infection, but any child patient is recommended the alternating dosage of Tylenol and Motrin for a couple days - per my doctor. Of course, always listen to your doctor's advice before administering any medicine and if you have questions make sure to call them! 2. Stock up on the soft foods, popsicles and drinks - Teddy loves his orange juice, but he technically couldn't drink it because the acidity could burn his newly cut throat. I had to find other things he would drink. The first day wasn't bad. I don't think he was in much pain because he was eating popsicles like they were going out of style. That attitude slowly disappeared. I had Robbie running out to get different types of drinks - Pediatlyte, Gatorade, etc - to find something he'd drink. I am thankful I stocked up on the soft foods and got fun things he doesn't usually eat like Spaghetti-Os and character Mac and Cheese so eating could be fun. We tried so many different drinks and eventually let him drink watered down orange juice because it was the only thing he'd take and he needed fluids more than anything. Just make sure you have an arsenal built of these reserves should your child be picky like mine! 3. Track their drinking - This is the NUMBER ONE thing I wish someone told me. The doctor kept saying to make sure he was drinking, but I never knew how much was enough. Eventually, I just had him trying to drink about 1/4 cup of fluids every hour and this really helped me track to make sure he was taking fluids. The number one complication of this surgery is dehydration and was petrified the entire time that Teddy wasn't drinking enough until I started really paying attention to it. One of my husband's friend's just had a child admitted to the hospital for dehydration after removing his tonsils. It happens and I think it's more common than we probably hear. 4. Incentive for drinking and taking medicine - We ended up doing a sticker chart for every time he took a drink and every time he took his medicine. He didn't even earn a prize. He just liked putting on the stickers and tracking his progress. This really helped cut down on the pushback we got. We also tried to think of fun ways to get him to take his medicine - like cute cups. Try to avoid straws. We used straws every now and then and didn't have an issue, but apparently you should try to avoid them. 5. Talk through it with your child - Teddy and I watched a lot of shows and read some books on hospitals and doctors to help prepare him for his visit. He knew he was going to change into a hospital gown. He brought his special doggy toy with him. He knew he was going to have to put on a funny mask and breathe some things in and he would sleep during the surgery. Coming out of the anesthesia was tough for him. He was confused, scared, and didn't know what to expect. That's one part I wish I talked to him more about. Once we got home, he was fine, but it was definitely jarring for him to wake up in a different environment. 6. Relax! Screen time and relaxation is a must. We blew up the air mattress and made a little bed for him in the family room to encourage rest! I didn't realize how much he would need me after this surgery. Making sure I was home and available for a week was crucial. He couldn't go to school for at least a week per his doctor and no big physical activity for 2 weeks. He needed lots of snuggles and he had a hard time when I had to leave the house even for a little bit. I think it was more traumatic on him than I expected. Find some low-key activities that you can do together! Even though he was miserable, I loved every snuggle I got during this period of time. **PRO TIP** Make sure you can call your doctor 24/7 or a doctor on call. We were SO LUCKY with our doctor's office because of the struggles Teddy had. We utilized this A LOT and they were happy that we called. I didn't think we'd ever need to call the doctor at 3 AM, but WE DID and I was so grateful that we could.
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