What criteria does a doctor use to determine whether a child needs his adenoids removed? My son's ENT is planning to replace his ear tubes in May because one has become dislodged. At our last appointment, he made the offhand comment about the next step being removing his adenoids if it was necessary. I was too distracted by keeping my son from destroying the doctor's office to ask questions at the time, but it's been bugging me. If he has to go under anesthesia for the tubes, and the adenoids might be a problem, I'd rather just get both things done at once, right?
As background, my son has had a lot of swollen lymph nodes since at least his 3-year checkup in January. After ruling out leukemia/lymphoma but still seeing a sign of some kind of infection in the bloodwork, the ped sent us to the ENT. The ENT is not concerned about the lymph nodes because they were smaller than the width of his finger (seems unscientific to me, but he's the expert), however while we were there he noticed the tube out of alignment and did a hearing test, which showed loss of hearing in that ear.
I am considering making an appointment before the tube surgery to get more info. But in the meantime I am wondering what the symptoms are for kids who need their adenoids out? And, if you've experienced any link between ear tubes/frequent ear infections and adenoids? I'm thinking about getting a second opinion on all of this from a different ENT, but maybe I am just being crazy. I don't want to hold up getting the tube fixed because the hearing loss must be causing trouble for my son.
Thanks!
Thanks! I called the doctor and he is going to look at the adenoids while my son is "asleep" for his tubes. If they need to come out, he will take them out at that time. This way he doesn't need to get scoped while he's awake.
A friend of mine enountered the same situation years ago with her son at age 2. She went the natural route.
What does this mean? She excluded (cows) milk from his diet and put him on supplements to get his immune system in balance.
He is now 17 and has not had any problems.
When you give the body exceptional nutrition, it is amazing how the body responds.
If you'd like to know more, respond to my comment.
Many blessings.
I just posted a question like this a couple days ago... Read my question, with everyone's answers for me :)
It is very confusing especially when you are trying to take it all in with a small person creating chaos!
Our son has chronic SI issues and has had his adenoids removed and ear tubes inserted-in two different procedures. Our dr. initially thought the a's would solve the issue, but for a kid who had NEVER had any EI's, just sinus infections...a week after the A surgery he had a double EI!
He had tubes inserted about 3 months after the A surgery...
From what I understand, they often go hand in hand, but a lot of ENT's want to take the let's not do more then we have to approach with kids, (which i appreciate), at the same time it's frustrating when the first thing doesn't work completely.
In a nutshell...the aednoids surgery is a bigger deal, (slightly), so I'm guessing your Dr doesn't want to put your child through that if they can keep things at bay with tubes.
Have you perhaps though about trying chiropractic? It can help with many chronic illness and ear issues,I've seen it work for my own two kids and about eight others I know personally. Totally worth it for a few months before major surgery on a child!
My sons ENT dr did his adenoids with his second set of tubes because she said it couldn't hurt. He was having his tubes done and the adenoids were only a few extra minutes.
