Need Advice Re: Adenoidectomy

My son had his removed about the same age. We prepared him by telling him he was going to the hospital and they were going to help him breath better and help his ears so they don't get any more infections.
The nurses are great they blew up a rubber glove and made it look like a bird. It's harder on the parents. Just make sure you show no emotion other than positive and let him know he gets nice cold ice cream and jello after. Really take a pair of PJ's robe and slippers so he can be comfortble. If he goes to day care you need a couple of days off. Otherwise if he can stay home or with relative you can go to work the next day. He'll be fine it's Mom who's the wreck! Hope this helped

My daughter who was 6 at the time, had her tonsils and adenoids out last spring. It went very smoothly and wasn't as painful as I'd feared. In fact she hardly complained at all, although she was pretty grouchy and low for about a week. I think that was mainly because she couldn't eat much and so she didn't have much energy. I'm not sure about goign back to work the next day. Do you have someone to stay at home with him? I don't know if he'll be ready to go back to day care that soon. He may just want to lay around for a couple of days.

As far as mentally preparing him, I think you should keep the explanation short and simple. Just the basics are fine. "The doctor is going to give you a medicince to make you fall asleep, then they are going to do an operation that will make you healthier and help you to sleep better." Focus on the positive and don't make a big deal out of it. Kids are amazing and have much less fear than adults.
The whole thing will be over quickly. My daughter was a little disoriented and scared coming off the anesthisia and she also threw up a couple of times while in recovery. So bring some extra clothes and a towel or two for the car ride home.

My daughter has been so much healthier since having this operation. She has had very few colds and no ear infections which were chronic before. Good Luck!

My son was almost 2 and we kept it very short. we told him he was going to see a dr. who was going to help him hear better and breath better. He said okay. I think even at 3 keeping it short will be best.
I made sure he wore comfrotable clothing that is easy to remove. also I brought his favorite blanket for him for the rcovery room.

I think taking the day is should be fine. My son was back to normal that evning.He wanted to sleep for most of the day and only needed a little tylenol to help with the discomfort. The next day he was back to normal.

Also it went very quickly so don't go to far. My son went in for tubes and adnoids and they were done in 7 minutes.

I have not had a child go through the surgery, but I had my tonsils out 2 years ago. Yes, it hurts- but I am SOOOOO glad I had it done! It tok me about 3 weeks to recover, but I hear that kids heal faster. I have an almost 4 year old, so I will try to answer your questions as if he was about to have the surgery done.

1) Tell him that the reason he keeps feeling sick is that there is a broken part, and the Dr is going to fix it. He doesn't need to know it's being cut out.

2) Okay- like I said, I took about 3 weeks (6 to total recovery), but I hear kids heal faster. I was NO GOOD to anyone the first week. Thankfully, my hubby had taken that week off of work to care for our son. I might consider taking that first week off for him- unless it's a grandma/Aunty caring for him while you work. They will be as attentive as you would while he recovers.

3) My hubby broght a magazine with him. The surgery is REALLY quick. (like 20-30 minutes) I think for my child, I would bring his "Buddy" (favorite teddy bear) to help him feel safe- BUT, make sure the hospital will allow it!

4) I woke up with a WHOPPER of a head ache! I get migrains, and this was darn close to one in regards to amount of pain, but not in the same trigger spot as my migranes. I think I would ask that they does him with an IV pain reliever before they wake him. If I were a child, the head ache would have brought me to tears- and crying would have made it worse.

**Also, I see you have a 5 month old: please, do yourself a favor and let someone watch her for the day while you tend to your son. She will sense your stress while at the hospital and will make it harder for you. For that day, your son needs you 100%.