The ENT guy has recommended that my two-and-a-half year old have his tonsils out.

Mr ENT has stressed that the op is elective, but that my lad will be happier because:

I have always read that when making these decisions (to op or not to op), one should research the operation, the surgeon, the anaesthetist, the hospital, etc.

But how? Where do I find this info? I want an unbiased factual account of the pros and cons of this op, and then some kind of reference for Mr ENT and his sidekick Mr Ether.

Can anyone advise?

Sorry cannot help with who should operate.

I do know though that my brother had his out at 2 because he kept getting tonsillitis. He was ok afterwards.

I started to get in in my teens regularly but they left my tonsils and I grew out of it.

Hi also you can still get tonsillitis even if you have them removed, i had mine removed when i was about 6, and recently got it. Apparently the doctor rekons the only way to remove tonsils completely is to remove the head from the neck! Saying that i never had any problems previously. Hope he is ok whatever you decide

Get them removed, I got my tonsils out when I was very young and no problems.
My daughter got hers out at about age 6 and has been fine ever since.

However my eldest has had tonsilitus every other month since he about 5. He is now about to be 17yrs and still going through hell. However huge waiting list back in the UK and barmy docs saying large but healthy and take yet another dose of antibiotics(I was young and stupid then so believed the docs)
He even ended up with a 2 wk stay in hospital once it was so bad.
Docs here seam to think he may need them out and I agree as his voice is croaky with it and its so often its a right pain.

After having one child suffering for years and one who got them wipped out young. I say go for getting the tonsils removed.

Gems

Ps, snoring and speach problems stopped with my daughter after surgery.
She snored rather loudly and said 'w' instead of 'r'. Used to make us laugh but weeks after surgery she could say 'robin' instead of 'wobin'.

Gems

I had mine out at about 45 and it wasn't nice.

If he has persistent tonsil problems and the doc recommends it I would say "do it". I wish my parents had had it done to me at an early age. Tell the kid to blame me, if that helps <g>.

My 2 1/2 year old is on the urgent list to get his done. After 7 lots of tonsillitis since October and an ex premmie who has chronic lung disease and never sleeps a night through I am looking forward to it! (his adenoids are for the chop to)

I have no idea who is operating, its just one of the ENT team at the Monash hospital, and for that I'm grateful....

I just wish that it had not been the trend not to take them out when I was his age, I'm nearly 40 and still struggle with mine on a half yearly basis.

Good luck

From my own experience, please get it done early.
I had repeated and very frequent bouts from about the age of 4. Time and time again my mum asked the docs to take my tonsils out and they refused.
At the ripe old age of 40 I had a quinsy (abcess on tonsils) followed by another one a few months later. I'd never been in so much pain. Would rather have gone through childbirth anytime Anyway, finally they took them out. Had day surgery - all went fine. Two days later I got an infection and was rushed into hospital. Spent a few days there on a drip. It was about 5 months before I finally felt well enough to go back to work.
Sorry to be gloomy about it, but if your child is in so much pain, it's advisable to get them done at an earlier age rather than as an adult. There's more chances of complications apparently.

Julie. x

Without a doubt get it done whilst he is as young as possible. Whilst it's a huge worry for you, it will make both his life and you and your wife's lives soooo much better. Obviously the idea of your baby going under general anaesthetic is scary and isn't without risk, to my mind it has to be done. He'll bounce back quickly and is too young to really understand what's going on but as long as he gets the cuddles, kisses and ice cream he'll be fine

My daughter (14) had her tonsils removed just before Christmas she hasn't looked back since after getting infections every few months for the last year. I would certainly recommend the earlier the better, took her around 2 weeks to recover. Off course the pampering in and out of hospital helped along with the milkshakes and Ice cream!! No snoring now at all! believe me she was a seriously bad snorer...lol She has not missed a day of school this year.

I agree do plenty of research to put your mind at ease although our consultant put us at our ease on the first meet and I felt she couldn't carry on the way she was.

Good luck and hope all goes well.

Thank you all for the anecdotal evidence - there is clearly a majority opinion which is weighing in to my internal argument!

But I still wan't to find out more about this surgeon and anaesthetist........ anyone?

Make it 8

Have you asked your GP? They normally know the best people and will be able to give you advice on how good their work is. If you got this surgeon from a referral by your GP then that's a good a recommendation as any. Also you should be able to speak to the surgeon and anaesthetist's receptionists and ask if they have the names of any families happy to be asked how they were treated. I know how you feel though, my daughter recently had to have an arthoscopy and a mother at my daughters cheer squad is a theatre nurse and when I told her the name of the surgeon, she was able to say as far as she was concerned he was the best around and if she ever need orthopaedic word doing, she would want him. Put my mind at ease.

What you can find out will depend if its being done private - simply ask who is doing each each part of the procedure, I mean you will be getting their bills!!

If its a public hosptial you will probably not know much for certain till the day. Son 3 has had ENT related surgery at Brisbane, one surgery was done by the head of that specialty, another surgery was done by a trainee dental surgeon,many major hospitals are obviously training hosptials. The anaesthetist is simply who is on that day, but you will probably know who they intened to operate. I will add here we have been very happy with the surgery by medical students.

Have you looked into waiting times??, the wait times for anything ENT in brisbane public are very lengthy, we only got in after the problem started to causing bleeding or we would have waited another 2 years.

Sucks to live there then In the S/E of Melly its a year non urgent. 90 days semi urgent or 30 days urgent.