I have been asked time and again as to why I am not sharing my motherhood journey anymore. Frankly speaking, I was going through the worst writer’s block in my career as a blogger. Come what may, the writing was not giving me any satisfaction. That’s when I tried several tips and tricks to get over it. I have shared in my post how to overcome writer’s block in my blog Outset. So I am back, sharing my experiences, travails and predicaments as a unicorn mom and a mom of three with the latest post on adenoiditis.
ADENOIDITIS :
My daughter, hardly slept more than half n hour a day. We even got her EEG checked because the child was not sleeping at all. But why? Slowly intermittent cold, allergy, tonsillitis and ear pain became a part of her life.
That’s when I consulted an ENT physician. The instant he looked at her, he said that she has adenoiditis. The endoscopy was done and in no time her surgery was fixed. It happened so fast that I couldn’t wrap my head around.
Doc suggested a nasal spray for three months and scheduled fur surgery three months later to check of the nasal spray would work. No miracle was to be expected as her nose was 75 per cent blocked.
As with any other momma, my next step was GOOGLE MATA, who made me “an expert” in adenoid glands.
Whoa REVELATION! My second child snores like an adult. Time to get him checked because”ADENOIDITIS IS GENETIC” and he had the symptoms. As expected, his adenoids were also enlarged and blocked 90% of his nasal passage. My poor baby was suffering and I didn’t even know.
So, what to do in such situations? If it’s genetic why didn’t I have it? Or did I have it? Apparently, I used to have difficulties as a child. But never knew about Adenoids. Hence I had to push through with vaporising thinking that it is wheezing due to chest congestion. By the time I was 18 I cured automatically. If you wish ti wait, you can do so either. It might be cured by itself. But I dodnt want my kids to suffer. Hence I opted surgery.
Treatment options for adenoidectomy:
1. Medicines
As a first option, allopathic doctors prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection and reduce the size of the adenoid gland as much as possible.
Alternatives medicines like Ayurveda and homoeopathy can also be relied on.
For my kids, since I have been undergoing encirclage ( stitching the uterus) for all pregnancies and subsequent antibiotics and hormone infections, my kids never responded to alternative medicine.
2. Nasal Spray
If the blockage is less than 50% adenoiditis can be cured with nasal spray in most cases. Unfortunately, mothers are unaware of the disease and the symptoms that despite being a mother of three even I took 7 years to consult an ENT. By the time, the adenoids would have grown beyond help. Hence I suggest you to consult a doctor if you doubt that your child has the symptoms.
3. Surgery
Adenoidectomy is technically a minor surgery but since my kids were small ( 7 and 5) it was equivalent to a major surgery. Right from giving anaesthesia to aftercare, it was a nightmare. Looking back I am startled how we could push through. My little one was at my place for a week – the longest I stayed away from since I got him back from NICU.
Sometimes doctor suggest removal of tonsils along with adenoids. For my son both glands were removed simultaneously. It is called adenoidotonsilectomy. It is way more painful for kids.
The surgery is performed orally. Hence there would not be a peripheral incision. Nonetheless, it is painful. My daughter recovered in a day or two as only her devoid was removed.
Aftercare:
1. Give them cold food.
Their throat would be extremely sensitive. Hence the food must be cold, non-spicy. You can give them fruit juice but citrus fruits are a big NO. Ice cream and yoghurt are the best choices. It was a gala time for my kids with numerous family pack ice creams. Within three days, the started rejecting ice cream.
2. Give them soft food
The food should be soft like jellos, oats etc.
Remember that the food is passing through a tract that has been scraped clean.
3. Keep gargling
Gargling would be painful and kids refuse to do it. But howsoever they resist or cry you should not let them skip the gargling part. It fastens the recovery and I can vouch for it.
4. Give them ample rest
Even though they are in pain, they tend to play around. Try to keep them occupied with board games or even gadgets because we should avoid sweating or even getting hurt.5. Continue nasal spray
The doctor would prescribe the nasal spray. You have to continue it for at least three months or as much as the doctor says.
Adenoidectomy is a minor surgery. It would be extremely painful for your child. But you can let them pass the phase with patience and presence of mind.
My two kids underwent it simultaneously. I had to be assertive with them. Sometimes they even said that I am the worst mother when I forced them to gargle. They would be in extreme pain while gargling. But remember that it is to avoid future pain and facilitate east recovery. Harden yourself and be assertive.
Most important: Adenoiditis caused by allergy can be cured with surgery but your child’s irritation towards the allergen won’t go. Don’t think that my child was not cured despite surgery. For allergy you have to treat to separately.
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