swollen adenoids

[youngmom]

My daughter is 4 yrs old. She always has ear infections and breathes through her mouth. When she talks it always sounds like she has a cold. The doctor said that all of these are because she has swollen adenoids. She said that adenoidectomies are not commonly practised anymore unless the child has severe problems breathing. And that once she's 5 yrs old they can give her medications to make the swelling go down. Anyone else have a child with swollen adenoids? And if so have they had meds to make the swelling go down? Is that safe? Or should I just leave it be since the doctor said my daughter will just sound stuffy and breath through her mouth and have a few more ear infections than other kids?

[KarlaB]

I'm not really informed on this, so I'm not sure how common adenoidectomies are and I haven't heard of taking meds to make swollen adenoids go down. Would it be something she would have to take long term? My niece had tubes put in her ears a few months ago and when they did it they removed her adenoids. From my understanding enlarged adenoids play a role in recurrent ear infections - maybe you should get a second opinion?? Good Luck! :)

[mollymom]

Your child sounds like me at that age. I've heard tape recordings of myself before the age of six and I sound like I have a cold. When I was five my adenoids were taken out and tubes were put in. Twenty years later, the tubes are still in. Doctors won't take them out since they really don't bother me. I've learned how to shower without getting water in my ears. I never really learned how to swim. Even with ear plugs, I still got a lot of water in my ears causing more ear infections. I don't know what the latest in medical devolpement are in this area. Is it possible to have adenoids taken out without the tubes? I don't miss my adenoids, but I sure missed out on a lot of fun swimming as a kid (even now) because of the tubes that won't come out. I wish you the very best of luck.

[KarlaB]

I don't the tubes they put in today stay in "forever"??? My niece had some come out and had to have new ones put in since she still got ear infections. :(