3 year old stops breathing while sleeping but there is no snoring - Adenoid / Tonsil

[Lukesmum]

My son is scheduled to have his tonsils and adenoids out on Tuesday.

My oldest son had his out a few years ago but he definately needed it done. He had throat infections all the time, snored very loudly and stopped breathing. My son who is getting them out on Tuesday never gets sick and doesn't snore BUT he stops breathing many times a night. ENT thinks he needs his tonsils and adenoids out.

Tonight I'm feeling really unsure. The only problem is he stops breathing, like holds his breath all the time during the night and he does wake up tired most days. Does anyone knoow if removing his tonsils and adenoids will stop this breath holding.

I am feeling so nervous and anxious at the moment. I feel like a terrible mother. Does he REALLY need this done. I only have 24 hours.

[ree]

My little girl had her tonsils and adnoids out feb 2010 aged 3 best thing we ever did she would stop breathing in her sleep then either start again or cough til she got her breath back. My lil one went throu the waking up still tired and also about 2 weeks before she had the op she started wetting the bed due to being to tired to get up to go and sleeping alot more during the day. I was told her adnoids were to big and what she had left to breathe with was taken up by her tonsils being to big.. The first night after the op was the best night sleep she had in ages and hasnt had a problem since

[Lukesmum]

Ree, Thanks so much for your post. Was she sick at all or did she just stop breathing in her sleep? My main concern is that he has never been sick but does stop breathing all the time and at times does make a gasp when he starts breathing again. He also moves a bit when he finally starts breathing again. His tonsils are not large.

[ree]

well it started with real bad ear infections was sent to ENT about grommits mentioned her breathing. Her breathing got louder and when she was awake she would put her head down and she would start to snort sort of like the air wasnt getting throu. In her sleep i would go and give her a lil shake and she would do 3 or more gasps to get breathing and like do this funny thing with her mouth.

[Lukesmum]

Thanks Ree. From my research a child that stops breathing in their sleep has sleep apnea and adenoid removal stops it. I hope so. I will be devasted if I put him through the op and he still stops breathing after it. He has never had an ear infection or tonsilitis so I am so very unsure if I am doing the right thing. I have no idea how I can reassure myself that i have made the right decision. If he was getting sick I would be fine with it but because he is a healthy little boy. I'm just not sure.

[ree]

what i noticed with my lil girl is for some reason it got worse and worse and in the week before her op was real bad. Also my lil girl had the op and was home within 24hrs they will most likely get you to buy painstop which helped heaps and hasnt had a problem since