My little girl hemorrhaged again two days ago, and now i'm a nervous wreck.

[MumfordandDaughter]

Apparently tonsillectomies are simple, straightforward procedures. So when i Googled them and started harping on to my friends and family about my fears of post-op bleeding and infection, they laughed at me for being such a worrier.

"It's extremely rare."
"These things only happen on Google."
"She'll be fine, these operations are carried out everyday across the world."

My dd had her tonsils out last Friday, just over a week ago. Since then, she's been readmitted three times, she's heamorraged twice and has had to have two further operations to close the burst vessels. So that's three operations she's had in the space of a week. The worrying thing is, she has been in good spirits, there's been no warning signs before the blood. It just appears out of the blue.

The other day was the scariest of my life. I couldn't believe the amount of blood gushing out of her mouth. It filled the bottom of the bath, several mixing bowls, and then another bowl in the ambulance. She continued spitting it out even as they were putting her to sleep for the operation.

They said another hemorrhage is just as likely to occur as unlikely. They don't know why it happened and tried to persuade me to just accept it's one of those things.

We're home again now, but i can't sleep for worry. Looking at my dd, you'd think there's nothing wrong with her. She's playing with her dolls, munching a banana. But that's the scary thing. There's no telling when another hemorrage is about to happen.

Anyway, this has been my experience of a tonsillectomy. I don't want to scaremonger, just wanted to let people know that while the risks are small, they're still there.

[EleanorFarjeon]

Gosh, poor you. How terrifying.

I know only 2 children that have had their tonsils out & one of them haemmorrhaged, but only once.

I hope they're finished now, op.

[Elibean]

You poor love, that sounds totally traumatic and I'm sorry your dd was one of the very few unlucky ones with this

I had all the same fears (most parents will I suppose) but in our case, apart from pain it was all straightforward.

Have they checked her blood for clotting factors/platelets etc? Probably just bad luck, but maybe worth asking if they haven't mentioned it??

Fingers tightly crossed for you that all goes smoothly with her recovery from here on in xx

[kelda]

Oh no! I know someone who haemorrhaged twice following a tonsillectomy. Hope your dd recovers soon.

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

i haemorrhaged after mine, it was very scary at the time but it didn't happen again and no long term effects :)

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

although I see it has happened twice, I would hope the operation has sorted out the issue, crossing fingers for you here!

[MumfordandDaughter]

Thanks, everyone. Back to square one regarding recovery time though. So another two weeks off school; 3 weeks in total instead of the 2 originally planned.

Hopefully my nerves will settle back down in a few days. Keeping everything crossed there's not a third bleed.

[TelephoneTree]

How old is she?
Our 5 year old kept having nose bleeds and we were advised to give her vitamin C with bioflavanoids as both these support strengthening the walls of the blood vessels. We just use the seven seas chewable blackcurrant vit c and zinc tablets - she and her 4 year old brother have been told to have half a tablet each twice a day if they're fighting something, otherwise half each once a day.

[SwishSwoshSwoosh]

Oh goodness, I know nothing about the medical issues but couldn't read and run. So scary for you, I really hope this won't happen again.

Take the two weeks off to look after yourself as well, it is horrible watching our children be unwell so do take care of you as well as your precious dd.

[SwishSwoshSwoosh]

Sleep in her room etc if it helps you, stay close by etc, it is totally natural to be worried, it will fade once you know all is well x

[AitchTwoOhOneTwo]

that happened to me when i was a kid, i was nearly 2... i still remember it. I'm sure you're all over this but just to say that it probably scared the shit out of her too, so both be kind to each other.

[saintlyjimjams]

God you poor things - how long is the risk period for this occurring? Just wondering whether there's some sort of danger time you can count down iyswim

[Jinty64]

I expect the drs are right and it is just "one of those things". I'm sure they will have done a full blood count to see if she needed transfusion so should know what her platelet count was but, once things have settled down and she is better, it would be worth asking your GP to check her clotting.

[MumfordandDaughter]

Thanks, everyone, once again.

The risk period is supposed to be up until day ten post-tonsillectomy (i might be wrong about that). Day 10 for us will be tomorrow.

However, i'm not going to be uncrossing my fingers (metaphorically ) until two weeks from her latest surgery, which will be 9th May.

Her first bleed occurred on the third day after tonsillectomy, then the second bleed on the sixth day, so if there's any pattern to this, another bleed is due at some point today!

[Floralnomad]

I know how you feel ,although I'm guessing your daughter is young which may actually help. My son had his tonsils out at 17 yrs and he haemorrhaged at home first night post op and then had to stay in for IVs as there was infection and a clot . It was really scary and even worse because he was also very aware of the dangers ( which perhaps your daughter is not as much) . It's terrible thinking your child's life is in danger ,its doubly terrifying when the child thinks it as well . Fingers crossed that your daughter has a straightforward recovery from here , its very unfortunate when you turn out to be 'the odd one ' that doesn't go to plan .

[Elibean]

Fingers tightly crossed that today's magic threshold is crossed safely and holds true, Mumford

You and your dd deserve a break now, to say the least!

[MumfordandDaughter]

Thanks, yep she's still just a baby... (well, she's 5yo, but a baby nonetheless).

That's why this was such a surprise to us. I was reassured by friends/family that such complications only happen in teens and adults. Young children bounce right back apparently.

If we can get through today and tomorrow with no bleeding, i think i'll feel much better.

Dd doesn't seem to have a care in the world. She's in great spirits.