My 6 year old daughter has snored for as long as I can remember. I took her to her Ear, Nose and Throat doctor and he recommended surgery to have her tonsils and adenoids removed. I know this is a common procedure but it still seems a little drastic to me. Are there any alternatives to surgery to help her snoring and get a better night's sleep?
Hi Heather,
Your daughter would benefit greatly from adaptogens! My husband and I ordered an incredible book off Amazon titled Adaptogens, Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief by Winston and Maimes. It is fascinating. From the book "There is a category of herbs called adaptogens that help the human body adapt to stress, support normal metabolic processes, and restore balance. They increase the body's resistance to physical, biological, emotional, and environmental stressors and promote normal physiologic function".
This section pinpoints the root cause of your daughter's problem and offers a solution: "Many people suffer from insomnia and related sleep problems. Stress can disrupt the regular circadian (time-related) secretion of cortisol and can be a major cause of sleep problems. Adaptogens regulate the production of cortisol, reducing stress. A relaxed, less stressful body allows for better and more rejuvenating sleep".
The 10 most potent adaptogens on the earth, with the highest therapeutic properties available, are now delievered in a fast acting oral spray, called Tunguska Mist. Go to www.VitalHealth.TunguskaMist.com to learn more.
I highly recommend you try Tunguska Mist PM for your daughter. PM is NATURAL and non-habit-forming. PM will help her relax and fall asleep naturally. A friend of mine said that PM has helped with her husbands's snoring.
Instead of commercial drugs that can leave you drowsy and fogged in, use PM (a natural sleep aid) for a sound, peaceful night's sleep. The 10 beneficial adaptogens in PM also assist in reducing stress and improve your immune system while you sleep. They taste great and with the intra-oral spray you get over 90% of the nutrients absorbed immediately, which go to work within seconds. A serving is 6 sprays; for children under 100 pounds, 1/2 a serving is recommended. So I would suggest 1 or 2 sprays (inside the cheeks) and see how she does, then go from there.
Please let me know if you have any questions. My husband and I have been using adaptogens for a long time. We are passionate about helping people reduce the damaging effects of stress on the body and restoring balance naturally, without medications. Good luck and God Bless:)
Best regards,
Nicole
If the remedy mentioned below doesn't work, go back to the ENT. I took my 4 yr old in b/c he was drooling continually. Turns out, when we went through all of the questions the ENT had for us, our son had severe sleep apnea...causing the snoring that i thought was harmless. when they put him under to do the surgery, his throat closed immediately b/c of the apnea. i was verrrry concerned with this drastic measure, but he now sleeps all night, no snoring, 11 hours. (it also cured the drooling)...sorry i don't have another option for you. however!!!!! everyone said that children heal so fast and it was easier on them...blah blah blah.....the recovery was a little more involved than i expected. we actually stayed in the hospital overnight b/c of the sleep apnea---i live in murphy but went all the way to baylor frisco b/c they were so highly reccommended!!
I agree with the Mom that recommended taking him back to the ENT. Our 5 year old was having the same problem and the Dr. gave us the same advice so we decided to go with it and it has been wonderful for her since. She sleeps better and doesn't snore so loud that she wakes herself up anymore. Good Luck, I know it's a hard decision to make...
Get a second opinion from another ENT. However, My daughter no longer snores since she got her tonsils and adenoids removed. We didn't have them removed for that reason . . . she was having severe tonsil infections . . . but the ENT took one look at her tonsils and ask if she snored and I said yes and the ENT said that problem would stop and she was right! Another girl on my daughter's soccer team had her tonsils and adenoids removed because they were impacting her sleep so badly that she was always tired and out of breath. You should see her go now!
So, a second opinion is always a good thing to have, but if ENT #2 suggests removal, then that would seem the best way to go.
have the ent schedule a sleep study.. im betting theres obstruction and possibly apnea.. my daughter who is almost 3 had her tonsils and adenoids out at age 18 months.. life has been much better since then!!
My son did that, & the surgery cured him. He was 4. He did have an anesthetic reaction - he screamed incessantly for 2 hours post surgery - but other than that he was ok. He is 10 now & has never had a problem since.
We have three son's the oldest snored so loudly we could hear him two rooms away. When he was 4 we had his adenoids and tonsils removed and he has been sleeping great for 9 years. I was suprised when the doctor said we needed to do the surgery, but it has been well worth it.
I have known many people, (including children) who have stopped snoring after using the neti pot.
The neti pot is a nasal wash from the yoga cleansing system that has been around for thousands of years.
It is a little pot, either ceramic or stainless steel that uses warm water and non-iodized sea salt.
There is kind of a trick to use it and not feel like you are getting water up your nose but it works.
You have to tilt your head over almost horizontally so the warm water will wash over the septum of one nostril, lift your head up and have something reading to blow your nose then do the other side.
My husband use to get sinus infections constantly.
We were also buying all kind of prescriptions and over the counter drugs to assist, (none worked that well).
After the neti pot no more sinus infections and as well an end to his snoring!
I am having a class at my studio, Diana's School of Yoga, in Grand Prairie, to show how to use the neti pot as a free event this Sunday from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
If interested come on by!
Heather,
I tutored a girl once who had her tonsils out in the middle of the year. It helped her sleep better and snore less. The mom said things were great now. She was ten at the time.
However, the thing I saw from the other end was a 5th grader who learned to play the system. They home schooled, so the girl got to take breaks and naps for a long time because she wasn't sleeping well. After the surgery and recovery. Things got better, but the habits were ingrained in her after years. She was able to manipulate mom into allowing her the same breaks and naps as before, even though she was sleeping better at night. She ended up with lots of play time, incomplete schoolwork, and a frustrated tutor.
Whatever you decide, take care of the problem now, before these problems become a lifestyle.
My daughter had surgery in May. Her quality of life has been amazing. We used Dr. Coffey and she was great.
My daughter snored, constant stuffy nose and really bad sleep apnea. It got worse towards the end.
Pray about it b/c that's what I did and I know it was the best thing for her.
Our almost 4 yrs old starting snoring at two yrs old. He was always so tired and grumpy through the day. We tried Breathe Right strips, mentholatum, different pillows, his pediatrician said it was allergies and to give him benadryl or prescription allergy relief. But nothing worked. Took him to an ENT and he recommended the same T/A surgery within 5 minutes of the appt. We were shocked. He had the surgery and WOW no more snoring and deep sleep for him and the rest of the family! At the hospital, there were a dozen kiddos lined up for T&A surgery. That was a crazy experience. Good luck to you.
For a young child, no. The cause of the snoring and poor sleep will be corrected with the surgery. ALthough it seems drastic, you will be amazed at how much better she feels and sleeps after the surgery. If you still question the necessity of it, get a 2nd opinion from another ENT.
I would listen to the ENT. If she snores like that all the time already it could easily become sleep apnea (not sure the correct spelling). I've done some research on this because I have snorers in my house too.
It does sound drastic, however, I admit we gave in and had our daughter's removed at 10 and it was a piece of cake. She was on her 2nd popcycle by the time we made it to the recovery room! Not only did it remedy the snoring, but also sleep walking and talking in her sleep. She actually began sleeping well and wasn't tired all the time. She also was suseptable to step, which she hasn't had now in 4 years. Best of luck in your decision!
I don't have a solution for you, but wanted you to know that my daughter, who snored very loudly, had her tonsils and adenoids removed because of repeated tonsilitis, still snores. That didn't change at all. Those tonsils are in your daughter for a reason. That's part of her amazing body. Never remove anything without a good cause. And only you can decide if the snoring fits that bill.
I had my adenoids removed when I was 6 and I still snore. I am now 34. I never had my tonsils removed, but I don't think that has anything to do with snoring. I wouldn't do it just because she snores. I had mine removed because of breathing problems and infections. If there is a reason to take them out besides snoring, the surgery is simple and not that drastic, but I wouldn't do it for snoring because it doesn´t work. At least not for me.
Hi Heather,
If it were my daughter, I would research WHY she was snoring and try to eliminate the root cause, rather than resort to surgery, which is not going to fix the root cause. Doctors love to diagnose "anatomical defects" which really means, they're training didn't equip them with the ability to properly diagnose the problem and help you, so the problem must be you. Surgery is an easy and profitable solution for them.
Tonsil and adenoid surgery is on the list of top unnecessary surgeries. Tonsils are part of the immune system. If they are enlarged causing breathing obstruction, it means the immune system is aggravated. To fix the problem, you need to investigate WHAT is causing the immune system irritation. Doctors are NOT trained to do this.
The solution probably lies in change of lifestyle. However, for many people this is not an attractive option. Some people don't want to change their diets, for example. If that is the case, perhaps surgery is the right course for you after all.
If however, you are interested in true "health" improvement, you might start your research with the following articles:
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2001/06/16/snoring.aspx
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2007/12/11/9-ways-to-help-you-stop-snoring.aspx
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2002/11/23/needless-surgeries.aspx
This article talks about the tonsils as part of the immune system, and how chiropractic work can help:
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2004/04/21/vitalism.aspx
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2004/09/29/tonsillectomy.aspx
Good luck!
I would take her to a snoring expert to get a second opinion. There is a really great one in Snider Plaza called the Snoring Center or something like that. There are alternitives.
I would probably go and have it done. If she is not getting restful sleep that could affect many other aspects of her daily life and if she has sleep apnea the effects can be even worse. I know surgery is a big deal, but it would probably make her feel so much better in the long run. I would be hesitant to use any suggested herbal remedy as they are not regulated by the FDA so you never know what you're really getting in that capsule and it may be too high of a dose for children. good luck