Shawn Johnson Says 2-Year-Old Son Recovers After Ear Tube, Adenoid Surgery

Q: Shawn Johnson said Bear’s wake-up from anesthesia was “rough” — how normal is that after pediatric ear surgery?

Yes — a “rough” wake-up after pediatric ear surgery is fairly common, especially when a child has had general anesthesia. For ear tube placement, and especially when it is combined with adenoid removal, many children are sleepy, groggy, irritable, nauseated, dizzy or briefly confused for several hours after surgery. Some also have what anesthesiologists call “emergence delirium,” a short period of crying, thrashing, agitation or seeming inconsolable as anesthesia wears off. That can look dramatic to parents, but it is usually temporary and not a sign the operation itself went badly. Bear’s course, as Johnson described it, fits a typical outpatient recovery pattern: refusing drinks at first, being very groggy, then improving later at home and suddenly wanting food. Recovery from ear tubes alone is usually quick, with many children back to normal within a day or two. Adding adenoidectomy can make the first several hours rougher because of more throat discomfort, congestion and nausea risk. What matters is whether symptoms steadily improve. Families are usually told to call a doctor if a child has trouble breathing, severe or worsening pain, repeated vomiting, dehydration, fever, persistent dizziness, unusual lethargy, or ear drainage that continues beyond the expected short window. So while Johnson’s description sounds distressing, it is within the range of normal recovery after a common pediatric ENT procedure — provided the child rebounds, as Bear appears to have done.

Q: Why would a 2-year-old need a second set of ear tubes and adenoid removal so soon?

A 2-year-old can need a second set of ear tubes and adenoid removal relatively quickly if the underlying problem is ongoing Eustachian tube dysfunction, persistent middle-ear fluid, or repeated ear infections after the first tubes stopped working or fell out. That is common in toddlers because their Eustachian tubes are still short, narrow, and more horizontal, which makes drainage poor and fluid buildup more likely. If fluid stays behind the eardrum or infections keep returning, doctors may recommend another set of tubes to restore ventilation, protect hearing, and reduce risks to speech and language development. Adenoid removal is often added when a child needs repeat tubes because enlarged or chronically inflamed adenoids can block the Eustachian tube opening at the back of the nose. That can keep causing ear pressure, trapped fluid, and recurrent infections. Removing the adenoids may lower the chance of more fluid buildup and future surgeries, especially in children with nasal congestion, mouth breathing, snoring, or chronic upper-airway inflammation. The timing can sound fast, but it is not unusual. Ear tubes often last only about 6 to 18 months, sometimes up to two years, and some children continue to have problems before they outgrow this stage. In practice, ENT specialists usually make this decision based on a pattern such as frequent infections, persistent fluid for months, hearing concerns, or developmental impact—not just a single bad ear infection.

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo! Voices · Jul 31

Shawn Johnson said her 2-year-old son Barrett "Bear" is recovering at home after getting a second set of ear tubes and having his adenoids removed.
Johnson said the procedure went well and was "definitely needed," but Bear had his roughest wake-up yet from anesthesia and initially refused water, juice and popsicles.
About 5 hours after returning home, she said his condition improved sharply as he became hungry again and started asking for foods including yogurt, pizza and fruit.
Bear is the youngest of Johnson and Andrew East's 3 children; the couple said in June that their family feels complete and they do not plan to have more kids.