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nah, be honest - you'll be a mess up until you walk him to theatre, worse for that forty minutes, then a wreck until you see him smile at you for the first time post-op - and 6 months down the track when he's happy and healthy you'll wonder what all the worry was about.
don't worry - i'm soooo the same - i was like that with DH having surgery - can't imagine what i'd be like with DD (panic merchant extraordinaire here lol)
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Willow: DH agrees with you. As soon as he started to get better I said 'do you thing we are overreacting) and DH just had to remind me how ill (and how often) it's been.
BG: You are right, I was a mess even talking to the surgeon about the op. Bring on 6 months time.
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SugarDust: Thanks for sharing your experience. I'm glad to hear that your down days were a matter of days not weeks. If faced with the same decision, would you do it again?
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Sums it up about right.
DD1 had this op, with grommits done at 5. You are making the right decision. It will be hard, but I promise you will not look back!
I was fine & held it together great til she started going under the GA. I lost it & they took me out.
For the 40 minutes or so she was in there I balled my eyes out. When they brought her out though, I had to get it together for her sake. I managed, but it was hard.
any questions, just ask. It'll be ok.
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bjrose: One questions, with the anesthetic did they but a canular in while DD was awake? I'm just so worried that DS will be so upset but this and I won't be able to hold it together. I was hoping they give him some meds to relax him first.
They've said both DH and I can go in until he is asleep and be in recovery with him so thankfully DH will be able to hold it together if I fall apart.
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Spring - I'd say no way they'll put it in while he's awake. With children they usually wait, as an adult (and an extremely anxious patient!) I've had them do it this way for me a few times. Shouldn't be an issue. They'll put the mask on, he'll go off to sleep, you'll leave and then they'll canulate him.
Just double check with the anaethetist on the day.
In a heart beat!
Ds1 is seeing an ENT tomorrow as he snores at night, has swollen tonsils and adenoids constantly.
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When my little guy had a GA they used the gas to put him under and they didn't do anything until he was under.
They go to sleep very fast once they start breathing the gas. Be warned that he will suddenly feel very heavy and floppy in your arms - it is a bit of a shock to feel your child so limp and I started crying. I think that most Mums cry.
They let me into recovery so when he came round I was right beside him.
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just my opinion, but i'd exhaust all options before surgery (alll surgery contains risk-even death). So i'd be looking at seeing a naturopath to see if they can do anything first. But that's just my opinion- I've seen things go really wrong with tonsillectomies (sp?), so would want to try all options before I let my child have a GA and surgery. But having said that you are the mother and it's your decision either way, i didn't want to alarm you just give you another option.
Hope your DS is feeling better soon.
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Maybe start to do some planning and preparing of helping him cope with hospital and recovery, I'm sure there are many mums on here with good experience.
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Em - While you are entitled to your opinion of course, Spring posted looking for reassurance.
That aint very reassuring!i'd exhaust all options before surgery (alll surgery contains risk-even death)
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I had my tonsils and adenoids taken out when I was about 5, and was up in my hospital room bouncing from bed to bed 4 hours after the operation with a very big smile on my face, loving the attention... Apparently my Mum actually turned to the Doc and asked if I had even been in yet.
I do remember having the mask on my face and being told to count backwards from 10, I don't think I even got to 7... I don't remember much else about the whole surgery but I do know how lucky I felt when every kid in schoolw as coming down with Tonsilitis except me... It seems a horrible thing to go through! Much more painful and longer lasting than the surgery.
I agree with BG I don't think you'll feel ok about it all until after it is done. I can't imagine any parent being thrilled about the idea of their little angel going through surgery, or being sick either... It's completely natural to be worried, I do believe however that you will be very grateful 6 months down the track when you haven't had to nurse the poor little man through another bout of illness... I think he will be too. I know I am to my parents
Best wishes!
Alicia xx
Last edited by LaDolceVita; July 18th, 2009 at 09:22 AM.
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With that kind of frequency, I agree, your best course of action would be to get them removed as soon as possible.
The only advice I'd give is to be really confident with your surgeon. If you don't feel confident, then shop around. Tonsillectomies carry with them a significant risk of bleeding post-operatively, a risk that a good surgeon will take steps to minimise. We made the trip to Newcastle from here to see an ENT that specialised in children for that reason - our local ENT surgeon is an adult surgeon.
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Schmickers: Thanks for your advice, it is very wise. Thankfully we are happy with our surgeon. We asked if he does children and he actually is quite experienced in doing children. The youngest was 6 months (I think the infection the bubba had was very serious). He explains everything fully (including the risk of post-op bleeding), is happy to answer all our questions fully. I trust him.
Alicia: To hear that you were feeling so great so shortly after the operation is very encouraging. You are right, we just have to look forward to 6 months down the track and a happy healthy bub.
Well the good news is, DS is almost all better. I have a phone call with the surgeon tomorrow to discuss whether DS will be well enough for the op.
I'm feeling more comfortable with our decision, all your posts have been very helpful.
Spring xx
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No, they put the canula in after she went under. We went to her cousins birthday after. She looked great in the morning & felt 100% better. She was tired that day, but was pretty good within a few days.
She had a bad reaction to the GA, but that's genetic in our family. Just jittery afterwards.
She didn't eat much that day, but started the next day. Was back eating normal with in days. I did keep her off school for the 2 weeks, but she was back to normal with in the week easily.
She had enlarged tonsils, enlarged adenoids & constant bad earaches, hearing problems. That night she couldn't sleep coz she could hear everyone breathing really loudly, lol. And I couldn't sleep properly for about 2 weeks coz I couldn't hear her breathing from the other end of the house!
Last edited by ~clover~; July 16th, 2009 at 04:54 PM.
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Spring, when DS1 had his arm set and plastered under a GA, they canulated him first before he went into theatre. But he was 6 so it's a bit different to a little one. Most of the time they do not let you go in with them while they put them under so you may not have to worry about that, or you could get your DH to go in if they will let one of you go with him.
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Spring, just wanted to add also that I had my tonsils out when I was 5. Everything went really smoothly. I recovered pretty fast. (as most little ones do) I think the toughest thing was my mum had been telling me how I would get to eat lots of ice cream and jelly in hospital, but they'd just changed the rules and instead I was made to eat dry toast to help clear all the gunk out of my throat. That did not make for a happy little 5 year old!
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Spring - I had my tonsils out at age 4 (day after my birthday - thanks Mum and Dad) and my niece and nephew have both had theirs out at 4 as well. Al three of us were well and perfectly back to normal (and better - we weren't sick anymore) within days after. My sister had hers out at 16 with a post op bleed.
What they do - usually they put a numbing cream on the back of the hands and / or on the inside of the elbows so the sting of the cannula going through the skin is decreased. Most often they do what is called a gas induction where DS breathes in some pretty special airand goes off to sleep. They then put in the cannula after you have been taken out of the anaesthetic bay / operating room depending on the facility. They then do the procedure (magic tweezers I told my nephew) and he is back in recovery in no time.
If it is a place that specialises in little people surgeries they often use other distraction techniques (singing, blowing bubbles, watching TV / DVD of their favourite show etc) which help immensely with the fear and any distress / pain you may think they will have. There was a new research paper published / discussed in the news this week about the benefits of distraction for children undergoing surgery. It also said the anxiety of the parent had a significant impact so now it is time to do calm, deep breathing and happy face practice
Yes - there are risks with anything. But they are calculated risks and at the moment his health and hearing are suffering. Write down your list of questions for the anaesthetist and even consider telling them about your previous experiences and why you are so concerned about the anaesthetic etc. It is valid with your history
Would I do it - in a heartbeat. I believe there is a time and a place for alternative therapies (I have used many
Post op - a few days of a sore throat but they mostly suggest a normal diet from the beginning (no ice cream and jelly like I got!!! Mara - I must be older
Don't doubt yourself
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