Need some reassurance.

[~clover~]

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.

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!

[Trillian]

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.

[~mamaspice~]

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!

[Michelle71]

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 air and 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 ) but this number of episodes and the increasing severity suggest removal is the best option at this point in time.

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 ) and the main time frame for concern is 7-10 days post op when a bleed due to infection is possible - which is why they encourage a normal diet.

Don't doubt yourself