My 2 year old needs an operation - Please tell me your stories.

[tiggerlovestobounce]

My 2 year old DD needs to have a minor surgical procedure (needs to have a large mole removed). This will be done under GA, as a daycase.

Im so worried about it. I know that logically the risks are very low, but I cant stop thinking about what might happen. Her operation is 2 weeks away, and I feel so sick and anxious about it.

I'll get to speak to the hospital staff the day before the operation, so I'll be able to ask questions then, but to hopefully calm me down a bit in the meantime would you mind sharing with me any experiences you have of a toddler having an operation.
Im wondering things like:
How long beforehand they need to not eat or drink for?
How was the GA given - was it with a mask or a needle?
Where did you wait for your child? - were you very close by the theatre, or did you have to wait on the ward for your child to be brought back to you?
How long did it take for your DC to come round - we got a leaflet that says we can go in 2 hours if all is well - how likely is that after a GA?

Thanks

[crokky]

I will be watching this as my 2 yo is on the waiting list to have a minor operation under GA as well. I have seen the consultant and he did say that the journey to the hospital is far more dangerous than the operation. I have also been told the operation will be in the morning and we can go home at lunchtime. Good luck!

[tiggerlovestobounce]

I have also heard that the journey to hospital is more risky than the GA. I believe it in my head, but doesnt feel like that in my heart.

[HairyMaclary]

You should either be sent all the information you need or get it when you go for the visit. If it is for an 8am start then it's usually nothing after 2am for those under 2. But do what the hospital says not me! My DS1 has had 3 GA's, 2 were done with gas and one with a needle, all times he has had the magic cream to numb the skin and since my preference has been the needle they have tried that first, however DS1 tends to fiddle with the cream so it doesn't work, then they use the gas. I find that hard as he struggles but they are right in that to swop as the sooner it's over the better. For DS1's GA's we have gone back to the ward (not the daycase one even though it was a daycase) and have been called back to the recovery room as he is coming around. However DS2 is due to have grommits at the beginning of Feb and his op is in the daycase unit and the letter says that we will get to stay near the theatre.
Twice we have left hosp within 3 hours of coming around after he has sucessfully eaten and drunk. The last time however DS1 slept after waking from the GA for 5 hours so we let him sleep it of and left after that.
Hope it helps, itis scary but the nurses and Dr's are very good with it all, if you can try not to let you DD see you upset or too anxious around the time of the GA, they really do pick it up, collapse in the arms of your DH afterwards!!!

[HairyMaclary]

Sorry about the spelling mistakes, I didn't preview!

[tiggerlovestobounce]

Thanks Hairy. no-one could have worse spelling than me!
Its good to have so much detail. I will get to check all this with the staff at the hospital, but that isnt till the day before the operation, so its good to have an idea beforehand of what it might be like.

[Nell12]

Ds had an op aged 20 months then another one when he was 2.5.
He was not allowed food the morning of the op, just a drink up to a few hours beforehand.
He had some "magic cream" on his hand or foot to numb it whilst still in the ward then we went through to the anaesthetic room. It was lovely and child friendly and ds got to choose something to watch on the telly; he then had an injection where the cream was(with me cuddling him)and went under within about 5 secs (the worst bit for a mum ) they then put a mask on him and I gave him a kiss and a cuddle and left him there.
We went for a cup of tea (just to give us something to do!) and then waited on the ward. He was brought back to us on the ward.

Both times, ds was very tearful when he was coming to; he was still very drowsy when they brought him back. I don't think he was sad or in pain, he just needed to cry IYSWIM

Once he came to properly, the nurses (who are always wonderful, by the way) gave him a drink and some toast/ a biccie and within a couple of hours we were allowed home.

Ds was a little subdued for the rest of the day, but was fine after that.

Hope all goes well with you

[kiddiz]

My ds1 has had 7 GAs so you would think I would be hardened to it but I was still as anxious as ever when my 17 yr old ds2 had his tonsils out as a day case last year.
Ds1 has a congenital condition that makes GAs complicated for him and we have had some hairy moments with him. But he has always been fine in the end as I'm sure your dd will be. BTW he had his first op at 18 months. Good luck and I hope everything goes well.
I know it's pointless telling you not to worry.

[HairyMaclary]

I always take a 'packed lunch' so that I know I have soething to tempt if necessary or alternatively to provide food NOW when the nurses are busy and a starving 2 yr old can't wait!

[tiggerlovestobounce]

Thats a good idea, will bring a selection of small snacks.

Thanks Nell and kiddiz, I feel better for reading your posts.

The anxiety is horrible.

[bristols]

It's really important that you have something to eat and drink while she is in theatre too. I work as a recovery nurse and have had many a parent faint on me because they have such a low blood sugar. Have a cuppa and some food while you're waiting so you're in tip top condition when dd comes round.
Good luck.

[Elibean]

Ah Tigger, its horrid waiting, isn't it...I think thats the worst part, because imagination can do far worse things than most realities.

dd2 has just had surgery, it was her first GA and she has airway issues (floppy larynx) which make her a higher risk case for GA and she had to spend a night on HDU as a result, just in case. It went fine, but of course I was scared stiff before and during the op: it IS pointless telling you not to worry

Make sure you hydrate as much as possible before the final 'no drinking' deadline, because they get sooo thirsty - luckily for me, dd fell asleep after crying for a bottle for half an hour: she actually slept in my arms for two hours of the waiting time, right into the anaesthetics room and never knew she was being put under (with gas, in her case, but I think its more usual to use an injection for 2+ yrs).

I can second whoever said they're often upset when they come round - the consultant anaesthetist told me its mostly a reaction to the drugs, and happens a lot in kids; dd was actually hysterical, arching her back, wild eyed and screaming - it was quite scary at first, but she calmed fairly quickly and didn't remember a thing about it. Her op was pretty painful, so thats probably why it was a more extreme reaction (she had bronch., cartilage bands in throat snipped, tonsils and adenoids out) That was the only time she was upset, the rest of the time it was me worrying and her being fine!

I think with a mole removal you'll be fine to go home a couple of hours later...good luck!

[starbear]

I had mu appendix out at two. I remember missing my Mum, hiding under the cot and getting a new teddy from an uncle. Other than I don't remember anything else. I think my Mum trusted the medical staff as she was anxious nether I think was I. I'm now 46 yrs fit as a wobbly fiddle

[slayerette]

My DS had an operation when he was slightly younger than yours; it was unexpected (he went in with a problem which they decided needed an op to rectify iyswim). Just be prepared if they give him the GA using a mask that this might be very traumatic for you. I was in the room and just broke down when they held the mask over his face and he struggled - a nurse had to take me out So check beforehand what method they'll be using and prepare yourself mentally - I wish I had.

Afterwards, he was dopey but they gave him a teddy bear and I was able to go to see him in Recovery rather than wait for him to be brought back to the ward so I was with him when he woke up.

[thumbwitch]

I don't know that my story is particularly relevant but I do have some sympathy - my DS had to have his inguinal hernia repaired under GA at the tender age of 8 weeks. That was pretty terrifying - but we had an overnight stay because of his age. If he had been over 6m we would have been allowed out the same day.

We had to be there early in the morning for a 2pm operation. The consultant paed was very nice and came and explained exactly what would happen and was quite reassuring in terms of the GA. It was still nervewracking though - we went in with him to get his pre-med and I held his hands while they put him under - that isn't pleasant - then we went and had something to eat and went back up to the ward just before he was due out.

We were called to go and fetch him from the post-op room - he was fine, if a bit groggy, but it isn't something I would want to go through again.

[geogteach]

Ds1 has had a number of GA's the hardest part each time has been the not eating before hand, particularly as a toddler when they don't really understand. afterwards apart from the first time when he was very sick he has been up and playing within 2 hours apparently as if nothing happened.

[pointydog]

Try not to worry, tigger. It'll be fine and you need to be calm for your dd. Is it a childrne's hospital? If so, they are very good.

Dd2 had a very large cyst removed from her head when she was 14 mths. I thought not feeding her would be awful but she just seemed to forget about food.

They use a mask for the anaesthetic for the little ones at my children's hospital.

Dd2 was absolutely fine. We could accompany her to just outside the theatre and we were called down to see her as soon as she was out.

[used2bthin]

My DD had an op in october at 2.1 years old, it was her second GA but first actual op 9not the last unfortunately). We had to go in the night before for bloods and monitering because she is high risk due to a congenital condition too.

I kept trying to think about the car journey thing as someone had said it to me too. In reality it was a very difficult time and I felt a bit anxious and not my usual self for a while after, I think just the stress taking its toll but DD seemed to bounce back amazingly quickly. Her op was on her bladder and she couldn't move much the first day and half but that next day she started walkig then within an hour or so was jumping about! I was really impressed with how well she seemed to cope with it and it was a job keeping her from climbing on everything(she had a catheter afterwards for a while so wasnt meant to be too active).

When DD had her first GA it was a minor thing and so she recovered even faster, she wanted to eat fairly soon after. She had the drip way of being put to sleep the first time but the second time they couldn't get a vein so used the mask, I preferred the drip way as she just drifted off to sleep. They only let one person go in with them usually and then you go and collect fom recovery, DD wasn't really with it and I was really emotional but so glad to be reunited with her after what felt like ages!

Sorry I have waffled on I just remember how scared I was in the run up and I too wanted to know every thing to prepare for it. Oh my friend got DD a book about going into hospital which may or may not have helped hard to tell but it was a lovely idea and made me feel I was preparing her a bit iyswim, it was Miffy goes to hospital.