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General health

How do i explain hospital to a 4 year old?

19 replies

bonkerz · 17/11/2004 21:03

Need some advice. My ds has just got his appointment date through to have his tonsils and adenoids out! He has suffered with bad ear ache and throat infections since he was a baby and also snores and shouts alot! He went on the list in September and the letter says he will be having the operation on 7th january!!!

Im a wreck and not sure how im gonna explain whats going to happen. He has a visit to hospital booked on new years eve at 2pm to meet nurses and see his bed and stuff but do i tell him whats going to happen or do i just say hes going to sleep for a bit and then will have a week at home with mummy? Ive never had an operation so dont know what happens. What shall i tell him? Any advice or stories greatly appreciated although i do feel bad that im making him go through this it has taken 3 years of constant infections to get him on the list and not sure i need to be critisised for it. thank you!

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codswallop · 17/11/2004 21:05

get topsy and time go to htospitla - a great book
I woudl be honest but not explicit and say esaclty what you said about he sleep

bonkerz · 17/11/2004 22:23

anyone? thanks cod

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Fran1 · 17/11/2004 22:27

Yeah get a good book to help explain - there are a few, but can't remember any names i'm afraid.

Honesty is the best policy. Don't go into graphic detail but explain that he will go to sleep so that the doctor can stop all the pain he has suffered. And maybe only tell him a couple of days before your first visit, so he doesn't have too long to wait for it to happen, but enough time to ask you further questions if he wants (and time for you to get the answers!!)

Maybe a good idea to ask the doc or nurses what they would suggest.

Slinky · 17/11/2004 22:28

this

We bought this book for DD1 who also had her tonsils and adenoids removed - at the age of 5. Was very honest with her from the start. Told her she was going to stay in hospital, she'd have a little sleep and when she woke up she would have a bit of a sore throat.

MissHoolie · 17/11/2004 22:28

Hi bonkerz. I have just gone through this with my DD. She had her tonsils and adenoids out last month. I bought her a book, not the topsy and tim one, and read it to her most days. I had to change the words around to make it fit. If you want to ask any questions about the op please feel free to ask.

bonkerz · 17/11/2004 22:29

have had a book from the library about hospital visits so will get it again! god im so nrervous! will wait to tell him i think! great idea fran thanks!

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MissHoolie · 17/11/2004 22:29

Slinky thats the one we had.

bonkerz · 17/11/2004 22:31

thanks have just ordered it from amazon! i love mn!!!!!

How long was the recovery period MH?

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Slinky · 17/11/2004 22:34

DD1 recovered very quickly. Stayed in overnight, next morning she ate apricot jam sandwiches for breakfast.

Came home and she was desperate to play out in the garden! She didn't at that point, but I think she was back riding her bike by the end of that week.

A child's recovery from that operation is a piece of cake compared to an adults - DH had his done 4 weeks after DD1 - and he was a complete nightmare! DD1 kept asking him why he was making such a fuss

bonkerz · 17/11/2004 22:36

Hope he will be ok. Feel crap already about making him have the op but will feel worse if he has probs after!!!!!!!!!!

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MissHoolie · 17/11/2004 22:38

She was in overnight. THe op took about 50 mins from when she went to sleep to when I got to her in recovery. She slept most of the day but the next morning she was in great form. She had some cereal and toast. We went home later that evening and tbh she was right as rain in about 3 days. She only had to take some ibuprofen two for two days and then she didn't want to anymore. These nights I have to go in to her room to make sure she is ok. Before this you could stand at the end of our road and hear the snores. She sleeps through which she never did before as she always woke herself up with the noise.

bonkerz · 17/11/2004 22:40

thats what my sons like. ive ALWAYS been able to hear him breathing and snoring!!! He also shouts ALOT and im hoping this will be better after the op cos he is always loud even when just talking!!

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Slinky · 17/11/2004 22:42

Same here!

DD1 had her op. due to "severe respiratory blockages" (to quote the rather tasty ENT Consultant!). She had severe sleep apneoa and would snore and stop breathing during the night. She also had partial hearing loss in her right ear.

After the op. I couldn't believe how quiet she was at night - she doesn't make a sound at all and the very first night I kept getting up to check that she was still breathing! Her hearing is now back to normal.

Her quality of life since her operation has improved 100% - she has far more energy, she sleeps better, appetite improved and obviously her hearing isn't affecting her school life anymore.

DD2 (5) has exact same symptoms - without the hearing problems - suspect we'll be going the same way with her.

MissHoolie · 17/11/2004 22:42

Have they checked his ears.

MissHoolie · 17/11/2004 22:44

My dds appetite has is brilliant now. Its funny though everyone asked, when we told them about the op, was she always on an antibiotic. I don't think she has ever taken one. The snoring was her symtom iyswim.

bonkerz · 17/11/2004 22:44

yes and thats why they agreed to let him have the op, apparently the adenoids are blocking cos they are swollen!

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Slinky · 17/11/2004 22:48

MissHoolie

Used to get asked how often she got tonsillitus -she's never had it in her life!

MissHoolie · 17/11/2004 22:50

Bonkerz I will send you that book if u like.

bonkerz · 22/11/2004 17:54

hiya ll, just to let you know! The book arrived this morning (the one about going to hospital in the link) and its great, the little boy in it is even called BEN (my dss name ) and hes going into hospital on new years eve to have a visit!

The book helped loads! Thanks so much!

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