Twice now my DS has refused anaesthetic !

[nametapes]

Last February he refused to have the general anaesthetic for circumcision, so we are still waiting for that procedure. Yesterday he refused to have a tooth out with a local anesthetic. We are being referred to the special needs dentist who gives Inhalation Sedation. (fingers X)
He really has a deep subconscious aversion to any treatment. He has had 9 anaesthtics with major surgery as a toddler, and the last time he was put to sleep at 4 yrs he was screaming and kicking... so its understandable he is scared. But at the same time its getting so frustrating and infuriating he needs these things done but we are getting nowhere.
Can anyone advise/support.

[nametapes]

He is 11 yrs old next Friday 9th Sept!

[Sirzy]

Assuming he needs the circumcision for medical reason I would make sure he knows exactly why he needs it, future problems that may occur if he doesn't have it.

Has he told you why he doesn't want it? That way you may be able to help with his fears. Can you arrange for him to talk to the anethsatist?

[nametapes]

Yes we have talked to the anaesthetist at the hospital and she is going to give him a pre med on the ward and get the canulla in his hand on the ward so that the anaesthetic room is easier to cope with.... god i just pray we get there.

He just says he is scared. He has been through so much as a baby, toddler and young child. Tracheal reconstruction, Tracheostomy, Duodenal repair ...

[ripstheirthroatoutliveupstairs]

I can't say I blame him being anxious. I am not sure that having the cannula put in on the ward is the way forward.
When I worked in a hospital (a long time ago), the children would come down to theatre have some gas then be cannulated.
They put Emla on DD and put the canula in on the ward when she had grommets. I had asked them if they would do it the other way round, but they insisted on their way being best.
She was pretty upset about it.

[Sirzy]

Ds is much younger but the pre med certainly made him very spaced out and relaxed (the animals on the bed cover were moving apparently!) so hopefully that will make the difference for him!

[nametapes]

I do hope the pre med will be good for him........infact i hope its a massive pre med. . . .so he is totally chilled out. . .
He tried the gas for a bout 2 seconds last time, and refused to take anymore...in the anaesthetic room.

[beautifulgirls]

I think they have play specialists at the hospitals to try and assist with these sorts of problems. I think you should contact them and see if they have anyone in this sort of role who could help.

[Catsmamma]

when ds2 had to go in last year for a bone resetting they had a "play therapist"

She came and introduced herself to ds and me and popped in and out during the morning, explaining how things would proceed, what would be done, and she accompanied us to theatre and helped as ds2 was anaesthetised, with a "where's wally" book of all things


tbh ds2 (aged 12) was more interested in the mechanics of seeing what was going on, but the surgeon, anaesthetist and play therapist lady could not have been more helpful and kind to both of us

[Catsmamma]

oh lawks that sounds like they hit him with the book to knock him out!

she distracted him with the book, of course!

[thisisyesterday]

i may be a big old mean mummy here, but i wouldn't be letting my 11 year old decide what medical treatment he has.

if he needs these things doing then they need doing, end of story. he doesn't get the choice.

[4lizardsandababy]

I am a paediatric nurse and second getting in touch with the play specialist. Assuming there is one, they will be able to meet your DS before the op talk through exactly what will happen, show him round the ward etc to help him get used to the idea and discuss any fears he may have, which I think would be very helpful.

I also think that getting the cannula put in before hand on the ward is a good idea. Again the play specialist can help with this and can be there whilst it is happening. Emla cream can really be very helpful along with disraction techniques used by the play specialist.

Putting a non-complint 11yr old to sleep with gas would be very traumatic and unfair as you need to keep still for a while while the gas is inhaled. If the cannula is already in place putting the aneasthetic in is quick and so is its effect so less traumatic for your DS.

Keep talking with your DS about his fears, recognise them for what they are but try not to make a big deal of it.

[4lizardsandababy]

Catsmama 'wheres wally' is a very popular book on my ward too and is something I use almost every day!

[nametapes]

thisisyesterday.... I soemwhat agree with you, but the medical staff are the ones who make this decision and they will not force a child of this age, as its now regarded as abuse. In my dad (born 1958) you had to do as you were told. I was totally gobsmacked when they let him walk away from theatre.... I was in bits... same with the dentist. Unless the child is co op and complaint they have to leave it.....
Thank you 4 lizard for you input. I hope we will eventually get there.... its so frustrating..

[nametapes]

... sorry, in my day (not dad) !

[Sam100]

My dd is 8 and has a regular op every year under GA. She hates the pre med and canula and refuses to have those - so we don't - she goes straight to theatre and has the gas. However I think the way they do it may help. I am allowed to be there with her while she is prepped. She sits up on the bed and they get her to hold the mask on herself. The mask is a special children's one (she is at Gt Ormond St) and it has a balloon on the side which they ask her to blow up as big as she can. In blowing out to blow up the balloon she obviously then has to breath in with a big breath and it literally takes less than 10 seconds for her to be fully out. I then leave and they put canula in while she is under. I think the fact that she feels in control of the situation helps. No one is holding a mask down onto her while she is laid down - that is a scary feeling even as an adult who knows what is happening. I hope this helps.

[nametapes]

AAwwh bless, she is good. We were at G.O.S.H a lot when he was younger.
What does your 8 yr old DD have done every year?

[mosschops30]

nametapes what is he afraid of when you say 'anaesthetic'?
A drug induced anaesthetic is easier to administer than an inhaled aaesthetic if someone is scared or struggling. However there is research to say that a gas induced anaesthetic is kinder to the patient.
Also at 11 they should be allowing you into the anaesthetic room ( did my dissertation on this) with him.

[thisisyesterday]

really??? I guess I can understand that, but I think that if the parent is saying yes, go ahead then they ought to listen.
Must waste a huge amount of time and money if they just send every kid home who decides they don't want an operation!!

that said, to be fair on him I can totally understand why he would be wary of circumcision, bless him.

what do you think he is actually afraid of? the anaesthetic or the operation itself?

[Sam100]

Sorry - posted then got distracted by the rest of the day! She has laser surgery on a birthmark. At the moment she is put under GA for that but we have been talking to her about possibility of having it under local when she gets older. Is a bit scary to watch though as everyone wears big goggles and it makes quite a loud sound and looks a bit like a gun - so I think that is why they like to do the younger ones under general!

[nametapes]

Sam100
gosh, well, i hope her birthmark diminishes and is ok in the end..good luck!

thisisyesterday.. I think he is scared of the anaesthetic, and yes i did go into the room anaesthetic room.

[mercibucket]

that all sounds v hard for you and him. tbh I don't know what I would do. ds1 is younger (9) and mostly needs blood tests and sometimes local anaesthetics/injections. we talk about it a lot first and as much as possible try to give him things he can control eg he has to have the injection but he can decide which arm, when the nurse is going to do it etc. i also use bribery. he gets to choose a toy/lego thing if he doesn't make a fuss. this might not be an approved technique!

[nametapes]

We have the dentist this coming Tuesday after school at the clinic where they administer Inhalation Sedation... so I hope my son is bold and it gives him confidence to try the stuff.. (which he has used b4 about two yrs ago) and on the next visit goes for it and has the tooth out.
I will probably remind him if he doesnt get it done this way then in the end with bad toothache (the tooth is rotten), he will have to have the tooth out under a general at the hospital.