Toddler having small op and I'm getting very anxious...

[dorapeppageorgenoddy]

Just need a bit of hand holding I guess, my toddler has to have a general anaesthetic next week for a small investigation to look at his hip and then while under they may do more or less, but I'm just getting ridiculously anxious about it the actual ga, (keep thinking he won't wake up from it...) aghhhh I know lots of people go through a lot more but any advice would be nice to read....

[strawberrypenguin]

It will be fine. How long will he need to be under for? My advice is leave the ward and go for a coffee while he's under the ward will call you when he's out and in recovery. It is horrible watching them go under and having to leave them so have some tissues. (DS is 13mo and has had 2 ga's) hope it goes well

[strawberrypenguin]

Oh and take things to keep him distracted for the time he's nil by mouth before the ga it's a long time for small people and he'll probably get cranky

[MsNobodyAgain]

Very understandable that you are anxious. I don't know the age of your toddler but some of this may apply:

• take distraction toys, or Ipad, DSi (including chargers), books, etc. Hospitals are boring!
  

• take food and drink for after the GA - which you can give once the nurses have said it's ok, but keep it in a sealed or separate bag so your toddler can't actually see it.
  

• consider using a buggy if you don't usually. Post recovery, they can be pretty hard to lift unless they are wheeled back to ward on the bed.
  

• take tissues! It can be a little upsetting but honestly, it will be fine. My DS has had GA many, many times. He's still here and doing fab! His main concern was always where was his food and drink and when would he get a toy car.
  

Good luck, and have a little hand-hold as well.

[AnyaKnowIt]

DD had to have a op on her face last month. You'll be surprised how fast toddlers bounce back from it. Take lots of toys because there is a lot of waiting around.

[dorapeppageorgenoddy]

Thank you all for posting, I am trying to be less irrational but keep thinking (he is not going to wake up) just want to be calm for him rather than blubbering mess.,.

He is 16 months, has a dummy as I was told early he will have this op so we thought that would help with not eating/settling etc..

The op could be quick or could be a bit longer depends what they find (he has one hip that is under developed so can't make a plan till he is under) but I'm not worried about that just the GA...but appreciate your posts...

My husbands completely the other way emotionally so he can counter balance....I guess...

[Fififolle3108]

I think the best thing might be to speak to the paediatrician or the anesthetist or specialist nurse if there is one to get the facts about GA. It's routine and thousands of children are put under every single day but it is completely normal for you to be worried I would be too. Staying calm is going to be the best thing for your ds using something like rescue remedy may help settle you a bit. It's never easy when they are in hospital xxx

[megandraper]

Two of my DCs had general anaasethics - one age 4 and one age 2. It is upsetting, but more so for you than for them. I found that at our hospital, the medical staff were very aware of how stressful it was for the mother/parent and were very thoughtful in helping minimise the stress.

Each time, DC sat sideways on my lap in the operating theatre, looking at a book/toy, with one hand tucked behind me. The anaesthetic went in their hand (numbed by magic cream so they barely felt it) and they gently fell asleep on my lap. The medical staff then quickly moved them off my lap on to the bed/table and put a mask over their face. They then told me to give DC a kiss before I left.

The kiss made me well up - it felt so final. The half hour wait was the longest in my life each time, but DC came round in the recovery room (where I was taken to them) - each time rather grumpy and VERY hungry - bring snacks!

Definitely best for him if you can avoid getting upset in front of him. Maybe try visualising the whole procedure - mentally walking through it - a few times (when you're not with DS) to help get over the welling-up feeling.

I found that concentrating on making DC feel happy and comfortable all the time helped me not think about my own feelings - I was being a bit 'supermum' - chatting and playing all the time at the hospital, to avoid thinking!

[ben5]

You are so normal to have these feelings. I'm fine talking about ds2 ops before and after but talk to me on the day I'm a waste of space. Is your DH good? Mine was great and would tend to his needs on the day of the op so I could watch and cuddle him( and cry lots!!). I generally found the nurses are really good and often have a box of tissues near them just for you and a cup of tea!!
Go for a walk or go and have a coffee somewhere while he's having his op. They will phone you!! Toys before hand are fantastic/ colouring books etc to help before hand. Pack food for yourself and him for after. Good luck

[dorapeppageorgenoddy]

Thank you for sharing your experiences, trying to park the chest pains anxiety but your message let me know its normal to feel like this...he is a real milk monster so will have mill ready for after the op and he loves iggle piggle so going to get him a toy version as a treat...

And if comes out in plaster will be posting for more advice but for now will focus on being ok for the GA....

[brettgirl2]

My daughter had a ga at 20 months. It is worrying but I really tried to keep it in perspective and stay calm. The worst bit was her fighting it at the start On the positive side she was so uncontrollable on the ward after she came round we didn't have to wait too long to be discharged

[naturalbaby]

marking place to catch up later. My toddler is having an op in a few weeks and all I can think about is the tiny % that have complications from GA.
He has a pre assessment appointment at the hospital next week but our local hospital 2mins away can't operate so I have to trek all the way to another county.

[BlueChampagne]

DS1 had GA at 5 months then 2.7yo. DS2 had GA at 2.3, all for hernias. It's horrid when they go under - don't watch if you think that will make it worse. You should get a bleeper for when they come round; go off an have a coffee, and take a good book/some knitting.

Be prepared for the milk to come straight back up after a GA!

[AnyaKnowIt]

I would give him some squash for when he comes back, if he keeps that down then give him milk.

If you think you are going to be too upset to take him down then the nurses will do it

[stretch]

DS2 had a GA for a tongue-tie division at age one.
It was fine, I was ok until the nurse said, "Don't worry, we'll take good care of him for you", on the way out. THAT made me well up!
Also, when he went under, he was REALLY heavy!! I mean, like he weighed a ton! The nurse had to help me move him onto the bed.

We have a family history of problems with GA, so they went through it with us beforehand as I was, understandably, nervous. The mother in the next bed was really quite panicky and they talked her through it too, they were fantastic. It seemed the kids were ok, but us adults were suffering!

[Ameybee]

DD had GA for endoscopy at 1.5 years - she sailed through it - was much harder for us!!! She was fine afterwards, had juice first then milk and toast, we had no vomiting. They told us she would be sleepy all afternoon and she so was not!!!! We were chasing her round house trying to keep her PH probe in!! Good luck - know exactly how you feel, I didn't sleep at all night before! X

[dribbleface]

DS4 just had GA yesterday, but only for tooth removal so not out for long (about 40mins). He woke fine, very hungry.

The staff were absolutely fantastic on the children's ward/unit and made the whole thing a lot easier.

Good luck

[dorapeppageorgenoddy]

Just a quick update; it was fine, yes a tad emotional but he had such a fight with the mask that strangely it made me calm cause I knew he was going to be fine cause he has such a fighting spirit. Not sure if that makes sense or not...

[naturalbaby]

Our turn next week! We had the pre op assessment the other day which didn't really answer any questions, I suppose they'll tell me all I need to know when we're admitted.

[dorapeppageorgenoddy]

Natural is there something I may be able to answer?

[naturalbaby]

I was just wondering about the nitty gritty of the actual op. They didn't say anything about after care - just gave me a leaflet to explain. It's a fairly minor straightforward op so I'm assuming that means I don't have to worry about it. I have medical professionals in the family so am fairly confident.

My main concern is how long he'll have to wait for me to come down and get him - they'll let me know as soon as he starts coming round but I'm worried about him feel scared and alone wondering where I am. He's never been out of my sight apart from when he's with DH or my mum so I don't really want to hand him over!

[dorapeppageorgenoddy]

I'm sure being little they will be so conscious of this - we had to decide who would take him in to the pre theatre bit - we both went down then I carried him in and sat on a chair with his arm round my back they then put on the mask and he did really fight but I just sang/whispered twinkle twinkle (as the hearing is last sense to go and first to come back) they then asked me to lie him down and said give him a 'final' kiss which felt a bit dramatic; I did kiss him but then said to the anaesthetist 'look after my boy' then we had to wait on the ward - this wait felt forever even though just 30/40 mins i was getting anxious and asked the nurses if it had been a long time which they laughed and said no...then they came over and said right he is in recovery so went down and he was asleep still with a cuddly toy we had given him - so when he woke I was there - hope it goes ok