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Original poster

Young child having a general anesthetic

30 replies

Bigkingdom · 13/09/2018 17:56

Has anyone had a young child go under general anesthetic? My 2 year old is going under next Friday for an MRI scan. How bad is it?

OP posts:

Moonflower12 · 13/09/2018 18:08

My son now 21 had a GA at 2 to have his lymph nodes removed. He was absolutely fine. I was clock watching the whole time he was down in theatre. He came up to recovery and was asking for food!

whiteblankpage · 13/09/2018 18:08

My 3 year old has just recently had 2 GA’s. Personally for us they were fine, and he is an extremely highly strung child. He is frightened of strangers and hates other people in his personal space so was given a pre-med to make him woozy and happy. But other children waiting didn’t need that.
I would read up about it on the NHS website so you’re aware of the procedure, and it will keep you calm as you stay with them as they’re put to sleep, either with a mask or drugs through an IV line. As our DS struggled a bit, I had to restrain him as he had the mask but he has no recollection of it now and I just kept telling myself (and him) he would wake up all better.
He woke up fine the first time, grumpy the second but soon slept it off.

Ellen7262 · 13/09/2018 18:11

My 2 year old had general anaesthetic for the same reason! She was okay. Just very sleepy afterwards. I had four days of 2/3 naps a day plus sleeping all night. Bliss. She was a bit ill on the first day, was sick once but apart from that just sleepy.

But when we were actually at the hospital she was very distressed! Take favourite toys, treats with you to calm your DC. She hated the actual process of the anaesthetic being administered but it was less than 10 seconds so not too bad.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

2 year olds Behaviour & development Children's health General health

nomorespaghetti · 13/09/2018 18:14

My dd had sedation for an mri at 1, then two GAs at 17 & 20 months for operations. They did the GAs with a mask, before putting a cannula in. She's had a fair few cannulas put in, and the mask was less distressing as far as I'm concerned. She still cried as she was going under. I was allowed to stay with her while she went to sleep (for the mri i was with her the whole time, the sedative they gave for that was a liquid that i syringed into mouth, she didn't like it! But went to sleep easily in my arms). She woke up fine from the sedation, but very groggy after the GAs. Next day absolutely fine! It’s not nice, but try to not show him that you’re upset, and lots of cuddles help. Happy to answer anything specific you want to know

TwitterQueen1 · 13/09/2018 18:24

One blew a huge raspberry at everyone as she was going under.

One threw up all over me when she'd eaten her toast after coming round (cue me with surgical gown covering vomit running to car to find gym kit in boot), although she said she felt fine!

One (I can't remember which of my 3 DCs did what...) 'found Wally' immediately when asked to do so when going under.

One (fortunately) fainted before the anaesthetic was given and then again when they took the cannula out after a minor dental op.

I've gone through about 6 or 7 with my lot.

Honestly, it will be fine OP. I was much worse than they were. I stayed with them until they were under and then dissolved into many, many tears. Hospitals have special staff to keep the children entertained whilst they're waiting. It really will be you that suffers more!
.

kaytee87 · 13/09/2018 18:26

I had 2 when I was 4. I think children bounce back from these things pretty quickly (depending on the nature of the operation obviously)

Original poster

Bigkingdom · 13/09/2018 18:27

Thanks.

They tried the sedation on Tuesday but it wasn’t successful. They held her down whilst she kicked and screamed, they held her mouth open and syringed the whole thing in with her gagging and choking. It was traumatic for both of us. She then promptly threw it all back up. I refused for them to try again.

OP posts:

muminmanchester · 13/09/2018 18:29

DS had one at two as well. I was absolutely dreading it but it was nothing like as bad as I was imagining.

The hospital was excellent and he was second on the list. They said they prioritise the list based on age so the little ones aren't without food for too long. I stayed with him as they put him to sleep, they tucked one arm behind my back and then nurses blew bubbles for him to watch while they put the anaesthetic in. I lay him on the bed.

The worst bit was when he woke. He was very upset, I think scared at waking in a room of strangers more than anything, and it took a long time to calm him down. But once we were back on the ward eating toast and jam he was fine.

No lasting trauma for either of us! Good luck x

YeTalkShiteHen · 13/09/2018 18:32

DS2 had one when he’d just turned 3, him going under was pretty traumatic for him, but once he came round he was grand (if a bit dopey for a few hours) and quite happy.

I’m sorry it’s been such a tough experience for you and your DD. Is there another way of administering it they could think of?

Original poster

Bigkingdom · 13/09/2018 18:40

No unfortunately not, that was the only way the nurse said. My poor little girl has been through so much since we took her to A&E on Friday. She has had enough.

OP posts:

YeTalkShiteHen · 13/09/2018 18:42

Poor wee soul, and poor you too OP. I hope that next time is less distressing for both of you

TwitterQueen1 · 13/09/2018 18:43

Jeez... that sounds effing brutal OP. Didn't anyone rub 'magic cream' on her hand? Or read stories to her? And yes, I'm talking NHS here... They held her down?! Fuck that.

SockQueen · 13/09/2018 18:47

I haven't experienced it from the parents' side, but I've given quite a few anaesthetics to children. The Royal College of Anaesthetists has a helpful leaflet: www.rcoa.ac.uk/system/files/07-ChildsAnaestheticweb.pdf and your own hospital may have some more information specific to that trust. Keep as calm and relaxed about it (externally at least!) as you can, as she will pick up on your anxiety too. It will all be ok.

Original poster

Bigkingdom · 13/09/2018 18:47

No none of that. Literally just three of them holding her down. She was screaming for me and her dad inbetween screaming, gagging and choking. Dp isn’t the emotional type but even he was choked up. I can’t put her through that again. We have never heard her scream like that. I think that experience is making me nervous about the GA. i’m terrified already.

OP posts:

Yellowsunredroses · 13/09/2018 18:51

My child had ga twice - at 8 months and 13 months old.

It’s ok to not be there whilst they are putting her under. You can hold and cuddle her all the time until you go to the sedation room. I then kiss and cuddle and leave just before they start the procedure. My dad who she knows well stayed with her and she was under within about 2 minutes of me leaving. I then was there when she woke up in the recovery room to be the reassuring face again.

Someone they know needs to stay with your child - it doesn’t need to be you.

giveitfive · 13/09/2018 18:55

My son has had a GA about 30 times, mostly before age 2.

Your daughter will be fine. You will probably be emotional, especially after the previous experience. I was a mess every time. I don't think it gets easier for the parents even when the kids take it in their stride.

She will sleep it off and all will be ticketyboo.

Hugs x

formerbabe · 13/09/2018 18:58

My dd has had two general anaesthetics.

She was fine apart from being very grumpy about having to stay in hospital for observation afterwards and she also hated being nil by mouth prior to it.

It was horrible for me and her dad though...I was so worried. By the end of the day, I was totally drained and exhausted.

I hope it goes smoothly for you all.

pumpkinspicetime · 13/09/2018 19:03

When DC was three we had the magic cream on the hand, story and a new toy that was very much wanted to distract them. They were calm and peaceful, I felt rather sick watching them go under, I then left the surgeon and staff to it. I remember a lovely nurse patting my arm and saying they would be okay, I nearly cried. I thought I looked very calm but I plainly looked as upset as I felt. There was some confusion and distress when they woke up, I believe, but as soon as we got to them they were okay. On the way back in the car DC was horribly sick and covered the car with vomit. They can't remember any of it now.

tierraJ · 13/09/2018 19:04

I had a GA aged 4 for tonsils. I wasn't scared of anything apart from when I came round & was sick a lot but that was from swallowing blood apparently.

Original poster

Bigkingdom · 13/09/2018 19:07

Just want to say thank you for all your stories, they have made me feel slightly better.

OP posts:

KnotsInMay · 13/09/2018 19:08

They will probably sit her on your lap, and an experienced child anaesthetist will wave the mask under her nose a bit and encourage her to breathe ‘magic wind’ which starts to slightly take effect. Try to be calm when they put the mask on, my kids always struggled, but actually struggling makes the anaesthetic work faster because they breathe more! Literally, it takes about 8 or 9 seconds.

Encourage her to take lots of deep breaths when she wakes up (we used to play “smell the cake, blow out the candles”. It gets the anaesthetic gases out of them quicker.

It will be such a slight short GA for an MRI, not like surgery.

AndreasFault · 13/09/2018 19:09

At about 18months, worst bit was when they took him out of my arms (already under) , then it was the longest 3 hours ever. Went home the same day, put a tired, grumpy, puking toddler in the car, he slept the 1.5hours home and was completely back to normal when he woke.

CarrotCakeMuffins · 13/09/2018 19:25

Given your experience already, I think they will struggle with the mask as your child will most likely resist it.

DS has had 2 GAs at 3.5 & 4 years. the first time they used the mask successfully and he had an MRI. They said that sedation was not an option as he was too young & unlikely to keep still enough for the MRI.

The second time he knew what was coming so refused the mask. The anaesthetist refused to do it to a restrained child so that plan was abandoned.

Instead he had magic cream on his hand, a pre-med (they put it with Calpol and he had it orally), then the anaesthetic injected in his hand once a bit drowsy. He had to be bribed with new toys at each stage as he was suspicious by this point and uncooperative.
If they had started with this approach it would probably have gone smoothly, but they thought the mask would be fine as it was first time.
He then had an operation, which all went well.

Both times he had to eat, drink and wee before being allowed home.

I hope that it all goes well for your little one. x

happymummy12345 · 13/09/2018 19:27

Our son had one when he was 13 months old. He was born with 12 toes- 6 on each foot, and a skin tag on each little finger.
Dh went with him to the room (I couldn't, I was in enough of a state as it was), he held him until he was out. Naturally we were very nervous during the procedure. When it was done dh went to the room to get him (again I couldn't).
I expected him to be lying down still groggy but he was in dh's arms looking round and smiling. He was sat in the cot smiling away, and within half an hour he was trying to pull the plasters off his fingers and stand up in the cot, even with the bandages on both his feet.
It was a lot better than we thought. The worst bit for us and him was how hungry he was, because he couldn't have any milk or food from the night before. So he was so hungry. But the anaesthetic didn't affect him at all.

californiascreaming · 13/09/2018 19:40

Aww so sorry sounds like your little one has had a right time of it lately and maybe not the most child friendly approach so far.
Maybe speak to the doctor, nurses, anaesthetist beforehand and say that your child and you are quite scared - what can they do to make it easier.
Would also suggest lots of treats for your little one before and after the procedure - make her feel that at least there's some bonus to all these hospital procedures... x

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