Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Flip

Original poster

Grommets

23 replies

PodgeBod · 28/10/2020 20:57

My daughter is having these in tomorrow and I'm pretty nervous! She is 4. Has anybody been through this with their children, do you have any advice or tips for the healing process?

OP posts:

Jessicabrassica · 28/10/2020 21:14

Ds had them at 3. It was very straight forward, a few hours in hospital then home. Think we were home for lunch.
He didn't like the cannula when he came round - and hasn't forgotten 5 yrs later but enjoyed the toast and jam.

Don't remember anything after that tbh. Think it was business as usual. Surgery was Saturday. He was out on his bike on Sunday and nursery as usual on Monday.

DramaAlpaca · 28/10/2020 21:29

Two of my children had them, one of them twice. Absolutely no issues with healing, both were bouncing around as normal the following day.

The only thing really was that DS1 was startled at hearing sounds he hadn't heard clearly before, such as a fire engine siren the first time we went out after the operation. He was 4 when he got his grommets, for glue ear. They worked wonders.

Original poster

PodgeBod · 28/10/2020 21:34

Thats great, thank you. My DD has had glue ear for at least 2 years and I'm so excited that she will finally be able to hear clearly. I actually had grommets myself as a child for earache but I don't remember.
The hospital said she had to stay in for 7 days afterwards but I didn't think to ask why- maybe a covid precaution
Were your children OK with getting the cannula put in? Thats the bit I'm most worried about other then the general anaesthetic which I can't help but be anxious about

OP posts:

Dawnlassie · 28/10/2020 23:10

Prefer Wallace myself.

DramaAlpaca · 28/10/2020 23:13

I don't know about the cannula, actually. DH went to the hospital with them rather than me as he is a very calm sort, I'd possibly have got emotional and upset them. I don't remember any horror stories so I'm guessing it must have been OK.

Onceuponatimethen · 28/10/2020 23:17

This is what I’ve learned:

It’s quite good to watch a little video with them before. This is someone reading aloud the book we gave our kids to help them prepare:

m.youtube.com/watch?v=_oJothTs6Jw

Onceuponatimethen · 28/10/2020 23:18

It’s really good because it demystifies the whole thing.

I would get the play therapist if they have one - you can ask. They should come with a mask and bits they will use in theatre and explain the process to her. The way she will know what to expect

Onceuponatimethen · 28/10/2020 23:22

My dds have had lots, age 1.5, 2 and 4 (6 separate grommets ops).

Things I would want then to know:

Basically all the stuff in the usborne book

They need the process of going off to the anaesthetic explained to them in advance. Hopefully the play therapist will do this. The anaesthesist should come to see you before and when they do make sure you know:

gas or cannula? Mine have always been sent off with gas and cannula inserted when they are asleep

if cannula used first, will they get the numbing cream on their hand first

Onceuponatimethen · 28/10/2020 23:22

That was meant to say things I would want dd to know

Onceuponatimethen · 28/10/2020 23:26

For myself:

I wish I had known that even if the op does brilliantly dc can often be a bit thrashy when they go under.

If you are prepared for that it’s much easier to stay calm, even if you feel shocked. I repeated the same words calmly to them - “you will be asleep soon, keep breathing”

I always cry after they go in because it looks scary when they go limp; eyes roll back etc. Again I wish I had been Prepared For that.

After the op children can be very calm or can cry and shout when they come round - completely normal but again good to be prepared for any reaction. They aren’t awake fully and they won’t remember this bit.

My dds love chatting about their ops even though one of them woke up very distressed! Apparently they are good memories Still !

Onceuponatimethen · 28/10/2020 23:28

It is also worth being aware you will be taken to them when they are awake, deemed stable and all vitals checked - quite rightly the first few minutes in recovery are with medical staff, so you won’t be with them when they wake up initially. Staff will get you so you can there almost immediately.

For this reason I tell my dds ‘when you’ve woken up mummy will come in’

I don’t stress that I won’t be there when they wake (never want to worry them) but also don’t want to falsely claim I will be there!

Original poster

PodgeBod · 28/10/2020 23:34

Dawnlassie how did i not make that connection? haha

Onceuponatimethen Thank you for the warning about her going under and coming to. She has an afternoon op so I will show her the book in the morning, we watched a couple of YouTube videos today about going in to hospital to prepare her a little bit as well

OP posts:

formerbabe · 28/10/2020 23:37

My dd had them done at age 4 too...she was absolutely fine and back in nursery the next day. The only thing she struggled with was the cannula in her hand when she woke up, she kept trying to pull it out. She was also really hungry afterwards.

Onceuponatimethen · 28/10/2020 23:38

That all sounds brilliant! I think grommets are a funny op - you know it’s a minor procedure, but any GA feels big to us and them

I’m sure the op will go well and you will have to come back and update us.

As you are in hospital they should advise on painkillers, but we were advised to give calpol from 4 hours after the op and then again as per the recommended dosage for the first 48 hours. Might be worth asking about painkillers in advance too, so you can prompt if it doesn’t happen.

Original poster

PodgeBod · 29/10/2020 07:49

Thank you, I will let you know later how it went 😊 she is nervous this morning and keeps saying she doesn't want to go, which is understandable

OP posts:

Witchend · 29/10/2020 08:06

Ds has had them 3 times. They did play therapy with him on third time as he was nervous. The other two times he was too young to really worry.

The big things I learnt have been pointed out to you.
You aren't there when they wake up. You may find due to covid you can't go the recovery even. When ds had his appendix out in June, no one was allowed to go to recovery.
The first time he really hated the cannula and tried to pull it out.

Other thing is for some people it's a miracle cure. For ds is was a gradual realisation he could hear better.

Onceuponatimethen · 29/10/2020 08:11

I think that’s so understandable- poor dd. I’m sure th whole thing will go ok and my dd’s lives we’re really transformed by being able to hear

Onceuponatimethen · 29/10/2020 15:52

I hope it’s all going ok, op?

Original poster

PodgeBod · 29/10/2020 20:33

Hello, not long home :) it all went very well and she was so incredibly brave. My heart is actually bursting with pride. She was put under with medication and not gas, and she went down very easily and peacefully. She woke up grumpy and sleepy but not upset. I could hear some other little ones were very upset as they woke up which must have been so hard for their parents. They also ended up taking her adenoids out, they had said beforehand they would check them out while she was under and take them out if necessary. The staff were so wonderful as well.
She is currently muching a happy meal and ill put her to bed soon
Thank you for the kind words and advice I think I need a glass of wine before bed I feel all wound up and relieved its over xxx

OP posts:

formerbabe · 29/10/2020 20:35

That's great to hear it all went well

Onceuponatimethen · 29/10/2020 20:40

That sounds like she and you and the hospital all did amazing jobs!

Well done to your dd and to you!

Definitely a big

Very pleased to hear your update

Witchend · 29/10/2020 21:39

Glad it's over and she's okay.

DramaAlpaca · 29/10/2020 21:53

Glad it went well.

Flip