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

Child - general anaesthetic recovery

13 replies

vinoandbrie · 16/10/2023 20:26

DD (9, autistic) is having an operation tomorrow.

I’ve had operations myself, but this is the first time I’ve looked after a DC post operation.

Any advice or tips would be appreciated! Thank you 😊

OP posts:

rainbowunicorn · 16/10/2023 20:30

Kids bounce back pretty quick. It depends what the surgery is for. You should be given an information leaflet before discharge

Kfjsjdbd · 16/10/2023 20:33

My DD had an operation at 4 years old. The hospital were absolutely expert in dealing with kids, they had a play therapist there before the op.

My DD came out of the operation and started screaming, she went absolutely crazy running around the halls of the hospital in her gown shouting that she wanted to go home. After about 30 minutes of that she crashed, slept for two hours, then woke up happily and didn’t actually want to leave when we were discharged. Apparently that’s pretty common.

Balloonhearts · 16/10/2023 20:33

About half an hour in my experience and you'll be constantly telling him to stay in bed.

ExtinguishTheLight · 16/10/2023 20:35

DS was hysterical after his. Absolutely no problems before he went under but he was very, very emotional and distressed after that. So be prepared.

WanderingWitches · 16/10/2023 20:38

ExtinguishTheLight · 16/10/2023 20:35

DS was hysterical after his. Absolutely no problems before he went under but he was very, very emotional and distressed after that. So be prepared.

My DS was the same when he had an op at about 4. I had to go into the recovery bay as he was inconsolable.
His last OP he was 8 and he was a mess before hand, in anticipation and needed to be sedated. Afterwards he just slept and was fine when he woke up.

Ifyoulikealotofchocolateonyourbiscuit · 16/10/2023 20:46

Mine had a very quick general to remove a raisin up her nose age 2. She was upset coming round and was then an overtired loon who refused to sleep for hours

Disturbia81 · 16/10/2023 20:48

My 4 year old was really upset and wrestling the nurses as he was coughing a lot but a cuddle cured it and he was happy and eating coco pops half an hour later.

lightelmqueen · 16/10/2023 20:54

My 3 year old was very quiet after his surgery, he wouldn't interact with anyone apart from me. He just wanted cuddles and to watch cocomelon. About two hours later he was happily playing on his hospital bed and was his usual hyper self. The next day he was wanting to go home as he was bored of the hospital by then

Friolero · 16/10/2023 20:57

My DS has had quite a few general anaesthetics. He's always quite groggy and upset for the first 30-60 minutes after but then usually perks up and wants to eat and drink something fairly quickly.

It really depends what it's for - his recovery has obviously been quicker where it's been for things like MRIs where it's only the anaesthetic he's recovering from, whereas if it's an operation it's taken a bit longer.

I've always taken some food for both him and me - he's usually been fed as the patient but doesn't necessarily want the hospital food, and I didn't want to leave him to get food for me.

My DS is disabled and we've had play therapists to explain and help beforehand. If there are several children on the list, they've usually sent him first as he can't cope with waiting long, so worth explaining if that applies you your DD too with her autism.

I hope it goes well x

ExtinguishTheLight · 16/10/2023 20:57

lightelmqueen · 16/10/2023 20:54

Mine was back to being chipper after a couple of hours.

I got quite upset after I had a general myself and I was a fully grown adult! I remember bursting into tears over a yogurt.

Original poster

vinoandbrie · 16/10/2023 22:33

Thanks so much everyone for sharing your experiences, it has helped me a lot tonight. Roll on tomorrow, I’ll be glad once it’s done and she’s hopefully up and about, getting back to her usual self.

OP posts:

cowprintsocks · 16/10/2023 22:42

My dd9, also autistic has had a lot of GAs. She absolutely hates the cannula when she wakes up and will meltdown when she sees it.
Where we go, she has to eat, drink and wee before they’ll remove it (after a certain amount of time).
After one incident where she got very upset because the hospital food/drink options weren’t what she wanted, I then started taking her favourites in with me so it was as easy as possible to persuade her to eat and drink…perhaps something worth considering.

good luck tomorrow -hope all goes well x

clipclop5 · 16/10/2023 23:00

Ask for a pre-med! DD had major surgery last year, even though she wasn’t massively nervous or upset we chose for her to have a pre-med ‘just in case’ and it made such a difference. It didn’t make her loopy or anything, just really relaxed her and made the whole experience a lot more pleasant. They say the way they go under is the way they wake up, so if she goes to sleep nice and chilled she’s more likely to wake up calmly. She woke up in recovery asking for me but was still quite relaxed and just went back to sleep for a while once I got to her, no drama thank goodness!

Flip