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Tearful and unsettled after GA for hernia repair, normal or trauma?

6 replies

Homebirdy · Yesterday 14:10

Wondering if someone can tell me if this is just side affects of the GA or maybe trauma.. I’m not really sure.. just looking to see if anyone else has experienced it with a similar aged child.

DD had inguinal hernia repair on Monday morning, they initially tried to put her to sleep using a cannula, but she wasn’t quite numb enough and got quite upset quite quickly when they were trying to place it, they ended up deciding to use gas instead, which obviously took slightly longer and as she was already panicked we all had to kinda of hold her down until it worked. Not the nicest experience for her and they did say any future GA’s they’ll give some medicine to help her relax beforehand.

They did say she would wake up a bit sad, which she did. She still seems to be quite upset today, she’s not quite sure why, her pain is managed and she said it’s not too sore. She keeps getting upset and irritable over things she wouldn’t usually.. today has been:

  • she didn’t like the way her socks feel on her feet.
  • she couldn’t decide what to bring to play in the car on the way to drop off my son at nursery
  • she didn’t know what she wanted to eat
  • the telly wasn’t loud enough.

there been many others, and it’s not like these things aren’t easily sortable - she’s just quietly getting very sad and tearful and it takes some “what’s bothering you?” Questioning for her to finally say what’s wrong. By which time (we change her socks, turn the telly up, get some snack choices ect) she’s already sobbing and can’t stop, then she’s upset because her crying is making her incision ache, which upsets her more.. and then it’s a repeated cycle 😖

I feel awful for her, I was under the impression the tearfulness from GA would last about a day.. was I wrong? Has anyone else had this, how long will it last?

she’s happy and cheerful right now, but in 20 minutes she’ll be upset again.. I just don’t know how to help her and feel a bit lost.

OP posts:
Homebirdy · Yesterday 14:10

She is 6 for context.

OP posts:
cuckoolodger · Yesterday 14:16

Is completely normal. I had a similar experience when I was 7 and they pinned me down and I had nightmares and cried daily for about 10 days. I was very heavily bruised on my hands too where they had struggled to get the cannula in and I was thrashing and screaming. It affected me a lot longer tbh but the crying spells tailed off. In lots of ways I struggled to find a new normal after that and I felt I had very mixed emotions towards my mum afterwards as she was the one that took me and helped pin me down. I wish she hasn’t been there as maybe then I wouldn’t have lost my trust in her. It was very scary for a ( undisgnosed AuDhd) kid to process.

hueylouieanddewey · Yesterday 14:21

I'm a fully grown adult and I was like that after my first ever GA a couple of years ago...I'd been warned I might feel a bit tearful straight after, but I was like it for about a fortnight, just sad and tearful and distraught for silly little reasons, I remember being completely devastated and sobbing when we didn't have any cheese in the house for a sandwich! I posted about it on here at the time and got quite a few responses saying it wasnt unusual. Hope she feels better soon!

FadedRed · Yesterday 14:26

It’s a pity she is feeling like this, but it is normal for children (and even adults) to feel like this after what is, how well handled, a traumatic experience.
She might also be in some discomfort so don’t stint on the paracetamol and ibuprofen, better to anticipate pain than to wait until she distressed. I would give them on a regular basis for several days post op. I hope she feels better soon.

Ketley67 · Yesterday 14:49

DS has surgery when he was 14, he was fine straight afterwards but absolutely distraught in the following week, I’ve never seen him so upset! Didn’t last forever though thankfully!

Homebirdy · Yesterday 15:20

Ah thank you for all the responses, glad to know it’s normal.. even if it’s not quite what I want for her.

I was worried after she went to sleep that she might wake up resenting me a bit, but she’s so far been clingier to me than ever, she’s usually a daddy’s girl but she’s not left my side since and doesn’t even want sleep in her own bed as she doesn’t want me to leave her.

I’m hoping she’s feeling better by Monday as she’s back to school then (and me back to work) I’d hate for her to be upset at school ☹️

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