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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to use the baby monitor on DP

48 replies

Steffanoid · 16/02/2014 19:24

DP has his wisdom tooth out under general anaesthetic on tuesday. When we get home WIBU to put him to bed and put the baby monitor on cause the info we have says he's not supposed to sleep alone and im supervising him or do I literally have to sit next to him bored all day?

OP posts:

Original poster

Steffanoid · 16/02/2014 22:45

the nail varnish thing is cause of the blood oxygen level monitor they put on your fingers. Something in the varnish can freak the monitor into thinking you've no oxygen in you?

Its not even at the hospital its at the doctors or 'primary health care facility' as they like to call themselves. theres a little dental surgery section there.

I'm turning the internet off on his phone so he can't make attempted purchases on their...

OP posts:

shouldnthavesaid · 16/02/2014 22:46

No nail varnish in patient's case as it interferes with monitoring in theatre - think it affects the clip on your finger to check oxygen and also means that in the unlikely event of patient low on oxygen they can't see it (as in that case, your nails would be tinged bluish) .. Not sure that nail varnish would be an issue for your DP though

AlpacaPicnic · 16/02/2014 22:47

Thanks! I like to know the ins and outs of everything...

Sceptimum · 17/02/2014 00:50

Ask at the hospital for clarification but I was told (by the surgeon) you just need to have someone around keeping an eye on you. It's to prevent people going home to an empty house and being taken suddenly ill and having no one to help, call an ambo etc.

EverythingCounts · 17/02/2014 00:57

It will be fine to be in the same house and within hearing range so he can call you if he suddenly feels unwell. There's no need to actually sit next to him the whole time! The baby monitor might be a good idea actually as then you will know you'll definitely hear him calling for you. But that's as far as it needs to go.

I've had several major operations and while you do get monitored constantly while you are coming round from the anaesthetic, once you're conscious that will drop to the level of attention I'm describing above. I've been in a HDU - high dependency unit (where a nurse has to stay in the room at all times) and even then said nurse has very often been at the desk doing paperwork or on the phone rather than constantly watching over patients. If he's been deemed well enough to leave the hospital then just being in the house with him will be fine.

Kewcumber · 17/02/2014 01:00

I've had many generals and many of them as a day patient. Have always had someone in the house with me but have never had anyone actually sit in teh same room as me for the whole day/night afterwards! They don;t do that in hospital - you don;t get a nurse sitting by your bed unless you're in intensive care!

steff13 · 17/02/2014 01:24

I've had two surgeries with general, and both times I've had a nurse sitting with me when I woke up, but not after, nor was I told that someone needed to be sitting at my side. I think you are fine with the baby monitor.

As an aside, he may prefer to sleep sitting up in a chair. I did when I had my wisdom teeth removed. I had a lot of pain when I lay down for the first three days, and my oral surgeon recommended sleeping upright to help avoid dry socket. I never had dry socket, but I've heard it's very painful.

YankeeMum8 · 17/02/2014 03:59

I think the monitor coupled with checking on him every half hour is fine. Or putting him on the sofa so you can check on him; or lounging in the same room. I agree with previous posters, they mean don't leave the house. So if you need to get about in your house he'll be fine with the monitor and checking on him.

Anniemousse · 17/02/2014 04:07

You sure it's a GA if it's not being done in hospital? Could be sedation, same warnings apply.

HicDraconis · 17/02/2014 04:20

Unless it's a fully equipped theatre with anaesthetist, it'll be sedation - general anaesthetics in the dental chair have been banned for years. We do give GAs for wisdom teeth (though not normally for just one) in hospitals and equipped dental theatres.

However the rules are the same for GA or sedation - no driving, operating machinery or dangerous appliances, no important decisions and no alcohol for 24h. In terms of responsible adult supervision, someone in the house is fine - you don't need to be sitting next to him every minute :)

Mumraathenoisylion · 17/02/2014 05:23

Make sure he keeps taking his pain medication, even if he thinks he doesn't need to! I had all four out and a couple were shattered, there was no smell but I think that's because my mouth was fully stitched up.

A V pillow or pregnancy pillow is great for propping up heads after wisdom teeth extraction.

No straws for drinking.

I didn't have or need or want constant supervision but my mum (I'd only just met dh at the time) gave me a bell.

Mumraathenoisylion · 17/02/2014 05:27

Hmmm if it is GA he will be kept in for a couple of hours at least. Definitely question that.

Quinteszilla · 17/02/2014 05:32

I dont think you were meant to take "monitor" quite so literally...

RunRunRuby · 17/02/2014 08:26

My hospital must be better staffed that I thought as definitely get one to one in the recovery and post op bits, my nurse always stays by my side, apart from fetching things for me or helping quickly with another patient who needs extra attention, until they hand me over to the discharge nurse :)

But it's unlikely that will happen if it's in a local surgery, unless they're very well equipped. Sedation is less risky but I actually feel worse after sedation than GA. Waking up from a GA is like waking up from a really nice sleep, I sometimes snooze a bit in recovery but then I'm usually fairly wide awake for the rest of the day, depending what extra drugs I've been given. Whereas sedation wears off more gradually and I've found I always feel dopey for quite a while. It's not really a problem, just means he's more likely to sleep.

Make sure he takes a warm coat and take a blanket when you pick him up as he might be quite cold. Then he will be fine to go to bed with you checking every half hour or so, or better for you I expect would be for him to lie on the sofa watching telly and snoozing. Then you can sit with him and watch telly or potter around and check on him.

Beepbeepnow · 17/02/2014 08:36

When I had my wisdom teeth out under ga there was a nurse with me in the post op room, but as soon as I was conscious I was taken back down to the day surgery ward and left to sleep it off so to speak. When I went home later that day hubby was around but certainly not monitoring me contantly. The first time I had a ga was supposed to be day surgery, but it took me so long to come round properly that they kept me overnight as I did need more monitoring....they weren't happy to discharge me whilst I was still really woozy so long after my op.

SpottyDottie · 17/02/2014 08:40

Basically he needs to have a responsible adult with him. That's it. You're over thinking it. He can't take himself home, or sign legal papers etc because the GA will impair him.

You can prop him up with extra pillows if that's what's worrying you but you don't need to sit at his bedside.

SpottyDottie · 17/02/2014 08:42

Oops, posted too soon.however as others have pointed out it could be more of a sedation he's having rather than GA. use the monitor if it makes you feel easier.at least he could call to you when he's awake and wants a hot drink or something.

TeacupDrama · 17/02/2014 10:11

it mans he must not be left alone in the house you can go to bed and sleep too, just occasionally chekc yuo do not need to hover

it is to ensure that people are not going home alone or going to be someones else's carers ie a mother going home to be responsible for her own children with no other adult they just need someone in the house with them for 24 hours
the no nail varnish is for pulse oximeter while under the GA he can wear nail varnish now

KellyElly · 17/02/2014 11:36

Goodness I've had a few anaesthetics for minor/major surgery and and never had monitoring as in someone at my bedside

Topseyt · 17/02/2014 18:19

I have had several GAs too, though as you say the op will not be done in a hospital I am thinking you mean sedation instead.

For my GAs I was closely monitored in the immediate post-op recovery period, but that was not for long. Once they are sure you are breathing properly unaided you go back onto the ward. Once there, nobody sat constantly next to me, just nurses coming and doing checks every half hour or so.

He will absolutely NOT be allowed to go home if they think he is in any danger of death. The poster who said that was being ridiculous and OTT. The baby monitor will be more than sufficient, especially if you look in on him every half hour or so. Stay in the same house, but get on with your day too.

Not everyone takes ages to come round. Sometimes they do, but sometimes it can be quite quick. I think it probably depends very much on the length of time they need to be kept under.

Cravey · 17/02/2014 18:21

I think they just mean keep checking on him. Not sit by him all night. If he was that ill he would not be allowed home. Maybe just check every half an hour or so.

firesidechat · 17/02/2014 18:23

My husband has general anaesthetics a few times a year. He has to have someone in the house with him for the first 24 hours, but I've never had to be specifically be with him will he sleeps. Is this more to do with swallowing blood after the tooth extraction? Only thing I can think of.

firesidechat · 17/02/2014 18:24

Oh and in hospital the nurses will just pop in every so often. They certainly don't stay in the room while he sleeps.

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