Squint Correction surgery - hints, tips and experiences please.

[sweetiesue]

Just had notification of date for bilateral squint correction surgery for ds. Quite surprised as we were told approx 6mth waiting list and date falls within 2mths of being added to list.
Anyway, looking for mumsnet wisdom on how to manage this one, as the title says any hints, tips and experiences (preop, postop,pain management, hints for me on how to survive anaesthetic, what to take in etc) gratefully received. Ds will have just had his 6th birthday when we go in.
Many thanks in advance

Anybody??

Hi its a long time ago but ds2 now 25 had a squint corrected at age 3,i dont remember it as being too stressful,he was in no pain afterwards and went home the same day. hopefully someone else will come alomg with more recent experience but dont worry its a fairly standard procedure,lots of luck.

dd got hers done about 3 years ago at the age of 4. She got some numbing cream on the back of her hands before the op so that they could put the cannula in. I got to go with her/hold her while she got the anaesthetic and then got rushed out of the room when she went under. She was in for about 45 minutes and then I was able to go to the recovery room to help with waking her up. She was allowed to go home once she had eaten and had a drink without being sick. We got given some paracetamol and ibuprofen to take home with us and some eye drops we had to put in several times a day. Her eye was very annoying for the first couple of days and it was quite traumatic getting the drops in. Her eye was red for a couple of weeks but she was back at nursery after about a week and back at swimming within about 2 weeks.

DS1 had it done in one eye when he was in Reception so 5. It was done as day surgery, he was fine. The only thing I would say is ds1 and the girl who had ti done before him were both very distressed when they came round from the surgery for about an hour. I wasn't expecting it and found it quite hard to deal with ds1 thrashing about on the bed but he calmed within an hour and was ok to go home that night. He was sensitive to light for the first 24 hours and he had to have drops in for a while. We used ibuprofen and calpol liquid for the first day too.

All forgotten about now, although if ds1 ever had to go to hospital again I suspect I would have a battle on my hands! He went so willingly, completely oblivious to the fact it may be uncomfortable, so his lasting memory is of the pain and discomfort unfortunately.

DD just had this done 2 months ago when she turned 2. Numbing cream on hands and feet (magic stickers!), teddy had a cotton wool patch. DD was distressed when she first came around for about 15 minutes until I managed to rock her back to sleep. She woke an hour later and asked for a sandwich. A week off nursery and she was grand. Eye drops for a month and no swimming. Eye looks great. Good luck...

dd1 had hers done years aso at the age of 4. It was done as day surgery,we went in at 8 and were out by 1pm. By 3pm she was doing roly poly's round the sitting room. She mostly remembers the lovely nurses who brought her toast and orange squash when she woke up.

For me the worst bit was her being really upset as she came round from the anasthetic, (but I had been told about it on here beforehand). For her the worst bit was the drops in her eyes 4 times a day for a week afterward. She also said it felt like she had sand in her eyes and I had to stop her rubbing them.

I had mine done twice at 13 and 18. It is very sore when you wake up, esp in the bit when you are disorientated anyway, and then you have a gritty eye for a few weeks. But otherwise its not a problem

Thanks all. I'm just trying to prepare myself cos I know it is going to be tricky for the first 24/48hrs. Consultant has already pre-warned us that because it is both eyes at once and the surgery is slightly more complicated than usual that he will be down in surgery for a minimum of two hours and he won't be able to see clearly or really open his eyes for 24/48hrs post-op. We are on course for it being a day case and are going with this at moment, only reason we will need to stay over is if he is too sick after the anaesthetic (eyes and anaesthetic can be tricky sometimes).
Starting to think about what to take with me, both for him and me - reminds me of labour/maternity bag packing.
Keep the info and tips coming it is all much appreciated

Hi - not squint but eye surgery (bilateral congenital cataracts) DS had his ops aged 3, now 5 and has had 2 further surgeries to clear regrowth- and looks like he will need another shortly. The hardest bits was the time he was in surgery - like you long ops and due to this the recovery from the op takes longer - take books with you which you will probably not read. The other thing is to be very careful regarding cleanliness when doing drops - we were over the top but the risks of infection are so high. On the ward each time we have been there were other children who have had squint ops and i have seen them in follow up clinics and i must say the differences have been amazing. We always take his pyjamas - very worn ones so can come over the head more easy - a hat as bright outside when you do leave- and we always have a hospital treat ready when we get home. Hope it all goes well - it is a shock when the operation dates come suddenly - take care.