preparing 3 year old DS for endoscopy and colonoscopy next week

[bethylou]

Has anyone who has put a child through these procedures got any advice for me? We have to give him liquids (and jelly) only for 48 hours beforehand, from the 27th, in order to empty his bowel, and are very worried about trying to get enough fluids in, as he is a reluctant drinker anyway and will only drink water. This week we have found that he likes jelly made with his soya milk, so I think we have a little more chance of staying out of hospital in those two days. We have to give him three doses of laxatives the day before and the GP and pharmacist have both looked at me with pity and wished me luck.

It would be fair to say that a) we are dreading putting him through this and b) it is rather hanging over us at the moment.

The GP has prescribed some glycogel as DS1 also seems to suffer with low blood sugar at the best of times. At the moment, I am preparing myself for potentially spending those two days in hospital with him on a drip. Anything less will be a real bonus. Roll on new year and a fresh start . Any advice gratefully received.

I have no advice Bethylou but you have my sympathy and thoughts as my 3 yr old is going in for a biopsy and other tests 1st week of Jan. Got the date through today and it's not going to shift out of my head until the actual day

I think you take it bit by bit. And don't look at it all at once or your head will burst.

Obviously with the laxatives stay home with towels and the shower on!

Did you get a booklet from the hospital for parents/kids that says what to do/take/expect?

We have and I showed DS2 and DS1 the first couple of pages to look at the photos and I am gradually going to build up the chat about it and what we will be doing and why the day before and on that day. Next thing we will do is talk about toys we will take with us and what PJ's and cuddly toy and find a suitable bag that he likes.

I hope all goes well for you and your son.

Thanks Pancake. We got a booklet that is aimed at 8 year olds - full of wordsearches etc.., which has rather stunned me, as they are the regional children's hospital. Even contemplating writing one for them in the new year as it's kind of my line of work!!

I think you are right about taking it bit by bit. I bought a hospital tent form ELC and we have been gradually introducing the vocab with it. He had a pH study done in March this year which was unpleasant so we've got a big sales pitch to do. Initially we thought we were only having biopsy and that worried me, but, to be honest, the starving him thing accompanied by laxatives seems far more horrific.

Hope it goes well for your DS. We've cancelled all our arrangements so can stay by the toilet but haven't mentioned it yet - don't really want him to worry over Christmas. We've waited for this since mid-September (due to hospital cock ups) so have to see it as a positive really. We desperately want some answers.

This is probably a very silly question, is your son having a general anesthetic? I am oddly relieved my son is because his pain will be lessened.

I'd phone the hospital and say you got the wrong booklet, can you have the one for younger kids !

I have had this done a few times, and I am allowed to drink fizzy drinks like lucosade during the 48 hours. Have some nappy cream ready, as the constant going to the toilet can make your bottom burn, so barrier cream really helps. I would think your son is going to be sedated during the procedure, so he won't remember a thing about it. I am not sure he would be allowed any sort of milk, best check that with the hospital.

My dd has this been having this done every 18 months since she was 15 months old, but we're always admitted 24 hours before because of blood sugar levels etc.

I'd check before putting soya milk into the jelly, as my dd has only been ever allowed clear fluids and jelly (i.e. jelly made from water). They can also eat fruit-flavoured ice-lollies which can seem a bit more exciting.

Also, don't worry if you have to go in beforehand. My dd has never needed to be on a drip, they just monitor her closely every few hours and check that she's drinking enough.

Thanks all. Got slightly sidetracked by Christmas! Will go and check info now re milk. I have a friend who is a paed. Nurse and she is surprised we are not being kept in. Think of us!

Dd is having an endoscopy in a few days under a ga. How did it go? Has it been done yet?

The whole thing went very well. DS was allowed milk for the first 36 hours and I made copious amounts of jelly with his soya milk which helped to see him through. He also accepted a couple of cups of chocolate 'so good' soya milk (having dimissed the alpro alternative). DH and I were very matter of fact about it, hid any emotion and, as a nearly 4 years old, DS followed our lead and took it all in his stride. We were first on the list (albeit the afternoon one, when should have been the morning due to lack of food for so long, but hey) so we were in at midday, in theatre at 1:50pm and discharged by 5pm having eaten the biggest bowl of pasta and ham (no sauce) that I could fit in the bag!!

I had requested a play specialist as he had a bad experience having a pH study for reflux earlier last year and she was great - brought toys to distract him during the wait, showed him what the mask was like, talked with him while anaesthetist was talking to us etc.. She also made him a fab certificate while he was under with Octonauts on it, which is his current favourite. I would highly recommend requesting their support if you are in any doubt about your DD or your own abiliy to cope.

We called it a 'special sleep' and explained they were going to look in his tummy to see why he keeps getting tummy ache. We didn't mention the bottom end because we decided he didn't need to know! He had no nausea upon waking and was sitting up and chatting within 5 mins of coming back to us. The top end only took 5-10 mins so will be very quick rainbow.

In case anyone reads this at a later point and is going through both procedures, I would suggest making sure you check the timings of the last food and drink on the letter as both were wrong on ours. This meant that, despite having checked by phone the previous day, DS1's blood sugar and pressure were extremely low by the time that we got him there. The bottom cream worked brilliantly (just applied it first thing and then after each bowel movement) (thanks Galaxy), encouraged him to drink and eat jelly frequently so he didn't get too hungry and woke him at midnight to give him the last bowl of it! We also gave him a dose of calpol on laxative day so that the tummy cramps weren't too bad. This was advice from a friend who is a paediatric nurse. We also needed the potty that we'd thrown in the car during the journey home as the laxatives were still in his system!! Cancelling our arrangements for those two days was definitely the right thing to do as it took the stress out of it for us all.

Good luck Pancake if I'm not too late. Let me know how you get on.

Oh and rainbow too - sorry assumed without looking that it was from the same MNer. It seems that there are lots of us having this done with our DC!

Thanks BethyLou. Glad it went so well for you. Dd has seen a play specialist already as she is terrified of needles and it went well so she is willing to accept a needle (at the moment). I havent told her that they are sending a tube down her throat as well as her bottom as I know this would completely freak her out.
SHe is having lots and lots of cramps now and is really quite unwell so really holding out for this. We give calpol and nurofen together. She has been given buscopan but after having swallowed them ok to begin with, once it started to dissolve in her mouth and it such a vile taste she has point blank refused to try again and would rather have the pain.
Trying to get an alternative in liquid form.