10 yo just had dental op - won't take painkillers

[RunJHC]

Hi - 10yo DS had an op this morning to extract 4 teeth. General anaesthetic. We're back home and he's ok. Watching tv and has eaten a little bit of rice.

Hospital advised painkillers every few hours for 2 days but he hates taking them and says he doesn't want them.

What should I do? I guess I could hide them in food or just let him tough it out!

Oh and I should have said - he's autistic so v difficult to bribe/force into taking them!!

If he says he doesn't want them then maybe he's not in pain? Just because they are advised doesn't mean someone has to take them. Maybe he will tell you if he needs them?

Thanks - that was what I was wondering. He's not visibly upset about it. Just a bit quiet/sleepy. So maybe he doesn't really need them - and the trauma of giving them might make him feel worse!!

Try put them into yogurt and give them that way

He's maybe still got the lingering effects of the anaesthetic in his body. Any chance he would take Calpol or any other liquid painkiller if he's visibly suffering?

isn't rice on the list of things not to eat after extractions?

Just let him know that he can have the medicine if he feels unwell....you know him best so put "unwell" into the language and concepts he will understand

I'd give him the choice of liquid or tablet form medicine (10yo can usually have half an adult paracetamol IIRC) but leave it up to him whether he wants to take them.

It's only to help him feel better, it won't make any difference to his physical recovery.

From experience of my two , some kids on the spectrum have a lower senstivity to pain whilst others have a far higher. Pain can be a subjective experience.

Make it clear to him in a way he understands that you have something that will make his mouth feel less sore IF he thinks it hurts. My eldest son still screams over even a slight bruise. My youngest son only thinks an injury hurts if there is blood everywhere.

Thanks all. He's now hungry and looking a bit brighter. I've always wondered if he has a low pain threshold so maybe that's the case! If he seems upset I'll mix some in with chocolate mousse maybe.

Will have to check about the rice although a bit late now

When I had a tooth out the dentist said no rice, I ignored him, it didn’t go well
Hope your son is ok OP x