Parents with children who have had operations under general anaesthetic? What do you do whilst they are in theatre?

[oldmoutcider]

My son is due to have an operation next week. Never experienced this before so unsure what I should do. I would prefer to be in a quiet room by myself with no one talking to me as I know general chit chat would seriously piss me off. My partner is a smoker so will be off for a fag at any opportunity. What kind of things did you do to stay occupied whilst they were gone?

Paced.

When DS had his eyes done DH and I just went for a coffee in Costa then went back up to the ward and sat where his bed space was until someone came to get us.
DD is having surgery this week and I will probably do much the same. Hers will take a lot longer though so it might be two coffees, and DH is at a funeral so no one at all to talk to!

What surgery is he having OP?

Went for a coffee. Ds has profound autism so I was allowed in pre op while they gave him the sedative before the general and in recovery to keep him calm as he came round. It went very quickly.

Do what is best for you and your child inc not talking or texting if you don't want to or doing if you do. Best of luck.

@cornflakesandteaHi. Kidney stone removal. We will be far from home and he is only three. Supposed to take two hours. Not sure what theatre slot he has yet but hoping for an early one so I can pop for breakfast

Sat and worried. Depends how long the op takes whether you have time to do much else.

My lads had 19 brain surgeries it’s not fun so I used to go for a coffee and a bun then read or crochet. good luck!

My oldest has had two GA at different hospitals. 1st one I got a cuppa and sat outside googling if she would be able to fly on holiday - the op was unplanned. 2nd time, the nurse said now is the time to get lunch and drink and I will call you to tell you when we can go together and get her from recovery. Both were very short.

DS had quite a long operation - six and a half hours - when he was 6 months old and the nursing staff basically hustled me (nicely!) out of the hospital to go and walk, get some fresh air and food and recommended against staying just in the ward. I met DH and we walked a lot around the area and then when I came back with about an hour to go and stared at a trashy magazine till I got the call that I could go and collect him.

Most hospitals will try and organise routine day cases by heath issues then age order ie - children with health issues like diabetes who will have issues fasting will get the first slots, and then youngest first. It’s not an exact thing as different surgeries require different teams but in general terms

Stayed on the ward by her bed, paced about, talked to DP a little. It was facial stitches to the inside and outside of her mouth after an injury at Nursery resulted in a through and through hole. She was 4. Was under for about 30 minutes. I was with her while they put her under with gas face mask.

@JustAnotherMinionForAMerchantOfDeath Thank you. We should get told his slot at the pre op appointment the day before. Will pop a nutrigrain type bar in my bag I think that I can sneak bites of!

Go for a walk or for a coffee

Sorry your ds is having an operation, prayers to you that they can make him better.

When my ds had surgery i simply sat in the car till he finished. No noise, no disturbance. Popped out at some point for a sandwich. You don't need a special room, that would be awful.

I went to a cafe around the corner from the hospital, picked up some snacks (for me for the overnight in a hospital chair) etc. he was 6 weeks old at the time and under for 4 hours. It’s a very strange feeling waiting, so I’d find something to really do that’s nearby enough in case there’s a problem. Being in the hospital waiting was too stressful for me, and honestly hugely eye opening to see the children coming in. Do you have a friend nearby who would come meet you at a cafe or go for a walk?

We waited in a quiet room near the theatre suite and failed to read. It’s very nerve wracking. With lower risk surgeries I think you will wait on the ward for children.

I would take a book or magazine bottle of water snacks etc. you won’t read but it gives you something todo.

ive always hung about the ward or in the waiting area, my son has has numerous operations from 1 or 2 hours to 8 or 9 it’s a hell of a time but you get through it

Went back to the ward and waited. Cried, prayed there were no complications and drank tea.

Had this a few times with DH. Do your shopping, get a coffee and a sandwich, buy a magazine / take a book and some wine gums, go wait in the ward (if allowed) til he is released from the recovery room.

This, although couldn't actually eat was so stressed. Have actually blocked so much of it out! Feel for you @oldmoutcider.
Thankfully all sorted and doing so much better now, so hope same for you.

Went for a coffee in town and came back.

With ds' grommets I either rushed down to the café and grabbed something to eat, or had something to eat while waiting on the ward. they're pretty quick though, about half an hour.

When he had his appendix out, it was during lockdown, so all I could do was wait in his private room, and he was about 4.5 hours down, although only expected to be one. If I hadn't had to stay isolated, then I'd have gone down to the café, and then come back up to the ward.

Just what I was going to say. Being just 3 I’d imagine he’d be further up the list, although I also wouldn’t have thought many general hospitals are doing urology in children so I assume he’s in a paediatric hospital? Which might mean there are even younger children in. Sorry I can’t offer more, my knowledge is limited to general hospitals with a bit of paeds sprinkled in (although not if I can help it!! 😂).
He’ll be well looked after though, OP. I know it’s so daunting leaving your child in the hands of strangers but they will give the best care and hopefully make him feel loads better.

Sit and worry wait, try to chat or read, go for coffee or snacks to kill the time

2 of my children had operations following a night in hospital. As I'd stayed with them overnight and DH had arrived, I went home for a bath 😄

Nothing for me to do while they're in theatre and I had every faith in the team so I left DH to fret at the hospital.

One of them I was still in the bath when DH called to say the boy was out of surgery.

I'm well aware that there are risks with a general anaesthetic but those risks are much smaller than not treating appendicitis and if anything is going to go wrong, it will do so whether I'm there or not (and if I'm not I get to live in blissful ignorance for a bit longer!)

Charge your own batteries, because it's not so nice when kids come around from anaesthesia and you need to be there for them.
First time my kid had emergency surgery I just sat outside stressing and then I was starving the rest of the day but couldn't eat because he needed me.
Second kid that had emergency surgery I was smarter and drank a large coffee, ate some real food (luckily v close to the theatre, I guess I was lucky in that, not a UK hospital) & the rest of the day was - relatively - easier.