Low blood pressure and sleepy after operation

[elliejjtiny]

Ds4 (aged 12) came in for day surgery at lunchtime today. Went down to theatre at 4:30, into recovery at 5:30 and back on the ward at 6:30. He has opened his eyes briefly and had a few sips of juice but mostly he's been asleep. He had been admitted onto another ward for the night. His blood pressure is low and the nurse said it's probably because he hasn't had much to eat or drink all day and to encourage him to have something if he wakes up but he hasn't been awake at all since 8:30pm. I even tried video calling my older son at uni to see if that helped as they are very close but although he nodded when i suggested it, he just gave his brother a little wave and went back to sleep. Currently too nervous to go to sleep myself so just sat in a chair watching him. He is on hourly obs at the moment.

If he’s having hourly obs it sounds like they are keeping a close eye on him. Try and rest if you can (easier said than done for worrying, I’m sure) as then you can encourage him in the morning when he’s more awake.

I’m not a medical person but I had a general anaesthetic recently and my experience was similar - sleepy for a while after and very low blood pressure for the day and night following the surgery. Try not to worry too much - easier said than done I appreciate! - but he’s in the best place and it sounds like they’re keeping a close eye on him with regular checks. Hope he’s fully recovered soon

Is the BP going up at all? Or staying very low? I had an op recently and I had low blood pressure for the first 4 hours and then after eating and drinking it went up (about 2 hours afterwards) and then I was allowed home.

he’s in the best place as he’s not being allowed home because it is low.

Thank you. Still very low and has been through the night. He's woken up and had a few sips of juice this morning.

Did they give him IV fluids? Hourly obs indicate that they’re not too stressed about it, but checking him regularly.

He had some iv fluids in theatre but nothing since then.

The operation was on his mouth which isn't helping the eating and drinking situation i think, although he's said he isn't in pain and didn't want any painkillers since coming out of theatre.

He’s probably on pain killers which are making him sleepy too

He had diclofenic (not sure if that's spelt right) in theatre but just on paracetamol now. He had a pre med but that didn't seem to work as he was still walking around an hour later.