Is ptsd after surgery a thing? Need help!

[Username0110]

Im sure some may seen my post about DS(4) having adenotonsillectomy nearly 2 weeks ago now.
But since his operation, he is waking up multiple times a night, until we finally go to bed and he gets into our bed, he then sleeps. Hes always been a mommas boy, my little shadow.
Hes never woken up at night but he is now, he wakes up inconsolable about an hour after he goes to bed and this goes on for a good few hours.
In the day hes better, not moaning about his throat no need for medication now, eating fine.
The only thing i can think off is, when he came round from anaesthetic he was mortified, screaming shouting for me, i wasnt allowed in the recovery ward, but in the end they had to let me because hewas trying to climb out and wouldnt let anyone touch him.
Is he guna get over it? Its exhausting in the evenings!

I'm sorry that I can't answer with regard to children, but when my late husband had open heart surgery, his GP told me that PTSD after such surgery was common.

DH did seem to get over it eventually.

with all the usual caveats about no one being able to give proper, specific advice online, post op sleep dysfunction isn't that uncommon in kids, perhaps more so for children who've had emergence delirium (which may be what you were describing in the recovery room, and again isn't that uncommon). Things do usually gradually improve. It's not something that's widely researched and doesn't really have much in the way of management. If you've not been in touch with ENT it may be worth checking they're happy there's no infection. Pain often feels worse at night, so it may be worth asking about even if he's not needing pain relief during the day.

(re. PP's comment about cardiac surgery - they're very very different scenarios so you can't extrapolate too much)

My DS had hernia surgery just before he turned 2 (so a bit younger than yours) but it sounds exactly as you describe in terms of the emergence delirium when waking up from the anaesthetic and trouble sleeping for the weeks afterwards. I would say it took a month or two to go back to normal but it gradually improved over time. If you google it, it doesn’t seem to be unusual, but as a PP said it might be worth getting him checked out in case of infection, pain etc just in case. Good luck - I hope things improve soon!