Does everyone feel terrified at the thought of their child having a general anaesthetic?

[snooks]

Ds2 (2.5) is having a minor op on Thursday - grommets put in for glue ear. Both me and dh are terrified at the thought of the GA - what if something goes wrong? Are we being irrational? Does everyone feel like this? (I almost feel a bit guilty because I'm aware that many children and parents have much more serious ops/illnesses to cope with).

Please tell me I'm being silly, I wish Thursday had come and gone and everything is ok.

[ListersSister]

I am glad you posted this thread snooks - it sounds like it has helped you, and it has certainly reassured me

It is our instinct to protect them isn't it, and going under a GA means that we are handing them over to someone else to protect, so hard for us.

Hope the grommets work though - must be hard for your lo as he is a bit too young to understand it all...

[Blu]

Snooks- sorry about the added complication of him not feeling comfortable 'put of the ordinary'. Take his teddy etc, anything to re-assure and distract him. Our hospital let DS take his bear into the anaesthetic room - they safety-pin and tape him to his bed so that he doesn't get lost!

Talk to the anaesthetist about what pain relief he will have for when he wakes up - it is likely that paracetamol and ibroprufen will be sufficient, but sometimes they give them something stronger before they come round. Morphine isn't great, tbh, it always makes DS sick, but I don't think they give that for small ops anyway.

[DrNortherner]

No never 5 hours Blu, that would be horrendous. Poor you and your ds.

My ds's op's have always been routine:

1 x grommets
1 x pin in broken wrist
1 x pin out of broken wrist

40 mins max each time.

[stealthsquiggle]

Definitely take a bear or whatever comfort object works for your DS - my DS's bear went into theatre with him and came out with a dressing in the same place as DS and a bandage on his paw where the drip had been

[seeker]

You will be terrified - of course you will. But if it helps my ds LOVED the feeling when he had an anaesthetic earlier in the year. We thought he might have to have another one (badly broken wrist and they thought it might need to be reset) and he was really looking forward to it. Very disappointed when it wasn't necessary. He said it was a lovely floaty sleep.

He was a bit confused when he woke up for abotu 10 minutes, but he was eating chicken nuggets and chips an hour later!

[Cadmum]

snooks; I just saw your post about possible cryig in recovery room. This is exactly what happened to DD2. She was tired and groggy to begin with and then she just started to scream and was impossible to console for what felt like ages but probably lasted all of 8 minutes. Once she was calm again, one of the nursed told me that it was likely a reaction to the GA and a release of all the emotion. She said that it happens fairly often.

Once she was calm, there were no more tears the rest of the day. She had a huge nap once back on the ward and it was tricky to know what to do for fear of waking her up and sending her back into a wobbly.

I would recommend that you bring along snacks, and something to keep you busy. I was so grateful to have DH with me but I wish that I had brought something to read or do.

I hope that everything goes brilliantly for your ds and for you and your DH.

I was surprised by the compassion the staff had for our plight as parents but I had the exact opposite experience when DS2 had a GA as an infant so it varies greatly...

[BroccoliSpears]

I can relate to the wierdness of your dp not being the strong copey one. Dd was almost 2 when she split her lip badly and was rushed to A&E. I was all calm and sensible until dp got there just as she was going in for a GA so they could sew her face together again. I got completely wobbly until dp came out of the GA room and had a bit of a cry - am not used to seeing dp upset or crying, but in a weird way it meant I couldn't be a complete pudding, so we both comforted each other instead of me sobbing and him being Big Strong Man.

[Blu]

I think crying in the recovery room is often as much about disorientation...and they may not actually be fully conscious when they are doing it either - a bit like night terrors. DS has only done it once, and that was pain - but the meds he was on made him only barely aware. They come round from the GA in stages - and can be 'awake' but not fully conscious.

[seeker]

Oh and I agree about the bear, or whatever other comfort object will help. One thing that shocked me (forgot to say before) is how incredibly quickly he went to sleep. One minute he was discussing what bravery certificate he would have - the next he was asleep. It was practically instntaneous, and I wasn't read for that. Be prepared!

[Blu]

Seeker is right - I nearly dropped Ds one time because he was suddenly so 'heavy floppy'!

[castille]

My DD (10) had her first GA in Sept. I was terrified, but hosptial doc DH was incredibly calm and matter-of-fact, which reassured me enormously, particularly as he's trained in anaesthesia. They are incredibly careful and the drugs are so good that rationally there's nothing to worry about (says she who was shaking with fear when they took DD off)

Anticipation is far worse than the reality. She'll be absolutely fine

[snooks]

ok, have been to preschool and picked up ds1 and 2, had lunch and have read all of your messages - wow, you all have made me feel so much better.

It is lovely to not feel 'alone', and even though I know dh feels the same as me, we are trying to be brave for each other - it is good to hear from people who have been through it and know that we all feel the same. I've taken all your thoughts and ideas on board

Goodness, just read that back and I sound so dramatic - I have to remember that this is a 15 min grommet operation, not god forbid, open heart surgery. We all worry though don't we, and it's certainly helped me no end to 'talk' about it. I really don't feel as bad as I did this morning (for now anyway!)

One other thing: does anyone think we should tell the hospital that we'll be bringing dd3 (5 mths) with us - she's bf and won't take a bottle so I can't leave her with my parents and ds1. I suppose they are used to siblings coming along?

[rebelmum1]

I have to say I suffer with drug allergies and have very extreme reactions but the people I trust most in the medical profession are the anaetheatists. The ones I have met quite a few and my experience is that they are extremely careful and very knowledgeable.

[MKG]

My nephew (also 2.5) recently had surgery on his throat for a cyst. My sil and bil were both more worried about the GA than the surgery itself. It was fine and the surgery went well.

You'll feel better when it's all over, but for now try not to worry so much.

[Zazette]

My dd has had GA twice, and I found it very distressing both times. But as everyone says, the risks are actually tiny.

Dd was ragingly angry when she came round both times - this is apparently not uncommon as an alternative to crying! it really surprised us though, was quite upsetting. Be ready not to take it personally if your ds has the same reaction.

good luck!

[Blu]

Snooks - I would talk to the Ward Manager about taking your baby. I am sure there will be no problem, BUT they may ask one of you to wait on the ward with the baby while the other accompanies your DS to the anaesthetic and then Recovery. In our hospital they only let one of us in to the anaesthetic room, anyway - though we both go down to the 'holding bay' outside. The recovery bay is a bit like intensive care - there are no visitor chairs etc, and in fact, only parents of child patients go into recovery, since it is immediately outside the theatres. Adult patients are re-united with family back on the ward.

Oh - and by the way - you have to put on full gown, hat and shoe covers to go into the anaesthetic room.

[snooks]

blu - thanks - will ring the ward manager. maybe we should rethink the situation - maybe bring my mum to look after the baby so me and dh can accompany ds as much as possible and then i can just feed the baby as necessary. my dad could look after ds1 at home.

wearing the gown/hat and shoe covers sounds scarily 'real'.

[Blu]

If possible, I think having your mum at the hospital would be ideal. It can be quite hectic and busy when you get back from theatre - they do lots and lots of monitoring checks to begin with - there will be very very little room in the bay for a buggy, and you will be fully occupied looking after your DS. If your Mum could wheel your dd about and bring her to you for feeds, that would probably be ideal.

You'll all be fine, anyway

[snooks]

blu, yes, think that's what we will do, glad I asked the question. She's got to the age when she gets fed up just sat in the pram and wants to be held so she can look around. I should've got her used to taking a bottle of ebm by now but it's so hectic with the three of them all the time I kept putting it off, and the op was arranged pretty quickly and has crept up on us. Thanks again.

[stramash]

I'm an anaesthetist and I still had a bit of a wobble when one of the dds had a GA. I knew she'd be fine ( the risks are very low - driving is much more risky ) but it's something to do with the fact that as a mum you're supposed to protect your kids. Little ones can't understand or process why you're doing this to them ( if that makes sense)- not helped by the fact that you want to be anywhere but there yourself. In my experience, almost all parents cry when they leave their dcs in the anaesthetic room so take some hankies...

Be prepared for the the fact that your ds won't look " asleep" as such, and will go a bit floppy. It's normal but can be a bit of a shock if you're not expecting it. My dd didn't like the mask very much ( at all) and cried a bit but was absolutely fine afterwards and bouncing around an hour later.

At 2.5 I should think your ds might be able to sit on your knee to go off to sleep . Most anaesthetists who do a lot of ENT have lots of experience of children so try not to worry ( easy for me to say). Grommets don't take too long so it'll be over in a flash.

Good luck.

[SparklyGothKat]

My Ds1 has had two GAs, the first one was a 'light GA' as he was only having botox injections into his hips. The 2nd one was for a major leg operation in May. I cried my eyes out when he had the 1st one as I wasn't expecting him to suddenly pass out as quickly as he did. He came round quickly and was eating and running around the ward very quickly.
DH went with him for his 2nd GA, while I waited on the ward with Ds2, as I couldn't go through it again. DH cried too. DS1 was under for 2 hours, and it was a horrible wait, and Ds1 seemed very p*ssed off with us when he came round, but he was back to himself within a few hours, but in pain.

[Cadmum]

Snooks, (I live in Switzerland so my advice may not apply) We were the only family without a sibling at the hospital and many of them were older so I am fairly certain that a breastfed baby won't pose a problem at all.

It will make it more challenging for you though...

Be sure t

[SparklyGothKat]

missed the bit about your BF baby. I took Ds2 with me when Ds1 had his operation, he was 8 months old and BF, the hospital arranged for me to stay on the ward in a room with DS1 and Ds2 after the op.

[snooks]

stramash, thank you for your lovely post. i know what you mean about wanting to protect your little ones; strangely, i feel sort of guilty for putting him through an op when his condition isn't life-threatening (thank the lord) and the outcome is only life-enhancing - don't know if that makes much sense? interesting what you say about the going to sleep bit and them not really looking like they're "asleep" (i am really dreading this now but it is definitely better to be fore-warned).

SparklyGothKat hope your ds1 is better now. i don't know what i'd do with myself for 2 hours.....from what you and everyone says, sounds like there will be some tears when they put him to sleep. i get a lump in my throat just imagining the scenario.

Cadmum, that's good to know (re the siblings thing). my mum is definitely coming with us to look after dd3. i actually think it will be good for her (my mum) to be there because she is dreading it too, it will probably be better than being on the end of the phone waiting for a call.

Gah, wish it was 48 hours time and it was all over. just want to bring it on now! i've reached the point when i'm almost stopping complete strangers in the street and saying "this is ds2 and he's having an operation on thursday for glue ear", such is my obsession.

[snooks]

Thought I would just update this thread, seeing as the op is over and all is well.

Well, as others have said (you lovely people) today wasn't as bad as we had feared. The starvation bit from 8am wasn't actually that bad either, the morning flew by and we managed to distract him for the most part. We left early to get to the hospital for lunchtime so he had a kip in the car for an hour which helped.

The absolutely worst part was the giving of the GA - he had a canula in his hand which didn't hurt at all (local anaesthetic) and I held it together til I made the mistake of looking back over my shoulder at him as we left the room, big mistake! The image of him lying on a big bed surrounded by nurses with a tiny oxygen mask over his face will stay with me for a long, long time

Apart from a crying episode of an hour of an half after the op (quite normal apparently, if a tad on the long side) everything is great! He was hurtling around the kitchen at top speed with ds1 before bed.

Am so relieved. Will be thinking of you next week ListersSister and you too Blu next Tuesday.