nervous about op tomorrow - Elibean?

[lubblyjubblies]

DS is having his tonsils and adenoids out tomorrow - eek! Feel sick with worry already. Op has been cancelled twice already as he hasnt been well enough to have it done but I think they may well do it tommorow. He isnt 100%, has a horrid wet cough, but then he always has that. Hospital have just rung and done admission details over phone, as well as confirming his ward bed and HDU bed for afterwards.
Elibean, isnt your LO's op tomorrow too? How are you? DS is blissfully unaware, is yours?
How long have you been told you will be in?

could vomit thinking about it

Yes, oh yes! To nerves and unaware dd (though dd1 keeps helpfully saying 'M, you know you're having your tonsils cut out tomorrow' ).

She's pale and coughs in the early morning, but not once up and about...bit off her food, but thats pretty normal for her and probably down to tonsils as much as anything else. If your ds doens't have a temp, I bet they'll go ahead....the admissions nurse we saw last week said anything other than a raging temperature or hacking cough would be ok. I was told probably one night, possibly in HDU but they are doing a laryngoscopy, and if her airway looks fine (minus its tonsils) she may not need it...won't know more till tomorrow.

I'm scared, but wanting to get on with it now...ahve to go and pack, and am overpacking in desperate need to feel in control! You?

Oh, and no call here - not expecting one, just have to show up at 11am with starving, thirsty, probably v cross 2.2 yr old

Aaargh, forgot: worst bit, admissions nurse said when they're unsure about airway stability, they may - very unlikely but may - want to take her off me awake and anaesthetise in theatre

I am going in extra anxious as a result. My plan, if they tell us on the ward that they do want to do that, is to state firmly that I would like to come in too, be it dressed to the eyeballs in gowns and surgical mask, and promise to rush out as soon as her eyelids flutter. They may be responsible for her airway, but I'm responsible for her psyche and I don't see why she needs to be traumatized to that extent...

Oh, and check out thread below 'ENT operation' because useful tips from sausagenmash on food

last one, I promise - what time are you booked in for, lubbly?

11am too
I work in theatre and would be very surprised if they didnt allow you to stay for the induction of anaesthetic, even if it was in theatre. The only way I would consider NOT being there for induction would be if they had given a good premed, and so they wouldnt remember even if they cried at time IYSWIM.
If we are expecting difficult intubation we have lots of extra kit to hand but none of it is necessary until patient is asleep, and can still be used in anaesthetic room in my trust.
The only exception I can think of is an awake intubation which I am sure they wouldnt dream of doing on a kid unless it was a life or limb op.
Good luck tomorrow,
off to pack too!

Ah, lubbly, thats exactly what I needed to hear...thank you. A friend who is an anaesthetics assistant said same about her hospital - but they do vary, of course. I will quote my two professional pals as saying that, if questioned

Good luck to you too, here's to fast healing and easy ops for both our LOs, and equally here's to hoping they either don't need HDU or behave reasonably well in there (can't quite imagine 2 yr old protesting loudly in quiet of HDU as I remember it!)

Will be thinking of you, xx

How'd it go, Lubbly? dd's lasted 1.5 hours, they did bronchoscopy, cut bands of cartilage to free larynx, whilst in there

Tonsils and adenoids were huge. She's already quieter sleeping! Anaeasthesia was gas in the end, because of her breathing issues, but she napped the whole way through so easy...waking up was a different matter.

Recovery so far hard work, she's very sore and sleeping in tiny snatches - but is eating! How is your ds? Thinking of you, xx

Hi, we're home too. Glad its over though. DS was in 1.5 hrs too. They removed tonsils and adenoids and looked at all airway. Said tonsils and adenoids were all big, but airway looked anatomically normal, but lots of secretions. Sample sent off to lab. He woke fine, sat up and munched 2 sandwiches and a plate of crisps . After that he slept more or less right through until 12 midday today!
His oxygen levels were constantly monitored as kept dropping very low but as they picked straight back up he didnt need HDU or anything more than a whiff of oxygen every now and again.
He has just gone to bed very unhappy though, clingy and crying over every little thing. Had 3 plasters where they tried to cannulate him (each hand and eventually foot ) which he has sobbed about.
Quite bizzarely he is snoring worse than ever. Am hoping it is just down to swelling.
How is DD's voice? DS's is very odd and hard to understand.
And what about breathe? DS STINKS!, keep having to check his nappy it is that bad - eurgh.
Just given him nurofen and codeine phosphate, hoping he has a decent sleep.

Empathy to you two - both my DS have been through this in one way or another.

Hoping the little ones are running around again v soon. (IME the 2nd or 3rd nights were 'worse' than the 1st - but then afther that things picked up).

nas
x

Thanks, naswm and its helpful to know about 2nd and 3rd night.

Our first one was no picnic, but tonight she's very whingey, running a temp of 37.5, and threw up the little supper she ate (had no lunch other than milk and water and 2 crisps, not much breakfast). I'm worried.

Lubbly, I'm so glad your ds made it through so well - sounds as though he slept a lot better than dd who slept in 1 hr snatches, woke up crying and coughing every time! No codeine here, because of airway effects, so just Voltarol and paracetamol. She's also refused to take any milk and antibiotics tonight, no idea what to do about that - currently asleep (and snoring, but less badly than before) in my bed.

No stinky breath yet, and less noisy, but she was SO noisy before thats not hard! I think she's got more swelling tonight, bit wheezy and 'bubbly' sounding though her chest was clear this morning in hospital...aargh, not sure what to do...is this all normal??

Oh, re nappies, yes, those stink - dd farted her way through last 24 hours and finally produced runny, stinky poo tonight

Oh, isnt it awful. DS hasnt really eaten today either. His temp was 37.5 when they discharged him and they said that was fine. They havent given us antibiotics though? I thought they would TBH.
All you can do is play it hour by hour. You know her best. Does she have inhalers for wheeze? If so I would blast her with blue whilst asleep, the a/b's should cover any possible infection brewing with bubbly chest, and hopefully paracetamol to bring down any fever.
The surgeon explained to me that kids prone to lots of secretions as in asthma/viral wheeze etc often are really noisy/snotty/crackly after a GA. I was questioning him about infection as DS has had a horrid green snotty nose since last night, but he thinks it is just his body getting rid of gunk accumulated during surgery and looong sleep.
Hope your DD doesnt give you too much cause for concern tonight. I really want a glass of wine but feel scared incase of freak bleed etc etc
xx

sorry to hear they have been unwell since - hour by hour, that is the way. And do call the ward if you are worried.

keep me posted

nas
x

thanks, yes, its horrid

dd very upset tonight, clearly in pain, gave voltarol an hour early (they did that on the ward too).

I called ward, they said 37.8 was ok....hmm...

Good luck, Lubbly, runny nose here too!

And thanks again, nas, appreciate your support

sorry about this Elibean - hope she is birghter tomorrow, poor little thing

{{{{{}}}}}

Now its 38.1. A&E or wait?? Aaargh!

Elibean, is that temp after voltarol? And how many days post op?

She had her voltarol about 20 minutes ago (and 8 hours before that) and the op was about 28 hours ago...

when was her last paracetamol?
can she have more now ?
if not get on phone to ward, ask their opinion. They will be best placed to help
let us know if poss how you go, x x

paracetamol at 5pm, was trying to wait till midnight so as to overlap meds as told to do...but tempted.

Ward said earlier up to 38 was normal and not to worry, but its very unusual for dd to have a temp...so this is high for her.

Just took it again, down a bit to 37.7...guess I'll wait a bit longer?

Is she is awake or wakes soon, I would get paracetamol in her personally, its been 4 hrs. Just beware may have to be longer till next dose (24 hr dose)

Second lubbly. Ring ward again. Explain about what drugs have been given when. If she needs to be seen, they may suggest you go straight to ward and bypass the chaos that can be A and E.

Hope things improve Elibean was thinking about you both earlier.

Thanks again. Ward won't bypass, they said to go to A&E and that they couldn't give advice over the phone though the nurse then softened and told me not to worry about a temp up to 38. She also said I had to get the antibiotics into her, but she just won't drink/eat them wahtever I put them in, and was sick earlier, so I'm stuck for now - will try again later in night.

I'll take her temp again in ten minutes, and if its up again I'll call them anyway...if not, I'll wait and give paracetamol in an hour: I do'nt want to leave a huge gap with nothing during the night, if possible.