Gromets (but no Wallace)....please reassure me

[hoarsewhisperer]

my poor boy is in alot of pain due to a huge build up of gunk in his middle ear. Went to the ENT specialist today who says he needs gromets put in. Luckily they have made a space for him to have it done on tuesday.

It's a general anasthetic right? I am terrified of general anasthetics.....

anyone who has been through this - please tell me that its nothing to worry about.

my poor baby...he's 6 by the way

Honest, it really is quick and easy. My DD has had two sets in now and had her adenoids out with the last set which seemed to have stopped the glue fully. My DD was 7 when she had the final set in.

The worst bit for her was the nil by mouth on the morning of the procedures as she loves her food. The hospital had a fantastic playroom which really helped (she also enjoyed undivided attention from me as she's the youngest and I'm also a childminder so she's used to sharing me).

You are right it is a GA. They should use a numbing cream on the back of his hands where they will put in the canula. They used distraction when my DD was cannulated and she didn't even realise what they were doing as she was sat on my knee with her arm around my back whilst the play leader was reading her a story. She went to sleep very quickly and took her straight off me and I was ushered out the room . She was down in recovery for a fair while but when I went down to collect her she was awake although she did appear to be slightly drunk and found everything hillarious. Not all children react like that so be warned you may expect some tears from him. Within an hour of returning to the unit she was up, eating and was her normal self. she was painfree as they'd given her painkillers in recovery. HTH

hoarsewhisperer - they do work and you should not be worried about the anasthetic. There is always a risk of course in any operation but it is a very light anasthetic and only lasts 10 - 20 minutes. Our DS1 was 4 when he had his.

The only thing I would advise is just make sure you are there when your DS wakes up. They told me to go away for 1 hour but the operation finished early for DS1 and he woke up without me being there. He was distraught. The grommets worked really well at the time (like magic) but now 4.5 years later we are having problems again.

I did a post yesterday about our later grommet problems with DS1 and if anyone is on who has any experience of grommets I would be really grateful if you could pop over and have a look at my thread as well just in case you have a view.

Here

Have posted Abetadad.

Thanks everyone. I guess it is a light anasthetic - i have been told that they will fine tune it so he is out for only 10 mins max and they have weighed him already and done a blood test so they can calibrate the anasthetic as closely as possible.

I have been told that their normal proceedure is that I will be allowed to go to surgery with him - will wait outside the room and then will be back with him as soon as it is done, so I should be there when he wakes up.

thanks

i took my ex charge (4) to have hers done - mum was at work

all was fine, i stayed with her till she went to sleep and was there when she woke up

she woke up perky, and once she had eaten and weed was allowed to go home

hearing improved amazingly!!!!

Has anyone talked to you about alternative treatments? My nephew used a ballon to clear his ears. Check out www.gluear.co.uk