2 yo grommets op coming up - i'm terrified

[BlueSmarties]

Its is 2 weeks. ENT said he wasn't a great candidate for it but they'd give it a go as otherwise he would def lose his hearing.

He has asthma and a few weeks ago a bad ear infection gave him SVT - a racing heart- so I'm absolutely terrified. Near to tears every time I think about it and i do think about it a lot.

Last couple of days I've really noticed he can't hear me when we are out in public with background noise so hoping op will help.But doesn't stop me being scared.

Honestly he will be fine. They do tonnes of these ops every day and the majority of children benefit hugely from them. He will be a different kid after the op, you'll see. He will have a new lease of life free from the constant infections and the anti-biotics. Take heart.

dd1 has had this op twice now
it was absolutely fine
very quick
very quick to come out of the aneastetic
absolutely fine afterwards and her hearing much much better afterwards

I used to be a theatre nurse, and in my last job I worked mainly in the ENT theatre, so I scrubbed for a lot of grommets operations, and I can tell you that it is a very quick and simple procedure - in fact it is almost quicker to do than it is to describe.

In order to put your mind at rest, I'd advise you to talk to the anaesthetist about your concerns regarding his asthma and the recent SVT - he will be carefully monitored during the operation anyway.

I hope that this helps.

My DS was 6 1/2 when he had this op - he was fine and cured him 100% - he will be fine - it is hard for you I know (from experience)- but your know you are doing the right thing and a positive thing to do it at his age - good luck

Thanks all - especially 'sunny' good to hear from a pro. Do you know how I go about talking to the anaesthetist? Before my c-sections and appendectomy I got to talk to them but not sure they routinely chat to parents pre-op?

In the hospitals where I worked, the anaesthetist saw the patients routinely pre-op, but you can ask the nurses when you get to the ward, and they'll be able to tell you what the policy is there. If you tell them you want to see the anaesthetist, they should be able to make sure that happens for you.

blue smarties my 4 year old DS had them put in yesterday. I have been a nervous wreck fo rthe last week. Always look on the worst case scenario ie him not waking up. Had him in bed with me on the last night feeling sure this was the last time i would ever see him sleep again - HE IS FINE!!!! lucky he was first in as was the youngest, they put him on a trolley and waved the gas over his face. He did have a few tears trickling down his face but he didn't cry. When they are put to sleep they jolt a bit which can be distressing for parent s but the nurse said give him a kiss goodbye as his eyes were closed and lead me out just as he was jolting. She said he was fine and under and as his eyes were shut i left. Had a few minutes to myself in which i took a few deep breaths and composed myself and went to find DH. We went to recovery ward and waited about 20 mins (longest in my life!!) every buzzer or beep that went off i was sure was because my DS was in trouble but he came out on his hugh bed with a sleepy look in his eyes. He took about 40 minutes to be less sleepy but just cuddled up with us. We took him home. The whole preocedute from getting to hospital to getting home was 2 hours - although he was 1st on list. He had a burst of energy around lunch time and then slept for most of afternoon. Today he is fine. Says he doesn't want hosptial bed with doctors again and i said i hope he doesn't also!!! We just told him before that he was just going night night on the hospital bed and the dr would put a gas mask near him which would help him sleep and mummuy would hold his hand and stroke his hair like when he goes to bed and when he woke up mummy and daddy would be there. Honestly its the biggest worry but he will be fine. I have to sat my heart goes out ot parents with children under going major surgery, i don't know how they cope and have so much respect for them and pray we never have to go through that. Not that i am belittling a grommits op in any way, i have never been so worried or neurotic in my life as i was yesterday. No point saying don't worry as you obviously will and you will think well its ok with hindsight for me to be saying its fine!! Sorry such a long post but thought may help if i described what i went through yesterday. Let us know how you get on . THinking of you and DS

lovely thank u so much for the detail. feeling bit better about it now - just want it to be over.

My DS (aged 4 at the time) had bilateral grommets fitted last year. I was in pieces before the operation. But it was ABSOLUTELY FINE. He was only anaethetised for about 30 minutes, and I went down to the operating theatre with him and then straight to the recovery room as soon as he woke up. He handled it like a pro.

Best of all - his hearing is now 100% (it was less than 50% prior to the operation).

The worst bit was leaving him after he'd been anaethetised. He fell asleep very quickly and I left the room sobbing, with a sympathetic nurse hugging me. Apparently most mums do this! And then, half an hour later, he was awake and in my arms again

Good luck. It will be fine.

Really pleased to read about hearing improvement mummydragon coz that is becoming a real issue. Not too worried about the hospital, needles, medical side as used to it now but not looking forward to being left on my own. Also local hospital has restricted visitors to one parent coz of swine flu so really worried they will make husband wait outside.

Bluesmarties, please try not to worry.

My DS2 has had this done three times. The first time it was before his second birthday. He also has respiratory problems and we saw the aneasthetist before the surgery, she gave him a nebulizer before he went down just in case.

It really is over ever so quickly and there is little or no pain afterwards.

Hope your DH is able to be there too for you, although my DS2 has had many operations for various things and the last grommets one I went on my own with him. It was fine.

Take a good magazine, so you can at least pretend to read whilst you are waiting.

Totally understand your worries...but lovely,reassuring posts on here.My ds2 whhho is 2 and a half might have to have them and I feel sick[I return to practice paediatric nurse]and I know how quick the procedure is,but still feel like you do.
Ds1 had a GA when he was 5 for teeth to be taken out and I cried when I left him[and it is true most parents do]
Think how fab he will feel when he can hear properlyThinking of you both.

Hi and Good luck. Just came on here to find out about this stuff myself as my 4 year old has just seen ENT consultant re hearing loss after the watchful waiting period for glue ear. He reccommends bilateral grommets and also taking out his adenoids. Has anyone any esperience of this?. I have since been told children who have had the adenoids out can get more infections later on. Unsure what to do now!! consultant seemed a bit gung ho to go ahead - GP was far more wary. We have BUPA cover so I am concerned the consultant just wants the money.

I too am concerned, daughter of eight is waiting for a referal to Luzern childrens hospital for assesment for grommet insertions. Girl is treating whole thing as an adventure. I am scared witless and we don't even know if it will go ahead.