Daughter having a General Anaesthetic. She's very frightened

[Willablackford]

My Daughter age 10 is going into Hospital to get her Tonsils and adenoids out

She so frightened & is crying lots
She said she's scared of sleeping in Hospital & is scared it'll hurt

I'v reassured her she'll be ok & i'll be with her the whole time.
But it's not working & she's so scared

I know she's scared about the general anaesthetic. But she won't tell me why

How do i make it easier for her

I asked DS about this last night - what he would say to a child who was afraid of the operation, and afriad she might not wake up. He said "I'd tell her that it's nothing, ealy, and just get it over with. It doesn't hurt - or only a little bit, and not for long, and No Pain No Gain. COURSE the anaesthetist will awake you up - they won't leave you asleep fro the est of your life - they have togo home for ta, you know!"

This last bit may help. Does she think that it will somehow be her own sleeping self's responsibility to wake herself up and she doesn't know how to do it? The anaestetist stays with a patient all the time, monitoring the drugs, the oxygen, breathing etc, they don't just knock you out and scarper. And I'm not 100% sure about this, but I don't think they just leave you to wake up, either - I think they do something to actively stop you being asleep and uncnscious any more. Might this re-assure her - that it is part of the anaesthetists actual job to wake her up again, and s/he will have special drugs that do that?

If you thought it might help, you could CAT me and give me your phone number and DS could chat to her...but it might backfire: it might make her feel even less confident that she still feels afraid of something others are ok about.

It's understandable that she is so nervous - it sounds as if the hospital go togreat lengths to prepare them - maybe that will help too.

I am a complete needle phobe and had a general twice as a child and honestly the anaesthetic doesn't hurt. When I was her age, they put a green cream on my hand to numb it then later they put something (the cannula?) in it and as long as you don't watch it just feels like someone pushing the skin on your hand.

Then when they put the anaesthetic in it just feels like your arm getting all heavy.

I would be honest that it may hurt for a while afterwards but then lots of lovely stuff like ice cream will help with that.

Having had a GA I can say I wouldn't be afraid of having one again and I am a big baby!

Not sure how to deal with the not waking up thing. Can you get the GP to give her a call and have a chat with her? I had to get the dentist ring me and talk me through a filling in the weeks that I was was waiting. It helped relieve the anxiety.

The Operation is now only 9 days away.

On Saturday we're supposed to be going for the Pre-OP Assesment & tour round the Childrens Ward & Theatres.

Dd is absolutely petrified and getting more anxious everyday. She's been pleading with me not to take her on Saturday

She told me she's scared of the seeing the 'sleep doctor and nurses'

A massive part of me wants to cancel the Operation, to stop her being so upset and scared. But my Hubby said if we postpone it,it'll only make her fears worse

What do we do ? She even scared to talk to the nuses

Sorry Willa, lost track of this...what happened today? Did you go to the hospital?

I honestly think you may need to ask your GP about this - about whether she can have a mild sedative / tranquiliser beforehand or something.

We're back from the Hospital & the Pre-Op & tour

We had loads of tears thismorning . It took lots of reassurance & comfort to get Dd in the car, and then into the Hospital

We were immediately struck by how colourful and child friendly the Day Ward was. Decorated with Disney Characters and all sorts.
All the Nurses wore Red Poloshirt & black Trousers. Some were also wearing colourful bib things.

We were shown round by a lovely nurse, she was brilliant at making dd feel at ease.
Dd didn't want to look round the Anaesthetic & Recovery Rooms (she started crying & got very anxious again)

Instead we had a session with a Play Specialist in the Playroom. She was fab,managed to calm dd down (she was in floods of tears wanting to go home).Dd kept saying "i'm scared mummy,don't leave me,i want to go home"

It all started so positively,but then went down hill . Dd did so well to get as far as she did. Coz she was absolutely terrified, bless her.

We didn't speak to the Anaesthetist,that would have been to much to deal with !
that's being left till the morning of the Operation

Well done for getting through yesterday.

One thing i have found about daunting sounding procedures is that it is better to be very factual, workmanlike and matter of fact than re-assuring There is something about re-assuring that makes children feel there is something they need to be re-assured about, iyswim.

But your dd sounds as if she is more disturbed by the idea of the GA than anxious about the operation itself. It might be worth calling the ward you visited and explaining how worried she is and asking if she could have some mild sedative beforehand.

If you think it might help, you are still welcome to CAT me with your details and I'll get DS to speak to her, and she can ask him questions. He said this morning that there was 'nothing' about his recent operation that was painful, so he won't scare her.

Willa - was the op yesterday? Or today?

Am really hoping you all got through it somehow.

Thinking of you and your dd.

Oh, have looked again and seen it is tomorrow.
Thinking of you.