2 yr old having grommets

[meganandlucymummy]

My 2 yr old is having grommets put in on Wednesday. I know it's a minor daycase op but I'm worried even so and she is so young. Has anyone got any advice from their experiences? Thank you x

my eldest now 16 had them done..3 times. My God daughter has just had them. It is minor, but its still really worrying for parents isnt it.
She is too little to fully understand so at least she wont get too worked up by it. Try to relax..easier said than done I know

DD3 had grommetts last spring and can honestly say she bounced back so quickly that even I was surprised. Your DD will be absolutly fine, it'll be you who will worry naturally.

The waiting to go to theatre is the worst part ime, have her special toy handy or take lots of sticker books to keep her occuppied (the department will have lots of toys though.)

We changed her into her own pjs instead of a hospital gown, perhaps they will let you do that?

We brought her a special toy that she unwrapped after she had recovered from the anaesthetic which helped.

Pain releif was in the form of a anti-inflamatory suppository followed by oral paracetamol when she was awake enough.

Hope all this helps, and don't worry, she'll be fine.

Thanks for sharing your experiences x

Did they let you into the anaesthetic room until she was asleep? And into the recovery room so you were there when she woke up? How long was she in theatre for?

I was in the anaesthetic room until she was asleep and I went down to the recovery room when she was awake enough to go back to the department, after about half an hour she was allowed something to eat - offered cereal or toast, and had a drink.

I'm not sure how long she was in theatre for but I think it was about 10- 20mins (she had bi-lateral grommets), I think she was away from me for about 45mins to an hour.

HTH

DD had grommets when she was 18 months. The worst thing was when they put her to 'sleep'. She was screaming and looking at me terrified. That was awful. Then they wheeled her into theatre and I walked out crying! Was horrible. But she was only away from me about an hour and they called me so I was there when she woke up and she was fine and trotting around the ward in a matter of minutes. It will be fine. Just prepare yourself for the first bit - after that it is fine. And remember, the surgeons do that operation thousands of times. And hopefully, she will be so much better for it afterwards.

Thank you all for sharing your experiences - it's helping loads x

If you think she'll be upset going under the anaesthetic, either you or your nurse could read her a story while it's being administered. Thats what we did and DD went off like a dream. Good luck and I'll be thinking about you on Weds.

I went for grommets with DS2. Got as far as the pre-op assessment, 7 days before op scheduled. He had had so many infections, he had been put on a long course of low dose antibiotics to get him to the op. When we got to pre-op, the problem was so much better that the op was cancelled. This was largely because I asked a lot of questions, otherwise the (?) registrar would just have carried on the pre-determined course.

He never had another infection! If he had had the op I would have been saying how marvellously effective it was, best thing we ever did etc.

Not sure this is any help to you - just what happened to us. Good luck.

Have found out today she has to wear a theatre gown :-( . She is going to be inconsolable.

I would take PJs with you and ask if she can wear them, theres no reason why she can't.

the kids' theatre gowns are really sweet though, with funky pictures on them usually.
My dd has had oodles of minor surgeries (10+) for ears and eyes and never had to wear a gown for those though, always pyjamas. She's had a gown for major stuff.
If you think it'll add to the stress ring the day ward and check with them. There is no need for a gown for grommet surgery.

I'll check with them and take her PJ's with us as you have suggested - thanks x

Message withdrawn

Hi there. My ds had grommets at 2 (he's nearly 4 now) and it was far worse for me than him!

Worse bit was putting him to sleep, they allow 1 parent into the anaestic (sp?) room and it seemed like the mask was on his little face for ever before he went to sleep, but was probably only seconds. The staff are so geared up for dealing with kids though, and for ds, the nurse, aneasathist and surgeon were all singing teletubbies to him whilst he was being out to sleep. It was surreal!

I too walked out of the room crying, as is is upsetting seeing your little one being wheeled away. But it is a minor operation, and a lot of kids have to go through far worse. Ds was alraedy awake by teh time we got to recovery so he was a bit distressed and wanted his mummy.

Honestly though, within 10 minutes of being back on the ward he was munching toast and charging around, the nurses said he looked like he'd never had surgery.

Hope all goes well for your dd.
xx

Well it's barely lunchtime and we are home already. All done and dusted. She was most upset by having to wear a wrist band but the gown and going to sleep did not bother her at all. I was worrying about nothing - thanks all for your words of wisdom and experience it was a great help x

Message withdrawn

wow, that was quick. glad to hear it went well.