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Original poster

DS to have general anaesthetic - any advice?

19 replies

chocolateshoes · 13/09/2006 19:56

Ds - 14months is due to have his ear tag removed next week. He has to have a general anaesthetic. I know this is nothing compared to some of the things I've read on here but I am really worried about it. Does anyone have any advice about how DS is likely to be afterwards? Any after-effects I should watch out for?

OP posts:

naswm · 13/09/2006 20:27

Emotionally the whole process will be worse for you than him. They will be great with your lo. Children bounce back froim GA much quicker than adults do. (although it depends how long he'll be under for, of course). My DSs have had quite a few GAs between them and generally have recovered v well from them. Even the big ones (ie longer ops, and so more gas) they ahve receovgerd v quickly. and it is amazxing how soon they are up in the play room!

I dont know anything about ear tags, so cant offer any specific advice, but I hope it goes v well for you. Talk to the ither parents on the ward. It is good to share things with those going throiugh the same as you. hope that helps.

geogteach · 13/09/2006 20:32

I agree with naswm, DS has had 3 and recovered remarkable quickly, just be prepared for him being sick - DS was very sick over me and him the first time and we had no spare clothes, I would take some in case.

MegaLegs · 13/09/2006 20:32

chocolateshoes - my ds is due to have a GA in a couple of weeks too. He is older though, nearly 7. We went to a pre op assessment where the childrens' nurse answered his and my questions. She said that children respond differently and it often depends on how they are when they wake up from a natural sleep. If they wake up fretful and crying they will probably do the same with a GA, ditto if they wake up calmly and happy. We shall see.
Hope all goes well, I am not looking forward to it at all.

naswm · 13/09/2006 20:35

yes would echo the spare clothes thing. But I onluy had one sicky episode after a partocuil;arly long anaethestic

Original poster

chocolateshoes · 13/09/2006 20:40

Thanks - hadn't even thought about the sick possibility so that's very helpful advice as we'll have a good hours journey up the motorway so it wouldn't be pleasant all sicky!!

OP posts:

Original poster

chocolateshoes · 13/09/2006 20:43

Hope all goes well for your DS MegaLegs. Sometimes being a parent is so scary isn't it - but why is it that DP never gets anywhere near as worried as me?!

OP posts:

naswm · 13/09/2006 20:51

I agreee chocshoes. Let us know hopw you get on. I totally empathise with you. Nx

dinny · 13/09/2006 20:52

Megalegs, I was a wreck when ds had one at 12 months. found the hardest things were having to deal with a starving ds all day long (he had last milk at breakfast and didn't go down to theatre till 4.45pm) - v distressing as he kept trying to latch on and I had to not let him.
also hideous was actually leaving him in theatre and the time away from him (obviously).
then afterwards he was groggy at first when he woke and then went ballistic screaming (which I wasn't expecting!)
but he was fine and we got though it - the surgeon, anaesthetis and nurses were amazing all the best, Dinny

naswm · 13/09/2006 20:54

diiny - that brings it all back. But we do get through these things dont we. Chocolate shoes, you'll be fine. Taljk to us here

dinny · 13/09/2006 21:48

sorry, meant my post to Chocolateshoes and Megalegs. All the best to you both and your dcs.x

Original poster

chocolateshoes · 14/09/2006 16:32

Am dreading the starvation. The appointment is for 8am but I don't know if that's when they'll get started. They say to wake him for water at 6.30am but I can't see Ds going for that! He'll want his Ready Brek! And at 14 months you can't really explain!

OP posts:

Tillyboo · 14/09/2006 16:58

Hi, our dd is due for another op tomorrow. This is her 2nd GA and she is almost 2.5 yrs. It's very scary for us parents but the children seem to take it in their stride. I found the worst thing was going in with my dd to have the GA. She was very tired and had her dummy which was a blessing as she didn't struggle or cry. Be prepared though as it's quite upsetting to see them just fall asleep and see them lying on the bed. Take a dummy or a favourite cuddly toy in with you to distract attention away.
Your ds will probably have the numbing cream taped to the back of his hands prior to his op in readiness for the GA. When you go in for the GA, your ds will sit on your lap with an arm tucked under yours and round the back of your back. This is so that the doctors can inject the GA without being too obvious - this is where the toy or dummy comes in handy. You'll be told to hold tight as ds will go floppy once he's asleep, you will then be asked to lay him on the bed.
The staff are always lovely and supportive and you know your little one is in good hands. Take spare jimjams, you may need them if they get mucky after theatre gown change. My dd wasn't sick and recovered from the GA very quickly, in fact she was trampolining on the bed when the consultant came round to check on her to see if she was well enough to go home the same day - all very enbarrassing.
No other after affects, she was quite happy, just maybe a little quiet for the first evening.
Good Luck, don't worry - hospital playrooms are generally very good too so your ds will have fun too

geogteach · 14/09/2006 22:14

They usually go in order of age youngest first so with any luck you will go down quite soon

Yorkiegirl · 14/09/2006 22:19

Message withdrawn

TinyGang · 14/09/2006 22:22

My dd (7) had a minor op under GA recently. I was so worried, but honestly she was fine and has been playing hospitals ever since.

She was allowed to take her favourite teddy in with her. When she woke up, the first thing she saw was her teddy and they'd put a real doctors mask on him.

frogs · 14/09/2006 22:34

Ds had an op under general anaesthetic at 16 months to bring down a testicle.

Like you, I was most worried about the starvation aspect, but actually it wasn't a problem as we had to leave so early that he was out of his routine anyway iyswim. After a certain point (and bear in mind by 6.30 he's already starved since the evening before) starvation just makes them lethargic rather than seriously pissed off.

I just remember endlessly walking up and down the corridor with ds and his cuddly blanket while we awaited his turn. Thanks to the cream he didn't feel the needle going in. The worst moment is watching them go floppy in the anaesthetic room, because it looks and feels completely different to normal sleep -- they actually look lifeless and tend to go a bit bluish as well. So be prepared for that, and remember it's normal. Frankly it felt like such a privilege to be there with him compared with my memory of having an op aged 3 with not a parent in sight, being held down on the table and having a gas mask forced over my face.

They really do go out of their way to help you to help the child iyswim. Hope it goes well.

Original poster

chocolateshoes · 15/09/2006 19:23

Thanks for all these reassuring messages. I feel so much better now I have an idea of what to expect. Just can't wait for it to be over.

OP posts:

Tillyboo · 16/09/2006 22:56

Chocolateshoes - Just wanted to say that dd had her op yesterday and although it was frightening, upsetting and a whole mix of other emotions (no point in fluffing over the truth) she has come out of it very well.
Today she is absolutely bouncing, so much happier than she has been in weeks. So don't worry, children recover so quickly and don't seem to feel sorry for themselves - not like us adults.
Good luck, everything will be fine

Original poster

chocolateshoes · 18/09/2006 19:39

Thanks Tillyboo. Good to hear that your DD has come through it well. You must be relieved & probably shattered. Hope you can relax with a glass of wine this evening.
I rang the hospital today to cancel DS's app. He has been really poorly following his MMR jabs & just couldn't put him through more. (His is a non-urgent op). Will wait to see when next app is.

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