Operations and inhalers

[crescent]

Hi,
Was wondering if any of you could give me some advice. My grandson has been due to have an inguinal hernia operation for about a year now and my daughter has been putting it off because for the last 12 months he has had to go back on his steroid inhalers for his asthma. He had managed without them for over a year previously, so she (and the gp) were hoping that he could get off them before he had to have this op.
Unfortunately he does still seem to need them
Have any of your children had operations whilst taking regular inhalers? Does this complicate things very much. Have to admit as there has never been any asthma in our family before this whole subject worries the life out of me!
Would be really grateful for any advice.

I think he'll be okay as long as the anaethesia crew and his post-op caregivers are fully aware of his condition.

His pre-op team should be able to help as well.

yes, my dd had a hernia op while she was still on inhalers (I THINK at the time she was on becotide and ventolin).

She also had several allergies.

Just meant the anaethetist was a bit more cautious with her which I felt was no bad thing!

i had asthma as a child and still do just not as bad if i take my steriod inhaler regulalrly it doesnt bother me at all.

also how old is your gs? the younger he was when he developed asthma the more likely he is to grow out of it as he gets older. and people with asthma should never find there asthma bothering them. if he is on steriod inhalers and still suffering he needs different inhalers. steriod ones are meant as a preventative so that they you dont need to take the releiver inhalers very often if at all.

i had an operation for gromets not long afer being diagnosed and things were absolutley fine. as expat said as long as the anthetist is aware there will no problems at all.

anaethetists are trained to work with people who have medical conditions, too.

my FIL just had a kidney procedure adn has hypertension and insulin-dependent diabetes.

it can be managed so long as the team is aware.

i have a genetic condition wihch causes my body temperature to get out of control under GA, but it can be managed with the right drugs.

many thanks for all the replies.
My gs is 4.5, micci25, and his asthma isn't bothering him as such. But if he doesn't have his nighttime inhalers then he does cough a lot, that is his main symptom. The gp has also said he would not want to give him his MMR booster whilst he is still on inhalers. The exact words of both the consultant regarding the op and the gp regarding the mmr were that "It posed an unecessary risk to ...." That is what got me worried. Well even more worried as tbh I worry excessively over my gs, can you tell?

you sound like a very caring grandparent!

your daughter can ask to have a chat with the anaethetist...I found them fantastic. They really put me at ease and they always make sure with little ones that they are under for the least time possible and in my experience, they are quite quick with hernias!

his asthma should get better or dissapear as he gets older, i was about 8 or 9 when i was first diagnosed and mine asthma is much better now than that what is was when i was younger. it is not a definate that it will go away though just more likely especially as it doesnt run in your family.

im sure the op will be fine and his asthma wont make a difference providing the right people knw about it, which they will do as it will be in his notes.

Won't be a problem at all.

The anaesthetist will ask about all medications including inhalers prior to the op.

paediatric anaesthetists go through years and years of training and deal with anaesthetising children with many medical conditions or who have sustained injuries in accidents.

same as adult anaesthetists deal with people with complex medical needs who need operations often in their practice.

really, i'm sure they'd be happy to address all your concerns and let you know how his care will work.

but it's actually not common that a person cannot be anaesthetised and it's usually someone whose general condition is unstable due to current or recent serious illness or accidental injury.

hernias are no fun so maybe your daughter can arrange to speak to a surgical consultant and see what he/she thinks and an anaesthetist.

Thank you so much for all the replies, I do really appreciate it. I don't post very often but whenever I've had a question I have been so touched by all the caring replies so although I always feel a bit of fraud being on here due to my advanced years, I am so grateful for this forum and wish it had been around years ago. I was a first time mum at 19 and just as bad a worrier then, haven't improved with age . I will definitely bear all your advice in mind.

he's your GS, crescent.

it's his health and you're concerned!

believe me, i've yet to meet an anaesthetist who wouldn't be happy to go over your concerns in the pre-op.

and they can definitely manage his condition!