About 2 weeks ago Daniel’s tonsils flared up for the third time this year, which of course meant a course of antibiotics and Etienne and I decided that it was time for Daniel’s (and our) first visit to the ENT. It’s not just the tonsils though, his allergies are really really bad this year and his eczema has flared up in a big way. I also realised that I should stop shouting at him for eating with his mouth open as his nose is probably too blocked to eat any other way.
We have also been worried about his hearing, although to be honest, we wrote it off to him just not listening and have been insisting that he look at us when we speak to him.
But the cherry on top was a weird thing started happening to him: his eyes would swell shut completely for no apparent reason. It only happened 2 or 3 times, but we figured out this week that he is probably allergic/intolerant to eggs. He hates eggs, has never eaten them and won’t even sit next to you when you eat them, but lately he has taken to eating baby potatoes with mayonnaise. That contains egg. (the potato/mayo thing is of course ALL Etienne’s fault)
So, off we went to see the ENT yesterday, fully expecting to have his tonsils removed. As it turns out, we are going for the whole hog (I would have said trifecta, if it weren’t for the fact that there are 4 things) : sinus flush, adenoids, tonsils and grommets. His ears are so full of gunk that he actually cannot hear us; it’s not just that he isn’t listening to us. Aren’t we just awesome parents? I know, you’re just dying to give us an award, aren’t you!
While he is under the doctor will also draw blood and do a comprehensive allergy test. I shudder to think what the results are going to be, he is already so limited in what he can have. But, we will do what we always do: we will adapt, come what may.
We are booked to go in on the 19th and he is only getting done in the afternoon, so I’m looking at a long day with a hungry and grumpy child. Apparently I’m also meant to go into theatre with him when they put him under, which I was going to try and do anyway, but I would honestly rather stick pens in my eyes. The ENT himself is very cool and really good with Daniel, so at least that’s not something I have to be too worried about.
I’m very nervous as this is the first time one of our kids has to have an anesthetic, so I need some advice please, any advice is welcome!
What advice could you give me about what to do in hospital and afterwards? What should they eat and not eat? How long are you meant to keep them home? Anything else I need to look out for?
My doctor hubby is good with ENT matters. He says with regards allergies that you remove allergens where possible, but suppress the allergic response where you can’t. Both my kids have been on daily cetirizine (Allecet) since they were toddlers and it’s so safe they can stay on it forever. Literally. My specialist allergist confirms this. If you can stop the allergic response, you can stop the inevitable sinusitis, tonsillitis, otitis media, etc that follow. Ask your ENT about it. And then after the surgery, while jelly, etc are nice, the best thing to eat is apples, toast, etc – rough food. Pulls the scabs off (yuck) and speeds up healing. Good luck; you must feel very anxious, but I am sure you will both be fine.
I think my ENT and your husband are cut from the same cloth, he also suggested we deal with the allergies first and then maintain.
Thank you 🙂
Take enough to keep him busy – a new colouring book, some lego, whatever. The hospital generally gives them a ” party pack ” after tonsils- salt chips, coke, ice cream and jelly. Also a good idea to get that for coming home. We got a whole instruction booklet from our ENT after the operation on the yes and nos. he said about 5 days at home and expect fever on about the 3 rd day – which is exactly what happened. You will never look back.
As to the anaesthetic – each of my 3 were totally different – A went down giggling like a drunk student, C crying and L fighting like a tiger. They wake up different too – A puking her lungs out ( turns out she is allergic to anaesthetic), C calm and peacefull and L has twice totally pulled the drip out of his arm, fighting. So really, I have little advice. Be strong when you take them in.
Lots of love – you will be fine, will mail ypu a blogpost to recognize the different moms in the hospital somyou know who is who in the zoo.
Thank you Cat! That blog post sounds interesting, I wonder which type of Mom I’ll turn out to be 🙂
Cat – I remember that blog post! I’ll bite too Tania, as my kids are extremely prone to ear infections so both have had their grommets done, Felix twice (the bad news is they can come out after a year or so and you might have to do them several times. The good news is that the grommets part of the op is the shortest so if it has to happen again you can expect D to be in theatre for literally ten minutes.)
You will never look back. I am the biggest fan of the grommet. My kids went almost all of this year without antibiotics. In fact, I think I need grommets myself.
The anaesthetic is the part where they generally let the parent stay and it’s reolting. I remember before Richie’s mammoth 9-hour op some kind soul warned us (no, actually it was for his MRI before that, I remember now) how they make them breathe in the gas and they go to sleep in your arms and it all sounds very calm and peaceful but that moment when your child goes limp in your arms is pretty loaded. Expect tears.
Felix also came to wildly and once pulled his drip out, blood spattering everywhere. Def the most traumatic part of the whole procedure.
Except a lot of waiting and aimless hanging around. Bring bedside entertainment too like iPad plus snacks and drinks for you, it’s going to be a long day. I’ll be thinking of you.
Blood? There might be blood? I’m starting to think I might have to send Etienne.
What I didn’t say in the post because I didn’t want to sound like a ninny is that I can NOT stand that anesthetic smell, I want to puke.
Oh dear, this might be interesting..
Oops I only saw your reply now but I think they use gas on children whihc is not like adult anaesthetic so there might be no smell at all. I can’t remember one.
Thanks Margot 🙂
Will be thinking of you!
Thank you! Maybe I should sneak in some vodka for the long wait?
Conor had grommets at about 4 years old. Had been suffering constant ear infections since birth – almost constant antibiotics. Eventually got so bad that we realised he couldn’t hear properly – would say a word like “cat” as “cat-t-t-t” because he couldn’t hear himself say the last letter.
Grommets was easy and quick, over very quickly and never had another problem again. He’s always had GIANT tonsils – every doctor commented on them, but they never gave him problems.
But yikes – the *stuff* that come out of those ears in the days after the grommets went in… Niagara Falls of earwax 🙂
Hello lovely!
There seems to be many who have had it done before. Jack had Tonsils and adenoids done. I *gasp, shock, horror* actually blogged 3 times on it 😉
http://lifeinlollyland.net/2011/06/14/no-more-snoring-part-1/
http://lifeinlollyland.net/2011/06/18/no-more-snoring-part-2/
http://lifeinlollyland.net/2011/06/19/recovery/
Devan had his tonsils out when he was 2 and I went with him into the operating theatre. They sat me on a stool and put him in front of me so I could hold him from behind and then the mask was on and he was out before I realised that it was happening. It was emotional but strangely comforting too that I could see for myself what was going on and everyone was great. The waiting for him to come out of theatre was much worse than that and then having to wait until they called me when I could hear him crying in the recovery room. So a lot of waiting and trying not to convey any stress to your child. Before he went to hospital we did the whole doctor set thing and reading books about going to hospital. He took his doctor set with him and he and the anesthetist compared stethoscopes! That preparation of what to expect really helped and he was actually really excited to go to hospital for his big adventure – new pyjamas and all. Good luck!