posted
Tomorrow morning my son goes in for a tonsillectomy. I'm not especially worried about the procedure, but I'd still like to have some good thoughts and prayers sent our way.
He's had enormous tonsils for his entire life, and he's not growing into them, so he's getting them out. This will help him breathe better (sometimes he has sleep apnea episodes) and hopefully keep him from catching every single cold that gets passed around the Germ Factory (Elementary School).
I'm actually worried about his recovery. He loves to eat, and he's not going to be able to eat solids for a little while. I'm worried that he will steal food from the pantry and somehow injure himself. I'm worried that he's not going to get enough nutrients from ice cream and pudding. I'm worried about a lot of things.
*sigh*
Parenting is HARD!
*/whine*
Thank you, Hatrackians, Jatraqueros, whichever you prefer. Posts: 1545 | Registered: May 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
Every time one of my kids goes in for a surgery (the older two had ear tubes) or is in the hospital for any reason I turn into a raving lunatic.
Nerves make me so scared I lash out at anything. Don't worry about the nutrients, he will do fine. It's not as if he's going to be on an ice cream and pudding diet his entire life. (though to some of us that doesn't sound so bad)
I just hope the dear heart is not in too much pain. Make sure you get some rest before hand, Mommy or you will wear yourself out when you need to take care of him.
Sending prayers your way.
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
| IP: Logged |
I've only had one child in surgery and it durn near killed me. I look at the picture I took while she was still in the hospital and I get that same feeling -- it seemed like I was pretty calm at the time, but in retrospect, I was a nutcase.
Parenting is hard. I'll keep you in mind the next few days. ((((jexx))))
Posts: 5948 | Registered: Jun 2001
| IP: Logged |
And listening to this, after being a good, supportive friend, I reaffirmed that you folks keep sealing the deal about me not having kids anytime in the near future.
I love the Hatrack parents.
CR the monkey will be fine Posts: 14745 | Registered: Dec 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
I had my tonsils out. Don't worry he won't want to eat food too quickly. Just give him lots of nummy ice cream and fruit pops. My mom made frozen strawberry pops and slushies for me. Those were great. Good luck!
Posts: 872 | Registered: Mar 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
Hi So sorry you need to go thru this and I have great empathy. My BabyGirl went through this not too long ago for the same reason (large tonsils, sick all the time, etc.) Actually it was *much* less horrid than I imagined. She was in and out of anesthestia just like that, the procedure takes 10 minutes. She was in a day surgey, even a Clinic Clown came to cheer her up. The worst bit is the "coming to" one crabby owly period. After that weakness and sleep.
The best part is that BabyGirl is really thriving and not needing afternoon naps after school. She has gained weight and is blooming.
I think Mama had the worse time. Sending prayers of strength and success your way, Jana
Posts: 21 | Registered: Jan 2004
| IP: Logged |
My daughter was also born with enormous tonsils -- the doctor would comment on them at every physical checkup. And she would get strep throat every year like clockwork.
However, finally now into her teens, she seems to have outgrown the constant infections, and they no longer bother her.
I wonder why no doctor every suggested taking hers out?
Anyway -- I pray your son's surgery will go well. It is a scary thing -- I've been through two appendectomies with my boys, and a couple other procedures. I hate the waiting....
posted
I couldn't have ice cream after having my tonsils out (lactose intolerance) but I had lots and lots of popsicles. And soft bread soaked in lukewarm tea, after a while. I didn't eat much for a couple weeks, but I didn't much *feel* like eating for a couple weeks. I watched TV and read books and lost some weight, but it came back once I could eat normally again.
And, I stopped getting colds and ear infections and sore throats all the time. Oh, and when I eventually got mono, it couldn't settle into my tonsils, making the whole experience less icky. My voice lost its nasal quality (big plus), and I got to stop sleeping propped up on pillows.
Good luck, and don't get too stressed out. I think these things are definitely harder on the parents than on the kids. Being a kid in surgery, you just kind of accept that you've got to go in and have something fixed so that you can feel better. It's no fun, but you trust that your parents and the doctors only want to make things better for you. And parents and doctors are *very* powerful people, you know?
I went through 9 general-anesthesia surgeries as a child (ears, tonsils, adenoids, appendectomy, etc.), and my faith in my parents and doctors never wavered. Now that I'm an adult, I get far more nervous about medical procedures than I ever did back then.
Posts: 188 | Registered: Dec 2002
| IP: Logged |
As an adult you will be miserable for three weeks.
You are miserable for at least three weeks every time you get strep. Do you realize how much time you are losing by being sick? How much time you are taking away from your kids and family every time you get sick?
And it helps with everything, not just strep. Before October I would catch every little stupid thing that came around. Yes it was miserable having them out.
However I have had exactly ONE case of the sniffles since. I have been in better health than at any other time in my life.
A cesspool of bacteria in ones tonsils is always bad. Your white blood cells are getting worn out trying to fight it. Once you have them out, you will have more energy as your body realizes it doesn't have to divert resources to fight there any more.
Kids bounce back far easier. This is because even though their tonsils might be large for their age they are still smaller than adult tonsils.
Yes as an adult the pain is horrid. But in the long run it is very worth it.
posted
I have enormous tonsils and got strep often as a kid, but like Farmgirl's daughter, I grew out of it, thank heavens.
Posts: 1753 | Registered: Aug 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
{happy thoughts} Well he will definitely be malnourished if you don't feed him Jello as well. You could also feed him shakes made with Ensure or some other non-weight-loss meal replacement product. Or use Knox to make him apple and cranberry jellos that have some vitamin C.
Posts: 11017 | Registered: Apr 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
Okay, we are home (have been home for two hours, actually) and he did just fine. He had a hard time coming out of anaesthesia (wicked flailing arms and in pain, totally normal) but they gave him morphine 0_o and he slept for an hour and a half after that. Of course, they wouldn't release him until he took in fluids (grape popsicle) and had a pee, so we had to wait until he woke up and did that before we left.
Sigh.
Anyway, he's not allowed ice cream until monday (because of *shudder* phlegm) and so far refuses jello and broth. But the day is young, and he is getting hungrier.
*grin*
More later, now I have to cuddle.
Thank you to everyone! I love Hatrack. *cheesy grin*
Posts: 1545 | Registered: May 2002
| IP: Logged |
Bless his little heart, that must be terrible to wake up out of anesthesia in so much pain. Actually, it IS, I remember what it's like to wake up after surgery.
Take good care of him Mom!
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
Thanks for letting us know the good news. If it were me, I'd be watching the original Star Wars trilogy right about now. It's my "feel better" entertainment.
Posts: 22497 | Registered: Sep 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
sarahdipity and all of the others (including the IRL people) who said this: "Don't worry he won't want to eat food too quickly."
HA!
My kid must be some sort of mutant, because the first thing he said when we were leaving the Same Day Surgery ward was, "I'm hungry. Can we go to McDonald's?"
This is, I say, the hardest part. Recovery. It seems very weird to say to my kid, "No, you cannot have anything to eat, not even cheese." Weird. Of course, I offer him Jello, even eat the horrid stuff in front of him with a smile, trying to entice him. But no. He will have none of it. Maybe tomorrow.
He's going to be ecstatic on Monday, when he can have yoghurt! *grin*
He did very well today, the morphine must have held on for quite a while, because he didn't have any pain until around six, and he took his pain meds without much coaxing. Plus, he stayed awake until his actual bed time (8 pm), so his sleep schedule should be normalized. Yay!
It's amazing how resilient kids are, isn't it?
mack--the benefits outweigh the drawbacks, I promise
saxon75, Ela--thank you for your good wishes
Belle, jeniwren--thank you for sharing your stories, it really does help to know that someone has been there
rivka, Shan--thank you
sarahdipity--thank you for the advice, slushies it is!
Papa Moose--I know! Crazy people just posting for sympathy, huh? I'm going to say a trite thing, and I am *blushing* and knowing that it is a cliche, but knowing your challenges with Mooselet and witnessing how strong your family is helps me as a parent and a person, and I wanted to thank you and Mama Squirrel for sharing your lives with us. There, I've said it. Now get offa my lawn!
Beren, Anna--thank you
jana--I really hope that the Boy has as much success as your Baby Girl with sleep normalization. He, too, had long naps when he was younger. That translated to just general crankiness once he started school and refused naps altogether. I'm glad to hear that your Baby Girl is thriving! Thank you for sharing your story with me.
Farmgirl--medical science, like everything else, goes through trends (this is my theory, anyway). It used to be the 'thing' to take tonsils out at any opportunity (in my mother's time, in the 50's of her childhood). Then there was a period of not taking out tonsils unless urgent. Now it seems to be swinging more toward the middle. Our son has had a lot of trouble with breathing and infections, so it seemed to be the best diagnosis. Mind you, it took them about two years to suggest this. Oh, and Christopher is almost 6 years old.
Beca--Zoinks! 9 surgeries! Thank you for your story, that's a great validation for me. I know for a fact, for instance, that Christopher will no longer get tonsilitis, because *tada!* he has no tonsils! *grin* Thank you.
Bob--On Monday, there will be chocolate ice cream. *smile* What does that say about my son? Hmmm... Oh, and he would prefer it on a cone, but he must have it in a bowl until he is healed. Does that make a difference?
Belle (again)--I don't know what to say. I think that if I had chronic, drug-resistent strep, I might consider having my tonsils out. *grin* It really is quite a short procedure! Also: a great weight-loss program! *evil grin* Of course, you make the choice that is right for *you*. (((Belle)))
AnnaJo--I agree. *grin* And thank you for your commiseration, your recent tonsil story helped me decide that it would be a very good decision for Christopher.
JavertHugo--please go back to your original nick soon. I've nearly forgotten who you *really* are! I'm sure that you have grown into your tonsils just fine and I'm glad you haven't any trouble over it.
pooka--thanks for the happy thoughts The jello, however, is looking like a total no-go I was thinking of Ensure (or something similar), but if it is milky, he can't have it until Monday anyway, which is when he can have yoghurt, so I might as well just give him that. Still thinking about the Ensure, though. Will go to the store tomorrow and check it out.
Belle (again! *grin*)--yes, he was quite disoriented and hurting coming out of the anaesthetic. That was the only part where I wanted to cry. I knew that would make him worse, though. Luckily, we have a top-notch nursing team at our hospital, and they dosed him up pretty quickly when it became apparent that he was Not Dealing Well.
Bob (again)--you are welcome. Christopher always feels better when he is watching Nickelodeon. It's a good thing I enjoy SpongeBob! *grin*
Whew! That was LONG! But I wanted to thank everyone properly. THANK YOU!
Now Christopher has woken up and is on the couch with a popsicle. Poor little monkey. He needs more love. I must go.
Posts: 1545 | Registered: May 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
Actually while you should follow your doctors advice, and I know your son probably wanted a happy meal, my doc ordered me to get McDonalds milkshakes, that he had found they were actually better for tonsilectomys than some of the other fast food resturaunts. A texture thing of some sort. Milshakes are easier than ice cream to get down by quite a bit IMO. They were better than straight milk too because they didn't leave the mucusy stuff behind that milk does.
AJ (but that was 24 hours after the surgery too...) Sherbets and ices were all I could get down in the hospital.
posted
Well, it's been an entire day. We took Christopher to WalMart and Home Depot to 'blow the stink off 'im' as they say, and he did very well. I suppose it helped that we were buying toys and clothes for him. *grin* I also bought a pack of WalMart-brand Meal Replacement Drink. He had one today, but I don't think he was very impressed. Whatever, at least he got his vitamins.
We gave up on the clear liquids only thing. That was just silly. He's not up to yoghurt or anything real thick yet, but the Ensure was pretty easy for him to swallow. He had a hard time with pudding, but I think part of that was not having any pain medication all day long.
AnnaJo, I think I will take him to McD's on Monday for a special treat of milkshake. At least I can buy him the Happy Meal toy separately. Your doctor sounds like a smart, reasonable person. *grin* McD's milkshakes are the best! (at least in the fast food arena ) Thanks for the suggestion.
Posts: 1545 | Registered: May 2002
| IP: Logged |
Printer-friendly view of this topic
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
![[Grumble]](graemlins/grumble.gif)
![[Kiss]](graemlins/kiss.gif)
I'm going to say a trite thing, and I am *blushing* and knowing that it is a cliche, but knowing your challenges with Mooselet and witnessing how strong your family is helps me as a parent and a person, and I wanted to thank you and Mama Squirrel for sharing your lives with us. ![[Blushing]](graemlins/blushing.gif)
There, I've said it. Now get offa my lawn! ![[Dont Know]](graemlins/dontknow.gif)
Oh, and Christopher is almost 6 years old.
