Another op for my 2 yr old - nasal cautery now :-(

[bramley]

My little girl had grommets a while back, and whilst it all went fine, the process of her having the general anaesthetic haunts me. Big time.

Consultant decided yesterday that the next step to help her is to have her nasal passages cauterised to help her breath. Brief history; always phlegmy, blocked/snotty nose the whole time. Grommets seemed to improve her general health and wellbeing.

All I know about cauterising is that it's rather like sticking a soldering iron up a nostril :-(

The consultant didn't check her ears according to my missus, which seems odd given that grommets can fall out? I'll make sure they check that before the operate again.

Not sure why I'm posting tbh...this has all come at a really crap time and last night I spent some time bawling like a baby to myself. I need to find some strength, maybe tins of spinach?

Sorry for the ramble, if anyone has any experience of what I've described I'd love to hear it.

Thanks

Dave

[Slacey]

Our (now) 11 year old had grommets a few years back under general and it looks like my 5 year old will have to have them along with her tonsils out at the same time, so I share your worries!
I'm sure it will all be fine but you just can't help yourself. Best of luck!

[Morba]

Aww poor ickle thing. No experience myself, but have a couple of kids. Best of luck to her and you fella

[LMC]

My wee boy got the lot when he was 5; grommets put in, adenoids and tonsils out. Reason being was that he was getting a lot of (painful) glue ear. Hard to know exactly what part cured him: grommets are notorious for getting displaced (then the eardrum just heals up). I suspect it was the adenoidectomy that done the trick. If these are enlarged they stop the flow of gunk from the eustachian tubes, keeping it up there and causing pressure at the eardrums. I think (!) they may prevent the flow from the sinuses from draining down the throat... so they stay put, with their only exit out through the nostrils.

Anyhoo, he got it all done under a general anesthetic and there were no problems at all. Wee ones are very resilient

[bramley]

LMC said:

My wee boy got the lot when he was 5; grommets put in, adenoids and tonsils out. Reason being was that he was getting a lot of (painful) glue ear. Hard to know exactly what part cured him: grommets are notorious for getting displaced (then the eardrum just heals up). I suspect it was the adenoidectomy that done the trick. If these are enlarged they stop the flow of gunk from the eustachian tubes, keeping it up there and causing pressure at the eardrums. I think (!) they may prevent the flow from the sinuses from draining down the throat... so they stay put, with their only exit out through the nostrils.

Anyhoo, he got it all done under a general anesthetic and there were no problems at all. Wee ones are very resilient

She had glue ear and they checked her adenoids when doing the grommets and apparently they were fine.

Op is on Thursday :-( really don't want it to happen, and am concerned that the consultant is a little too keen to go ahead with this so will raise my concerns when we go in.

Absolutely dreading it tbh. My rational side says she'll be fine and that it's routine and she'll be bouncing around within hours, but it's my little baby, and having experienced the anaesthetic before, I don't know if I've got it in me to go through that again :-(

Time to man up.

[turbolucy]

I understand your worries but honestly try not to worry about it. I've seen so many surgeries and in fact 2 weeks ago saw some nasal stuff on a middle aged chap. Is it the anaesthetic that you're mainly worried about? They're so safe nowadays and kids bounce back so well, you'll be wondering why you fretted so much

[bramley]

Thanks Lucie. It's the process of her having the anaesthetic that is horrible. I have to take her in the room in my arms, the anaesthetist puts a mask over her face and as the drug takes effect she fights it, and uses all her strength to get the mask off her and the people away from her, kicking and flailing her arms. Then suddenly she goes all limp and her eyes roll back in her head. Last time with one eye open just to really freak me out.

Last time I managed a mumbled "Look after her" as she was whisked away, before my eyes started leaking.

Discussing it is helping btw - thanks

[turbolucy]

Even though I'm not a parent yet I totally understand where you're coming from. The worst is seeing a baby have anaesthetic for a risky operation, I can't imagine how the parents must feel for that.

Don't worry, it's a routine operation, the anaesthetist is sitting by her head for the whole time watching her every heartbeat on the screen, and they honestly do hold their hands and talk to them even though they're 'asleep'. It WILL be fine

[bramley]

I must say I hadn't thought about the anaesthetist being present all the way through, that's good to know.

Thanks

[turbolucy]

Oh yes, they have to sit there with the screens monitoring her and chart a graph of her stats pretty constantly. Every little raise or fall in any of them makes the alarm go off and the alarm has to be turned off every time Good luck...it'll be fine.

[Coco H]

I had serious ear problems as a child and my mother refused for me to have any aneasthetic to have grommits in and adenoids out. She said I would have to put up with the ear infections and glue ear.
Good news is - my hearing is fine and I outgrew infections in my teens. It's not lifesaving surgery ....well that was my mother's opinion anyway....

However If it was my child I would be taking medical advice - second opinion if necesary. My 3 month old 7lbs baby had an op on a strangulated hernia. I know they regularly operate on tiny (under 4lbs prems).