My son had a minor operation yesterday.
By Skyeblue25
@Skyeblue25 (545)
November 11, 2009 4:28pm CST
Its the first time one of my kids has needed to be put to sleep, so it was quite nerve racking as you could probably imagine.
My son has had to wait 6 months for the dental surgery, bless him. I am just thankful it happened before Christmas so he won't be in any more pain and will enjoy the festive season.
He fell off his scooter onto the concrete pavement and knocked two of (luckily his baby) teeth. He managed to badly damage them, so they were exposed. Anyway he is nervous of the dentist so she recommended I had him put out so he wouldn't be scared of dentists, as the injection in the mouth may upset him. He needed the teeth taken out.
If I had any idea what it was going to be like I wouldn't have put him through it. The operation went fine. I went to the recovery room to collect him and we were sent home as soon as his eyes were open. I carried him to my mums car. She drove us back to her house. The whole journey was horrific. I have never seen a child so distressed. He didn't know who I was and he was almost hyper ventilating because he was working himself up so much. He was too floppy to sit on his own so I had to hold him and talk to him, but he didn't hear me.
This went on for nearly 2 hours before he finally calmed down. He watched a video quietly on my mums sofa.
Anyway I spoke to my sister today and both of her kids have had operations. But she told me both were kept in the hospital for a few hours afterwards. The nurses made sure they could use the loo ok and that there were no side effects. Now I am angry at the dental surgery center. As I feel we shouldn't have been sent on our way so quickly. He had an operation, but we were in the hospital for 30mins.
I know adults can cope with walk in and out operations, but surely this shouldn't be allowed for children? My sister says I should complain, but this is the standard procedure for dental operations, so they are not going to change it. Whats the point in complaining?
Thankfully I can say my son is absolutely fine now apart from a fear of going to sleep, as now he thinks he won't wake up or nasty things will happen to him when he is asleep.
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4 responses
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
11 Nov 09
That sounds pretty awful. I'm glad he's fine now. Hopefully he'll get over the fear really soon and it won't bother him for a long time.
I think perhaps you should complain anyway. If that happens to enough parents and enough of them complain, perhaps there's a chance that they will change the procedure.
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@Skyeblue25 (545)
•
12 Nov 09
I hope they do because if I had taken him on my own and I had driven him home it would have been dangerous. I wouldn't have been able to keep an eye on him and drive at the same time. But they don't tell you that you need two people.
Maybe because my son is hypersensitive it may have effected him more so than other children. But I don't think thats the case. The nurse seemed to know it would be a struggle home as she said it was a good job there were two of us.
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@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
12 Nov 09
so it sounds like they know it's a problem...
@Skyeblue25 (545)
•
12 Nov 09
Even if they couldn't provide any after care at all, just to of had a room to go in for a while with him until he fully came around would have been ideal. Instead we endured an hour long drive with him sobbing and distressed not knowing where he was or who he was with.
Surely providing a room wouldn't cost the medical service much more? Grrrrrr it makes me so angry.
But yes it does appear the nurse was aware we would have a difficult drive home. But they didn't even warn me as to what to expect. More information should have been provided.
Anyway sorry if I am ranting on about it, I guess when it comes to our kids it brings out the strongest emotions and sometimes we just have to vent them, even if its to complete strangers online. Thanks for listening
@Anora_Eldorath (6028)
• United States
12 Nov 09
Skye-
Oh, how I know the feeling. Our daughter had ear surgery back in March and I remember feeling so anxious over it. It seems very odd though that they didn't let him wake up fully in the dental office, though I am not familiar with how that sort of surgery works.
Perhaps the best thing you can do is simply reassure him as you have been and let him know he will wake up if he goes to sleep. Maybe if you sit with him in his room as he sleeps he can be assured that if he does wake up you'll be there.
Have a lovely night and my best to your little one.
Namaste, Anora
1 person likes this
@Skyeblue25 (545)
•
12 Nov 09
I did lay next to him while he went to sleep last night. Not a habit I want to get into, but if it helps reassure him for a few days then thats what I'll do.
If I had taken him on my own it would have been so dangerous in the car as how would I be able to drive with my child so distressed in the back. It is odd that a child can be chucked out the hospital as soon as he comes around from the operation. They didn't tell me anything about side effects or what to look out for,
All they do is ask you to sign a form to give permission for the op and give you a leaflet.
He is absolutely fine now. Back to school today.
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
12 Nov 09
Putting anyone under anesthesia for the first time always carries a risk. Especially a child should be monitored closly. Two of my girls had to be put under for surgeries when they were very young. It was not a quick ordeal. They did stay until they were alert and coherent. Never did we experience what you described. You should speak out not only for your sons sake but for others as well.
@borhan (1338)
• United States
12 Nov 09
Most luckily, he has recovered and you all are at home. You can thank Almighty as the baby was not kept at hospital for one more day. That would made the baby more nervous, i believe.
These experiences are horrible foe a kid. I wish and pray as he remains safe in future days.
Give more time to your baby. Thank you.
