He's going in for surgery

[hanni]

He's going in for surgery on Wednesday and I'm welling up everytime I think about it!
He's having a hernia in his testicles repairs so it's just minor, so they say! 😢

Is it really as horrible as I'm expecting it to be?
And what do I pack for him?
They don't expect him to be staying in overnight (although I'd rather he did just to be safe! He's still so little!)

Would be grateful for experiences.

 

[_Meep_]

Aww, my brother had this as a baby. In fact, there are three of us, and we ALL ended up having hernia operations as children. Mine was umbilical and my sister's was somewhere around her groin.

It's a tiny operation really, but they certainly used to put children under for it. Is your son going under general anaesthetic? I was a bit older when I had mine done, so I remember some bits - not being allowed to eat the pizza the rest of my family were having in advance, being given a special drink, which I assume was a sedative, then waking up, hitting a doctor, and throwing up after eating one grape!

I don't remember any pain or aftercare so it can't have been bad. I have a tiny, tiny scar that I didn't even notice until I was a teenager.

I can't speak for my brother's balls, lol, but he seems a perfectly normal 25-year-old.

I would just pack him a couple of snacks and drinks (if he is old enough to have them/fancies them after the op/is allowed them after the op) and anything familiar that will help him feel safe and comfortable when he comes round - a favourite toy, blanket, book to read together, etc.

Good luck. It'll soon be a distant memory.

 

[Rhio92]

My son had this, albeit in January when he was 4 years old. It's quick, easy and they're not in much pain afterwards. 10 months on there is barely even a scar x

 

[rwhite]

I don't have any advice, but just wanted to say I hope it goes well and his recovery is a fast one xx

 

[hanni]

Meet -as if your family all ate pizza in front of you while you couldn't he any! How cruel.

Yes it's a full general anastetic. I struggle enough to change his nappy without him rolling away, I couldn't imagine them trying to cut his bits.

I think I'll be better once I'm there and have talked to the surgeon. I'm just so anxious about it now.

Rhio was your son's very obvious even at that age? My sons was always sticking out and we could see I all the time until he was about 4 mo. He's been diagnosed with it by the consultant obviously so it was there but I haven't seen it in a while..I assumed he had gotten bigger bit the hernia hadn't so we just couldn't see it anymore. They said it was extremely unlikely it would heal itself. I'm going to bring it up with the surgeon of course.

Thank you rwhite!

 

[_Meep_]

Haha, they had it in the hospital while I was waiting to go under, so I guess they must have been really hungry! I'm glad they came to be with me at least lol.

Yeah, little ones are far too wriggly for such delicate work to be done while awake! I promise you he will be fine though, even if a full anaesthetic does seem so scary. It won't take long and it'll just be like a little sleep for him. He'll probably barely notice anything strange has gone on.

I was put under for a second time as an adult to have my wisdom teeth taken out, and it was actually fantastic! I woke up feeling amazing, strangely. And the feeling as I fell asleep was anything but frightening - in fact, it was weirdly comforting. I'm a freak.

 

[hanni]

Haha, they had it in the hospital while I was waiting to go under, so I guess they must have been really hungry! I'm glad they came to be with me at least lol.

Yeah, little ones are far too wriggly for such delicate work to be done while awake! I promise you he will be fine though, even if a full anaesthetic does seem so scary. It won't take long and it'll just be like a little sleep for him. He'll probably barely notice anything strange has gone on.

I was put under for a second time as an adult to have my wisdom teeth taken out, and it was actually fantastic! I woke up feeling amazing, strangely. And the feeling as I fell asleep was anything but frightening - in fact, it was weirdly comforting. I'm a freak.

Thank you! I know he won't remember it so I'm just being a bit silly but he still just seems so tiny.

I know what you mean about anastetics, I've had quite a few. I love the feeling! It's the best sleep ever, so annoying when you get woken up 😂

I actually had him whilst under a general anastetic so it won't be his first experience of it, hopefully he won't have any adverse reactions.

 

[BabyCleo]

Oh gosh, sending love! It will be okay

 

[sethsmummy]

hey hun

my little guy had surgery in July at 6 months old, he went under a general aneasthetic too. The worst part for us was before hand when he was really really hungry and obviously we couldnt feed him. he had his last formula at 5:30am and we managed to get some donated breast milk from a lovely lady which he had at 8:45am which helped tide him over. He didnt go down till 1:30pm so we were pacing the waiting room like nothing on earth (no ward.. just a big room with toys etc that all the kids had to wait in). Had a consultation with his urologisy surgeon and the aneathetist as well as getting obs done while we waited. We were then taken down to the theatre waiting room where we were talked to by someone else again to make sure all the details were correct and i carried him through to the theatre where he was laid on a bed and i held his hand while they used the mask to put him to sleep.. it wasnt nice because he fought it but he was out in under a minute (much nicer than when ds1 had it via cannula at 1 year old as he just flopped in my arms). we had to go back to the normal waiting room to wait for him and then moved to the other room that they goto after surgery. Its a wee room with 12 beds in it and all the kids are took there afterwards.. they came and got us and i got to him and gave him a huge hug.. he was really upset, gave him a feed straight away and then he went back to sleep. When he woke he had another bottle and the nurses kept an eye on his sats etc. Once he was wide awake and alert we were moved to the play room for a further hour (three hours total) until he was allowed to go home.

they might not give pain relief as they didnt to any of the kids when we were there (one other urology patient and the rest were dental) so maybe take some with you. Take his fave teddy if he has one and his milk.. as a baby they dont have to have something solid to eat just their milk. if he is on solids all the time he wont be allowed to leave until hes both eaten and drank xx

 

[hanni]

^^
This is exactly what I needed, thank you!
His timing with the food will be similar, he's nil by mouth from 7.30am, allowed breast milk up to 9.30am and has to be in the hospital for 12.00am and his surgery could be any time after that. Not having food will certainly be hard for him 😯. I plan on waking him at 7am (if he's not already up) and feeding him as much as I can. Hopefully a long nap in the morning and lots of new people around will keep him distracted.

I'm dreading the put to sleep part the most, I hope I can hold it together! I know he's in safe hands and it's not life threatening surgery I think I'll just feel so helpless and sorry for him. Damn the big softie that having a baby has turned me into! 😫

Was your son his usual self the next day?

 

[sethsmummy]

He was Hun. He was only grumpy for about an hour or two after his op. (He had a cyst burst in his bladder so only a small op). To be honest Hun it's not as bad as you think it's going to be they only fight for a few seconds until it starts working and they just look asleep. It does make
You feel bad though I'd seen him through life support in icu and it still got me when they put him to sleep. Our hospital at least work youngest to oldest. So your little guy should be high on te list and most likely first xx

 

[hanni]

Well today is the day! His dad got him up early to give him his breakfast while I have a lie in (I was up with him through the night).

Going to give him a bath and get his bag packed.

This morning is going to drag! I just want it over with.

 

[_Meep_]

Thinking of you all today! Hope it goes smoothly with minimal recovery time. Do update to let us know how he's doing when you can.

 

[Rhio92]

Thinking of you xx

 

[hanni]

Thanks ladies!

We're on our way home.
The surgery went fine and his hernia is all fixed. He started to get a bit twisty before the surgery as he was hungry but was still smiling at all the drs and nurses. They wouldn't allow me into the room where they administer the anesthetic as he was having it through his mask because he was too chubby to go poking about finding a vain for his cannula whilst awake.
When he woke up it was really hard as he was shocked and confused and crying hard. It took a while to get him settled and for him to drink. They gave me a buggy to push him around in and he fell asleep for a bit. Woke up happy as Larry without a care in the world, stuffed his face and was smiling away again. He's now snoring his little head off in the car on the way home.

Wasn't nearly as bad as I thought and I didn't cry at all 😁

 

[_Meep_]

Oh good, it sounds like it went great! Glad he's his usual self and it's all over.

Now you can relax!

 

[hanni]

Well now I'm confused! Just changed his nappy and his hernia is back in all its shining glory (we haven't seen it clearly in weeks).

Annnd back to square 1.

 

[_Meep_]

Maybe it's just swollen?

 

[hanni]

Maybe it's just swollen?

That's what my mams said but it looks identical to it, even in colour and everything. Going to ring the ward tomorrow and hopefully they'll clarify it.

 

[_Meep_]

Ugh, what a load of bullshit to have to be worrying about it again! Hope it turns out ok ...