Toddler and Anesthesia

[betches]

My daughter has what her doctors think is a dermoid cyst on the top of her head, right in front of her soft spot, but they want to do an MRI before removing it. Obviously at her age she can’t be expected to stay still for the whole thing so they’re putting her under general anesthesia. Her appointment is on Friday and I’m starting to get nervous, does anyone have any general tips or advice?

[Deleted]

No advice betches, but I hope it all goes smoothly!

[danib]

My son had to go under for some dental work. I talked to him about it prior, told him he would wear a silly mask and then take a nap, and when he woke up his teeth would be fixed. We talked a lot about it and I was very positive about it (even though I was super nervous on the inside). When we went in he was calmer than I was and was able to tell the nurses what he was there for. They said it is always so much easier when kids come in understanding what is happening.

[betches]

Thank you @easilyunamused!!

danib, she’s 18 months so I’m not sure how much she’ll understand but it’s definitely worth a shot!!

[leo91]

My DD (3.5 years old)just had an MRI last week and had general anesthesia. She had liquid versed before they started an IV, and then she had propofol. It took her roughly an hour to wake up from it. She woke up, said she was ready to play. Definitely stayed drunk for little while. When we got home, she was upset that she couldn’t play with her cousins and had very big emotions about It (way more than usual). She then proceeded to attempt to run throughout the house and I literally had to hold her down so she wouldn’t hurt herself. It then became a game to her 🙄
After she got some food in her, it wore off pretty quickly.

FX your daughter does well!

[rubysue]

The fasting is always the hardest part for us. I make sure DS eats a big meal as close to the cut off as possible. The actual anesthesia has never been a big deal, though he’s a bear when he comes out of it. I take great advantage of the hospital’s apple juice, popsicle, and goldfish stash.

DS was 18 months when he first had to go under and has been under a dozen times in the last year. I think it’s scarier for us than it is for him. Good luck, I’m sure she’ll do great!

[mathlete]

DD got tubes at 18 months, so she went under. Overall, no big deal, but they are very irritable when they first wake up and can't figure out where they are or what's happening. Especially if you aren't there when they first wake up.

Also, she got sick and threw up on the way home from the anesthesia, so be prepared for that!

[waitwhat]

My DS went under at 6 months old. I was a nervous wreck. But he was totally fine. He was groggy afterwards but a few hours later he was his normal self. Like nothing had even happened. Kids are super resilient!

[lucylou]

My DS has had to be under several times around that age (once for an MRI). I dressed my DS in pajamas or comfy clothes knowing he would be sleeping it off when he came out. I brought his pacifier, blanket, and stuffed dog. Basically anything to make him feel more relaxed. They always let him take everything back. I was only allowed to go back with him once (I don’t remember for which procedure) and that was the hardest part for me.
I always just cleared the schedule for the rest of the day to relax at home but really, after a good nap, my kid was always back to normal.
It sucks and it’s scary but it’s over fairly quickly and not that bad in the grand scheme of things. Good luck!

Eta: oh and I brought a bottle or whatever cup DS liked to drink out of at the time. They always wanted him to drink a little something before releasing him. Like juice or whatever they provide. But at that age he wasn’t using a regular straw yet and did better with our stuff from home

[DavidRose]

Everyone has given great advice. Just be prepared for the actual anesthesia part. I had a hard time watching my dd struggle while we held the mask on her to fall asleep. I also was over come with emotion when I saw her just laying there.

[frantastic]

My 2 boys have been put under for tubes at 7mo, 11mo, and 2y. We have never been allowed to stay with them as they’re put under.

Every time, they were very angry coming out of anesthesia. At 2yo, DS2 was flat-out combative. That was the worst part.

[wedding]

DS was put under at 2 and again at 3.5. Dh held him the first time while they gassed him down and wasn’t prepared for the dead weight. He came out very easy both times.

[betches]

Sept 4, 2018 18:04:25 GMT -6 DavidRose said:

Everyone has given great advice. Just be prepared for the actual anesthesia part. I had a hard time watching my dd struggle while we held the mask on her to fall asleep. I also was over come with emotion when I saw her just laying there.

I’m very nervous about this part. The children’s hospital called today with the instructions and both my H and are allowed back for check in but only one of us can be with her while she’s going to sleep. I stay at home and am definitely her favorite right now so I’m kind of the clear choice but worried I’m going to lose it. I’ve been under anesthesia many times without issue and I wasn’t expecting to be this anxious

Edit to fix stupid autocorrect

[piratecat]

betches I hope it all goes well.

[mkrupar]

DD (2.5 at the time) had to go under every other day for a week back in January for treatment for a lymphatic malformation.

For the initial MRI they showed her the mask and let her decorate it with stickers. Maybe you could find out if they do something like that.

She threw up a couple of times after waking up, but that was mostly because she was under three days in a row at the beginning of the treatment.

A one time thing is typically not a big deal. Ditto PP about taking advantage of the popsicles.

Can she have a lovey with her? I think that helped DD.

[DavidRose]

Sept 4, 2018 18:35:49 GMT -6 betches said:

Sept 4, 2018 18:04:25 GMT -6 DavidRose said:

Everyone has given great advice. Just be prepared for the actual anesthesia part. I had a hard time watching my dd struggle while we held the mask on her to fall asleep. I also was over come with emotion when I saw her just laying there.

I’m very nervous about this part. The children’s hospital called today with the instructions and both my H and are allowed back for check in but only one of us can be with her while she’s going to sleep. I stay at home and am definitely her favorite right now so I’m kind of the clear choice but worried I’m going to lose it. I’ve been under anesthesia many times without issue and I wasn’t expecting to be this anxious

Edit to fix stupid autocorrect

Yea I get it. Just remember she is in good hands. Maybe it would be a good idea to have your h go back so she doesn't sense any anxiety?

It really is much harder on us. She will be fine and will bounce back quickly.

Good luck!

[armpants]

My DS went under for a stated ABR earlier this year. The staff at the children's hospital was amazing and discussed everything with us ahead of time so they could approach everything in the least stressful way for him. I actually got to sit on the bed and hold him when he got the shot that put him under. Seeing him go out so quickly was upsetting, but I don't know how much being 7 months pregnant played in that. They brought him back to the room as he was just waking up. He was just a bit more tired than normal the rest of the day, so we had a movie day in the afternoon.

[betches]

Sept 4, 2018 20:22:49 GMT -6 @starzia said:

Everyone has everything covered just wanted to say hi betches! From samrs22

hey!! I didn’t know you made the move over here!

[Lormor]

Sept 4, 2018 18:35:49 GMT -6 betches said:

Sept 4, 2018 18:04:25 GMT -6 DavidRose said:

Everyone has given great advice. Just be prepared for the actual anesthesia part. I had a hard time watching my dd struggle while we held the mask on her to fall asleep. I also was over come with emotion when I saw her just laying there.

I’m very nervous about this part. The children’s hospital called today with the instructions and both my H and are allowed back for check in but only one of us can be with her while she’s going to sleep. I stay at home and am definitely her favorite right now so I’m kind of the clear choice but worried I’m going to lose it. I’ve been under anesthesia many times without issue and I wasn’t expecting to be this anxious

Edit to fix stupid autocorrect

I was with my DD when she went under - she was on my lap - and I did get emotional, but really, it was fine. If you're her favourite, I'd definitely say go in with her.

Her wake up (17 mo) was absolutely fine, and she wasn't at all disorientated like others have mentioned - depends on the kid. I was there when she woke up.

[lucylou]

Sept 4, 2018 18:35:49 GMT -6 betches said:

Sept 4, 2018 18:04:25 GMT -6 DavidRose said:

Everyone has given great advice. Just be prepared for the actual anesthesia part. I had a hard time watching my dd struggle while we held the mask on her to fall asleep. I also was over come with emotion when I saw her just laying there.

I’m very nervous about this part. The children’s hospital called today with the instructions and both my H and are allowed back for check in but only one of us can be with her while she’s going to sleep. I stay at home and am definitely her favorite right now so I’m kind of the clear choice but worried I’m going to lose it. I’ve been under anesthesia many times without issue and I wasn’t expecting to be this anxious

Edit to fix stupid autocorrect

The stuff they give them kicks in super quick. So if you can hold it together just until then, I’m sure they won’t bat an eye if you’re shedding some tears while the procedure takes place. Then when she wakes up she will be disoriented and won’t be able to tell/care if you’ve been crying.

At least for me, it felt so surreal watching everything happen that I wasn’t as emotional as I thought I would be. I mean I felt like I was going to throw up, but you’ll be surprised how easy it is to put on a brave face for your LO. Until he was actually out and it kind of hit me and then I cried.

[Deleted]

You've got a ton of good advice.

I'll give you my random advice for fasting - if you have pets, beware of their food. We don't have pets, but before DD's 1st MRI at 18 months, she may or may not have (we're not sure) swiped some of the neighbor's cat's food while we were at their house trying to distract her from the fasting. You'll have to be rescheduled and it will be an all around pain in the ass.

[tgrimes]

DS has been under twice now. I've never been allowed back with him but they came and got me afterwards so I could be there when he woke up. He came out of it easily both times. Just a little snugglier than usual. The 2nd time he was starving and drank all of the apple juice before we left. Then vomited in the car while en route to pick up his prescriptions which included zofran. Lol.

The hardest part was keeping him entertained before surgery. The 2nd time we had to wait over 2 hours once we got there so he was hungry & thirsty.

[betches]

I just wanted to say thank y’all for all of your advice/support. She did great at the hospital and pretty much as expected once we got home. She’s been pretty clingy and grumpy, but we’ve had Moana on repeat and are getting through it