Adenoid Surgery (And Tonsils Too!)

Today was Jack’s big day at the hospital.  We got a little file from the hospital showing photos of a little girl doing the things that Jack would have to do leading up to surgery – and the post-op room.  This was amazingly useful to Jack (and me) and he was ready to go this morning.

He could have no food after midnight, and could only drink Sprite, water and apple juice until 7:45, then nothing.  So I woke him up at 7:30 so he could have a drink.

He liked the idea of the soda, but since he has only had a sip or two before, he didn’t actually drink much.  But when I gave him apple juice and water, he drank several cups.

Jack had a nice bath and found his favorite pair of pants – camouflage.  They are really getting too small for him, but there was no way I was going to break that to him this morning!  He wore a pair of his favorite socks (and so did I – a little tidbit that I am sure everyone was wondering about… Actually, if you must know the whole story – I was going to wear a pair of flats with no socks, trying to be more girly… but Eric saw them and told me this was a day to be comfortable and wear my socks.  That is the kind of comment that lets you know your husband really loves you!)

When we went to the hospital, Jack was fully in charge and ready to go.  We entered the building and he handed me his coat, took his backpack from Eric and walked up to the check-in desk by himself.  “I am Jack!” he announced and put his panther up on the counter to be checked in with him.  Both he and his little black panther, “le chat noir”, got hospital arm bands.

We waited in a playroom where Jack happily  decorated a hat, painted a picture, and tried on  an anesthesia mask.

The artwork and planning of the hospital is amazing.  It is a new eastside offshoot of Seattle Childrens.  It was nice to live so close to the hospital.

A nurse took us into a room to take Jacks temperature and height and weight.

Next we were called into an induction room.  It is connected to the operating room so we could be with Jack while they put him to sleep.  The nurse was silly with him and he was quite comfortable exploring.  The red things are gel pillow pillows that keep his head in place and are more comfortable than laying on the sheet because they protect the skin.  They are also really fun to play with.

Jack got another arm band since he has a medical allergy. He was pretty happpy about this as getting an even one armband was something he was really looking forward to today.

Jack was happy and talkative and comfortable (maybe a little too comfortable – he snubbed his nose at the book they gave him to look at; “could you take this off my bed and put it over there?”  )funny boy.  Eric and I were glad that he was so confident and comfortable.

We talked with a few nurses and the surgeon while one nurse got Jacking ready.  Among other things, checking his blood pressure and oxygen levels and getting him undressed.  It went really fast, but was super professional and I felt good about it. (Jack was a little funny that he didn’t want the nurses to take his pants off.  He is usually not shy about that at all.)

We talked to the surgeon about having tonsils out at the same time since we didn’t want Jack to have anesthesia twice if we could avoid it.  The surgeon decided to take out Jack’s tonsils today too and decided to do a method that leaves a little tonsils in the mouth.  If I understood correctly, this is a procedure that keeps the bleeding risk down and is less painful post-op.  The surgeon made us feel so comfortable and even said that if we wanted to think about the surgery change, we could just go home and we could reschedule the surgery for another day – the surgeon made it clear that we should be really comfortable with the surgery before we moved ahead with it.  We decided to stay with having the surgery today.

Jack was getting a little nervous at this point – there were so many people in the room – I think 6 or 7  - which was probably a little overwhelming to him.  And these people included an anesthesiologist that was talking to us about what we should do if Jack started fighting the mask that the anesthesia would be administered through.  Very helpful information for Eric and I – but maybe a little strange sounding to Jack…

Jack chose an orange scent to drift away to.  We brought our Zune and a little set of speakers because Jack had asked to listen to “Lazy Boy” as he drifted off.  Everyone thought that was pretty funny and liked out setup.  Jack told the anesthesiologist that he was going to sleep with his eyes open during the surgery so that he could watch everything that was going on.  The anesthesiologist said Jack could try that.. 

(Apparently they tape kids eyes shut during surgery??  I am sure they have a good reason to do that, but I did not want to be in the room for it! –and wasn’t)

Jack took the anesthesia well – no fighting the mask.  He actually smiled at Eric and lifted up a finger for Eric to hold.  Just as Jack drifted off, the anesthesiologist told us to give Jack a little kiss, then we were led to a waiting room.

They waited until Jack was sleeping to give him his I.V. which is such a good idea.  Why can’t adults get that “special” treatment!?!

After the surgery, the surgeon came in to talk to us- everything went well.  Jack’s adenoids were big! and the surgeon thought would solve any breathing issues.  Then we waited a few more minutes and were called into Jack’s post-op room.

Post-op Jack was a far cry from the happy confident Jack from before surgery.  He was in a lot of pain and was groggy.  His throat hurt, and his hand hurt where he had his I.V.  It hurt to take off the monitors they had stuck to his body.  His nose itched from the morphine he had for the pain.

Even being able to hold him on my lap was very little comfort to him.  I wasn’t really ready for him being in so much pain.  My poor baby.  He didn’t want to watch a show or eat a popsicle or drink.  He just cried and said, “no, no, no, no, no” in the most pathetic tone. “Mama, I’m scared.” he said later.

We finally convinced him to drink a few ounces of juice by telling him the I.V. could come out after he did.    We got him dressed and signed the final paperwork and were able to leave.  Jack wanted his daddy to carry him out – so Eric did.  Poor Jack was nauseated and tired and itchy and in pain.  Eric tried to give him a Toy Story Woody key chain but Jack wanted nothing to do with it. (Even hours later when the pain meds kicked in and he was feeling much better he shunned poor Woody. Eric and I think he associates it with the pain from the surgery)

These are the only photos I have of the post-op – for obvious reasons…

In the car Jack went between holding my arm tightly and not wanted to be touched.  When we got home, Jack was sleepy but still miserable.  He really need some pain meds, but had to eat something before he could have them. 

He threw-up aver being at home for a few minutes.r (though it was a lot of blood and gunk that the nurse said he would have swallowed during surgery – super gross!)  I think throwing up made  him feel better.  He was then able to drink something and eat a yogurt and have some medicine.

When that medicine kicked in, Jack was drowsy but much more happy.  He watched some TV and then was super hungry.  The surgeon said Jack could eat whatever he wanted if he asked for it, but guessed that Jack  probably would not be able to eat today at all.  Of course, he doesn’t know our Jack.  This little boy downed two bowls of ice cream, some yogurt, a bowl of chocolate pudding, several cups of apple juice, about 10 ritz crackers with peanut butter on them, a packet of goldfish crackers, a bowl of fresh raspberries, and four pieces of licorice that Nana brought over with a get-well card.

Jack’s pain came back before it was time to take the medicine again and he was very upset again.  I pulled out a new small lego set which helped bide the time for the half-hour that he had to wait.  When he could finally take the medicine, it tasted so bad that that Jack wasn’t sure what was worse; the pain or the taste. He did take the medicine when I offered some ice cream to eat afterwards, but I can see that it is going to be some work to get him to take this medicine.

(am I cruel enough to document this experience…)

After that painful episode we added another medicine to his regimen.  That way, before one of the meds wears off, another one is started and had time to take effect.  This way the medicine’s  pain-lessoning qualities overlap and Jack doesn’t have a “down” time again.

I thought the medicine was great (since I didn’t have to take it.) The syringe fits exactly into the bottle and you turn it upside down to dispense.  And the pharmacy put a black line on the syringe to show where to fill it to.  Cool! 

Another great “medicine” for him was a visit from Nana and Tyler.  They just came to bring a card, and came in for a few minutes.  Jack perked up so noticeably in those few minutes that Nana and Tyler kept us company for quite a while.

The rest of the day went smoothly.  Owen came home around bedtime and Jack showed his boo-boos to Owen – along with his prized spiderman band-aids. 

I imagine it will be a long night, but for now Jack is asleep in my bed with his little “chat noir” beside him.

A note: the panther no longer has his hospital-band on his leg.  When Jack took the panther out of his backpack and saw the band, he immediately found a pair of scissors and cut it off.  “He does NOT want this on him!” Jack said after he cut the band off.   Jack made Eric take his own bands off before we even drove home from the hospital. 

“This was not a very good day,” Jack said to Uncle Marc this afternoon as he talked to him on the phone.  And maybe the aftermath of the surgery makes it seem like a bad deal to Jack.  But I am so happy that he got this surgery.  I am so glad to think that there is no longer something blocking his airway.  I can’t wait to see what kind of effect this has on his sleep.  I think that in the long run, Jack will greatly benefited from this day!