Joined: 30 June 2005 United Kingdom Posts: 6849 Gender: Female
Posted: 28 August 2007 at 3:27pm | IP Logged
Joshua is due to have his tonsilectomy next Monday. Im not worried about it (she says with bated breath) but I am worried how to explain it to him. Its a simple proccdure done loads of times so Im trying to just think about the long term benefits from it. Joshua doesn't understand anything like that.
Ive thought about telling him that the doctors are going to try fix all his sore throats, and that he will need a little needle, and a little sleep so he wont feel it. Thing is Joshua suffers night terrors and the last thing I want is to trigger those off if he associates this scary thing with sleep. I also don't know when best to tell him. He has no concept of time, everything is today, tomorrow or yesterday. Now we are starting to learn about '3 sleeps until such a thing' etc so obviously when I do tell him I'll tell him how many sleeps away, but I dont want him to have it playing on his mind if he is worried. It might be that he's not at all phased and takes it in his stride, or if he doesnt understand it will play on his mind and he will constantly ask questions and want it all explaining again.
When would be best to tell him? Should I tell him he goes to a special sleep so he doesn't feel it, or just assure him it wont hurt?
Joined: 24 April 2007 United Kingdom Posts: 1937 Gender: Female
Posted: 28 August 2007 at 3:42pm | IP Logged
I haven't had to do this with any of my three, so am not sure what the best way is to deal with it.
I think, if it was Cameron (who's not long 4), I'd tell him he'll have a special sleep, he won't know anything about it while it's happening, but that he'll have a bit of a sore throat when he wakes up - though he won't have all the sore throats and feeling unwell that he has now. I've always suffered from tonsillitis - the dr's avoided taking them out for a while - they tried to get me to have them taken out a couple of years ago, and I chickened out! hehe! Wish they'd done it when I was young and I'd got it over with.
Wee soul - hope he's not frightened about Monday once you tell him about it. Hope you're not too worried either (I know I would be a bit - it's only natural - that's your baby - whether it's a routine op or not).
Joined: 05 July 2006 United Kingdom Posts: 2389 Gender: Female
Posted: 28 August 2007 at 3:58pm | IP Logged
I'd probably tell him a day or two before. It will give him a bit of time to try and understand what will happen on Monday once you've chosen how your gonna explain it to him, but not long enough for him to start fretting or getting stressed and upset over it. And he'll still have plenty of time to ask you any questions or worries he has. The last thing i would want is for it to be announced on the day of the op which i'm sure you wouldn't do anyway! lol I'd probably not mention anything to do with sleep personally... with the trouble he has already, the last thing you both need is for the night terrors to get worse or more often, and as you said, he could start associating sleep with the op afterwards. Good Luck to you both. x-x-x
Joined: 12 June 2005 United Kingdom Posts: 3467 Gender: Female
Posted: 28 August 2007 at 4:09pm | IP Logged
i would agree with bev a day or two before so he doesnt have to much time to think about it also im not sure about telling him about the sleep as he wont remember that part anyway just reasure him that it wont hurt and how they will look after him and he will no longer get sore throats if this gets done, goodluck chris hope all goes well hun big (((hugs))) to joshua from me and mols xx jue xx
Joined: 30 June 2005 United Kingdom Posts: 6849 Gender: Female
Posted: 28 August 2007 at 4:34pm | IP Logged
Aww I just spoke to my mum who said that when I had mine out I was invited to the hospital for an induction day and was shown around and given a child orientated booklet on what was going to heppen, this was a few days before my operation. I rang the hospital and the nurse said that although this used to be common practice the hospital dont have the staff for it any more. However, they have suggested I bring him in on Friday and let him go see the ward and the play room. He will also be introduced to the play leader who has lots of special books to help children understand what will happen to them. Apparently a teddy had his tonsils out and got a great big ice cream treat afterwards lol So we're going their on Friday, 11am and then I will just answer what I can over the weekend. they promise to make it sound like an adventure!
Joined: 12 June 2005 United Kingdom Posts: 3467 Gender: Female
Posted: 28 August 2007 at 5:45pm | IP Logged
aww good one chris, im sure he will be fine hun - try not to worry too much (i know easier said than done) goodluck for fri and i hope josh doesnt panic too much, kids a toughies its us who get worked up xx jue xx
Joined: 11 June 2005 United Kingdom Posts: 8721 Gender: Female
Posted: 28 August 2007 at 7:21pm | IP Logged
Yup Chris they invite you into the hospital to have a look round so that it's not so strange to them! They are fantastic on the kids ward, and they will look after him well! There really isn't any thing to worry about. Even Heulwen was fine when she had gromits (have to admit it helped her that there was a male nurse she followed round like a lapdog!) lol
Joined: 17 June 2005 United Kingdom Posts: 3849 Gender: Female
Posted: 28 August 2007 at 8:42pm | IP Logged
I had my tonsils out when I was 4 and it was a great big adventure to me! Be really upbeat and reassuring about it, even play it down a little. The book sounds superb! And get the ice-cream treat in! (And cornflakes I've heard as now they like wee ones to eat rougher things to help the throat back to normal).
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Topic: Preparing a lo for surgery
That sounds excellent - hope it goes well on Friday - what a great idea.
