teachermom2834 Posted May 23, 2017 Share Posted May 23, 2017 My teenage ds is having tubes in his ears in the morning. I know it is a very minor procedure but the doc is doing it under general anesthesia. He can't have anything to eat or drink after 10:00 pm and he is a little nervous. He just mentioned that he was planning to take an over the counter sleep aid (like benadryl) tonight so that he can sleep and not focus on the fact that he can't eat or drink. It is too late to call the office and ask. I told him I didn't think he could do that without permission and I can tell it made him anxious. I know that the answer is to not do it without permission from the doc. The paperwork just said no ibuprofen but tylenol was ok. Nothing about other OTC medicines. I think it would be fine but am worried that when the nurses ask if he had anything in the last 24 hours and he tells them they will postpone the surgery. We really need it done tomorrow. Thoughts? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted May 24, 2017 Share Posted May 24, 2017 I agree with Seeking. I wouldn't do it, either. Why take a chance? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted May 24, 2017 Share Posted May 24, 2017 Is there an on call doctor? I would still try to call Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teachermom2834 Posted May 24, 2017 Author Share Posted May 24, 2017 Well, I am definitely in the not take a chance camp too. But when your kid is anxious and you wish you could do something for him , you come to message board to talk it out I guess! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted May 24, 2017 Share Posted May 24, 2017 Well, I am definitely in the not take a chance camp too. But when your kid is anxious and you wish you could do something for him , you come to message board to talk it out I guess! I don't blame you for asking! It's so hard to watch our kids worry. :grouphug: I wouldn't take a chance on using a sleep aid before general anesthesia, though. I don't have any medical basis for my opinion and I could be totally wrong, but my dh has had general anesthesia many times and the instructions are always very strict about not eating or drinking anything after midnight, and they are also very specific about which OTC and prescription medications can be taken late at night and in the morning. If you can get an on-call doctor to call you back, you could ask about it, but otherwise, I think it's safer if he worries for one night rather than taking something that maybe he shouldn't take. I hope everything goes smoothly for him tomorrow!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teachermom2834 Posted May 24, 2017 Author Share Posted May 24, 2017 Thanks! I definitely wasn't going to make a medical decision based on message board advice.But sometimes a natural response is to kind of vent about a situation and toss it out there for discussion. I actually just got a call back from the doctor on call and he said that it is fine for him to take :) 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teachermom2834 Posted May 24, 2017 Author Share Posted May 24, 2017 Is there an on call doctor? I would still try to call Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Thank you for this suggestion. I hadn't thought of calling but the on call doc said it was absolutely fine. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trulycrabby Posted May 24, 2017 Share Posted May 24, 2017 Wishing your son an easy, uneventful surgery tomorrow. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted May 24, 2017 Share Posted May 24, 2017 Thank you for this suggestion. I hadn't thought of calling but the on call doc said it was absolutely fine. I'm so glad that you called. The opinion of a doctor trumps a bunch of homeschool moms. I hope that he gets some good sleep and that the surgery goes well. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amo_mea_filiis. Posted May 24, 2017 Share Posted May 24, 2017 When was the last time he had tubes and have his ears been full of fluid for a while? Asking because I always request the doc stick cotton in my ears. Otherwise as I'm coming out of anesthesia, it's painfully loud and a little disorientating. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teachermom2834 Posted May 24, 2017 Author Share Posted May 24, 2017 When was the last time he had tubes and have his ears been full of fluid for a while? Asking because I always request the doc stick cotton in my ears. Otherwise as I'm coming out of anesthesia, it's painfully loud and a little disorientating. Interesting thought. Thanks. This is his first time getting tubes. He has had pretty much constant ear pain and fullness for about 18 months (here is where I hang my head in shame that it took this long to get this done). He just never had ear problems until he was almost 16 yo and we just kept trying to treat it. When we finally decided to get this done it has taken a while to schedule it. So, yes...it has been a very long time since his ears were "right" :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lanny Posted May 24, 2017 Share Posted May 24, 2017 I believe that would be a VERY BAD thing for your DS to do. I believe that he should be alert and discuss his medical history and any medication he has taken, thoroughly, with the Anesthesiologist, before the surgery, if he hasn't had a Pre-Op appointment with the Anesthesiologist already. It is probably absolutely normal to not be able to sleep the night before surgery. BTDT GL to him! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terabith Posted May 24, 2017 Share Posted May 24, 2017 I honestly don't understand why they would use general anaesthesia to put tubes in a teen's ear. They did it for me in the office with no anaesthetic at all. It was FINE. As long as you're old enough not to move, I don't understand why they would do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teachermom2834 Posted May 24, 2017 Author Share Posted May 24, 2017 He made it through the procedure just fine. The sleep aid was not at all an issue and I think it helped him relax and settle down last night without fixating on the fact that he couldn't have a drink of water. So it wasn't a bad idea on his part we will just think to ask that in advance if future situations. Not sure why it was done under general anesthesia. I have no experience with this so I didn't realize it was not standard. I do understand even if it was to keep him from moving. I might flinch if I had that done and I'm and adult. I don't know but I trust our doc. So far at least. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amo_mea_filiis. Posted May 24, 2017 Share Posted May 24, 2017 I honestly don't understand why they would use general anaesthesia to put tubes in a teen's ear. They did it for me in the office with no anaesthetic at all. It was FINE. As long as you're old enough not to move, I don't understand why they would do it. I have an amazing surgeon. Despite my begging, he will not do my tubes without general. Why? Because as soon as my tubes fall out, the eardrums heal and retract against the bones. It's excruciating pulling the eardrum off the bones, he has little room to work, and I can't tolerate suction. When the tubes are in and he needs to clean them, he's quick and painless. If I could recognize the sweet spot between the tube coming out and just before retraction, he'd do it. But I no longer feel the pain of retraction, or infection for that matter. I only notice when my hearing changes. I do know I'd feel the pain of lifting the eardrum because of the pain following surgery. Usually tubes don't hurt. Mine do for a few days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted May 24, 2017 Share Posted May 24, 2017 He made it through the procedure just fine. The sleep aid was not at all an issue and I think it helped him relax and settle down last night without fixating on the fact that he couldn't have a drink of water. So it wasn't a bad idea on his part we will just think to ask that in advance if future situations. Not sure why it was done under general anesthesia. I have no experience with this so I didn't realize it was not standard. I do understand even if it was to keep him from moving. I might flinch if I had that done and I'm and adult. I don't know but I trust our doc. So far at least. I'm so glad. You sound like you have a good competent doctor. I hope that any recovery time is quick and painless. And I hope that the tubes have the desired effect. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teachermom2834 Posted May 25, 2017 Author Share Posted May 25, 2017 Thanks, Jean! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amo_mea_filiis. Posted May 25, 2017 Share Posted May 25, 2017 How's he doing today? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danestress Posted May 25, 2017 Share Posted May 25, 2017 He's a teenager. A sleepless night won't kill him, even if he is hungry and thirsty. Surely he can bear that an avoid the risk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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