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Positive thoughts please for twin 1


Melissa in Australia
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Twin 1 is having leg surgery tomorrow. He had one leg done last year and is now having the other done. He is having a Tibialis Anterior  tendon transfer, and will be in a leg cast, non weight baring in a wheel chair for 8 weeks afterwards.

he is very stressed out and nervous. He knows it hurts lots for a long time because he has had this procedure done before. Unfortunately because of his trauma background he will not tell people if he is in pain and refuses to acknowledge pain until it is very bad. Then he will just hide.

the poor fellow has PTSD triggered by needles as well

positive thoughts and prayers  that everything goes smoothly would be greatly appreciated. 

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I hope it all goes super smoothly!  Since you know how painful it was for him last time, can you try and stay ahead of the pain and treat him accordingly whether he tells you about it or not?  Hopefully once it's over, he'll find some comfort knowing that now both legs are done!

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I agree with talking to the doctor about trying to stay ahead of the pain with a plan even if he doesn't tell you about the pain.

Can they use a numbing cream before each needle stick so he won't feel it?  Do they have Child Life Specialists there that are trauma trained and can help him through the surgery, etc?   

How old are the twins now?  

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Poor thing! I agree with the others about compelling the doctors to stay ahead of the pain. With my ds' autism, he doesn't tell us when he hurts and then bangs walls and hides. Once the doctors realized, they started giving us higher doses and being more aggressive, more in-front. Even if someone is under-responsive, their body is still dealing with the physiologic effects of the pain. And 8 weeks on wheels during the best part of the year, bummer. I hope it's soon a distant memory!

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Thank you everyone.  He will have numbing cream etc. He will also be gassed to sleep. Last time it took 3 of us to hold him down as he was gassed. He doesn't remember that though. He will still wake up with a straw in his arm, which he considers to be a needle. He will for a few weeks be on a 2 hourly pain management plan. He knows however that it still really hurts. He still gets pain in his right leg from the surgery from last year. 

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2 hours ago, Melissa in Australia said:

Also the life therapist from the hospital has sent him a social story with all the steps etc. This was very helpful last time. 

Can you visit the hospital ahead of time? We did that with DS6 and they actually showed him everything, had him practice blowing bubbles using the gas mask, and gave him a doll that got all the same stuff - mask, gown, monitors, etc. 

2 hours ago, Melissa in Australia said:

Thank you everyone.  He will have numbing cream etc. He will also be gassed to sleep. Last time it took 3 of us to hold him down as he was gassed. He doesn't remember that though. He will still wake up with a straw in his arm, which he considers to be a needle. He will for a few weeks be on a 2 hourly pain management plan. He knows however that it still really hurts. He still gets pain in his right leg from the surgery from last year. 

Ask about an oral medication before the gas. It REALLY helped DS. They don't often do it, but he needed it. He was freaking out about just changing into the gown, refused to take his underwear off (they finally let him keep them on and took them off after he was asleep), and then flat out refused the entire concept of riding to the OR on the gurney. They got him some oral medication and about 20 minutes later he was MUCH easier to work with. he got a bit scared for a second with the gas but not anything like it would have been. 

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