We had our consultation with Dr. Fowler in Springfield on a Monday and that Friday, Gage had his surgery. We knew we would have to give up a few days of family reunion in the Ozarks but we didn't care. This kid needs to feel better! Before we went in I had "googled" it to check out the post-op recovery process. Most told me he would feel better by the next day. However, that is true for Adenoids, ...tonsils is a whole other ball game.
Day 1 - Surgery was at 7:05AM this morning. We sat in the pre-op room and told him he was going to go with the Doctor and Mommy and Daddy would see him soon. He said "OK" and was just fine with them taking him away. The nurse told us a few important things to remember:
*Avoid straws for a week because the sucking sensation can force the scabs off too quickly.
*No dairy products for a while as they cause flem and we want minimal coughing. The goal is to not disrupt the scabs in the back of his throat. If this happens, he will start bleeding and the only way to stop it is by rushing to the hospital to have it re-cloterized. I do wish they would have told us this before today because I bought lots of ice cream and soft dairy treats. I guess we will be sending one of the Grandmas after sherbet!
*No chips for 3 months.
*No strenuous activity for 10 days
We got the call that it was complete after only 22 minutes. The Doctor told us he would probably get sick from the anesthesia but I assured her that he didn't when he has his eye surgery and sure enough....he came right out of it. She did also say that his tonsils came right out and his adenoids were HUGE. I thought to myself that maybe recovery would be a little better since they "came right out." Gage woke up screaming and scared after surgery but I was prepared for that. We were home by 12 and everything went very smooth the first day. He slept on and off and I kept Tylenol in him religiously.
Day 2 - Miserable! There are no other words to explain this day. He cried on and off for 24 hours and I slept maybe a hour. The nurse called and said that I could give him Tylenol with Codeine every 3.5 hours instead of waiting 4. I am worried about him getting constipated and in even more pain! On a positive note, he is drinking so I am not yet worried about dehydration.
Day 3 - Gage is looking a little better and taking little sips during commercials. This is working great. He wants to do nothing but watch Max and Ruby and that is fine. The DR told us that if he does not want to eat anything for 2-3 weeks, it is ok. As long as he is drinking. My concern right now is that Gage is scronny in the first place. He only weighed 29 pounds to start with and has no desire for even a popsicle. They also warned us of his horrid breath but it doesn't smell that bad.
Day 4 - Gage and I went to sleep around 8PM and I woke up at 12 to check on him. We are sleeping on the downstairs couch, as there is no way Mark and Lakin would sleep if we were upstairs. Actually I am sleeping on the couch and Gage is sleeping on my chest. I was relieved that he had slept 4 hours straight! At 2PM, he started screaming bloody murder. He sat up, put both hands in his mouth and pulled down on his teeth, all while screaming HIS HEAD OFF. There was nothing I could do. I felt so bad that I didn't give him meds at 12 when I woke up. It took him an hour to calm down even though his meds kicked in after about 20mins. We are so lucky that he is taking his medicine with no problem. The day went relatively good although he is only eating a little popsicle at a time and wants nothing to do with milkshakes. Every time he swallows, he looks like he is in so much pain :( It is 4pm and I am so ready for bed. Will this kid ever poop again??
Day 5 - Gage feels bad but he is tolerating the pain pretty well. Had a few visitors today and I think I look a lot worse than him! He had 2 bloody noses this afternoon. I called the DR and the nurse said it was probably because my house is dry. I assured her that is not the reason. When I previously "Googled" T&A, I found that most people have humidifiers running 24 hours a day after this surgery. It helps keep their little throats moist so it doesn't hurt so bad. We even have moisture on the inside of our window but I don't care as long as it is helping him. Not sure why the blood but it freaked me out! I am still checking his throat to see if the scabs have started coming off and they have not yet. The nurse told us that when they start to come off, adults have related it to swallowing glass. This will go on for a few days. I wish we could get these days over with already!
Day 6 - This was the day we were to leave to go to the Ozarks for a family reunion. Gage is having a great day and I feel like we could be there. We went outside and walked around the yard for 20 minutes or so. His babysitter came over and brought a few kids to visit. He wouldn't let me put him down but he smiled when he saw her. Still addicted to Max and Ruby and I have no idea why. Mark even got him to drink a whole milk shake throughout the day! I am glad because he looks so sickly and skinny :(
Day 7 - Gage pooped AND the horrid breath has arrived!! It smells like someone has puked in his mouth. Toothpaste does not even help. We have been brushing his teeth at least 3 times a day and he loves it. I think I brushed his teeth for 10 minutes straight tonight. It must feel good to him. He frequently swallows when I do it. Maybe the toothpaste feels good on his throat. (Note: He still uses toddler toothpaste that is safe to swallow) Day went ok and I am yearning for the lake! He even ate a whole meal and wanted more! He has lost 4 pounds and it is really showing. I can't wait for him to get his strength back!
Day 8 - AM - We are leaving for the lake. He is tolerable and I feel like if we can just get to the lake, we can be miserable there. I am almost out of Tylenol with Codeine and the nurse won't give me a re-fill. She said he can't have more than 2 bottles. I'm worried we will need more. Lakin wants to go to the lake sooo bad and I feel terrible for her because I have only been there for Gage for the last 8 days. I looked and the white scabs are still back in his throat. But it looks like there is a little less white on them. Although I haven't noticed him hurting more than usual while swallowing.
PM - We made it the 4 hours to Missouri without stopping! Gage slept most of the way and Lakin watched movies. Mark (and his parents) will be here in a few hours and I am ready for a break! Gage still wants nothing but me to hold him.
Day 9 - Gage woke up around 11pm last night crying. He said, "There is something in my mouth! There is something in my mouth!" I told him to spit and he spit up little white chunks for 5 minutes. He has been better ever since. Only needed meds once today and it looks like I have 1 dose left. He swam (well..I held him) in the pool today and went on a boat ride! Then we went to the lake house and napped. He took a 4 hour nap!
Day 10 - Spit out the last of the scabs. I looked this afternoon and I see no more white! Took another 4 hour nap but Gage did not need any meds today :)
Day 11 - We slept through the night and had a normal 2 hour nap...we are a normal 2 year old kid again! Hallelujah!
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