Question about after the surgery?
Question about after the surgery?
Hello to you all! Ok I now know what to expect prior to the surgery, how about after it? How long were some of your children in the Hopital for? How long after were they were released did you travel back home? What should I expect once we are home? I mean how were your children when they returned home? How long do they feel icky for? Any info would be good. I am very interested to know all the details. Thank you all very much, Lenni
Re: Question about after the surgery?
Hi Lenni.... Maia slept over at the hospital two nights and we left and caught a 1:00 pm plane that last day and came right home. Often you are only there for one night, then you stay in a hotel the next night, come back for a splint check, then you can go home. All depends on the child and the situation (pain and so forth).
Maia did really well on the flight home - actually that was the best attitude/behavior we've seen in her until just this week (LOL!) when her arm started really coming back.
We came home on Wednesday. Friday I took her to school for 2 hours for a party and that zonked her out. Monday was her first day back - half day. That week went well in school.
Remember - every child is different ok?
Maia didn't sleep the whole two months plus... she was angry that she was splinted and she had all this pent up energy from not being able to use her arm...was surprised to see how much energy that really took on a day to day basis - because you could just see how pent up she was. She spent a lot of time voicing and being physical with her anger and energy - much to my chagrin. Now that she is 1 month post 24/7 splint and has a bit more than one more month to go for the nightime usage - she is a different child. Happy, better attitude, is sleeping much better (although not all night yet).
In summary - the splinting period for us has not ever been an easy time of it. But we make it through and move on.
I have it all written up in case you are interested... http://www.injurednewborn.com/maia/capsulodesis.html
good luck,
francine
Maia did really well on the flight home - actually that was the best attitude/behavior we've seen in her until just this week (LOL!) when her arm started really coming back.
We came home on Wednesday. Friday I took her to school for 2 hours for a party and that zonked her out. Monday was her first day back - half day. That week went well in school.
Remember - every child is different ok?
Maia didn't sleep the whole two months plus... she was angry that she was splinted and she had all this pent up energy from not being able to use her arm...was surprised to see how much energy that really took on a day to day basis - because you could just see how pent up she was. She spent a lot of time voicing and being physical with her anger and energy - much to my chagrin. Now that she is 1 month post 24/7 splint and has a bit more than one more month to go for the nightime usage - she is a different child. Happy, better attitude, is sleeping much better (although not all night yet).
In summary - the splinting period for us has not ever been an easy time of it. But we make it through and move on.
I have it all written up in case you are interested... http://www.injurednewborn.com/maia/capsulodesis.html
good luck,
francine
Re: Question about after the surgery?
Matthew had primary surgery in October at TCH. We were walked into the recovery area. He was sleeping and woke up at times, he drank some juice and went back to sleep. We were in the recovry room for over six hours before a room opened up to be transferred to. Matthew slept the night through (and all the ones after) and was a little groggy until about noon. He required a little extra time on oxygen (his phrenic nerve was also injured at birth so we already expected a longer oxygen time). He was back to himself in no time. We gave him tylenol for the first couple of days (now after learning the dangers of tylenol we have made the decision to give advil if more surgery is ever needed).
Matthew had his surgery on Tuesday and Friday at 11am we were on our way home. We're from PA and decided to drive to TX. The ride home got a little long especially since we decided to take a detour to New Orleans for a few hours.
Matthew was a little gassy after surgery (we were told that was quite common). He also got an ear infection. I was not prepared for seeing how flacid his arm was after the immoblizer came off. I knew that it was going to be that way, but seeing it was different. Hope this helps.
Cindy
Matthew had his surgery on Tuesday and Friday at 11am we were on our way home. We're from PA and decided to drive to TX. The ride home got a little long especially since we decided to take a detour to New Orleans for a few hours.
Matthew was a little gassy after surgery (we were told that was quite common). He also got an ear infection. I was not prepared for seeing how flacid his arm was after the immoblizer came off. I knew that it was going to be that way, but seeing it was different. Hope this helps.
Cindy
Re: Question about after the surgery?
Hello, Lenni. Nicole always has a difficult time waking up in recovery and usually gets a couple doses of morphine in the OR and recovery room. She's also very uncomfortable / disturbed by all the tubes and wires (oxygen tube, IV, monitor, etc.) She had either Tylenol w/codeine or just Tylenol through the first evening and again the next morning before the splint was made / fitted. She's usually feeling much better once the real splint is made (they do a temp. cast in the O.R.). This past surgery was our shortest stay (of course, it was the most comfortable too in the new rooms!). We only stayed at TCH one night this time (usu. 2 nights). We stayed across the street at the hotel and went back to the OT Dept for a splint check the next morning (which I highly recommend for anyone staying only 1 night in the hospital). We just scheduled the appt. at the time they made the splint. Everything was okay so we went back to the hotel until we were off to the airport a couple hours later. I gave Nicole Tylenol w/codeine for the flight home, but I should've given her Advil/Motrin or reg. Tylenol b/c I think it just made her more wired (and I've heard other parents say the same).
When we were in the hospital and when we returned home, Nicole was very clingy. She was emotionally reliant on me and didn't want me out of her site for a while. I didn't mind the extra cuddles though! She also was sick and had a double ear infection that we discovered a week after surgery. She'd never had an ear infection and I'm thinking she might have gotten it on one of the flights. So, that could've contributed to her dependancy on me too. I stay at home with Nicole so school isn't an issue for us. However, if she was going to school, I would've probably started her back gradually 2-3 weeks post-op (b/c of her cold / ear infection and emotional needs).
Nicole adjusted well to the splint as she has in the past, but I think what attributes to that is that she doesn't functionally use her L arm /hand very much, so it wasn't much of a "loss" for her to have it bound up in a splint. I'm sure that this would be very different for a child who had pretty good function pre-surgery. For Nicole, splint time is also a break from all the therapy at home and at the hospital / pool and a break from the "both arms / other arm please" comments she's so used to hearing.
So, that's been our experience with Nicole and with TCH. BTW, Nicole was about 2 yrs, 9 months at the time of her last surgery, the Capsulodesis and has been out of the splint during the daytime for 3 weeks. This has been more frustrating for her trying to get her L arm / hand to do what she wants it to and it not "cooperating" with her, but I think things are getting better as she's figuring out exactly what her abilities are. I hope this helps.
-Tina
)
When we were in the hospital and when we returned home, Nicole was very clingy. She was emotionally reliant on me and didn't want me out of her site for a while. I didn't mind the extra cuddles though! She also was sick and had a double ear infection that we discovered a week after surgery. She'd never had an ear infection and I'm thinking she might have gotten it on one of the flights. So, that could've contributed to her dependancy on me too. I stay at home with Nicole so school isn't an issue for us. However, if she was going to school, I would've probably started her back gradually 2-3 weeks post-op (b/c of her cold / ear infection and emotional needs).
Nicole adjusted well to the splint as she has in the past, but I think what attributes to that is that she doesn't functionally use her L arm /hand very much, so it wasn't much of a "loss" for her to have it bound up in a splint. I'm sure that this would be very different for a child who had pretty good function pre-surgery. For Nicole, splint time is also a break from all the therapy at home and at the hospital / pool and a break from the "both arms / other arm please" comments she's so used to hearing.
So, that's been our experience with Nicole and with TCH. BTW, Nicole was about 2 yrs, 9 months at the time of her last surgery, the Capsulodesis and has been out of the splint during the daytime for 3 weeks. This has been more frustrating for her trying to get her L arm / hand to do what she wants it to and it not "cooperating" with her, but I think things are getting better as she's figuring out exactly what her abilities are. I hope this helps.
-Tina
)Re: Question about after the surgery?
Thank you very much for sharing your experiences. I feel much more informed now, and I will share the information with Ashley and her father this evening.
Lenni
Lenni