On Tuesday, May 8th, we had Quinn's PE tube surgery. Here is the story of our experience just in case you have to go through this yourself one day, you'll have an idea of what to expect.
Her surgery was scheduled for 10:30am. This meant that she couldn't have any "solid" food after midnight and could only have "fluids" (water, juice with no pulp, Popsicle...NO MILK) until 6:30am. So like a good Mommy I woke up at 6:15 and got her up so that she could at least have some juice before I could give her nothing!
We arrived at the outpatient hospital at 9:15 (we needed to be there by 9:30). When we arrived, we did not have to wait long and Quinn was brought back to be weighed and then I had to give them her pre-op form that was filled out by her pediatrician the previous Friday. We then went into a room where they took her temperature, blood pressure and pulse rate. Then multiple people came in to ask us questions and let us ask question of them, including the anesthesiologist. They kept asking if Quinn was getting this surgery due to recurring ear infections and every time I said no, she has had a speech delay due to built up middle ear fluid. I really began to wonder if they were verifying us or they really didn't write this stuff down!
Then we waited for about 20 minutes (luckily the doctor was ahead of schedule!) during which time there was a TV in the room, a worker came by with some toys for her to play with (we were at a children's hospital). Then we started to take her back for the surgery. They allowed for us to be with her while she was put to sleep and they allowed her to have her stuffed kitty and cow with her for when she woke up. Daddy held Quinn while they put the mask (which we requested watermelon flavored gas) as I talked to her. She was asleep in less than a minute and they wheeled her into the operating room while we went outside to a special little room for just us. I must admit I cried as Quinn went to sleep and for about 5 minutes in our little room.
The doctor was in to talk to us about 12 minutes after we had sat into our little room - very quick procedure. Everything had gone fine, there was not current infection so he just gave us a prescription for the drops if we ever need it for an infection. We then went out to the big waiting room. They called us back about 10 minutes later (but it felt much longer) as Quinn was awake. We could hear her cry as we got closer. They had given her her animals, which she threw, as well as her cup, which she was just holding onto. Then I took her and rocked her trying to get her to drink a little something. They gave her some Tylenol and gave us some directions for the day. This included to not let her walk around for awhile, slowing ease her into eating. First make sure she keeps the juice down, then try some crackers/bread,... And we were out of the hospital by 11:15. I think it was more traumatic on Mommy and Daddy then on Quinn :)
Quinnie's Birthday Countdown!
