Blocked tear ducts - anyone have surgery?

[girlfromthefuture]

After 14 months of trying naturally to get them open and patiently waiting, our daughter is scheduled to have surgery to open her tear ducts.

Anyone out there with this experience? I DO NOT like the idea of general anesthesia for my babe. I'm feeling nervous....

[Bokonon]

Yes, we did it when Doodlebug was 17 months. It was really quick - probably only 30 minutes or less from when they took him back until we got to see him in recovery. The surgeon said that he had a membrane completely covering his tear duct, so all the massage in the world wouldn't have helped.

I know it's scary, but it's a very simple procedure and the baby will be under for a very short amount of time. I was able to nurse Doodlebug when he woke up, and that made things less traumatic for both of us. We were home by lunchtime and he was playing like his old self shortly thereafter!

[marieangela]

Ds1 (now 7) had to have this done. I dreaded it (especiallly the anesthesia)and tried everything not to have to do it, but it turned out well. It was very quick and he came out happy and smiling. No problems after he had it done.

[firewoman]

I had a baby with lacrimal stenosis that resolved around 13 months of age so we avoided the surgery, *but* my younger son underwent a simple surgery for something else around 18 months that required general anesthesia and all was fine with him. Our experience was very similar to the PP's We were only seperated for about 20 minutes before we were reunited in recovery. He was a little groggy but was himself again fairly quickly. I was really scared about the general, too. I put his surgery off for several months to allow him to get bigger. It is never an easy decision to have them put under, at least not for me. I feel you.

[girlfromthefuture]

Thank you so much for all the support mamas!

Winter did fine with the surgery and was back to her usual activity by the next day.