Our Dental Surgery Is Friday the 19th

[mama-mukti]

Our little guy is having his four top front teeth capped and/or removed until GA this Friday the 19th. Thanks to the mamas on this board I know what to expect and am calmer than I thought. At least I am right now!

The good news is that I was able to get confirmation from the anesthiologist (sp?) that breast milk is in the same category as "clear liquid" (for the pre-operative fasting) and that we can nurse up until 4 am. What a relief for me because we usually have a nursing around that time. We are on the way towards weaning anyway and I don't have much milk - but I wanted to make sure that I got the okay from everyone so there was no question.

Be thinking of us. His surgery is in Burlington, Vermont.

[mamasgirls]

Good luck!

My dd had 8 teeth fixed under GA last April at 22 months. We were able to breastfeed up to 4 hours before the procedure as well. That really helped a lot! It was a scary day for us, but everything went fine and she has no memories of the procedure, and is not afraid of the dentist (well, any more than she would be anyway).

Good luck to you! Let us know how it goes

[mama-mukti]

Thanks! It really does help knowing that others have been through it!

[momma,mia]

Hugs and prayers your way!!!

[WuWei]

We gave our son Arnica Montana 200c the morning of his dental surgery and then again immediately afterwards to help prevent bleeding, swelling, pain, bruising. He did great!! The homeopathic remedy is available at natural food stores. Generally 200c must be ordered, but Arnica 30c would help too.

Pat

[Cassandra M.]

Hope everything goes wonderful for him!

[mama-mukti]

EVERYTHING WENT GREAT! Thanks so much for all your good vibes sent our way! (Despite a horrible day before spending 6 hours on the phone trying to convince the hospital that, YES, our insurance was covering the procedure - GAH!) The staff and doctors were excellent - and the whole experience went better than I anticipated. They were able to save enough of each tooth to cap them - so he looks like he has brand new teeth! No problems with Luke going under the GA - they gave him an oral sedative first at our request. The mask was put on and he went right to sleep - no struggles at all. Coming out of the GA he was crying and acted like he does when he has a night terror - clawing and trying to get away. He kept trying to nurse - but couldn't really - but it made him feel good knowing that momma was there. After 30 minutes of being upset, he accepted the orange popsicle and we used that time to get him in the car and go home. I thought he would want to sleep - but he never took a nap - he just wanted to play and eat like normal. We gave him soft foods: applesauce, yogurt, cream of wheat, etc. until the evening when he wouldn't fall asleep because he was so hungry. I made mac and cheese and cut it up real small and he ate a whole bunch. He nursed all night. We have given him a homeopathic remedy called "Traumeel" that has all arnica and all that in it (given to us by a holistic dentist) and also had to give him ibuprofen. More for his molars I think.

Anyway - today he is normal. Still a bit puffy in the face. I just encourage everyone to not shy away from dental treatment if you or your child really need it. Some people are more prone to decay and even the best possible nutrition might not be enough to reverse earlier damage. I do know that we have an uphill battle with snacks going forward. It is hard to know what to feed them when we are out running errands. I usually rely on cheese.

Gotta Go!

[kaPOW!]

Yay!! Congrats on the new teethies!! I'm so glad that things went so wonderfully for you guys

Did they recommend that you not nurse him right afterward, or was he just too out of it? I was imagining that I'd want to be right there ready to nurse as soon as he woke up.

Thanks for the update. It's sure nice to hear the successes!

[WuWei]

No matter what they tell you, the suckling of nursing is not the same force of sucking on straws and sippycups. After ds's extraction, it was fine to nurse, just no straws/sippys.

Pat

[mama-mukti]

Originally Posted by maybeknott

Did they recommend that you not nurse him right afterward, or was he just too out of it? I was imagining that I'd want to be right there ready to nurse as soon as he woke up.

They told us to make him comfortable - give him what he wanted - and if that was nursing - that was great. I have never been told to quit breastfeeding because of the whole decay ordeal. I was just told to treat breastmilk like you would anything else - and brush his teeth!

He is a little tired today and nursed to sleep for what I hope is a nice long nap.

[momma,mia]

I am so happy and relieved for you!! We too are probably facing the same possibility of having it done. Was it done in a children's hospital? So, you got to be there up until he went to sleep?

I am truly happy for you guys and know you must feel like the weight of the world has been lifted. I hope that you guys have better luck with the teeth here on out!!

[mama-mukti]

Our surgery was done at an outpatient type of facility. We were so worried about everything - but it all turned out so well. I got to sit with him in the OR while they put the mask on him. He was already 90% asleep from the oral sedative that he just was OUT - no struggles. He seems fine now - a little cranky and nursing all the time at night.

[mamasgirls]

I am so happy everything went well for you That is wonderful they were able to save enough of the teeth to use caps!

Just wanted to add that my dd's surgery was in a children's hospital and we were able to go back in to the OR and stay with her while she went under, and then we were in the recovery room as she woke up. Really I couldn't have asked for a better experience.

[momma,mia]

I have been thinking about a children's hospital. Honestly, i think it would take a load off my mind if I knew my sone would be under the care of a hospital that just works with children. I think the closest for us is 4 hours, but for that peace of mind, I would like to try it if we go the GA route.

The one hospital closer to us where we first considered getting it done isn't a children's hospital. They also told us that we wouldn't be able to be with him anymore after they gave him the oral. They would have taken him to the OR still loopy but not asleep and we couldn't have been with him while he went to sleep.

That seemed so sad and depressing to me
Glad you had a good experience.

[WuWei]

You might call and talk directly with the Head Nurse, Charge Nurse, or Anesthesiologist about your need to remain with your child until he is loopy. Often, they will make accommodations.

ETA: I think I misunderstood. When our son was loopy/disoriented and indifferent, I was ok handing him off to the nurse. But, if ds had dissented, I would not have agreed to have him taken from my arms. I was totally willing to halt everything if they tried to insist and ds was upset and unwilling to go with the nurse. But that wasn't the case, the medication makes the child indifferent to normal emotional distress. Being present in the OR is unlikely from many medical pov. We also were allowed with ds as soon as he asked for mama/us. We were not with him immediately post-op while he was still recovering from the anesthesia. But, as soon as he called for mama, we were immediately invited to be with him. Generally, they want the parents with the child while awakening so that he is comforted and not distressed.




Pat

[Shenjall]

Congrats on everything going well!

My dd had 4 caps under GA when she was 2. We chose to go with an medical clinic instead of the childrens hospital b/c of their flexibility with procedures. Our dentist was still the one performing, so that helped put our minds at ease.
I was allowed to stay with her while they put the mask on (it was right in the o.r so she didnt need to be carried anywhere by anyone other than me) then I went to the waiting room.
Mommamia, if you feel more comfortable with the hospital, I say go for it. We got some grief (from family) for choosing the clinic, but it just felt better for us. The clinic also encouraged me to nurse her after the surgery to make her feel better and get some milk in her tummy to help with the nausea from the GA.
Just a warning, watching them go under is the most difficult part. I was warned by the mama's here and thankful for it.

Our experience was pretty close to WuWei's too.

I wish you all the best!

[mama-mukti]

Thanks again for all the info and good vibes. One week later and he is doing great. Nursing all the time again (I think that is more his molars) and not wanting to get his teeth brushed - so, maybe a little sensitive. Eating normal foods.

I did a lot of research and felt comfortable with our doctor, etc. We didn't have much choice as to where to go. I know some places have the procedure done right in the dentists office - even under GA - if it is a big enough practice. But that would be in a big city.

[momma,mia]

Thanks for the info. I will remember all of this while we are making decisions. I am glad that we have been able to wait a little while, now he is 4 months shy of being 3. All of this is tough and I applaud all of you for making the best decisions based on your child, family, and the resources you have.

I hope we make the best decision as well.

[Shenjall]

I hope we make the best decision as well.

You will.