help after surgery

[rtyoung]

my son is in chiari decompression surgery right now. I am very worried.  What should I expect when we get to icu

[Zipperhead0609]

I remember waking up in the ICU with Oxygen in my nose and the magic red button in my hand.....I also vaguely remember being told shortly after that I had tapped the magic red button too many times, and need to calm it down a bit!

Since I woke up surrounded by doctors because my tongue was extremely swollen, they only let my Dad come in for a few minutes to say Hi.  I remember asking him how I looked, and he said "Great!" in which I responded with asking to see myself in a mirror.  He didn't have a mirror, so he took a picture on his phone and showed it to me.  I then, in a not so nice manner, told him how I didn't look so "Great!"  I believe it included a big gasp and a few expletives.  He knew then that I was okay!

Selma- You could probably guess what came out of my mouth!

Oh, I also met Selma's husband the next night...(Thursday night) and then Selma on Saturday night (Or was it Sunday?) when we became roomies!

[sherimom]

It's so hard to sit and wait!!! My wishes for a speedy and successful surgery/recovery.
My son was 15 when he had his surgery January.  He had to lie flat on his back 2 to 3 days.  He had a morphine pump he could push, they can't push it more than they need. We weren't supposed to push it for him, but honestly, the first 6 to 12 hours, I did push it from time to time when he was sleeping so he would be able to rest without waking to push the pump. I didn't do it all the time, but just occassionally so he could sleep a little.
I did have to advocate strongly at one point regarding meds. They had given him a non narcotic med that worked far better than the morphine for him and he didn't feel nauseated with it. They prescribed it for a couple rounds, then wouldn't again because the pharmacy was arguing that he was not 16 yet (he was less than 6 mo from his bday). The NS ended up coming in and I had to stand up to him a bit as well. He said that there will be pain following surgry. I explained that I understood it is expected, but why should he be at (on 1-10 scale) an 8 or 9, when he could be at 4 or 5 with a non addictive non narcotic?  My son did get the meds.  

I also rolled towels, like ULMMom did, except I rolled it into a U shape. He also felt that a very loosely filled ice pack under his neck on the incision helped.

I don't recall him getting oxygen either. Loud noise and light did bother him as well. We kept it dark and quiet in the room. I also stayed the entire time and slept very little in the first 48 hours. The nurses came in and out regularly and checked him.

I hope the time passes quickly for you and your child is out and bouncing around again very quickly. My son was back to school in 3 weeks full time. Kids bounce back quickly from surgery - well, at least quicker than adults do!

Hugs to you!!
Sherri

[ULMMom]

Also DD was never on oxygen and did not have a drain. She was on heavy steriods also. The cath was prob. the hardest thing for dd to take. She cried and felt she had to go to restroom constant and was very agravated by it. No matter how much I tried to soothe her it was an alien and she wanted it out. Of course it was in until next day at noon. Not knowing the age of your child mine just did not want people visiting. Our room in ICU was large and had a door that was closed at all times. One time I left it open a crack because I had to run downstairs a clown came and visited her and that did not make her happy at all!! LOL
Best wishes and prayers

[ULMMom]

Well since I just went through being the parent in Peds ICU. My dd did not get a button ) - =  the hospital she was in did not put brain surgery patients on one. She came out the gate with anti nausea medicine. They never wanted her to feel queasy they said the minute she felt it not to wait let them know so they could be ahead of it. They also held off food for a while. She was groggy afterwards and now I find out does not remember any conversations from that night. I took 2 towels and rolled them up like a tootsie roll and place one on each side of her ears under pillow. Said said she felt way more comfortable. Also when she was able to eat I ran down to cafeteria and got her food she could pick up and put in her mouth so she did not need to raise her head. Such as tatertots and fruit like melon, grapes and strawberries all bite size but nothing she had to chew excessively. She did not want to raise her head off the pillow. Make sure the nurse understands pain is something you do not want to chase. You are ok with preemptive pain relief. We did chase the pain the first 4 hours out of surgery but once we where on top of it, it was easy sailing!! With the move from recover to ICU they tend to forget that the child may need an extra boost of morphine. Now since parents get to stay in the room Marissa could not stand sound for the first day. Such as radio and tv she had it on but no sound so if I watched my laptop it was via earphones or I read

[selmaS]

Hi...it all depends on the dr and the hospital...in talking to others I see that not all r done the same....and since we r all different we respond differently.

I can tell u what I went thru, but not sure if that will help u.....

HE should have a button to get pain meds in ICU, not sure how that is handled with children and not knowing his age...U may need to be an advocate for him and get the nurse to address his pain when he needs to have more meds.

He may get sick from the combo of drugs and meds plus the anesthesia....and I am sure he will sleep....

I had a drain, not sure if he will, but I had skin harvested for a patch......again it all depends on what was done in addition to the PFD.

He may be ICU approx 2 days...should be on oxygen and all vitals checked regularly.
A foley cath will be in...and a liquid diet until he is able to sit up and feel better.

I am sending prayers for u and ur son that his surgery gives him the relief he needs and u the ability to continue to be a strong advocate for him.

"selma"