Children in Hospital.

365days

My son is due to go for an operation soon. (removal of undescended testes) He is 9. Is there any words of wisdom that you would care to share with me. He is incredibly scared and nervous about the whole thing!

littlenicki

Hello Im a student children's nurse so can hopefully help put your mind at rest a little. Firstly, completely normal for both of you to be nervous/worried, but id be very careful about letting him see that you are nervous too. If you act calm and cool (even if you are terrified on the inside) he will hopefully be calmer.

Secondly, have you had a look around the ward he will be on yet? At the children's hospital I worked at children and parents could come and have a quick look around before they were admitted so they could become familiar with the place and hopefully take away some of the apprehension. If you know which ward he will be on phone up and ask if this is possible.

Also, have you spoken to your son about exactly what will happen? Details like having "magic cream" on his hands, having a special sleep, having his temperature taken, blood pressure etc? I found this booklet which my aunty used when my cousin went in for an operation. http://www.bsuh.nhs.uk/patients-and-visitors/coming-into-hospital/monkey-goes-to-hospital-patient-information-leaflet-for-young-children/ It may be a bit young for your son but it does cover all the basics of what will happen with operations etc.

Hope thats helped a little

365days

Thankyou very much!

I have to choose where he goes. The choice is btween 'general' hospitals and a children's hospital. I guess I am right going for the children's one?

littlenicki

Id say definitely yes! Children's hospitals are much better equipped for children. Will be bright, colourful, full of toys, other children, play specialists etc. Having worked on a children's ward in a general hospital and then in a children's hospital I much preferred the feeling and environment in the children's hospital

AppleTurnover

Hi 365days,

I really feel for you both. My son - also now 9 - was born with the condition hypospadias and has had several operations since the age of three. About 18 months ago he also had one of his testes removed due to a tumour. Thankfully he is absolutely fine, but I clearly remember how fearful we both were of the thought of the actual medical procedure. I am still not sure which is the lesser of the two evils - fearing the unknown or fear because you know what is coming!

I think that littlenicki is right - go along to your chosen hospital for a familiarization tour if you can - it really helped me to allay some of my concerns and helped me to allay some of my boys. We have been lucky enough to have been cared for by St George's Hospital in London and have always really appreciated their care on the Children's wards.

The one thing I did learn as I went along the operation road, was to answer any questions he had honestly. I remember him asking me if it was going to hurt when he was younger and me giving the usual mummy 'no of course not baby' answer, and then feeling terrible when he told me off for fibbing to him. So, when he asked the same question the last time, I told him that 'yes, it will a little, but hopefully not for long'. It was definately the right thing for us.

Hope this helps.

Apple

joeblack066

My DS3 (now nearly 21) was in hosp for ages when he was 4 as he contracted TB (!) and as his father had decided to up and run off with another woman, and I had 2 others at 7 & 6, I had to leave him sometimes, with the nurses, who were just wonderful!! He coped incredibly well, and I think a lot of that was because I told him he truth ( or as much as I felt he needed to know at the time) and looks back on that time as an experience that he came out of well, not as a trauma. Hope your DS is ok. x

Becles

Find out the facilities for you, so you can stay as much as possible. When my son was in, I had a sofa bed in his room so I could sleep over. There were showers for parents on the main corridor, a parents only sitting room and a small kitchen with a kettle, fridge and microwave.

Organise visiting times with relatives so you get a break as it is tiring work.

See if what facilities they have. Ours had DVD players and games consoles and you could take your own films and games in if you wanted to.

Owain_Moneysaver

365days wrote: »

My son is due to go for an operation soon. (removal of undescended testes)

I hope the surgeon isn't confusing orchi(d)opexy and orchi(d)ectomy ?

I quite liked being in hospital - I had the bed at the end of the ward next to the ward library so could choose all the books I wanted to read.

ailuro2

It's not nearly as scary as he / you thinks... the anaesthetic bit is just like drifting off to sleep, and coming round is a bit confusing but you can have a giggle about that asking what he thinks he'll say as it's a bit like being drunk - make up silly ideas about what he's going to say when he comes round.

Don't make light of it all though, remind him there will be other people in for bigger operations than his and they might be quite poorly and look a bit ill after their operations.
Also remind him to wash his hands every chance he gets.;)
He'll be given pain relief in hospital, but it's probably a good idea to have some more at home (my DD likes Calpol sixplus fastmelts) and have a stash of ice-cream in the freezer, as it's a well known post operative treat given to all children even when they've not had their tonsils out.:D

jm2926

I went in when I was small, and was told I was going to theatre. I imagined it would be for the panto so I was so disappointed when I woke up afterwards. My only other memory of it was my uncle had brought me a huge bar of chocolate and I wasn't allowed to eat it before theatre - so hide all food!

365days

Thank you. I am trying to be honest. Last night he asked me if he could die!!!