Tonsillectomy tips- 6 year old
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Hi friend! I'm a certified child life specialist, and I think the best way to prepare your 6yo is to prepare yourself first, so here's a run down on some tips & tricks:
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Prepare yourself for what to expect before, during and after. Ask ALL the questions when the pre-op nurse calls )(how will he fall asleep with anesthesia? how long can you stay with him? When can you get to the recovery room wit him?) Make sure YOU eat breakfast (even though he can't!) and you have all the coffee available for you the morning of surgery.
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Consider preparing your son a few days before the procedure. Talk about the "Why" this needs to happen, and discuss how important taking medication after surgery is (this is often one of the hardest parts of Tonsillectomies). Feel free to use my free surgery prep book: https://childlifeoncall.com/surgery-prep-book_in-app-1-2/
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Likely, your son will go to sleep breathing in a mask based on his age/weight. It may be good to practice / talk about it before hand. It smells like a "beach ball" kind of plastic, but often they let kids put flavors in them.
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Encourage your son to pick out fun popsicles ahead of time, so he has something to look forward to after. I also recommend packing a "hospital" bag after you tell him about the surgery. Encourage him to put things in the bag that help him find comfort - a stuffy, blanky, book, iPad, etc. Encourage him to write questions for the doctor if he has any.
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Validate fears - it's normal to be nervous about this!
I'm happy to speak with you more through a consultation, or there is more information about the procedure on my SupportSpot app.
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The first couple of days aren't that bad but don't be fooled-things pick up day 3 to day 8. Do not miss a dose of pain medicine. I agree with dissolvable tylenol and motrin rotating. Keep their throat moist with liquids. Bubble gum to chew every day after. Ice packs for ear pain. Honey lollipops. Some will say a humidifier on them at night, I don't think it helped us that much but probably not a bad idea. Ice cream, mac n cheese, pudding the normal stuff. Nothing red as you can't see if you're bleeding or if it's the red dye
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Hi friend! I'm a certified child life specialist, and I think the best way to prepare your 6yo is to prepare yourself first, so here's a run down on some tips & tricks:
-
Prepare yourself for what to expect before, during and after. Ask ALL the questions when the pre-op nurse calls )(how will he fall asleep with anesthesia? how long can you stay with him? When can you get to the recovery room wit him?) Make sure YOU eat breakfast (even though he can't!) and you have all the coffee available for you the morning of surgery.
-
Consider preparing your son a few days before the procedure. Talk about the "Why" this needs to happen, and discuss how important taking medication after surgery is (this is often one of the hardest parts of Tonsillectomies). Feel free to use my free surgery prep book: https://childlifeoncall.com/surgery-prep-book_in-app-1-2/
-
Likely, your son will go to sleep breathing in a mask based on his age/weight. It may be good to practice / talk about it before hand. It smells like a "beach ball" kind of plastic, but often they let kids put flavors in them.
-
Encourage your son to pick out fun popsicles ahead of time, so he has something to look forward to after. I also recommend packing a "hospital" bag after you tell him about the surgery. Encourage him to put things in the bag that help him find comfort - a stuffy, blanky, book, iPad, etc. Encourage him to write questions for the doctor if he has any.
-
Validate fears - it's normal to be nervous about this!
I'm happy to speak with you more through a consultation, or there is more information about the procedure on my SupportSpot app.
-
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C Camryn-MomBrain marked this topic as a question
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C Camryn-MomBrain has marked this topic as solved
