JenOni

#CHOP

Pediatric Surgery: ENT Procedure

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In 2009, my ladybug had ear tubes put in due to multiple ear infections.  Typically this is the last resort by the ENT, but countless ear infections and antibiotics later we were prepping for surgery.    The prognosis as I remember is no more ear infections and the ear tubes usually fall out on their own.    Since the surgery four years ago and multiple follow up visits every 3 to 6 months.   During our visit in May, the ENT  doctor discovered a significant build up of wax .

While in the outpatient office, the ENT doctor tried to remove the wax to no avail.  My ladybug was in severe pain and her screams were pretty obvious it was not a fun day at the doctor’s office.  I asked the ENT doctor if it was really painful and he told me that our ears are one of the most sensitive parts of our body and YES!   The doctor was not able to say if the ear tubes were out due to wax build up.   Guess where we were four weeks later?  In surgery, to remove the wax under anesthesia.

There is always prepping before surgery so when we arrived my ladybug was sure the anesthesia was not going to work on her.    CHOP has the best staff for prepping little ones for surgery.  They ask the parents if they would like to give the patients some medicine to relax them before surgery.   My ladybug took the medicine and then proceeded to pretend she was asleep and told me see mommy the anesthesia is not working.    Little did she know there was no anesthesia yet.  I chuckled the whole time.

The ENT doctor came out to see if there were any questions before surgery.  Next the anesthesiologist comes out to explain the procedure and what happens during the surgery and after the surgery.    The ENT doctor came out prematurely because he noticed the tubes were still in her ears and he wanted to remove them.  I was not aware removing them leaves holes which required consent before he could proceed.

Her ear tubes were in for almost four years.    The build up of wax was removed but there is no guarantee this will eliminate the build up.   I also learned from the initial surgery my ladybug has very small ear canals.   After the surgery she has to refrain from any water activities for three weeks.  The patches have to heal properly.

Being a Parent: First Cast Countdown

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Yes, the title is broad and vague.  I often wonder is there such a person- a “perfect” parent?  Realistically, none of us are perfect despite some of our egos saying otherwise.     However, as a parent I feel it my responsibility is to have a clue on what is in my children’s best interest.    The day DD returned home and  I asked her to remove her sweat jacket , a swollen elbow!  I told her it is either a fracture or sprain.   First stop was the kitchen cabinet for the children’s acetaminophine,  it felt like the only natural thing to do with a child in discomfort, right?    Then I made an ice pack for our trip to the ER.   After 4 1/2 hours in one emergency room,  transport by ambulance to CHOP and an additional 3 hours in emergency room at CHOP we left with a cast for the DD.

How can I perfectly chronicle a full week with  DD in a cast?  After clear directions of not getting the cast wet, my first thought was the bathing dilemma, how? and then I wondered how will this cast fit into clothing.  Then on top of it all it was her right hand, the writing hand so this introduces an issue at school with getting her work completed.   Guess, who was the designated homework completer in the evening, that’s right- M-O-M-M-Y!   There was a day off from school on the Monday after Easter which gave us a day to get acclimated to this major change.   Then another day with the biggest hurdle  trying to make her comfortable at bedtime.    Another concern was the fact for a whole week we were unable to wash the right hand so being the germophobe I am I resorted to wiping the cast hand with sanitizer.

Also I forewarned her teacher before DD went back to school.  It is amazing how much we take for granted with full function of all of our limbs.    All in all kids are very resilient as they take blips on the radar in stride!

One week later a follow up appointment, xray and then evaluation with pediatric orthopedic doctor.   After our follow up meeting with the pediatric orthopedic doctor, we left the hospital with another cast at a more flexible angle.   A visit to the cast room where a technician cuts off the first cast while DD wears headset to protect ears from the buzzing noise.     DD is tickled pink because as the cast is being removed the buzzing vibration tickles her arm.      Prognosis, 2 more weeks in the new cast….I’m thinking yay me!   Back home to endure 2 more weeks in a cast for DD.  One thing we did learn is that it was easy to take a bath as long as the cast arm was hanging outside of the tub, well of course DD forgets and brings arm down and gets the cast  wet.   I immediately was off to call CHOP and the orthopedic doctor on call.   When I received the call back he instructed me to use a blow dryer to dry the wet section.   He also said as long as the integrity of the cast material was not compromised we were good.   Lucky for us the cast was slightly wet on the surface and we were saved from another trip to emergency!  Countdown to the 22ndl of Apri!  Three weeks of acetamin0phen, ibuprofen(best for inflammation) and anti-histamines(for the itchy skin)

Yesterday was officially the last day with a cast, it was removal of cast and then xray.

After the cast was removed, DD’s skin was extremely chafed and her arm was stiff from being confined for 3 weeks.   The doctor said she needs to slowly straighten her arm without any need for rehabilitation.   She also has a note for school which limits her physical activity for the next month, no monkey bars, trampolines, bike riding, roller skating, etc.   I told her the only thing she can and will do is SIT!   She actually had the nerve to ask me No Monkey Bars?  *******blank stare******* SCREAMING in my Head!  

The first thing DD wanted to do was take a nice warm bubble bath and I am a big   fan of Aveeno products.  Oatmeal is very soothing for chafed skin however I already made 4 trips to Target in the past 5 days so I needed to bypass Target and find something in the local supermarket.   

Another Johnson & Johnson product, reasonably priced  Vanilla Oatmeal wash with a nice scent.  I learned long ago that body wash makes nice makes a tub of fluffy bubbles and smells wonderful.    She enjoyed submerging the cast arm and it worked so well on her skin.   I will definitely buy this again!
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Now we have a month of light activity, I’ll keep you posted!