Help!
My almost 5 year old had his tonsills and adenoids removed on Thursday, March 13th. Tuesday night he threw up a large amount of blood and blood clots. I called the ENT who did the surgery and he was not on call. The service paged the on call Doctor. No call back. I called the service again, no call back. I called the service AGAIN and they said they would try his house. Finally, after 3 HOURS the on call DR. called me back. He said a scab had come off and that a little bleeding was normal. When I explained to him that this was far more than just a little bleeding he basically wrote me off as a hysterical mom and told me he would be fine. Thursday morning, 4:30am he threw up a large amount of blood and clots again. His bed looked like a murder was commited. I called the ENT's office that morning and basically demanded to be seen. I explained to the receptionist what was going one and she put me through to a nurse. The nurse said the same thing, that a little bleeding is normal and that he would be fine. She basically wrote me off too.
Not at all satisfied I called his pediatrician who, of course, was out of town untill next week. I told them that I was at my witts end and they better set me up an appointment with a real doctor THAT day. So, we got an appointment and a wonderful doctor who listened to what I had to say. The first thing he did was checked his packed cell volume (PCV). My baby was anemic! Really???? So the doctor took matters into his own hands and called the surgoen. The ent's office never told me that the surgeon was out of town. The doctor gave me his personal cell phone number and told me to call him if there was ANY problems, mean time he was going to get a hold of this surgeon. At 7 pm the surgeon called me. He was upset with me that I hadn't called him about the second bleeding episode! What ever. He said that if he bleeds again to call the doctor on call and that we would have to go to the ER. So we went from bleeding is normal to go to the ER if it happens again?
Today, no bleeding. Are we out of the woods, I don't know. I just want to know if this has happened to anyone else out there. I have been off work for 8 days now and I am scared to send him to daycare on monday. Any advise would be greatly appreciated form anyone out there in mom land. Thanks for letting me vent!
mom of one
You are a good mom Stay
You are a good mom
Stay persistant and don't take no for an answer,you know best,I hope he's ok,I wish I had more info,but I haven't ever gone through that. But it sounds a lot more serious than how they are treating it. I'm glad you finally got hold of a good surgeon who is listening to you.
Thank you He needed the
Thank you
He needed the surgery and when I had it I was fine, no compications. I have been feeling like a really bad mom for putting him through this. However, he is on the mend now! He is eating good, more active and best of all NO BLOOD! It's really nice to hear that I am a good mom, thank you for that. It's nice to hear mow and then.. :) Happy Easter!
mom of one
Your story is the exact
Your story is the exact reason why I did not put my son through this surgery. He is five now, but when he was three they said his tonsils and adnoids needed to come out. They were so casual about the whole thing. A simple outpatient surgery. I decided I would see if he outgrew his problems as they say some kids do. It terrifies me to think that the some doctors have become so cold to parents. We are not idiots when it comes to our children. If we ask questions, then we are automatically labeled "hysterical." Stay strong and remember that a mother's instinct is usually never wrong and stay on those doctors. Your child is very lucky to have a mom like you!!!!!!
Well, believe me, we put off
Well, believe me, we put off the surgery for as long as we could but his tonsills and adenoids were twice the size of a normal childs. They were causing him sleep apneia and speach problems as well. I wanted ample time to get working on his speach before he started school. I had mine removed at age 4 and I never had the compications that he had. Ervery child is different and this may have been just my dumb luck. But I do have to say that he is much better now and the bags under his eyes from lack of sleep are gone. If I had to do it all over again I would but I would have tiked to be better informed. I have a recheck with the surgeon on April 11th. He will hear about my dissatiscation. I am just glad he is having a great Easter! I hope you do too! Thanks for your comments.
mom of one
Don't be frightened by the
Don't be frightened by the barfing...our stomachs just aren't good at digesting blood so it comes up.. if it goes down. If this were you or another adult, you'd just cough it up and/or spit out the blood, but a small child may inadvertantly swallow it...
The process of barfing can loosen up that scab even more and probably make even more bllod and hence, even more vomit.
My sister had hers out at 17 and had all the same issues as your child. (On Christmas Even no less! Ugh - all that blood - she was old enough to not swallow it and barf, but was scared from the bleeding). In her case, my mom just took her right to the ER (so much for opening gifts!), but all they did really was send her back home to rest.
I had it done at 5 - no complications...
What I can tell you is that both my sister and I would CONSTANTLY have colds become ear infections, etc. etc.
Since the removal? Not one single case of strep throat (for me since the surgery 35 years ago, and for my sister not once in 22 years). Nor have either of us ever gotten another ear infection. My mom said I used to get them once every 2 months! But since age 5 and the surgery, not one infection.
Good luck. Sorry to hear that your surgeon's office sounds inept. How frustrating to deal with!
:)
Happy2BMommy, is a stay-at-home mom who just turned 40 (argh!) with a 7 yr. old daughter and a 5 yr. old son, and is a discussion leader for arizonamoms.com living in Scottsdale.
Thank you for your story It
Thank you for your story
It makes me feel better that this has happened to someone else. I was lucky that my son was never really sick. The only thing he had was a constant stuffy nose full of green yuckiness! Since the surgery he hasn't had 1 boger! He is sleeping well and his activity level has gone way up. The only thing now is that his voice is completely different. My mom assures me that my voice was wierd for about 3 weeks then it was back to normal. I sure hope so because I can't understand half of what he is trying to tell me!
Thanks again and Happy Easter!
mom of one
I've had it with reading
I've had it with reading story after story of moms being labeled as hysterical. I firmly believe in mothers intuition. Do I err on the side of caution? When it comes to my kids, yes. Your doctor should have done a better job of preparing you ahead of time of what to expect after the surgery. Now, on the positive side, everyone I know that has gone through this surgery has benefitted greatly from it - so I think this will be better in the end!
IF I was hysterical it was
IF I was hysterical it was only because no one would take me seriously! I work in the animal healthcare field and I see blood everyday. I know the difference between a little blood and a lot. If it was just a little blood I would not have been so concerned. I was just happy that someone finally took me seriously and helped me and my son. The worst part is that my husband didn't even seem that concerned after the first episode. You are right about mother's intuition and I will listen to mine from now on!!
Happy Easter!
mom of one