Pediatric endoscopy?

[Chelley00]

DS 14 is going in for endoscopy on Thursday. Anyone have a child that has had one, and what were your experiences? This will also be his first time under anesthetic.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Nette]

Yep. DD had one when she was about 4 months old. They needed to see if her nasal passage was blocked by bone or skin or if she just had giant adnoids that needed to be removed. The general anesthesia freaked me out, but I figured it was better than listening to her struggle to breathe when sleeping and nursing. As it turned out she had a condition called choanal atresia which is when part of the nasal passage doesn't open up in the womb. Hers was only one sided and only skin, not bone too, so was easily fixed a month later (another dose of general anesthesia -- so scary).

Best of luck to you and your DS. At least he's old enough to tell you how he feels when he wakes up.

 

[golfgal]

DD14 sort of had one. She was scheduled to have one to remove a mass from her stomach but right before the surgery they decided it was too big to remove that way so they just did the surgery.

 

[LaraK]

My son has had 7 endoscopies and has been under general anesthesia 8 times (he's 5).

Before the procedure he will not be able to eat or drink (although we can have clear liquids until a few hours before our procedures). If he's nervous, they may give him a mild sedative. They use the mask on my son before they start the IV. He doesn't like the smell and when the anesthesia starts to take effect it's not uncommon for the kids to fight it, then it will very quickly take effect and they'll go to sleep. After the procedure (which only takes about 15-30 minutes) they'll take him out to recovery. Our GI will come and show us the pictures and we'll talk about the initial findings (my son has EE, so we usually need to identify if there is ringing or ulcerations). After that, kids come out of the anesthesia at their own pace. My son used to wake up in about a half hour or so, but now that they've changed his cocktail (due to egg allergies) it takes him longer. My son comes out of anesthesia angry. He's grumpy the rest of the day. He's also really clumsy all day so we make him stay in bed so that he doesn't get hurt. If you're getting biopsies, they take about 3-4 days.

Let me know if you have any other questions. We're pros at this and will be going back for the 8th endoscopy in a couple of months.

 

[DisneyKT]

My son has had 7 endoscopies and has been under general anesthesia 8 times (he's 5).

Before the procedure he will not be able to eat or drink (although we can have clear liquids until a few hours before our procedures). If he's nervous, they may give him a mild sedative. They use the mask on my son before they start the IV. He doesn't like the smell and when the anesthesia starts to take effect it's not uncommon for the kids to fight it, then it will very quickly take effect and they'll go to sleep. After the procedure (which only takes about 15-30 minutes) they'll take him out to recovery. Our GI will come and show us the pictures and we'll talk about the initial findings (my son has EE, so we usually need to identify if there is ringing or ulcerations). After that, kids come out of the anesthesia at their own pace. My son used to wake up in about a half hour or so, but now that they've changed his cocktail (due to egg allergies) it takes him longer. My son comes out of anesthesia angry. He's grumpy the rest of the day. He's also really clumsy all day so we make him stay in bed so that he doesn't get hurt. If you're getting biopsies, they take about 3-4 days.

Let me know if you have any other questions. We're pros at this and will be going back for the 8th endoscopy in a couple of months.

What a brave little guy you have.

 

[cntrygal]

my daughter had one somewhere around her 7th birthday. For a stomach biopsy. All turned out fine, she did great with going under. Was more worried about the not eating part. When we were done and one our way home she said she was hungry i asked her what she wanted, thinking maybe some applesauce or ice cream, she said she was starving and wanted a steak. Sure enough the little bugger ate every bite.


On a different note my son had to have an MRI when he was 9. We talked about them putting him to sleep. He was really stressed over the procedure which was very unlike him, he was the kid who asked for a mirror so he could watch them stitch up his head, on two seperate occassions, i was expecting my daughter so they wouldnt let me be in the room with him during the procedure, so my mother went in with him. he was really mad and me and we kind of passed it off as jelously over the new baby.
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Wrong, my mom had to put her dog to sleep a few months before.....the poor child thought we were perminatly putting him to sleep


ooooopppppps

 

[Tink9295]

My DS was 15 when he had his. He did fine. They were checking for ulcers and acid reflux. He has acid reflux for years, but that was all they found.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

My one ds had it. They only made him take off his shirt and put on a hospital gown. They wanted him to eat a light diet after the procedure and told us to watch him etc. I think he was home by three, proclaiming he was starving also. After all was said and done they found nothing wrong with him.

Everyone reacts to anesthesia differently . Best of luck to your ds.

 

[tinkntraining]

My DD14 had her first one 4 years ago, and is scheduled for another next Thursday. Like others have said, every child reacts differently to anesthesia. My DD has lots of allergies, so I was really fearful the first time she had to be anesthetized. She did fine. She did wake up very tearful and emotional, then in a flash, she was laughing so hard she had tears in her eyes, but the doc said that reaction is very normal. They let me stay with her until she was put under, which was reassuring and scary at the same time (did NOT like seeing her eyes roll back into her head ) and she was back in recovery not too long afterward.

The doctor had pictures for us to look at and explained what he had found during the scope. The biopsy results came a few days later, if I remember correctly. Like a previous poster said, DD was also a little clumsy for a couple hours after the procedure, but her biggest complaint was how hungry she was!

Sending prayers and happy thoughts to you and your son!

 

[sunkist]

My son has had 7 endoscopies and has been under general anesthesia 8 times (he's 5).

Before the procedure he will not be able to eat or drink (although we can have clear liquids until a few hours before our procedures). If he's nervous, they may give him a mild sedative. They use the mask on my son before they start the IV. He doesn't like the smell and when the anesthesia starts to take effect it's not uncommon for the kids to fight it, then it will very quickly take effect and they'll go to sleep. After the procedure (which only takes about 15-30 minutes) they'll take him out to recovery. Our GI will come and show us the pictures and we'll talk about the initial findings (my son has EE, so we usually need to identify if there is ringing or ulcerations). After that, kids come out of the anesthesia at their own pace. My son used to wake up in about a half hour or so, but now that they've changed his cocktail (due to egg allergies) it takes him longer. My son comes out of anesthesia angry. He's grumpy the rest of the day. He's also really clumsy all day so we make him stay in bed so that he doesn't get hurt. If you're getting biopsies, they take about 3-4 days.

Let me know if you have any other questions. We're pros at this and will be going back for the 8th endoscopy in a couple of months.

Hey! My DD10 has EE too, she has had 7 I think, we've lost count. We go to Cincinnati Childrens Hospital to their EE clinic. I remember her first 2 scopes and being so nervous. Now, we about can time everthing, when the doc. comes out, when we can go back and see her. We will give her soft foods to eat that night, then next day it's back to her regular diet.

 

[amid chaos]

DD14 had one in July. No problems..it was pretty quick. Dr had pictures immediatly after and biopsies came back in a few days. After DD was hungry and upset she couldn't play hockey that night.

 

[Chelley00]

At least he's old enough to tell you how he feels when he wakes up.

That may not be a good thing!!!

they decided it was too big to remove that way so they just did the surgery.

Poor thing. I hope she's okay now.

My son has had 7 endoscopies and has been under general anesthesia 8 times (he's 5). .

Oh, your poor baby! What a lot to deal with at age 5! Thanks for all your information!

Wrong, my mom had to put her dog to sleep a few months before.....the poor child thought we were perminatly putting him to sleep


ooooopppppps

The poor thing. Although, it did make me laugh!

My DS was 15 when he had his. He did fine. They were checking for ulcers and acid reflux. He has acid reflux for years, but that was all they found.

They are checking for ulcers and reflux as well. He's always sick and has lost over 10 lbs since October.

Best of luck to your ds.

Thank you!

Sending prayers and happy thoughts to you and your son!

Thank you!

We will give her soft foods to eat that night, then next day it's back to her regular diet.

Good to know, thank you!





Thanks everyone for the stories! I had one done AGES ago, but wasn't fully under, so it's nice to know what to expect with him. Our other 2 sons have been under anesthetic (one appendix and the other ear tubes/adenoids) but it's been awhile.

We got our call today and we have to be at the hospital at 8:30am on Thursday morning. Our family has been passing around the stomach flu, and DS14 hasn't had it (I don't think I have either, I was icky, but not as full blown sick as everyone else has been), so I'm praying he doesn't get it and we have to reschedule as they are running 2-3 months out right now. If he or I get tonight or tomorrow, we'll have to reschedule

 

[LaraK]

I hope neither of you get sick...the build up to the procedure is the hardest part. Let us know if we can be of any help.

 

[Chelley00]

I hope neither of you get sick...the build up to the procedure is the hardest part. Let us know if we can be of any help.

want to come take care of my puking husband so I don't have to?

 

[LaraK]

want to come take care of my puking husband so I don't have to?

Um, yeah, I may be the Queen of Puke (due to my son's illness) but I don't do Adult puke.

 

[zumbergc]

You might want to make sure to have cough drops or popsicles.
I've had some sore throats, from the tubing going down.

The worst part for me is the not eating prep.

 

[ZPT1022]

They use the mask on my son before they start the IV. He doesn't like the smell

All three of my kids have had to be put under and when they do the mask induction at our children's hospital they let the kids pick a lipsmackers scent and they rub it on the inside of the mask. It hides the scent of the anesthetic a bit and helps the kids to feel like they're a little bit in control of what's going on (since they picked the smell). Just something to consider for the future


As for the endoscopy, I have one every year and my girls have both had them and the youngest needs to go for another one. Out of all the surgical type things I've had to do with my kids, this is by far the easiest. If they do conscious sedation (propofol or the demerol & versed combo) it's a very calm and easy going under, one minute they're talking and then they're just out. Compared to the general where they fight it, it's a lot easier to deal with watching (from my POV at least). Having done it myself, I find that it's not too bad from the patient POV either- the worst part is that you just suddenly are out of it and then when you wake up you are very confused and disoriented.

DH will tell you that I'm a "happy drunk" after my endoscopies. My kids were about the same- one laughed so hard she fell out of the stroller when I was wheeling her out to the car- ooops. Be aware that the meds may cause your son to lose inhibition, after my last endoscopy the nurse told me it was okay to get changed and so I did- right in front of everyone and could not have cared less. Apparently the old man next to me waiting for his colonoscopy appreciated the show Just be aware that he may be a bit wacky from the meds.

He may be allowed to wear his own clothes from the waist down so encourage him to wear sweats or pj pants so he is comfy. As others have mentioned he may have to stick with a soft/bland diet for the first 24 hours- my favorite after treat is a slush from Dairy Queen, sometimes the tube they use can make your throat a little sore.


I don't want to make light of having the endoscopy but it's really not horrible at all. Good luck to you and your son!

 

[Chelley00]

Thank you everyone! It was nice to know what to expect. DS14 did great. I was way more nervous than he. He was joking around with everyone, complained about not getting to ride in the wagon on the way back to the OR (he's 6 foot tall, so there was no way he was fitting in the wagon) and both the doctor and the nurses told me how much fun he was, not like the other surly teens they usually get in there.

He actually woke up still in the OR, and was only in recovery for about 5 minutes before they brought him back. He had a headache (the nurse said it's very common in teens to get a headache from the anesthetic) and was a little nauseous, but after about 45 minutes and some 7-UP felt better.

We got there at 8:30am, he went back at 10am and we were in the van on our way home at noon. He had a sore throat last night and this morning, but decided he felt well enough to go to school today. I appreciate all the info!

 

[ZPT1022]

I'm glad it went well and I hope that you get some answers soon and he is on his way to feeling better