Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Lleyton's surgery

What an experience. Josh and I weren't sure if we were going to go through with Lleyton's surgery he had shown improvement so we didn't want put him through it or us or our wallets if we didn't have too. We took Lleyton in the day before and after hearing our options and the Doctor's "opinion" we decided we would go through with it. As of today I am still not sure it was the right choice give me a month.

The night before I spoke with the nurse from the surgical center to find out the details of when he needed to be there and the proper pre-op instructions. While I was talking to her she would stop and have to ask another nurse the answer to my questions. Sadly I was told Lleyton could have clear liquids from 4 o'clock on but that milk and oj and the other liquids had to stop by then. Sadly the truth was he couldn't have anything after 4 am.

The morning of his surgery Lleyton woke up early like at 5:30 so I gave him maybe one oz of apple juice. When arrived for surgery they saw his bottle and asked if he had had any. I was like "yes they told me he could have clear liquids". At that moment I was informed he couldn't have anything after 4 am and that they would mostly likely have to cancel the surgery. That should have been my sign right? She left and came back and told us they were able to switch some things and that if we were willing to wait a few hours they could fit him in.

We decided we would wait. This was frustrating. They put us in a tiny room about the size of my closet at home with a movie and some toys. Lleyton was so tired and hungry and so was I. We had brought some food thinking he would be right into surgery and that we could eat, but because of the change in events this would not be the case. Being pregnant I really should have eaten anyway but couldn't find it in me to leave my little boy or eat in front of him in his sad little state.

After hours of waiting the nurse finally came and told us to change him into his little gown and that they would be out to get us in about ten minutes. An hour later no one had said anything so I went up to the nurse and asked what was going on. By this point Lleyton and I were both beyond done. That point had passed about an hour and half before. She came back and said it was going to be twenty more minutes. I went in the little room to try to calm down my emotions at this point were whacky being pregnant, tired, and hungry. I was so upset with the service and how things had played out. Finally the anestesiologist came to talk to me. I wasn't saying much because I was afraid I would start crying. I think this made him think I was incoherent or dumb because he spoke to me like I was two.

Minutes later the nurse came to take Lleyton she took one look at me and knew something was wrong. She put her hand on my knee to assure me everything was going to be fine. I burst into tears and couldn't even talk. I felt so dumb. Josh told her a quick run down of what the nurse had told me and what our situation had been. She was irrate that we had been given the wrong information and on top of that had had to wait so long. She asked the other nurse to find out who we had spoken to, the other nurse copped back with attitude "maybe they just misunderstood". Josh was ticked. I was upset but this sweet nurse did make me feel better. She said just the right things and took action when noone else had cared. She got Lleyton a warm blanket and took him away he was upset but I'm glad she was the one to take him and not someone else.

We went in the waiting room and only waited seriously 20 mins or less before they came to tell us we could come back. I could not believe we had waited 5 hours for a twenty min surgery. When we went back Lleyton was still on the stretcher in recovery and was not coming out of the anestesia well. I have never heard or seen him like that before. He sounded so angry and out of control. He was like a blind animal trying to get away from his abusers. Josh hurried and took him in his arms. Lleyton was out of control. Josh is a pretty big guy but Lleyton was flopping and kicking to escape. He wouldn't open his eyes, he had a bloody nose, a little blood in his mouth, and he had tubes and IV's bandaged to him. Probably not the best state for his pregnant Mom to see him in. After a few minutes it was obvious we weren't going to be able to control him so for his own safety they sedated him. He woke up an hour later much better. We gave him some juice, meds, and a bit of yogurt. We really wanted to leave but they wanted us to wait for the Doctor whose surgery after Lleyton had gone over again by about an hour. He finally came to tell us in about 60 seconds what we already knew. His adnoids were very large and they removed them successfully. Kind of annoying, I really wish they could've just called us or something. All I cared is that he was alive and doing better.

We took him home and for the past week and a half it has been rough. Antibiotics three times a day and pain meds about every four hours. He's been waking up moaning about every hour at night. I think there has been once that he has slept in his bed the whole night. His breath is atrocious and he's not his normal self yet. I was told his recovery would be a piece of cake and that he wouldn't be in a lot of pain. I now ask myself compared to what, tonsils? Most people say having your tonsils taking out is worse than child birth. Anyways his breathing is okay but not great about the same as before, at first I thought maybe it was the swelling, but shouldn't the swelling be gone by now. Josh hasn't been around much too help because he has a corporate visit coming up and has been getting up at three in the morning to head to work. Needless to say we are all pretty tired. I really, really, hope that we didn't do this to end up with not great results. It wasn't worth torturing Lleyton or the money if he isn't going to get much better than this. Man it's hard to know what decisions to make in life especially when they involve children. I really just wanted this to improve Lleyton's quality of life hopefully it will.

Thank you to everyone for your phone calls, meals, and support. I am sorry if you called and I didn't call back. It meant a lot that so many people remembered and actually did call. So thank you to everyone it makes it easier knowing people care.

6 comments:

McLerran Family said...

I'm so sorry that you had such a rough week! It is so hard to see your children sick and sad. If you need anything at all, give me a call.

Emily said...

OH MY GOSH! I am so sorry! There are some very poor nurses out there and some amazing ones--I am so sorry that you and little Lleyton and Josh had to go through all that! I would love to do anything for you! I am just 2 doors down! Dinner? whatever! Run to the store for you..anything. I used to work in retail, so I know how busy Josh is--seriously let me know!

Danny and Jessica Matson said...

Holy cow that was the longest blog EVER. Good thing you told me about it over the phone. My Attention wouldn't let me read the whole thing. Glad it's over with and he is doing better. LOL! Jess

Amy said...

That is sooo frustrating! Surgeries are provoke enough anxiety as it is without being told the wrong information and having to deal with all that crap. I understand what poor Lleyton is goin through, I just had my tonsils and adnoids removed two days ago, and it is horrible. Hopefully he gets feeling better soon!

macandmegan said...

That is terrible, poor little thing! I can only imagine how hard its been, on top of being pregnant. Good luck with the recovery :)

Karissa said...

Congratulations on having a boy. I love having my boys closer together. Let me know the final outcome of Lleytons surgery. We were about to get Tate's adnoids removed but the doctor didn't make me feel like it was really going to change him enough to get it. I would love to know if it has totally changed him and if you would recommend it.