RE: T& A Recovery Techniques

[Guest guest]

A few notes from our recent T & A experience - thoughts/techniques to try:

1.

Given her age (28 months) - we stayed over in the hospital one

night. It was good, because she was well hydrated for an extra 2 days

from all the IV fluid they pumped into her. I spent the night with her,

but there wasn't room for my husband.

2.

Find out the minimum ounces they recommend to stay hydrated and

make SURE that your child gets that much of a good liquid.

3.

Have Pedialyte on hand --- if you're having to force liquids,

that's better than anything.

4.

They suggest to minimize the amount of milk products (i.e., give

juice not milk, or try soy ice cream) - as it can increase mucus making

them stuffy while recovering. However, if they eat anything and milk is

all that works - go for it! We actually found that milk was gentler on

her throat.

5.

We had to use a syringe to get the liquids in her - it also

helped us to measure the amount she was getting. Literally - getting

5-10 syringes (about 3 ounces) was a major accomplishment some days.

6.

All sorts of things count as liquids - including applesauce,

jello, milkshake, icecream, slushies (popsicles chopped up), sorbet,

fruit chillers (sold near applesauce - but you can freeze them), yogurt,

pudding, soups,

7.

Mix the Loritab with chocolate syrup. Apparently it tastes

horrible (our doctor equated it to lighter fluid!).

8.

The drugs and little fluids can cause constipation - we used

laxative suppositories twice in two weeks - we also got her to eat some

Activia yogurt.

9.

*** Our daughter had an awful reaction to Loritab, but the

wouldn't give anything else over the phone. Tylenol seemed to be enough

after about Day 3-4. Her reactions included lots of sweating, and

itching (she completely broke out on her back from all the sweating),

and she may have had bad dreams. She knew something wasn't right and

started refusing to take anything via syringe.

10.

Give Tylenol (either oral or suppositories) about 20 minutes

before you try to push fluids. Then try to get steady fluids in over

the next 2-3 hours, then ease off that last hour (as their throat will

start to hurt again).

11.

Steady intake of fluids is better than all at once. First thing

in the morning, or night time medicine is the toughest as their throat

gets dry.

12.

Use humidifier in the room.

13.

Beg, plead, bribe... we bribed with stickers, bandaids (yes she

loves them), books, movies, M & M's, etc. We tried to make a game of it

--- drink a sip from the cup - get an M & M, and repeat! Or drink 2 sips,

get a blue one!

14.

Tylenol suppositories - you can get them at Rite-Aid, or Publix,

etc. You'll have to ask pharmacist, but it isn't prescription. Get

your nurse or doctor to tell you the right dosage (we had to cut some).

But these were our savior once she quit wanting to take syringes

15.

Try all sorts of foods and serving devices --- cool straws, cool

cups, special bowls

16.

Our doctor recommended chewing gummy bears by day 5 or 6 to get

the throat muscles working harder - she loved some little fruit chews

from Sams club (they also have Curious and Snoopy ones at the

grocery store that provide some Vitamin C) in the snacks section.

17.

Once they start to eat - soft foods are best: scrambled eggs,

mashed potatoes, pasta, soups, and of course - milk shakes (we made with

soy ice cream and slim fast protein shakes - gross sounding, but a bit

more nutritious and they tasted pretty good)!!!

18.

We also aren't really into lots of TV, but we did let her watch

lots of videos during that week or so.

19.

We also got her two new pair of really comfy PJ's and she didn't

want to be anywhere without her stuffed lemur (Madagascar is a favorite

movie) and blanket. Now - she could care less - but she attached

herself to these two things while she was recovering.

20.

My mom bought her her first pair of scissors which gave her

something new that was a nice quite activity. She was ready for it

around day 5 or so.

21.

If it's not cold out - get them outside - the fresh air seemed

to make her feel better, even if she really didn't even play.

22.

We got to a point where she absolutely refused to take anything

- my husband and I both on the verge of tears - then 24 hours later, she

just drank a lot of stuff. So, hang in there. She got to where she'd

only have 2 wet diapers a day (that was around day 7-8), then by day 12

she was back to complete normal!

23.

Also - she never did voluntarily drink from a cup for about 8

days. We may not have let her get " thirsty " enough, or she's just

strong willed. She also didn't eat for a full 7 days (pedialyte only).

Don't worry about the food - worry more about the liquids.

24.

I also ended up sleeping with her for almost 2 weeks in her bed

with her. I'd never done that before, but she was VERY clingy to me.

She normally isn't clingy to me like that and she is sleeping fine in

her bed alone now - but we broke the habit as soon as she was fully

recovered.

Hope this helps. Feel free to email me if you have any additional

questions - even if you just need to vent right after the surgery --- I

know how worried you can get!

Best of luck - I KNOW how tough the decision can be. I definitely

couldn't have done it without my husbands full support, either.

Ginger

Ginger M. Hackett, PMP, ABCP

Systems Solutions Principal

CAR Financial Services, Inc.

5 Concourse Parkway, Suite 400

Atlanta, GA 30328

New Work Phone: (770) 828-1397

TREO Phone: (404) 915-5035

Ginger.Hackett@... <mailto:Ginger.Hackett@...>