Our boy, who we've posted about already here, is preparing for dental surgery today. Yesterday morning was noticing him appear to be biting his tongue/having difficulty swallowing a bit more, though since then he's improved, but it worried me that he may experience more discomfort without the surgery, yet i am very worried that he will experience a great amount of fear, prodding, needle, trouble with the anesthesia/coming through if we go for the surgery.
He's almost 7yrs old and had a tooth trimming several weeks ago that left him unable to eat/drink on his own so we've been syringe-feeding him round the clock and have lost from 1170g this summer to in the 900's a couple of weeks ago and now the 800's. One of the doctors had said she'd seen the molars growing over the tongue. Two weeks before, the other doctor said she saw one side of molars slightly higher than the other, but wasn't overly concerned. So this is all without xray or any idea on the health of his heart/lungs/other organs. He's been a healthy boy all along, but he's showing that he's more worn out now. His breathing seems somewhat laboured (seeing the breaths in his sides appear heavy, about once every second or so) so am very concerned that we could lose him under anesthesia. Does anyone have an impression on this? I am most concerned that we choose best given his overall wellbeing (body and mind) and what is most comfortable for him. I know if there is tongue entrapment we would see him eating less and would eventually lose him this way, but know the risks are great with surgery and dont want his last experiences to be fear or pain (jaw pain post-op, other...wondering if he will be able to eat as a result of anesthesia/pain, hoping that he would pull through). They use gas anesthesia and said they would watch his breaths and if they become concerning they lower the percentage of gas...not sure how quickly that process works, but she said fairly quickly. They use a drug to reduce salivation, which also keeps heart rate up, she said. She said that was the only drug they use. I was supposed to discontinue syringe-feeding 6hrs prior to surgery because of their concern on losing 2 others to what they thought was aspiration from syringe-food fluids from families who were feeding their pigs syringe food for weeks about 6 times/day and fed prior to the surgery. I gave a long feeding about 7-8hrs prior this morning and a few bites (2ccs or so) just from something in the stomach, which may be 5.5hrs prior (am thinking keeping the gut moving to prevent shutdown, by the time he would start eating again, it may be more in the vicinity of 8-10hrs since the last).
Am very concerned and worried that we may not be having him with us after this trip, though am praying and know that God is in charge and am trying to trust. Could really use your prayers and thoughts. Has been an emotional time.
He's almost 7yrs old and had a tooth trimming several weeks ago that left him unable to eat/drink on his own so we've been syringe-feeding him round the clock and have lost from 1170g this summer to in the 900's a couple of weeks ago and now the 800's. One of the doctors had said she'd seen the molars growing over the tongue. Two weeks before, the other doctor said she saw one side of molars slightly higher than the other, but wasn't overly concerned. So this is all without xray or any idea on the health of his heart/lungs/other organs. He's been a healthy boy all along, but he's showing that he's more worn out now. His breathing seems somewhat laboured (seeing the breaths in his sides appear heavy, about once every second or so) so am very concerned that we could lose him under anesthesia. Does anyone have an impression on this? I am most concerned that we choose best given his overall wellbeing (body and mind) and what is most comfortable for him. I know if there is tongue entrapment we would see him eating less and would eventually lose him this way, but know the risks are great with surgery and dont want his last experiences to be fear or pain (jaw pain post-op, other...wondering if he will be able to eat as a result of anesthesia/pain, hoping that he would pull through). They use gas anesthesia and said they would watch his breaths and if they become concerning they lower the percentage of gas...not sure how quickly that process works, but she said fairly quickly. They use a drug to reduce salivation, which also keeps heart rate up, she said. She said that was the only drug they use. I was supposed to discontinue syringe-feeding 6hrs prior to surgery because of their concern on losing 2 others to what they thought was aspiration from syringe-food fluids from families who were feeding their pigs syringe food for weeks about 6 times/day and fed prior to the surgery. I gave a long feeding about 7-8hrs prior this morning and a few bites (2ccs or so) just from something in the stomach, which may be 5.5hrs prior (am thinking keeping the gut moving to prevent shutdown, by the time he would start eating again, it may be more in the vicinity of 8-10hrs since the last).
Am very concerned and worried that we may not be having him with us after this trip, though am praying and know that God is in charge and am trying to trust. Could really use your prayers and thoughts. Has been an emotional time.
