Tuesday, October 23rd was the day. The day we have been counting down for over a month. Ashton seemed fine for weeks when we would mention it, and then the day before he started saying he didn't want to go. I don't blame him. I was feeling anxiety attacks myself about putting him to sleep. The surgery itself is supposed to be a very simple and quick procedure, but the complications of putting someone to sleep for surgery could have possible side effects during or after.But putting all of that aside, I decided to be strong and tell Ashton that the special day has come.
Ashton was scheduled to check in at 8:25am. He couldn't eat past 2am, and no drinking past 6:30am. He woke up at his regular time and was able to watch one of his favorite shows "Octanaunts" before we headed out the door. He did ok with no eating and drinking. We didn't even mention food or water, so he didn't think about it.
We had prepared him for weeks and the past few days we really talked about it. When we had toured the hospital a month ago, they had given us paperwork that showed pictured and explained what steps he would have to take, like taking his weight and putting on the robe. They even gave us a mask to take home so he wouldn't be scared when they put it on his face. We would be with him as he fell asleep and when he woke up we would be right by his side. Because of this and because of the fact I wasn't sure if we were allowed to stay in the room, I told him I would be there the entire time. Then the nurse was talking to us about some of the things that would take place and happened to mention out loud that we would leave the room as soon as he feel asleep.(Geezz...is she new or something. Does she not understand what she just did. These are the things I am thinking as Ashton is crying and screaming in my lap) Ashton heard her say we would be leaving and then he went hysterical. Once we had calmed him down, we told him they had changed their minds and said we could stay with him the whole time he was there. A nurse also came in and gave him a fun toy to get his mind off of it too.
Then they gave him a mask so he could smell the Strawberry Candy that he will get when he lays down and they put it to his face. Just to prepare him and make him aware it was coming. It was so funny to watch him with it. He loved the smell and kept sniffing it. He looked like he was getting a sugar high off of the smell. He was hilarious!
We were then left a lone for a few minutes while we changed him into his robe and I took some photos. He seem at ease and calm about it once more.
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| They had the movie Cars playing on the TV. We weren't in there very long to watch any of it, but perhaps it was a comforting thing to see something like that playing in the background when we first arrived. |
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| Sniffing away...mmmmm..yum! |
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| He was opening up and practicing for us |
The nurses finally returned and it was time to put him to sleep. It was really hard on Mark and I to watch this. At first he seemed ok with the mask on his face, but then he seemed to realize he couldn't take it off his face. He kept trying to push it away and I had to hold down his hands. It was very sad to see him this way. He faded off quickly and we left to the recovery room. It was so devestating to see him like that and then have to walk away and wait somewhere else. I am so thankful Mark was able to take the morning off and be there so we were together waiting. I think I would have melted down had he not been there. Even thinking about the other kids in other rooms having surgery or recovering makes me think Ashton's wasn't at all bad, but a nurse said to me "But this is YOUR kid". So true. Our little guy. Thankfully the surgery went quickly and they wheeled him in the recovery room still sleeping. We weren't allowed to touch him or comfort him when he first woke up. They said that kids either come out of it crying, screaming and uneasy or they come out calm and quiet. Ashton was confused at first then calm and quiet. We have such a good little boy.
The doctor came in and told us it was a good thing we went ahead with the surgery because the tissue cord under his tongue was pretty thick and it was the cause of his gap in between his bottom teeth. That definitely makes sense.
Here he is just waking up. They gave him Apple juice, a purple popsicle and some gold fish crackers.
The nurse is removing his IV. He kept trying to grab it when he first woke up. It must have been really bothering him.
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| He was in a daze while eating. |
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| It is policy to be in a wheelchair after surgery and taken to your car. |
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| Waiting and wondering what's next. |
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| We are finished and excited to go home. The local pain medicine hasn't worn off and he seems pretty happy. I had to take advantage of his happiness now! |
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| He can already get that tongue past his lips! |
On the car ride home he started feeling the pain in his mouth. Poor guy. The rest of the afternoon he hardly spoke, and when he did you could tell it bothered him. The challenge of the day was to get food in him because of the pain. I finally convinced him to eat a Protein Pumpkin Pancake with melted Chocolate chips. We cut it in super small pieces and he loved it.
By the evening, he seemed to be talking a bit more. He said it still hurt, but was coping with it better.
This morning he is bouncing up and down and seems to be his normal self. The eating was still challenging for him, but he did it. Some of his words are still similar, but I think once his tongue heals I will need to work with him in correctly saying each letter. I wonder if he has just gotten use to using his outer lips to pronounce some things. I do think this has helped him, and I am glad we did it!
Fact sheet: Tongue-tie (Ankyloglossia)
Most of us think of tongue-tie as a situation we find ourselves in when we are too excited to speak. Actually, tongue-tie is the non-medical term for a relatively common physical condition that limits the use of the tongue, ankyloglossia.
Before we are born, a strong cord of tissue that guides development of mouth structures is positioned in the center of the mouth. It is called a frenulum. After birth, the lingual frenulum continues to guide the position of incoming teeth. As we grow, it recedes and thins. This frenulum is visible and easily felt if you look in the mirror under your tongue. In some children, the frenulum is especially tight or fails to recede and may cause tongue mobility problems.
Speech – While the tongue is remarkably able to compensate and many children have no speech impediments due to tongue-tie, others may. Around the age of three, speech problems, especially articulation of the sounds - l, r, t, d, n, th, sh, and z may be noticeable. Evaluation may be needed if more than half of a three–year–old child’s speech is not understood outside of the family circle. Although, there is no obvious way to tell in infancy which children with ankyloglossia will have speech difficulties later, the following associated characteristics are common:
- V-shaped notch at the tip of the tongue
- Inability to stick out the tongue past the upper gums
- Inability to touch the roof of the mouth
- Difficulty moving the tongue from side to side
As a simple test, caregivers or parents might ask themselves if the child can lick an ice cream cone or lollipop without much difficulty. If the answer is no, they cannot, then it may be time to consult a physician.
Appearance – For older children with tongue-tie, appearance can be affected by persistent dental problems such as a gap between the bottom two front teeth. Your child’s physician can guide you in the diagnosis and treatment of tongue-tie. If he/she recommends surgery, an otolaryngologist—head and neck surgeon (ear, nose, and throat specialist), can perform a surgical procedure called a frenulectomy
Tongue-tie Surgery Considerations
Tongue-tie surgery is a simple procedure and there are normally no complications. For very young infants (less than six-weeks-old), it may be done in the office of the physician. General anesthesia may be recommended when frenulectomy is performed on older children. But in some cases, it can be done in the physician’s office under local anesthesia. While frenulectomy is relatively simple, it can yield big results. Parents should consider that this surgery often yields more benefit than is obvious by restoring ease of speech and self-esteem.
They handed out certificates, and all the kids seemed excited about it!
