Wednesday, March 19, 2008

After Surgery

Well we SURVIVED surgery day. I was really nervous about how he was going to react after the surgery so I made Tyler come with me. He never comes to the surgeries with me so this was an experience for him. Caleb has been sick so my mom took work off and stayed with him. Holden was really nervous but he did sooo awesome! He was so brave. He had his tonsils/adnoids removed. The doc came out and said that his tonsils/adnoids were HUGE! He said from the looks of it, his airway was 80% obstructed. So we are glad we did it, but we have a couple weeks recovery ahead, no fun. My mom bought him a crayola color explosion toy and he has been enjoying that but not his sore throat!

Now for a little rant, for my fellow friends out there who also have a special needs child will understand. Caleb has had a pretty bad cough and it has been taking a lot out of him. Well from our past experience with the whole cholesteatoma crap in his ear I am very good at looking in there with a flashlight and checking it. I noticed some pus in there on Sunday and started to worry. I HATE taking him to the doc more than anything because it always feels like a waste of time, all I need is a perscription but have to deal with their stupidness. I also knew my Ped. was not in on Mondays and was left to see whomever, unfortunately it was one of them we have seen before who I don't care for. Caleb is EXTREMELY feistly and strong and very sensitive about his ears and kicks whoever tries to get near him. Well this doc looks in and says it looks like there had been an infection but couldn't see what I saw!! WHAT???? I could see it with my naked eye!!!!!! It just gets frustrating, you have to go to docs hoping they can help you out and you end up knowing more than they do. A perfect example is my friend Jenny and her little boy Jack who has a rainbow of issues, one of which is hydrocephalus like Caleb. They had him have a CT because they were worried about his headsize. She went up to Neuro afterwards to look at his scan and met up with a RESIDENT and this doc was telling her what brain abnormality she thought Jack had and Jenny had to correct her and tell her what brain abnormality he really had and the resident had never heard of it. So once again a mother was teaching the doctor. It just can be so overwhelming at times, when as mothers we don't have the degree and when those that do, don't know what to do to help us is scary. Ok off my rant until the next go around........


Holden and his crayola color board trying to smile with a sore throat!

9 comments:

Jill said...

Glad the surgery went well and hopefully he can recover quick!
Yeah, people put too much faith in doctors, but they aren't all knowing...obvious from your experiences (and ours!)!

Emily said...

Poor Holden...poor Mandy, and POOR Caleb! Geesh! Lots going on with you guys and none of it very good! I hope that both Caleb and Holden feel better soon! Let me know if there is anything I can do! That is so hard! You are so strong Mandy! Those boys are so lucky! :)

Jeni said...

Good to hear the surgery went well! You will be surprised how fast he heals though! After Carter's injury with in a day it already started to heal and didn't look like a hole. It is amazing! But, it was hard to keep certains food away from him that would scratch his throat. So, I wish you the best of luck! As for Caleb- I know what you mean. A few summers ago, Carter had a rash around his mouth so I took him to the dr. and wondered if it was hand,foot,mouth disease. He brushed it off and said no. Well, with in two days there were more spots on his hands and feet, and so I took him back and yep I was right! He asked if I wanted to come to work. :-) I hope he gets to feeling better, no fun with two sick kids!

Dana and ohana said...

I am so glad that Holden survived and even happier to hear YOU survived. I'm telling you, he is going to sleep so much better. You will love it. As for doctors--I've all but given up. Braley is the ONLY girl under the age of 12 in the USA with her problems and then I have lame doctors tell me things like "the last time I saw a patient with these problems..." YOU have NEVER seen a patient like her. The frustration. Good luck, hang in there, enjoy a bunch of popcicles.

bribets said...

I can't imagine the frustrations you have run into. I've only been dealing one "healthy" child for 2 1/2 years and I've run into so many frustrations with doctors. My faith in the medical systems lessens as the years and experiences go on. It's also lessened as I've seen some high school people become doctors and I think, 'Are you kidding me!?!?' Glad the surgery went well. That's a relief! Hope to see you sometime soon!

Lindsay said...

Poor little Holden! He looks so cute with his little crayola board! You keep those doctors on their toes! They dont know everything!

Anonymous said...

Hi, Mandy!

You don't know me, but I saw a comment you left on Sarah Hull's blog in response to her "Holland" story. I just started a website for moms called "The Power of Moms," and I was wondering if you would be interested in writing a piece for our "Mom's Journal" section regarding moms with children that have special needs. You seem like such a great mom, and I think others could learn from you. Please take a look at our site when you get a chance and email me with any questions--april@powerofmoms.com. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Hi, Mandy!

You don't know me, but I saw a comment you left on Sarah Hull's blog in response to her "Holland" story. I just started a website for moms called "The Power of Moms," and I was wondering if you would be interested in writing a piece for our "Mom's Journal" section regarding moms with children that have special needs. You seem like such a great mom, and I think others could learn from you. Please take a look at our site when you get a chance and email me with any questions--april@powerofmoms.com. Thanks!

Ashley said...

Hey there! SO GLAD surgery day is over! At least the healing can now begin. Poor little Holden. Give him loves from us! Same for Caleb! Poor guy!!! I've always been impressed with your knowledge of all the things that poor Caleb has had to deal with. So way to go! I agree that doc's don't know everything!!! I always get scared of the ones that think they do! Let me know if there is anything I can do for you! I'm sorry things have been rough lately!!! Love you!