Ali's Surgery

We went back to Motol Hospital today.  It is probably one of my least favorite things to do but when you have kids with ear infections there is no other option.  As you know Sofia had a lot of ear infections and had her adenoids removed and tubes put in her ears.  Well, once Sofia was better we realized that Ali also had ear problems, they just weren't as bad as Sofia's.  Compared to a lot of children though Ali had a lot of ear infections (about 8-9).  Anyway, she started to get them more often and her nose was constantly running.  I noticed her hearing was not very good.  After many trips to the ENT (ORL it is called here) the doctor decided that Ali also needed to have her adenoids out.  She didn't think that Ali needed tubes yet but that she did need to have her ear drums pooped and all the fluid removed from behind the drum.  The decision was made last week to have the surgery and luckily for us another child cancelled and Ali was able to take the spot.  If she had not gotten that spot she would not have been able to have it done until September.  The reason for that makes no sense since the doctor told me they don't do the surgeries in the summer becuase of the sun and bleeding???  I just decided to ignore that little tidbit of wisdom and just be happy we were able to get in quickly.  Yesterday we went into the hospital for all the pre-op paperwork and checkups.  It took us 3 hours to get everything completed.  This time does not include bloodwork since we had the bloodwork done on Tuesday.  It was exhausting but just the prelude to today. 

Today we arrived at the hospital at 7:15am.  Oddly enough it was completely different than our visit there for Sofia's surgery.  I don't know if it is based on age or that Sofia had tubes put in and Ali didn't but this time we did not get our own room.  We were in a room with three other children.  Ali was the third child to go in for surgery which meant she saw the first two kids come back with a needle in their hands and starting to cry and moan while coming out of the anesthesia.  I tried to distract her from the other children but I found it difficult since the cries of children coming out of anesthesia is heartbreaking.  I have now heard it three times with my own children and it is not any easier.  I was happy when they gave Ali her "happy" medicine becuase it made her not mind the children around her and she didn't worry when they rolled her away from me.  They rolled her back in after the surgery (pictured above) and she went through the process of breaking through the anesthesia.  She came out of it quicker than Sofia did which I assume is becuase she didn't have as much of it since she wasn't under for nearly as long.  Her throat hurt a lot though (like Sofia) since they do have to put the tube down her throat (intubate).  Even in her pain she kept saying she wanted to go home.  Once she was alert enough to talk I told her she needed to drink water.  She drank a little and told me shw wanted to go home.  I had to tell her that she needed to pee before they would allow her to leave.  I assumed it would take her a while to have to pee but I was wrong.  As soon as I told her the requirement she said, "I think I have to pee."  I didn't think it was true but I brought her to the toilet anyway.  Apparently she was determined to get out of there becuase she peed immediately!  After that we waited for the doctor to come around for the final check and we headed home.  Now we are home and Ali is eating soft foods...ice cream, yogurt and pudding so far...and watching movies.  We go back next week for her checkup.  Hopefully everything will be fine and my trips to Motol will begin to wind down.