My baby is in surgery

[Dr. Shepper]

She’s a human and ten and just for a broken bone. I am a pathologist for animals. One of the reason I went into pathology is because anesthesia scares the heck out of me. So, I’m not nervous about the surgery, but the anesthesia. I’ve had to pretend not to be worried for her sake. But now she’s been wheeled away and I’m sick to my stomach. Have to wait here for another hour or so and trying to distract myself but I am so scared.

[Walleye]

1. It is a very scary thing. I'm terrified of operations. Hope everything turns out perfect

[Dr. Shepper]

8. Thank you

[dixiechiken1]

2. Best wishes that everything goes well and your baby comes thru this okay...

[Dr. Shepper]

9. Thank you!

[hlthe2b]

3. Never something to take lightly, but when you've seen thousands, including high risk inductions

and with the agents available today--including those readily reversible-- it is reassuring. Best wishes.

[Dr. Shepper]

10. Yes, the anesthesiologist

Told me her plan and the reversals. They are more than capable. I know that logically and it is reassuring. Thank you.

[Irish_Dem]

4. My daughter is an NP in a large children's hospital.

She prescribes meds for children every day.

The staff are very careful, precise, caring, respectful of the children. They could make more money working elsewhere but working with children is their passion and pride.

Everything is geared towards the kids, from the uniforms the staff wear, to the language they use, equipment, protocols, medications, treatments, etc.

They only work with children and infants 24/7, so that is what they know best.

So let trust the kid experts to do their best, they give anathesia to children all day long. They know what they are doing.

Sending you good vibes.

You can send me a PM if you like.

[Dr. Shepper]

11. Thank you. They are

Indeed the experts and are all so lovely. I am grateful for what they do.

[GeoWilliam750]

68. Your daughter must be an angel

[Irish_Dem]

71. She is when she is working with kids.

She is in her own zone, she just loves working with children.
Especially the little ones, but she gets a big kick out of the adolescents too. She is very small in stature and the kids don't see her as scary or a threat, and she is a natural with them.

When she was a kid she got her black belt when she was abut 12 and taught the little ones, the tiger cubs they were called. She enjoyed the kids so much back then so it has been a life long thing.

[KarenS]

5. sending hugs

[Dr. Shepper]

12. Thank you!

[PuraVidaDreamin]

6. Time to upregulate your parasympathetic nervous system.

Homeostasis for the nervous system.

Just a little bit of diaphragmatic breathing
Keep the chest still- let the belly rise and fall with each breath cycle
Breath through the nose
Lengthen exhales- breath in 3 or 4 seconds, exhale 4 or 8 seconds.

60 seconds to 2 minutes helps calm most folks.

As a yoga therapist, I guide my clients through this.
As a mom I totally get it.
As a former OR nurse, I know your daughter is in great hands.

Sending a great big hug your way.

[Irish_Dem]

7. He definitely needs to do this!

Good advice.

[Dr. Shepper]

14. Hehe. She.

I’m the mama. And the advice was super helpful. My husband can’t be here with me so I am trying to cope on my own. Thank you.

[Irish_Dem]

21. Sorry, my dear.

I am a retired psychologist, so yes, please start breathing.

In the Children's Hospital where my daughter words, she says the parents are the wobbly ones. The kids do great, they are such troopers.

[Dr. Shepper]

53. Thanks! All is well now.

[Irish_Dem]

54. I am so glad all is well.

I know what it feels like to have a sick or injured little one.
Glad to hear it is over now.

[PuraVidaDreamin]

66. Great news.

The next 6 weeks in a cast will be
especially fun. Teach your beautiful child
the breathing exercises!

[Dr. Shepper]

13. Thank you.

Very helpful. The panic attack has been thwarted.

[panader0]

20. The breath of fire. I do it when I feel lung congestion, but it's good all the time

and can help eliminate toxins.

[electric_blue68]

62. Is that the strong rapid breathing technique?...

I learned the above in my Tai Chi class.

[PuraVidaDreamin]

72. Breath of Fire is awesome to increase energy.

Breath of Fire stimulates our Fight or Flight Sympathetic Nervous System SNS.
When I'm tired, dragging I will do a similar breath.

Our SNS is always on alert- Most of us are walking around in a state of stress
which can correlate to being in a chronic state of hyperventilation.
Breathing out of our mouths, using only our chest accessory breath muscles, with a more rapid rate.
This accelerates our heart rates.

When I notice I'm in the above SNS state- I go to the PNS upregulation, rest and restore breath.
Inhales/exhale through the nose, diaphragmatic breathing, slowing the exhales
and within a few minutes I can feel the reset.

[chia]

31. Lovely, reassuring post. I'll come back to read it again before my surgery next week.

Thank you for helping all who read your words.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

36. I like yoga

Wish there was a free or low cost local place to do yoga.( SSI is my income so I don't have much to live on.)

[Kali]

57. check your local parks and rec

my sister was doing it through zoom, might even have scholarships for low income

[PuraVidaDreamin]

73. I'm getting ready to do an online Zoom by donation workshop series

On the breath.

Mostly geared to Long Haul and or post covid recovery.
But anyone would benefit from this class.

Gentle movement will accompany at times.
Floor based.
Adaptive to chair.

I'm simultaneously working towards moving from a provisional
license to grow cannabis in my Craft Co-op, so not sure when this will launch
but 4-6 week class. Donation-based. DM me so I remember to send you the info.

[mercuryblues]

15. When it's your baby

All reason goes out the window. She will be done soon. So keep your spirits up.

[Dr. Shepper]

18. Thank you. This is so true.

And also a lesson in trust and letting go.

[Irish_Dem]

24. This was the hardest thing for me to learn.

My daughter had several serious illnesses and surgery as a child.

I just had to trust the experts to do their job.

She did fine.

I has to stay strong as her father totally freaked out when she got sick or injured.

[pandr32]

51. Wondering how you are doing

I seem to remember reading you were to have a bone marrow transplant on Valentine's day.

[highplainsdem]

16. Sending hugs and prayers. And I'm glad PuraVidaDreamin's great advice helped.

[Dr. Shepper]

17. Thank you everyone. She's done

And waking up. I can see her soon I appreciate helping this mama through her baby’s first (and hopefully only) surgery.

[efhmc]

25. Now I can tell you this funny story about the nursing staff trying to wake my daughter

after her appendectomy, They kept calling her name but she did not respond. They were getting worried. That is because she goes by her middle name and not the first name they were using. Once they cleared that up all was well. Glad all went well for your daughter and for you.

[ancianita]

26. So glad to know the healing begins. I wish you and your baby well in the months ahead.

[chia]

28. Came to this thread to late to offer support, but I can congratulate you and your daughter both for

coming through this beautifully. All healing to you both.

[calimary]

46. Yeah. So did I. Glad to hear the news is better!

Relieved, actually!

[Solly Mack]

29. Glad to hear she's out of surgery.

Hope she has a speedy recovery.

[mizogan]

60. parenting

The responsibility is huge, The worry is palpable, The rewards stretch our capacity to handle it all!

[niyad]

19. Sending vibes for successful surgery and complete healing. Excellent news.

[LoisB]

22. Hugs. I'm sure she will be fine (so will you) but I feel for you.

nt

[panader0]

23. Which bone?

Everything will be fine, and very soon.

[Dr. Shepper]

56. Proximal phalanx 5th digit

Near the joint. Weren’t sure if it would heal correctly. She’s a gymnast and plays violin so didn’t want to chance not having full function.

[Rhiannon12866]

27. Back in the '60s when I was 7, I was given ether at a small town hospital

So they could set my broken arm. I still remember seeing pink and yellow diamond shapes and calling out for my Dad who had brought me to the hospital, only to realize that he was helping them hold me down. I'm guessing that anesthesia has been greatly improved since then. I can understand your worries, but I was just fine and I'm sure that your daughter will be, too.

[gademocrat7]

30. Sending healing hugs for a good recovery.

[Jarqui]

32. Matches my reaction for my 2 week old baby daughter going for surgery

It's a big ordeal.
As it was later when I had to leave her in the hospital for a couple of nights when she was about 7.
I think it is normal.
She's lucky to have a parent who cares so much.

[Rabrrrrrr]

33. It's funny how we can know something so well, and yet, when it comes to loved ones

or special circumstances, that knowledge can go out the window - like you and anesthesia.

I'm an engineer, and know all about how bridges are made and safety protocols, and how airplanes fly and the physics thereof, but I still feel every time I get on a long bridge or an airplane, "What if physics aren't a constant across the universe? Is today the day the math changes? What if Bernoulli gets turned off today? What if this is the day that gravity stops working?"

Crazy.

Prayers and all hopes for your daughter's surgery, and for your peace of mind and patience!

[tavernier]

34. I know a flight attendant who is terrified of flying

because on one flight the plane plummeted to a dangerous low during a storm.

She continues her job because she is close to retirement but hates it.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

35. I think she will come through ok.

The fear of anesthesia is a real issue for some.

Me I freakout in a closed
MRI, the phobia came on like 2 years ago. Before that I was not anxious in a MRI

Weird how phobias work.

[SheltieLover]

37. Glad all went well!

Healing vibes on the way to you both. 💗💗💗

[malaise]

38. She'll be fine

Take some deep breaths

[pnwmom]

40. I know how you feel. Our baby was wheeled away from us when she was two and a half --

just for surgery to remove her tonsils and adenoids, because they were so large they were close to filling up her throat.

No matter how much I knew rationally that this was a trivial surgery for Children's Hospital, it was gut wrenching to have to leave her on that table, and to see her being wheeled away down the hall.

I trust your baby is in recovery now and you can breathe again.

[Wicked Blue]

41. Sending you my best DU vibes

for you and your daughter

(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((( )))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

[twodogsbarking]

42. It will be fine. Hang in. You have support.

[barbtries]

43. I share your fear.

having said that, I have never had a serious adverse reaction to anesthesia during several occasions. She's gonna be just fine!

[irisblue]

44. Positive energy Dr S. Please let us know when she is with you again

I've been in this spot before, DU gots magic vibes.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

45. I honestly don't get why a doctor would be terrified of anesthesia.

The errors that occur with it are incredibly rare, especially in recent decades.

I'm reminded of all those people who are terrified of flying but cheerfully drive without wearing a seatbelt. To those people I say, look up when the last fatal airplane crash occurred in this country.

[Dr. Shepper]

49. I do autopsies on animals

That die during anesthesia. It’s usually not the fault of the anesthesiologist but an underlying condition. My daughter never had these drugs before and thus the unknowns.

Also, part of my job is to know what these drugs do. Maybe a case of knowing too much.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

55. How many humans die under anesthesia?

Does your daughter have an underlying condition?

I'm going to venture a guess that we know vastly more about administering anesthesia to humans than we do to animals.

[Kali]

59. irrational fear is...irrational

she admitted she knows things will be fine. irrational fear doesn't respong to logical argument or facts/stats. I am irrationally affraid of caterpillars. I KNOW all the reasons they are perfectly harmless (most of the time, anyway) but wave one in my face and I will be screaming and running away.

[pandr32]

47. Wishing you and your daughter well

[seta1950]

48. I agree

Anesthesia is very scary

[Dr. Shepper]

50. She is home

Eating grilled cheese and back to normal. A little pain but on her way. Thanks everyone for the well wishes. Just another event on this journey called life.

[niyad]

52. Huggggggs. So glad to hear this.

[GeoWilliam750]

69. HOORAY!!!!!!!

[DesertGarden]

70. Thanks for the update, we were all rooting for her, Happy snoopy dance : )

Happy Happy !
. . so happy, for you both. !
.

.
peace

[Laffy Kat]

58. They know what they're doing.

IMO, anesthesiologists are the worried mother hens of medicine. They check and recheck everything and watch vitals like a hawk.

Keep us posted. Hugs.

[sheshe2]

61. Good to hear she is home and safe.

[Fla Dem]

63. Glad for the GOOD NEWS!! Hmm a grilled cheese sounds good.

Let her know we were all sending virtual hugs to her.

[electric_blue68]

64. Glad to hear she's done well! ...

A gymnist and musician nice combo. 👍

I had successful ankle surgery (tri-fractured) at 59. At first it was going be local, but then came in and told me it would be general anesthesia. I was scared. Everything worked out fine.

May she heal up excellently, and get back to her passions!

Oh, if they tell her to do finger/hand exercises for rehab;
make sure she does them! A friend of mine who's work, and passions didn't involve as close to perfect hand/finger fine motor control never did her finger exercises for the required amount of time/frequency, and that finger did not heal properly.

I also 20ish years than my ankle accident early had a freak rotator cuff injury.
So...if she does her exercises at least 90+% of the time she'll do excellently! Maybe in her case 95+% of the time. I say this bc I slacked off about 10% or a little less, not more and had excellent recoveries in both cases.

Good luck! 🤞👍

[The Blue Flower]

65. Went through it when my baby was in her 20s and 30s

I felt sick as they wheeled her away. I was a wreck as I waited for the surgeries to be over, but she came through them very well.

[Skittles]

67. she will be fine, Dr. Shepper

and thank you for pretending not to be worried, that certainly helps your baby

[Upthevibe]

74. Dr. Shepper...

I'm glad she's home.

I hope she's feeling much, much better....