Edward’s Endoscopy Report

Edward’s procedure went great. When Elizabeth had her tonsils out, they had me go into the operating room with her; I was dreading this part with Edward, because of how Elizabeth had panicked when they put the mask on, and because I cry at anything dramatic and an operating room is just PACKED with dramatic elements. But this was a different hospital and a different doctor, and one or both of those things meant that I didn’t go into the operating room this time: they wheeled him out of the room where he’d changed into the hospital johnny, and I stayed behind at that point, and to my relief I didn’t cry. He was so calm about it, I wondered if maybe he didn’t realize he was going in on his own—but I asked him afterward, and no, he’d known, but the anesthesiologist had given him her tablet with Angry Birds on it, so he was busy.

When he woke up in Recovery about an hour and a half later, he immediately pulled out the nose-oxygen thing and started pulling at his other wires. The nurse came over and asked how he was feeling, and he said, “Actually, I haven’t had my procedure yet.” When she assured him that he had and it was all over, he was near tears because he said they didn’t have him count down or even tell him they were about to knock him out: “I just BLINKED and I was HERE!” It’s possible he’s forgotten, but I remember counting down from my own anesthesia experiences, and so do Elizabeth and my mom from theirs, so my guess is that they just put the anesthetic in his IV and didn’t mention it to him. He complained on this theme for quite some time, still slurring his words and picking at the tape holding the IV on his hand. But soon he felt better and had some juice and crackers, and then we went home.

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I’d expected him to feel pretty bad all that day: the doctor said recovery would be a day or two, and that the first day he’d probably be on the couch with no appetite. I’d brought a bucket in the car in case he needed to throw up, and I’d braced for a lot of whining. But instead he seemed perfectly normal. Maybe he ate a little less dinner than usual, but it was still within his normal range. He was playing and cheerful, no couch time. He mentioned his throat was a little sore that day and the next day, and we gave him ibuprofen for that, and that was it.

Part of it, I gather, is that they switched anesthesia plans at the last minute, from the mask type to the hand-IV type. They usually use the mask type for children, maybe because that’s more comfortable for the child (Edward did greatly dislike having the needle put into the back of his hand). But the nurse in Recovery mentioned that the IV type of anesthetic is easier to come out of.

The doctor says everything looked normal, and he gave us some cool color photos of the inside of Edward. There was one place that showed signs of irritation, but the doctor said he’d had trouble getting the camera there and so the camera itself might have caused the irritation. Biopsy results will be back in about a week, but the GI doctor seems ready to send us back to the hematologist now for the next step.

The prep the day before went fine, too. He definitely needed to be home for it, but we had a happy day (I let him have as much video games and television as he wanted) and he wasn’t very hungry. He ate Italian ice and Jell-o, and he drank Gatorade and juice, and I asked him to list his least favorite foods and I made one of those for everyone else’s dinner (lasagna, in case you were about to feel sorry for us).

23 thoughts on “Edward’s Endoscopy Report

  1. Elizabeth

    Hurrah, Edward! I need to make another colonoscopy appointment (I’ve had just one before), and this might be just the nudge I need.

    Reply
  2. Corinne Brzeski

    In case no one has mentioned it lately, Swistle, you are such a good mom. Your kids are lucky to have you.

    Reply
    1. emmegebe

      Me three, Swistle. I think this is very indicative of your thoughtful style: “… I asked him to list his least favorite foods and I made one of those for everyone else’s dinner …” You made him AND your other kids feel like they got a special deal, all in one fell swoop. That is master-level good mothering, right there.

      Reply
  3. Melinda

    I remember having some oral surgery done around Edward’s age and being convinced it hadn’t actually happened yet when I came out of the general anesthetic. With my adult perspective that seems like the best way to do it but at the time I totally felt gypped. Glad it was much less awful than anticipated. (How sweet of you to make one of his least favorite dinners for everyone else. And how sweet of him to hate lasagna so it wasn’t much of a sacrifice.)

    Reply
  4. Gigi

    Having him pick his least favorite for the rest of you to eat is pure GENIUS! I’m glad he came through it okay – I know it was rough on you.

    Reply
  5. HereWeGoAJen

    I’m so glad it went well! It sounds like it was much smoother for him than it even was when I took my mom to hers and hers went pretty well. And I adore the least favorite food plan.

    Reply
  6. Michelle

    If they gave him Versed for the anesthesia, it is common to forget things. My dad didn’t remember going out to lunch after his colonoscopy, and my mom didn’t remember getting dressed or talking to the doctor after hers. She asked me who put her bra on after the procedure, and I had to tell her that she did and then just forgot about it. It is also common to repeat things. My mom kept asking the nurse what her name was like 20 times. Glad everything went well!

    Reply
  7. Carolyn

    My sister got scheduled for the same procedure not long after your last post, so I’ve been waiting to hear the update since I’ll be the one taking her to it and making sure she is okay afterwards! Glad to hear that it shouldn’t be a huge deal or anything terribly awful to recover from! Yay! :)

    Reply
  8. Monica

    Yay! I’m glad everything went so well and that his insides looked so good. I’m sure the doctors will figure out the mystery of the anemia soon — at least they can rule out GI problems now!

    Reply
  9. Laura Diniwilk

    I’m glad everything went well! I love that you made his least favorite meal for everyone – you are such a good mom. Adding that to my mental swistle file of future parenting tips.

    Reply
  10. Meredith

    Reading things like this give me newfound respect for my mother. Ten surgeries before I was ten years old and only once did she let on that she was frightened. They were having trouble waking me up and they snuck her in where she stood at the foot of the gurney and held my foot while they tried various methods of bringing me too. The next day when I was fully conscious I noticed these bruises on my foot where she had squeezed so tightly in her desperation. Now, as the roles are reversing, and I make decisions about her health care, I hope and pray I can be just as strong for her.

    Reply

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