So, on Tuesday (1/2/13) Cady went in to the Children’s
Surgical Center and was put under anesthesia to have some dental work done.
Around the time she turned two she started having serious anxiety issues where
medical professionals are concerned. We knew she had at least one cavity that
needed filled, but she also needed a set of full mouth x-rays taken to assess
the parts of her teeth she wouldn’t let anyone get to while awake (due to
sobbing/screaming/thrashing/clinging/kicking/clawing etc.).
Anyway – one dentist tried to tell us that “conscious
sedation” (a drink that makes your kid seem three-sheets-to-the-wind drunk) would
be good enough to do what they thought was one filling and a full mouth set of
x-rays. David and I did some research, and we disagreed. We found that kids who
are anxious or high strung often come out of consciously sedated states during
the procedure. If this happens the common procedure is to swaddle the child and
administer another dose of the sedation medicine. While the child is swaddled
they just keep working on their teeth. If Cady were to wake up, see medically
garbed strangers, and then be mummified in sheets while they continue to drill
her teeth – OMG! We’d never get her to another doctor again; she would never
trust us again! No way!
We told the pediatric dentist that we wanted to proceed, but
with full sedation. He said “no”. Um, excuse me? Not your kid, you don’t get to
just say “no”. After multiple conversations with the practice’s manager (and a
switch of doctors) we had a surgery date scheduled. We got moved to the top of
the waiting list by paying the full estimated amount that we owed (after insurance)
upfront. Due to some other people’s unfortunate monetary issues, they had to
cancel and we got their spot with one day’s notice.
Anyway, fast forward to the surgery center. It was a kid’s
surgery center, but the waiting area didn’t have any toys or books. Just TV’s.
Great. I let Cady play games and use a coloring app on my phone while we waited
to be called back. Getting her back there, gowned, etc. was MISERABLE. She was
sobbing and screaming and clinging. They gave her a little of the conscious sedation
liquid to calm her enough to take her away from me. Even that was a struggle.
She refused to drink it. I finally told her if she didn’t drink it they would
have to give it to her as a pokey shot. She Got it down, but not without a
fight. The nurses said “Don’t worry; you’ll know when it kicks in”. It kicked in
while Cady was sitting on the toilet. She nearly fell off. She started giggling
hysterically, and saying “Toes, oh toes. Potty. Hold me mom! No, no, no, I’ll
walk. No I can’t walk!” Basically she was shit-faced drunk. It was like
watching a toddler version of myself leaving a bar a few years ago. Probably a
good mom wouldn’t say this, but it was hysterical! It was the only non-terrible
part of the whole experience, Cady and I will take our jollies where we can get
them. I held her and we giggled through Mickey Mouse Clubhouse until they
brought out her gurney. I took her picture quickly – but that was all I got.
Cameras were technically not allowed.
An hour later they called me back to post off. Cady was just
starting to wake up, and she did not wake up well at all. She was crying and
moaning. I insisted that they take out her IV before she fully woke up. I thought
she’d freak if she saw something UNDER her skin like that. We spent close to an
hour in recovery just trying to get her calmed down and woken up. She drank some
juice, ate some applesauce, let me put her clothes on. She ended up with two
crowns and three filling. AHHH!!
Basically, she has a tiny mouth. David and I weren’t
brushing along her gum line well enough and she had cavities because of it. Two
that wrapped around the tooth and required crowns, and three that just needed
fillings. We were sort of horrified. Needless to say, we have been stretching
her cheeks FAAAAR out to brush her teeth now. I’m fairly certain I brush her
gums too, just like when she was a baby. I hope we NEVER have to do this again.
If anyone learns anything from this I hope it’s to brush your kids teeth like
you have OCD. I mean, SERIOUSLY, with a magnifying glass! I wish I had a
speculum for her mouth for crying out loud! Well, ya know, an UNUSED one of
course. Just to be sure her mouth is WIDE open and I got every teeny part of
every teeny tooth.
So there it is – my bad mom story for your consumption. I know
lots of kids get them, but it’s a crappy feeling when it’s YOUR kid. Ok – Lexy just
woke up from her nap. If she lets me, I’ll be back in a little bit with a
crafty post J
 |
| Cady - consciously sedated (aka: drunk) on her way to the OR |
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