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egrady
08-27-2007, 07:02 AM
Sean was born 6.5 weeks premature and spent two weeks in the NICU. He had ups and downs and he had rds and was put on the ventilator, had a slight cases of sepsis, high levels of jaundice was under the lights for over 36 hours and had lots of feeding issues. During the first year of his life as with most preemies he was really sick and sick all of the time. He had colds, ear infections, a slight case of rsv and more.

He is significantly delayed in most things he is currently in early intervention for PT, OT and Speech. He was taking to the ER several times for wheezing. The first time he wheezed my husband and I totally freaked out we went to the ER and they did several treatments and told us they think it is asthma. No one in our families had asthma they sent us hope with a nebulizer and an inhaler. They worked for the first week and than it stopped working and he was wheezing again really bad. The pedi than treated him with oral predazone (not sure how to spell it) and that was treatment after treatment and it still was not working.

We than went to an ENT at Alexian Brothers Medical Center and they put a tube (a Tran nasal Flexible Laryngoscopy (TFL) his nose to look at everything inside and said that he has tracheomalicia and that there is nothing else we can do and to let him out grow it.

Well a few months went by with no wheezing and than bam he has several episodes of wheezing and the pedi kept telling me not to worry and gave us more steroids. Sean does not do well on these steroids it makes him very antsy and upset.

We switched pedi’s and were referred to an ENT at Northwest Community hospital. After 12 ear infections the doc said he needed tubes because of all of the fluid in his ears. But there was some test we needed to perform before he could do the surgery. The first was a hearing test and the second an xray. The doc said to not worry about the x-ray only 2% come back with something but we need to make sure everything looks okay.

The hearing test showed that his best ear is hearing at 35% but the tubes should help significantly. So than we were off for the x-rays.

They did the x-rays of his neck on 7/31 and I was called on 8/2 saying that we need to go for another set of x-rays they thought they found something. So we went to another hospital for some more neck x-rays on the evening of 8/2. On 8/3 the ENT called me and told me that they definitely saw some narrowing of his windpipe and think that it is subglottic stenosis and that we need to go for one more x-ray at another hospital. On Saturday 8/4 we went to another hospital for the third set of x-rays and at this point Sean was unbearable. Within an hour of the x-rays the ENT called me and said that the surgery is off, that this radiologist also suspects subglottic stenosis and that he has narrowing in his windpipe and in his chest and told us that we will need to go to a Pedi ENT at Loyola.

We got into Loyola thanks to all of our docs that following week and the doc explained that there is not much he can tell us until he goes in and looks at everything. I am so scared and nervous I feel it is my fault he has to go through all of this stuff since I couldn't care him to term. I really don't understand about his wind pipe but the told me can be life threatening and they are more worried about his wind pipe than his ears now....and it is really freaking me out.

Sean’s surgery is scheduled for Thursday September 6th, at Loyola Hospital. He is sick right now has ear infection # 13 and is wheezing and the last two weeks of August the doc is on vacation. I don’t know what time yet, it will be the first thing in the morning. I will keep you posted as I hear anything.

He will be having the following done:

Direct Rigid Laryngoscopy
Rigid Bronchoscopy
Bilateral Myringotomy & Tube Insertion

The doc said if he does see something while he is in, he will not do anything at that time unless there is a cyst or polyp. It would be done at a different time after we talked about everything.

Has anyone gone thru all of this, what can I expect, how will Sean be? Did you child have to spend the night in the hospital? They told me to bring a bag.

Thanks for all of your help and I look foward to getting to know all of you,

Erin

alizesmom
08-27-2007, 08:05 AM
Welcome. I can't really answer your questions but one thing you said struck me. It's not your fault you didn't carry to term. Things happen and self blame doesn't make it any better. I wish you lots of luck with the surgery and hope all goes well. Keep us posted and ask questions, someone here will be able to answer. :hug: Karen

My little figther
08-27-2007, 08:13 AM
Dear Erin,

First welcome on this board - I am fairly new too and the parents here are absolutely super supportive. I am sure that Sean is in good hands and that everything will be OK. My thoughts are with you. I wish you all the best

Michelle

madelyn and rynns mom
08-27-2007, 09:05 AM
Welcome to the boards!! I am glad to see more Illinois friends!! Congratulations on the birth of your son!!

Direct Rigid Laryngoscopy
Rigid Bronchoscopy
Bilateral Myringotomy & Tube Insertion

My daughter Maddy has these done yearly at Children's Memorial and usually has no problems! They are outpatient surgeries, so unless there are complications the child is usually released after about 4-5 hours. Except for coming out of the anesthetics, which usually gives my girls problems, Maddy has a bit of a sore throat, increased coughing, and fatigue afterward, but that is all.

I hope this helps!!!

Kris:)

Hugs For Hannah
08-27-2007, 09:28 AM
Welcome to the boards. My daughter Hannah was premature also and I use to cry often. If only I could have carried her two more weeks. BUT I didn't and you have to let that go. I know it is hard. You are a great Mom, that is obvious seeing the road you have traveled.
Keep us posted and my prayers are with you. Remember to find time to breath in all this.

JWorthington
08-27-2007, 09:56 AM
Hello Erin, and welcome. I am sorry Sean has had such a rough start, but hopefully things will start to improve from here on in. My son wheezed terribly and had a stridor (noisy breathing) until he got his trach when he was 19 months old (that's how long it took them to figure everything out and for him to be big enough to cope with the surgeries he needed). We too spent a lot of time at the hospital being treated for asthma (which he doesn't have) when really we were dealing with aspirations.
I would definitely plan on staying at the hospital. It all depends what time he goes to the OR and how he recovers. Hope you get some answers:hug:

Julie

Isaac'sMomandDad
08-29-2007, 07:16 AM
I wanted to say welcome and good luck! It is not your fault that Sean was born early. If you want to blame anyone, blame God (he can take it). I wish I could wave a magic wand and make any guilt you feel go away.

The best way to look at the airway is to do the procedures that you have planned. Please keep us updated. As far as what to expect, it never hurts to be ready for having to stay longer than you planned, so just bring a bag with you.

Lara

egrady
08-29-2007, 07:21 AM
Thanks ladies for the warm welcome and best wishes. I will def. keep everyone posted after his surgery only 8 days to GO.

faywrayy
09-01-2007, 10:46 AM
My daughter had all of those procedures and came through just fine, tired but fine. They are all out patient, but like someone said, depends on the time they're done. I'd bet they told you to bring a bag just in case they need to go in and do more. Maybe they'll do the scopes, come speak with you and your husband, then figure out what to do. With Kate, the ENT did the bronchoscopy and laryngoscopy, came to see me in the OR waiting room (which I knew he would do ahead of time) and told me she needed a trach. I knew going in that it was 99% she would need it, so that's why they did it that way. After he spoke to me, and showed me the pics, he went back to the OR and trached her. I'm not saying that's what will happen to you , but I'd bet if anything needs to be done, they'll want him in the hospital until they can do it, and that's why they said to bring a bag.

Good luck! Bring comfortable clothes for yourself, don't bring anything new or really nice for Sean to wear it could get lost or yucky.

egrady
09-04-2007, 07:33 AM
Thanks for the nice and warm response. It is so scary but nice to know that I will know more this Thursday. I will keep everyone posted only 2 days to go...................

Brennan
09-04-2007, 02:29 PM
hi there, Brennan has had several laryngoscopys done. They were going to put tubes in the first time they did one and after going in they chose not too. They always tell you to bring a bag though. Brennan outside of 3.5 mos in NICU has never had to spend the night. Good luck with everything and I will pray for you and your family.