Knox Gets His Grommets

Over the holidays Knox went for his operation to have his grommets put in.  It took us quite a while to realise that he needed them, but when we did, we wanted to get it sorted ASAP.

Prepping him for his grommets

I wasn’t sure how much to tell him because it may either freak him the heck out or he’d be super keen for it.  So I just sort of told him that we’d be going to the hospital and the Doc is going to fix his ears.  As the day got closer, I shared more with him.  That he’d be put to sleep.  That he wouldn’t feel anything.  How fun it would be.  How it’s going to make him hear so well.  That he has the fluid in his ears that needed to drain out.

He was pretty chill about all of it, except going to sleep.  So I told him to just try really hard not to and I’m sure he could do it.

The morning of the operation

Knox is a sleeper.  He loves to sleep.  So waking him up at 6 and then expecting him to eat as well was going to be a mission.  Or so I thought.  Turns out he was obviously nervous enough that when I woke him at 6 he was ready to go.  To eat not so much, but he managed to get something in before the cut off of 7.30.

We only had to check in at the hospital at 11.30.  And now I realise why they tell you to do it so much earlier than your op.  It can take a while when there’s a lot of others doing the same thing.

There was a bed ready for him and he jumped right in.  Totally fine.

We had a bit of time to kill so we headed to the play room and read some books to pass the time.  Hospitals are weird places.  There are good things that happen there, like births and maybe even some reconstructive surgery that changes peoples lives.  But for the most part people are there for pretty junk reasons.  Despite that, the staff were all so friendly and we were well looked after there.

It was finally time and he hopped into the bed, ready to get wheeled to the theatre.

I couldn’t go in with him.  I just couldn’t be there when they put him under.  OK, maybe if I had no choice, but I was so glad that Seth was there and able to do that.  Apparently he was a champ.  He only fought a little and the way he was breathing freaked Seth out a bit.  But overall he was totally chilled.  The nurses and the Docs couldn’t believe it.

 

Here’s a quick video of the whole experience.

Seeing him being brought out still asleep was kind of weird.  It was totally not what I was expecting.  Everyone told me that this was the worst part.  That they’d feel disorientated and a bit weirded out.  But not Knox.

He just slept.

And slept.

And slept.

Honestly.  After almost 2 hours I was getting worried.  But even though it’s not the normal reaction, it was normal.

When he did wake up he was totally out of it.  It was like he lost his tongue.  Already from the morning he was quiet but after the operation he was basically mute.  He was all pale and still but he wasn’t freaking out so that was good.

I figured the guy was probably starving though.  He last ate at 7.30 and it was already almost 4pm!  So we picked up the girls and headed straight to Spur (his choice).  He ate a whole burger, all the chips, a milkshake AND a Chico the clown!  He never eats that much but he must have been proper starving.

After that he perked up a whole lot.

What’s changed since the op?

This is going to sound weird, but I’m not sure.  I honestly haven’t noticed a remarkable difference in his hearing – he still says “huh” or “ekumie” (excuse me) when I talk to him.  He still doesn’t really listen to instructions.  There hasn’t really been a huge change in his speech either.  It’s a little disconcerting to tell the truth.

I need to take him to the ENT for a follow up in the next week or so, then we’ll take it from there.