Re: Pain med for circumsision

March 13, 1999

I want to comment about the circumcision thread here.. I have only 1 son and I

didn't get

him done..Actually I left it up to my husband since I thought he was more

qualified to make

this decision. My husband is from England and they don't do it all that much

there, and he

isn't circumcised either.

My son had surgery when he was 18 months for a hydrocele, and the urologist told

me he had

adhesions under his foreskin, so while he was under anaestesia (sp) they got rid

of the

adhesions..(I think that's what was wrong with your son Cherie)..he told me that

you have

to retract the foreskin and make sure the skin isn't sticking..so when I bathe

Iain,

that's what I do. He did say that adhesions are common..I did ask about

circumcision at

the time and the doctor didn't see any need for it.

A friend had a baby in Sept, and wanted him circumcised..she discussed it with

the

pediatrician and he said he DID use some form of gel or numbing agent..she comes

to find

out that the OB doctor went ahead and did it, and he doesn't believe in using

anything for

the pain (note the doctor is older and obviously comes from the old school!)

she was so

mad! She would NEVER had him circumcised if she knew they weren't gonna use

anything for

pain..

This is a personal choice in my opinion, but I DO feel that the doctors should

disclose

their choices of pain management and give the parents some choices...

Jennafer

mom to Carys (2/10/95), Iain (10/31/96), and Kieran Kathleen (5/15/98)

March 14, 1999

In a message dated 13/03/99 04:11:06 GMT Standard Time,

jenabejones@... writes:

<< It is completely untrue that any baby could feel as much pain from a shot

as a surgical procedure. >>

This kind of thing is still happening though! When Lawrence was one, he had a

really nasty infection and was admitted to hospital. They thought he might

have Meningitis(this was 5 months before my sisters baby actually *did* die of

menigitis) so they decided to do a Lumbar puncture. The consultant said they

wouldn't give him an anasthetic because the shot would be as painful as the

procedure and I bought it!

Anyway, they didn't want me to stay, but I insisted, the nurse asked the

consultants permission for me to stay when we got to the treatment room. I

couldn't believe they expected me to leave my little baby all alone when he

was sick! There was no way I was going whatever that consultant said.

Anyway, they did the procedure and it became obvious to me that it was

excruciatingly painful. Lawrence defecated. All I could think was that that

was what an animal does when it's dying. I had to hold it together while I was

in there so the consultant wouldn't be proven right about me staying, but the

minute we left the room I just burst into tears.

I was very angry about that afterwards. How he could say the it would be worse

for him to have the shot! I have a very deep mistrust of doctors after that

and subsequent experiences.

Hannah (UK)

Mum to Bethany 5, Lawrence 3 and Verity 9 months

March 14, 1999

In a message dated 13/03/99 04:27:31 GMT Standard Time, chenille@...

writes:

<< Yes, I am quite serious and it was the major cause of my son's death.

Marshal was born in 1979 >>

My brother was born in 1979 with a bowel blockage with was operated on when he

was a week old. A couple of years ago I read something about how babies

weren't anaesthetised and asked my Mum about it. She was horrified at the

thought and also couldn't believe that they could do that. She doesn't know

whether my brother had an anasthetic or not. He was always petrified of any

loud noises as a baby though and she thought that maybe this could be because

he was operated on without anaesthetic.

Hannah(UK)

Mum to Bethany 5, Lawrence 3 and Verity 9 months

March 14, 1999

In a message dated 13/03/99 04:27:31 GMT Standard Time, chenille@...

writes:

<< Yes, I am quite serious and it was the major cause of my son's death.

Marshal was born in 1979 >>

My brother was born in 1979 with a bowel blockage with was operated on when he

was a week old. A couple of years ago I read something about how babies

weren't anaesthetised and asked my Mum about it. She was horrified at the

thought and also couldn't believe that they could do that. She doesn't know

whether my brother had an anasthetic or not. He was always petrified of any

loud noises as a baby though and she thought that maybe this could be because

he was operated on without anaesthetic.

Hannah(UK)

Mum to Bethany 5, Lawrence 3 and Verity 9 months

March 15, 1999

Working at a hospital, I see this a lot. Parents are asked to leave for

procedures all the time. I encourage nurses to educate the parent so that the

parent can help during the procedure. It is better for everyone involved I

think. I have done a lot of studying about this. Overall, studies show that

children recover more completely when the parent can be there emotionally and

physically for the child...even in procedures. In some cases, the parent is

squeemish and simply cannot be there. We cannot help our responses in some

cases. Often a Child Life Specialist will accompany children into procedures

when parents cannot be present. We are there to advocate for the child and

help the child throught it.

March 15, 1999