Cautery of the Septum
(Long post ahead)
Cauterization is a medical term describing the burning or ‘welding’ of the blood vessel.
Prince who is turning 6y/o in September has been having frequent nose bleed since 4y/o. We had always wanted to see the ENT specialist but the bleeding usually occurred not at the right time. Either it happens in the day care centre, at night or during weekends. And co-incidently after dwelling with it for 2 years, it finally happens one fine day when I was not away at work.
If a person has been having frequent nose bleed out of the blue, it is most likely caused by an exposed blood vessel in their nose. To prevent future bleeding, we was advised to get the septum cauterized. Nosebleed usually come from the front part of the nasal septum which is rich in blood vessels. When the nasal became dry, the blood vessels burst. The vessels may require cautery called electro cauterization or electro surgery to close them off.
Procedure went well and the child is now back to his usual self. Thanks all for your concern *muaks*. Some pictures I took before and after the surgery.
We was at the hospital at 7.30am. Deposits and papers all signed. Son changed into his gown (he refused to remove his under pant. Who wouldn’t!) and I was brief on the procedures. He looks gloomy and has been very quiet the whole morning. I don’t feel like talking much tho so we have been very quiet. I was not allowed photography in the ‘exchange’/pre-med (the last room you entered before patient was wheel into the OT) area but as a blogger, JUST DO IT! I quickly take a shot when no nurses around.
He is so strong and yet so stubborn he never drop a single tears. He was wheeled into the OT at about 8.30am plus. There on, the time seem to be ticking like a tortoise crawling. Tick tock, tick tock. I called Hubby who is at home with the two girls to make his way to the hospital now. At about 9am, suddenly the OT door flunk open and I heard my name is being called, “Siew Jang!” Yea, that is my chinese name and the ENT surgeon is my school mates too. I was shivering all over and my heart is beating really fast. I felt like my leg is weighting 500 pound.
“We did an endoscope too…”
*oh, please God, don’t give me the bad news*
“… everything in there is fine.”
It was such a relieved! The 500 pound leg now felt like only 5 pound. I walked as fast as I could to the recovery area. Navigating through the corridor, everything in there still looks very much the same 4 years ago. Back then Eldest Princess (3y/o) was in the same hospital, same Surgeon to remove a piece of mattress sponge from her nostril. I remember seeing her crying for me in the recovery room. I would expect to see the same thing too but when I arrived, I just had to laugh when I saw my Son in a trying-hard-to-stay-awake-drugged-head. You just have to imagine la. We waited quite a while at the recovery room making sure his pulse is back to normal. While waiting, Hubby called to ask where were we. I told him to come up to the nursery room and wait for me there. Green light was given about 30min later and I make my way out through ‘the-other-door’ while Son was wheeled through another door so that we could meet at where we first came in. *phew, so long winded*
Now, this is very dramatic. I reached the starting point first but don’t see Hubby anywhere at the nursery. I called him again to ask where he is. He then ask me where is the nursery. OMG! I just want to die. We had all 3 babies in the same hospital and now he ask me where is the nursery. I raised my voice a bit, “Where is the nursery!” A nurse pass by and pointed to me, “Neh, behind you.” Oh gosh, someone slap me. Hillarious like mad but I was boiling inside at the same time. The OT door open and there I saw…. my son was crying. Why? Why does he cry suddenly? I try to be strong but I can’t. My eyes swelled too. At the same time, the lift door open. Hubby and my 2 girls walk out. I tried to hold back and hide my tears at the same time. The first thing Eldest Sister did was to gave his little brother a present. When I saw that, I lagi beh tahan. So touching can die! More tears rolling down. The nurse wheel son into the lift that Hubby took earlier and we took the next lift. Things happen very fast la. In, out, in, out. Now that I am with Hubby, my water still boiling but I didn’t want to ask him anything now. Furthermore, there is still other people in the lift and I am trying to hide my wet eye at the same time. It took a while for Son to settle down. I just don’t see why suddenly he cry. Everyone tries to pacify him including his Eldest Sister.
Even thought this shot is blurry, I just have to keep them. A big pat on the Sister’s back. At least she tried without us telling her to do so. At home, both of them never stop fighting day and night! Baby Sister also tried to pacify kor-kor, “Don’t cry already. Later I tell Doctor ah. Doctor can scold you wan.” Good thing Eldest Sister brought along a present to console him. After awhile, he reached out to the package and opened it up.
The first thing he said, “Jie-jie, you still love yourself or not?” That took me by surprised. The night before, no.2 accidentally got hold of the card that no.1 made but no.1 managed to quickly snatch it back from him. Since no. 2 can’t read he ask his Sister, “Jie-jie, you love who?” No. 1 replied, “I love myself.” From there on, no. 2 has been making hell of noise as he think the jie-jie cannot love herself. It goes on the whole night. That is why when no. 2 ask “Jie-jie, you still love yourself or not?” That took me by surprised. I read the card to him assuring that Jie-jie still love him and bla bla bla… long winded pacifying.
Jie-jie even help him to fasten a loosen velcro. She is so carrying. So touching. DON’T MAKE ME CRY AGAIN! You should know me by now that I am the very emotional type.
He took awhile to gained back his usual self i.e. jumping like a monkey. I took the opportunity to ask him why did he cried earlier. It seem like he thought I am going to leave him again. I assured him that the surgery is over and soon we can go home. Poor child was so hungry by 11am. They only gave him Milo ice just incase his body reject food. Lunch was served at 12noon.
No hot piping food for him for the next 2 weeks and a good excuse to enjoy ice-cream and Milo ice for now. After all the gloomy face you see, he can now smile at the camera.
This pic makes my day.
Even though lunch was something normal (porridge, fish, spinach & soup), we was feeling hungry by looking at him eating. Not only I felt that way, Eldest said the same thing too. That is because we have not had anything since morning! The nurse came and put this on his table:
“Lepas makan nanti makan ubat. Oh, lepas makan baru spray hidung la.” Then she walk off.
Son finished the steam fish and porridge leaving the spinach untouched. The greedy Mummy Not wanting to waste food, I dugged into the vege while son reaching out to the syringe, “Mummy, I do myself?” I nodded without looking at him. In a split seconds, Son was chocking from the nose.
Me: Aiyah, how you eat. Why spill all over your clothes?
Son: My nose also have.
Me: *nag, nag, nag*
Son: I put medicine in my nose.
Me: OMG! THE MEDICINE IS TO EAT! NOT TO PUT IN YOUR NOSE!
So how ah? He is not supposed to blow from the nose. Dem panic that time. I told the nurse what happen. They also look at me blankly not knowing what to do next. At least they learn something new that day. When I think back of the incident, hey at least my Son understand a little Bahasa! Of course I am proud of him.
The rest of the day, the 3 kids was making hell of noise in the ward. Fyi, they are watching ‘cartoon’ on the ‘teevee’. Oh, before I forget, that is the new bento box I get for Son.
He was discharged same day at about 2pm. I am looking forward to go back by then. We need to keep an eye on him at all time. The cauterization is causing his nose to itch and if he ever remove the crust in his nostril….. big wok! So far we caught him scratching his nose twice. Scare the hell out of us!
Now, back to Hubby. I question his whereabout earlier and he told me this, “I was waiting downstairs.”
“You mean the Paediatrics consultation room?”
“Yea.”
“Didn’t I told you the N.U.R.S.E.R.Y room?”
“I thought you mean that one is nursery room.”
OMG! Someone please slap me.
