He has OAS that "could" be solved by surgery. We where given 3 options.
1 do a tongue reduction
2 do a jaw reconstruction and move the tongue froward
3 wait and keep him on o2 and apnea alarm and see if he outgrows it this could me months to years
Option 1 would cause him speech issues later in life, along with eating issues.
Option 2 would cause him a 5 week NICU stay, feeding tube during recovery, possible permanent trach, and 3 scars outside viable on his face. This has the best change of working of the 2 surgeries but risky and we could loose him during surgery alone.
Option 3 Gives him no risk factors, lets us process his growth and monitors recorded his every breath.
WE opted for option 3 and see if he out grows it.
I talked to his pedi and she said we could get a 2nd opinion but the guy that gave us the first 2 options is our best person if we want to do the surgery so Heaths best chance if we go that way so she did not think we needed a 2nd opinion. We go back on Thursday to talk about how the past month has been.
For some families option 2 surgery when I talk to friends would be a no brainier for them. They see it as just 5 weeks of hard surgery recovery in exchange for a chance at a fix without more testing. Because they think it is cruel to make him be on O2 if it can be maybe fixed with surgery.
But for us the pain and hardship of a NICU stay and life time scars when this is not life treating at this time when monitored is not worth it to us unless they can prove it will in fact improve him and that he needs it. So far they can't guarantee he will not need the machines after surgery any way and possible need a vent if it complected things and brain damage is a risk if they lose his breathing during surgery. I want them to do another sleep study before we make any surgery decisions. As both will effect his eating and talking the rest of his life. Our family decided surgery is a last resort not the first because we want him while it is safe to be given a change allow him to outgrow it even with the inconvenience of machines 24/7.
But I respect the moms that would have the surgery now too.
Submitted by Joshiesmom on Mon, 01/19/2009 - 11:52.
((((HUGS)))) If it makes you feel any better we would definitely opt for #3 (wait and see) way before I would consider a tongue reduction or jaw reconstruction surgery on my newborn child. Unless there is a significant drawback to just monitoring him for now I could not agree with your decision more.
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((((HUGS)))) If it makes you feel any better we would definitely opt for #3 (wait and see) way before I would consider a tongue reduction or jaw reconstruction surgery on my newborn child. Unless there is a significant drawback to just monitoring him for now I could not agree with your decision more.