circumcision and anesthesia

[faithhope]

Hi here is my next question So when Noah was born we did not get him circumcised right away. We weren't sure we wanted to do it. Though I kind of thought it better that he be circumcised, just not 100% that it was necessary to put him through that. Then the shock of it all, I kind of went into an emotional coma and just was running on empty trying just to wake up and exist everyday.
So now the fog is lifting and especially since he does have DS I think it is better that he be circumcised. So now it turns out he is too big to get circumcised with just local anesthetic, so the ped. said we have to wait till he is about 6 months so that he can get local and gas or I'm not sure what kind, I think it was gas.
I have heard sometimes there are dangers with anesthesia for our kids.
Help, has anyone circumcised there babies at a later age? Is it ok?
Thanks alot, sorry for going on and on

[Chris too]

I don't know about the circumcision part, but the anesthesia we've done. As long as you have a pediatric anesthesiologist, preferably with Ds experience, you'll have no worries. I was told before Stevie's surgery that it is not uncommon for kids with Ds to take longer in recovery, but she didn't need it. Other than some swelling in the area of the surgery (her airway - yikes!!), she was just fine.

It might make you feel better about it if you can arrange to talk to the anesthesiologist ahead of time.

[momofrussell]

Russell couldn't have his done at birth because of some platelet complications about 24 hours after his birth. They were actually getting ready to do the circ when they did some blood draws and figured we hd bigger fish to fry. So, no circ and he was transfered to a children's hospital, NICU.

Russell didn't have his circ until he was 18 months old and we didn't have ANY problems at all! By the time Russell was 18 months old he already had a few procedures with anesthesia under his belt and did fine. Russell had two eye surgeries when he was weeks old I think it was an in/out procedure but done at the children's hosp, if I can remember. A urologist did the procedure.

I have never heard of kids w/DS having a more difficult time with anesthesia but, that doesn't mean it's not true. I didn't have access to pros and cons with DS like we have now

Before thinking all about the cons of procedures with our kids, I do think it's best you talk with your pediatrican and even the anesthesiologist if you can, and voice your concerns. I am sure everything will be ok!

I know some people feel there really isn't a need for the circ, even with DS, but we (my husband, ped and I) all felt it was for the best. We have no regrets.

Oh... and a side note... some parents will tell you that if you wait until later on it can't be covered by insurance but that also isn't always true...ours was covered by insurance because the docs knew how to write the letter of necessity and "code" the procedure. It can be done so it's covered by insurance!

A.

[Googsmom aka Jennifer]

Brook has never had to have anesthesia. She was going to have to one time to un-clog her tear ducts but w/ all the hot wash cloths and poking them by mom, they cleared all by themself. When I did talk to the anesthesia guy, who was very good w/ our kids, he said he's never had a problem in all his 22 years You'll be ok I do believe.

[wrblack]

Ah, good. Gives you some more time to think this over and decide if you really want this done. Might even ask Noah what his wishes in the matter are.
Charlie didn't have much choice. He wasn't circumcised until he was almost 18 months. Got his circumcision as part of hypospadius corrective surgery. And I think it was a required part of the package.
We got an eye exam thrown in there at the same time.
But, yes, our kids can have trouble with anesthesia. And often the risks and dangers of general anesthesia are greater than those from whatever procedure. I think it's a large part of why Dr. Leshin recommends kids with Ds have an overnight stay when they have tonsils and adenoids removed. "One final note about adenotonsillectomies in children with DS: this should not be considered day surgery. Studies have shown that after T&A's, children with DS have longer periods of decreased oxygenation and a slower time to recovery."
www.ds-health.com/apnea.htm
At least, that's what he says about T&A's. I'd be inclined to extend it to any general anesthesia, particularly in any kid under two or three. -- Bob

[sandi]

I didnt get any of my boys, (3) circ. Didnt feel the need. Its a personal decision.

[Emilysmom]

All 3 of our sons were circumcised, and we felt it was a good decision for them. With Emily, obviously we didn't have to face it..........but I'm sure I would have opted for circumcision with her too (you know......if she had been a boy!). I just don't think little boys are consistently good at handling the hygiene that goes along with non-circumcision. And, I can't imagine that little boys with Ds would be any more careful in that area.

Emily has had anesthesia twice, and had no problems with it.

Susan

[kellyds]

Our other sons are circumcised. We tried to get Joshua circumcised when he was a newborn, but he was too small. I'd kind of like to have it done to help him care for his own hygeine when he's older, but I'm right there with you . . . I hate to put him "under" without a really good reason. His urologist said we have until he reaches puberty to decide.

[mom28js]

We had Jaden circumcised a year ago when he was 4. He was much too small when he was born (2.5 lbs and critically ill), and then his foster mother said she thought it was a decision that should be made by his adoptive family, so she never had it done. We kept putting it off, but once he started potty training, he wasn't getting clean enough and was having trouble with recurring infections 'down there' (ouch), so his doc thought circumcision was warranted.

We also had our 8 yr old's umbilical hernia repaired the same day by the same surgeon, but in retrospect, we should have scheduled them on separate days so we could both "be there" for each of them. We felt like we were tag teaming the entire time we were at the hospital, and it would have been much easier if we'd only had one child to focus on instead of two. Jaden screamed the entire time he was in recovery (Paul felt really bad for the other patients), and they both had trouble with nausea/vomiting for the rest of the day.

OTOH, when Jaden had ear surgery two years ago, he was an angel....no screaming, no vomiting, and we left the surgery center about 30 minutes after he got out of recovery with no after affects whatsoever. I think the difference probably has to do with the amount of time he was under anesthesia. Jaden is scheduled to have tubes put in again next week, and have an ABR hearing test at the same time, so he'll be under for over an hour. I'm hoping he'll bounce right back like he did the first time, and not scream for several hours like he did after his circumcision.

[lespring]

Angela has been under anesthesia over 30 times in her life, some for major surgical procedures, and some for minor things like tear duct probes or ear tubes, and never had a problem with it. Had she been a boy she would have been too small to circ, but if she was big enough I would have done it.

I raised 4 boys. My two biological sons, and two step-sons. My step sons were not circ'ed and the older one had to had to be done at age 3 due to adhesion problems. Not fun.