DS had surgery to transfer a tendon on his clubfoot two weeks ago and since he had the surgery and was put out under general anesthesia he seems different. He doesn't have pain anymore, but he is in a full leg cast. He doesn't seem bothered by the cast anymore, either. He has been waking up nightly in pure terror. He woke up the other night scared and saying "I want mommy" and "mom, whats that loud noise." (they did have to use a drill during surgery and I really hope that's not the loud noise he's referring to. It was silent in the room when he said that.) I don't think it's a night terror because he talks and answers our questions. I'm starting to wonder and worry if he maybe knew what was going on during surgery or really wasn't completely "out." He was combative and terrified when they brought me back to the recovery room. He was already awake and I had asked to come back before he was awake so he could see me right away.
He has been scripting a lot of Thomas the train episodes since having surgery and also referring to himself as a couple of the characters who are his favorite. Example: Answering questions as "Toby says no/yes" I'm assuming this is "normal" since he can be in control of the Thomas scripting but he doesn't have control over surgery and recovery.
I guess my main question/concern is how would we know if he was actually awake or not fully under during surgery. And can anesthesia affect kids on the autism spectrum differently or cause worsening autism symptoms?
Thanks!
Re: Anesthesia effects on Autism
I know I had some awful dreams on percocet after surgery
If he was fully under and had a painful procedure they would likely know if he was partially awake because his heart rate and blood pressure would have gone up especially if he was scared.
Monday will be Ps 20th time under general :-/
DD1 had a tongue tie & lip tie correction this past October and she still is talking about how she was crying when they out the sleep mask on and how she asked for mama. Breaks my heart she remembers that. In recovery, she was extremely combative and in enough pain to require additional narcotics immediately. However, I'm confident she wasn't really "there." She has no recollection of PACU or that evening really.
Perhaps the sleep disturbances are just remnants of the recovery and will soon be sorted.