WWPD?

ASmallWonder

Aiden's had a clogged tear duct since birth.  Leaving it clogged doesn't cause any damage to his eye but it leaves him with a runny eye that ends up irritating the skin around it.  Daycare know it's due to the duct but they always teeter on the edge of claiming it's pink eye.  The doctor we saw said that if we're going to do the surgery, sooner is better because the older they get the less likely it is that they can unclog it without putting a tube in the duct.  But he'd have to be put under general anesthesia and that's why I'm so hesitant.  I know when his eye gets crusty it bothers him but putting him under makes me so nervous.  It's not like it's for something he HAS to have done, kwim?

catycate

I would do it only because the option of putting a tube in the duct sounds more complicated. 

MrsGoodkat

If it's something that won't resolve on its own and become harder to take care of once time goes by, then I would go ahead and do it now.

Gracey_Manor Maid

I agree with the dr. that doing it sooner rather than later is better. I totaly get not wanting to put him under for something that isn't *needed* BUT  if it isn't going to clear up own and waiting means a tube to drain (which sounds a whole lot more complicated) I would deinantl look in to doing it now.

Plus like you said LO is uncomfortable and the daycare is always on the verge of claiming pink eye.

Good Luck with whatever you decide to do

ASmallWonder

Thanks everyone.  He's going on 3 so two doctors have said they would not expect to see it clear up on its own so our choices are, leave it alone and deal with it daily or have the surgery.  I guess I know we're going to do the surgery but it's just scary to think of putting him under for something that seems so trivial.  But I hate that it bugs him.   

Hilarity, I think it was you who mentioned massage.  FWIW, two doctors we saw claimed that this rarely helps because you'd need to get a lot of force behind the clog to move it and rarely does that happen. 

mandy614

I'd definitely have it done. My youngest son now 4 1/2 had clogged tear ducts since birth. He had the procedure done when he was 14 months old and the results were instantaneous. He was only under anesthesia for less than an hour. No side effects, nothing. The procedure is so quick and the results are so worth it. Good luck with your decision.

Littledeer84

If it is unlikely to clear on its own, I would have the surgery done. DD was put under for a procedure at 1...it was something that we didn't have to do but I hope it will make things a little easier on her when she is older.

klondikebar

Since it seems unlikely at this point to clear up on its own, I'd have it taken care of now.

angeleighhh

wait what? my 5mo old has this and they said that its just a little thing they stick in and pull out..

no anesthesia?

FancyFrenchie

elmoali:

Hilarity, I think it was you who mentioned massage.  FWIW, two doctors we saw claimed that this rarely helps because you'd need to get a lot of force behind the clog to move it and rarely does that happen. 

Maybe it's because of the age, but DS had a clogged duct as a newborn and after several weeks of the massage it went away and that was the last we saw of it. Maybe it can only work when they're really young?

NativeFloridian

Yeah, I'd say it's better to go ahead and have it taken care of sooner rather than later.  Having him go under is scary to think about but the chances of anything bad happening to him just from the anesthesia are pretty low.  The vast majority of people go under and come back around without issue, even kiddos.

Tigger & pooh

Have it done.  I know having anesthesia is scary but it will be such a short time the risks are very low.  By the time DS was 3 he already had three surgeries ear tubes/adenoid removal, ingunal hernia, and tonsillectomy.   The anesthesia was the easy part for the last two  

blowfish11

I would do it.  Putting a child under general anesthesia sucks.  I had to do it for DD1's foot surgery last year.  But the benefits of doing it now outweigh the risks of waiting only to end up doing the more complicated version of the procedure.

(I hope I'm making sense, I'm still tired) 

[Deleted User]

BostonKisses2:

MrsGoodkat:

If it's something that won't resolve on its own and become harder to take care of once time goes by, then I would go ahead and do it now.

This.  I know general anesthesia sucks, and no one wants their kiddo to have to go through surgery, but the docs will take good care of him, and it'll only help him in the end. 

Yup, this too.  I know it sucks, but it will be better to get it over with sooner. 

magdalina.h

I would do it

sugarland726

DD had the same issue. We had surgery when she was 15 months old. The entire procedure was barely 15 minutes, we were home within 2 hours, and she was back at daycare the next day with no issues at all since then. It was stressful to me to have her put under, but I would do it again in a heartbeat.

lrn327

Also stalking this thread.  I could have written your post word for word.  I'm really dragging my feet too.  We've got the referral to the pedi ophthalmologist but I haven't made the appointment yet.  We had tubes done last year so I don't know why I'm so anxious.

 

Snapdragon750

I totally understand your hesitation, but it sounds like you're more likely to regret not having done it than vice versa.

Monsieur_et_Madame_Ha

Spooko:

I would do it. Yes, them being put under is scary, but I'd rather them do it while it's a minor proceedure than when it's a bigger deal later. Also, the fact that it's bothersome to him makes a difference, too.

This is where I stand as well. 

Lulobug22

I had a clogged duct as a baby and they did surgery and my mom said I never had any problems again.