[specialk4b]

Our little guy had his palate repair last week. Recovery has been tough and he's pretty uncomfortable when his pain medication wears off.

But they said the repair went well. We've got to do a good job on his aftercare. They told us that too many adopted older children who have palate repairs at age 2 or 3 take more than one surgery to get them closed. They put an obturator (kinda like a retainer) over his repaired palate to keep it protected while it heals.

[ashmilf]

Glad to hear that the surgery went well. I hope the healing is quick and as painless as possible!

[Trace7]

I am glad it went well and I hope the pain goes away for him soon!

[jessibird]

He is in our prayers! Hopefully this will be one of the only surgeries he needs and this one heals good.

Prayers for mom and dad as I am sure it is hard to see that baby hurting! Take care of you too!

[PiperH]

We're so glad to hear the surgery went well. We will keep him and you in our prayers that the pain goes away soon.

We also may be picking your brain in the future after we bring Jacob home for some of that great BTDT knowledge.

Kevin and Violet

[copper653]

Good to hear that the surgery went well. I hope he heals fast!

[specialk4b]

Originally Posted by PiperH

We also may be picking your brain in the future after we bring Jacob home for some of that great BTDT knowledge.

Pick away! Anything you want to know while it's fresh in my mind?

[Joliey]

Glad to hear the surgery is behind you. Poor baby, I hope he feels better soon.


Yoli

[pgruodis]

Hang-in-there little guy....you will be making your P's & B's in no time!

[PiperH]

How long does the obturator have to stay in? Does it seem uncomfortable? How well can you see through it? Do you ever take it out? Does he seem to have any difficulty with breathing (since he had a larger airway does he seem to feel claustrophobic at all?)? How are you guys doing?

Violet

[PiperH]

How do they reconstruct the palate? How long did the surgery take? You probably said on your blog, but I don't remember.
Just saw you guys took the dog out. Looks like a great place. Wish they had that around here.

Violet

[amyfk]

I am glad your son's surgery was successful, and I hope he has a quick recovery.
Amy K, NJ

[specialk4b]

Originally Posted by PiperH

How do they reconstruct the palate? How long did the surgery take? You probably said on your blog, but I don't remember.

Violet

They make an incision on either side, "tease out" tissue across the open cleft and stitch it together. They stretch the skin and stitch it together too. New tissue will regrow and fill in the empty space where the tissue came from. It's truly amazing.

He also had a tooth pulled that had erupted up in his cleft so the obturator would fit snugly.

[PiperH]

Thanks for the info. Glad to hear things are going well.

How long does the obturator have to stay in? Does it seem uncomfortable? How well can you see through it? Do you ever take it out? Does he seem to have any difficulty with breathing (since he had a larger airway does he seem to feel claustrophobic at all?)? How are you guys doing?

Kevin

[specialk4b]

The obturator will stay in somewhere from 3 to 6 weeks, depending on how the healing is going, I guess. It doesn't come out - it's actually sutured into his mouth. You can see right through it. It's clear plastic, made out of the stuff they make dental bleaching trays. What you see up there is pretty gross.

I think it was uncomfortable at first, but he's getting used to it. The doctor said it could help alleviate some of the pain since it protects his palate from being rubbed by his tongue or food. When it comes out, he'll be uncomfortable again, like when a cast comes off a healed but weak arm.

He snored a little bit, especially the first few days. Now that the swelling has gone down, the snoring is better. He's really aware that something is different in his mouth.