During this time, I try to keep myself busy, keep the kids busy (really, not a difficult feat in my house). Madison had a dentist appointment a little over a week later, so I at least had something on the calendar to keep me busy. Until then, we decided to go about speech as normal, knowing there wasn't much we could do until the procedure was done (in Madison's case, the tongue tie was classified as severe).
Wednesday comes, and Madison has her dentist appointment. Her dentist, a native Frenchman (I think) who describes himself as a ninja (in a funny way, I think), says "I noticed this tongue tie- is it causing problems?" I go in to my story on how it's effected her speech, and that she has been seen by a physician, who is recommending she see an ENT, so that he can perform surgery to take care of it". The dentist scoffs, loudly, and says "I can do it. Right now. With a lazer- no anesthesia, no pain".
I was all "wha wha?!" Excited. No general anaesthesia?! No surgery, in a big operating room?!
Hell. Yeah.
So I say ok. Then I realize I should probably be a responsible parent and ask some questions (but again, anyone who knows me knows I already looked all this stuff up when I first got the diagnoses. I have my google M.D., yo).
So I make small talk, asking the risks, the benefits, potential pain, the normal. I make sure there isn't a chance of him cutting off her entire tongue (because in my mind, he will be using a lightsaber to hack away at this very small piece of skin under my kid's tongue, so why wouldn't he potentially hack her tongue off? I blame Scott for this thought, because he has made me watch everyone of those movies. Repeatedly.) Losing her tongue would be unfortunate.
 |
| Jedi Dentist, at your service. |
 |
| Actual instrument used- yes, that tiny little stick. The anti-lightsaber. |
After he chuckled at me, and explained that he wouldn't be hacking off any organs, I let him start. We put on these nifty sunglasses (by nifty, I mean completely uncool and lame). Then, he went to work.
Madison was a trooper. He put some numbing stuff on her, and she had a steady flow of laughing gas going through an orange pig nose. She was trying to touch things that were floating above her, except there weren't things floating above her. I was kicking myself in the butt for not having a video camera on me- she could be the next "is this real life" kid. I'm completely disappointed with myself- I'm normally prepared to exploit my children at the drop of a hat. (kidding, no anon people need to come after me)
So here we go, plucking along, no big thing. Then, he decides that he needs to hold her tongue up. At this moment, all hell broke loose. He grabs her tongue with some clampy things to hold it steady, and Madison flips the crap out. It was like that scene from the exorcist, minus the pea soup puke. She was MAD.
So we stop. Ask her if she's ok. She says yeah, she just doesn't like people holding her tongue. Fair enough, but he has to. He asks if she can make her tongue touch the roof of her mouth. Of course, she's never been able to do that in her life, so now she's skeptical and doesn't know how to do it. Ok, so back to holding her tongue.
10 minutes later, screaming fits, 3 dental hygienists, and a dentist later, and its finally as done as its going to get. Evidently the dentist was a little scared, because he thought I was going to punch him. He kept assuring me she wasn't in pain (which she wasn't, because we asked repeatedly). She just did not like having her tongue held with instruments, or fingers, or gauze.
The dentist gives her a Popsicle, and explains to me that there is still just a tiny bit left, but not enough to cause a major speech issue. If her speech teacher wants the rest removed, we can come back in and get it done. She has full mobility of her tongue, something she hasn't had her entire life. He told me she might be sore, but that would go away after a day. No stitches, no sutures, no bleeding. Walking out, she acted like nothing even happened. That night, she had a tiny bit of discomfort- in her jaw, where they were holding her mouth opened. No pain or discomfort in the actual tongue.
We've since noticed a slight change in her speech, but that could be wishful thinking, too. Of course, the real test will be starting Monday, when she gets to do her speech therapy, since her speech teacher will know what to do with her. I'm really excited for her! It was a trying experience, but knowing that she wasn't in pain, and knowing that it prevented the bigger risks and scares that come with general anaesthesia made it worth it. She's full of awesomeness, for sure.
And I learned something new- my 4 year old has a bit of Chuck Norris action in her. Pretty awesome, if I do say so myself!
1 comment:
Julia was tongue-tied too. It is a genetic issue so give Mason a little check too. Julia was clipped at 4 weeks and I had to fight the Doctors to get it done. They don't like to do it anymore UNLESS it's causing apparent problems. The only doctor is my incredibly large practice (like 20 offices - seriously) would still do it. He was no less than 80 years old. One cheer for the old-school camp...
For insurance purposes, it was labeled as cosmetic surgery (slkdfjiausidjvllskfj hmm).
Don't beat yourself up Momma. You're still one of the best I know.
Post a Comment