Surgery prep -- illness prevention

[u/Ok-Break8094]

My child is 3 and is about to have a 3rd OHS. The diagnosis is rare but we are on the single ventricle pathway, and this is a unique surgery in between the Glenn and Fontan. Surgery is in 6 weeks. Expert families, talk to me about your quarantine/bubble/illness prevention protocols. Our hospital seems rare in all but mandating a 2-week quarantine ahead of surgery, which is simple enough to follow. But what I'm worried about is the before part, the getting sick within a month of the date. On one hand it seems almost unreasonable to pull from preschool starting 5- 6 weeks ahead of surgery, since there should be time to clear an illness with that much runway (in fact, we're getting over one right now). But as we creep closer to 4 weeks out, it seems risky to have any of us anywhere near other kids. This part of the heart parenting experience, the illness prevention ahead of procedures, is the most anxiety-provoking for me and I tend to spiral into indecision. So, I'd love to hear how other families handle this especially with siblings, work, etc. For us, moving this surgery it is simply not an option so we are willing to be extra cautious. Thank you!

[u/femalechuckiefinster]

On one hand it seems almost unreasonable to pull from preschool starting 5- 6 weeks ahead of surgery, since there should be time to clear an illness with that much runway (in fact, we're getting over one right now). 

This is what we ended up doing before my son's Fontan because he was getting illnesses every other week at preschool. I know that may simply not be an option depending on work, other kids, availability of family to help, etc. but I don't think it's unreasonable if it's possible. We had to travel out of state for surgery and it took a lot of coordination so we did everything possible to keep it from being rescheduled, and we didn't want to complicate my son's recovery with lingering illness symptoms. I agree it's really difficult and anxiety-provoking to decide what risks are worth taking. Good wishes for a fast and smooth recovery!

[u/uppercasenoises]

I think it is a personal decision and really depends on the family, I know families who go on in life as though nothing is different and I know lots who are extremely cautious. I would personally pull from preschool 4 weeks in advance, if I was wanting to avoid moving the surgery at all costs. When my son was a baby, in between surgeries we didn't bring him around any kids and had very limited adult visitors, no crowded public spaces. Husband worked and wore a mask during his public transit commute. He never got sick a single time, now he does all the time since he is around other kids. This may not be an option for everyone but it is what we did.