Whats Surgery Like? - ThinnerTimes

pupraiser8806 · 05-13-2008, 04:48 PM

Hello All,

I will be getting poked, stapled and rearranged in a couple of weeks, and have never had surgery before. So i just was wondering you all can tell me your experiences...

No need for huge details, but maybe some indication on whats going to happen. Now i know that the doctors tell you what its going to be, but i want to hear from people who have had the surgery.

And did any of you get something, to calm you down?

Any comments would be great!

As always thanks for the awesome support!

Jessica

'thann · 05-13-2008, 06:19 PM

Here is my experience from pre-op to post-op.

I was escorted into the pre-op area and was told to undress and put on a lovely gown and fancy hat. I had my hair in a French braid with a simple elastic band (I have long hair), but they told me I had to take the elastic band out. (By the next day my hair was a rat's nest, and I couldn't wait to rebraid it!)

Then I was led to the gurney and lay down. They gave me as many blankets as I needed to feel comfortable, and put the bed in a comfortable, semi-upright position. One nurse went over my chart in detail, verifying allergies and stuff. Another nurse came to start my IV, but couldn't find a vein. It took 5 nurses and a doctor to find a vein, but one finally did and my IV was started. That was to keep my hydrated, and to prepare me for all of the various medicines they put in it.

I was given some liquid to make my platelets slippery, or something like that. That's what I was told, but maybe I misheard. The liquid was pretty awful, but it was only an ounce.

Then my husband came in to be with me while I waited for the operating room to be available. My doctor came by and held my hand and prayed with me. (That was AWESOME!) The anesthesiologist came in and went over what he would do during surgery. Several OR nurses introduced themselves, too. It was like Grand Central Station!

When the OR was ready, the anesthesiologist told me he was giving me something to relax me (in my IV), and the last thing I remember is being wheeled to the OR.

The next thing I remember is waking up in my room, and everything was all over!

I had a lap RNY, so I have only six tiny holes, and they were covered with steri-strips and gauze pads. I had a catheter (removed the next day), and had a pain pump -- when I started to feel uncomfortable I could push the button and pain medicine would be delivered into my system via my trusty IV.

So essentially, except for my terrible veins, I felt absolutely NO pain. And even after surgery, I never really felt any pain -- just weird pressure here and there from the holes. BUT I have a high pain threshold.

I'm two weeks out today and I feel fantastic -- better than I have in18 years. This is the best decision I have ever made.

Anything else you need to know?

'thann

mommyandmatt · 05-13-2008, 06:45 PM

its prety much everthing she said I have not had my RYN yet but I recently had a hysterectomy. If you are nervous at all it never hurts to ask for some thing to calm you down. Your dr should understand If you have any pain pos op just ask for something but most likely they will give you the pump.

Godsblessedme · 05-13-2008, 06:55 PM

i think Than was througou enough

they started my IV and then the docs come and ask if you have any questions and poof your in the recovery room before you know it. OMG the pain pump button is amazing and takes away the pain, of course for me the hardest part was having to be "walked" every hour to two hours but worth it. Congrats on a date

tiaaya · 05-13-2008, 07:08 PM

They gave me something to calm down right away and I actually fell asleep right away...so the whole operation part was a bit of a blur! The hardest part is the recovery room. That sucked for me. My blood pressue dropped below sea level and they wouldn't give me pain meds til I was breathing normally and my blood pressure was normal. After that, you feel like someone beat you up a bit and you WILL question your decision to have the surgery...that'll hang around a couple days. But, don't fret...you will be happy...oh, and if they put in a drainage, your left shoulder will hurt until they take it out. It's a mystery to me and I keep forgetting to ask the doc about why that happens!!!

Good luck! It'll be an experience!!

ASAMVIAN · 05-13-2008, 09:09 PM

Tia

Surgery went well for me too but it made me feel alot better when you said you questioned the surgery. I thought I was the only one. The day after I had surgery I wondered what the heck did I do to myself.... but it went away quickly....

surgery will be fine...and the ladies ahead of this post was great at explaining... I dont remember much pain just when I would roll in bed . Just a little uncomfortable....

Congratulations on your decision

drummer girl · 05-13-2008, 10:10 PM

I am a complete wuss when it comes to blood and guts - I actually pass out if I see a large quantity of blood! But, I have found it easy to recover so far. I am 8 days post op and I did use the pain button a lot in the hospital - that's what it is there for! Since I used it a lot, I didn't have any pain at all that was worse than having a headache. I stayed on my prescribed Loritab pain med after the hospital for 3 days until I accidentally slept through a dose... as it turns out I didn't need the Loritab anymore so I quit taking it. I haven't taken any pain meds since because I am not in pain at all, not even a Tylenol.

My surgery was exactly the same as described above except I didn't have to drink anything to thin my blood - I was given an injection just under the skin on my stomach instead. I didn't feel a thing except for the IV, which I apparently have elusive veins as well. But it still didn't hurt!

I meditated and spent a long time working with spirit the night before and that gave me a sense of calm and peace. By the time you get to the hospital, it is out of your hands and into the hands of your extremely capable doctor.

pupraiser8806 · 05-14-2008, 09:08 AM

Thanks guys!

For all the responses!

That did help, and eased me a little bit, right now i am calm and just going through the motions, i sure that will all change, as they wheel me into the OR, or maybe i wont even now it.

Thanks again

MiladyB · 05-14-2008, 11:37 AM

In the hospital where I had my surgery things are done just a wee bit different. I first registered up on the outpatient surgery floor. Once registered I was weighed and brought into a room. I had to change into a gown, pee in a cup (to make sure I wasn't pregnant) have a heparin shot, have the compression stockings applied (SCD's), have my vital signs checked and get asked a bunch of questions by the nurse.

I was then wheeled down to the OR holding room where they put in an IV and started an antibiotic. The resident, anesthesiologist and doctor came and talked to me there. Just before surgery the anesthesiologist came back and gave me a little Versed. I was out by the time they rolled me into the OR suite. Next thing I remember I woke up in the recovery room. They gave me something for nausea and pain, took my blood pressure and made me blow in the incentive spirometer (a little ball thing to encourage deep breathing) and by that time I was out again from the medication. Next thing I remember I was in my room on the nursing floor.

Once on the floor it is frequent blood pressure, you will probably have a pain pump to give yourself pain meds, they may let you have a little ice depending on your doctor, you will have an IV in along with probably a catheter. I had ice on my incisions and one drain in. Once I was awake enough I had to get up and walk. They made me walk every 4 hours right on through the night, so very little sleep for me. In the morning they took out my catheter, drew blood, took out my IV, took out my drain and I was back home by late afternoon.

FutureFitGirly · 05-14-2008, 12:33 PM

Does it hurt when they take the catheter out?