Surgery Tomorrow -- What To Expect?

[Aaron in Tulsa 147]

What should I expect when I check in at the hospital tomorrow? What is the process before actually going to the O.R. in your experience?

[starr1202 38]

Going in tomorrow I'm curious as well

[Giselle3264 175]

Very much like any surgery. I talked to the financial lady and then waited in the lobby. Everything was running late even though I got there at 6:15 am. They took me back and got vitals. Let me go to the restroom, then hooked me up to all sorts of monitors for blood pressure, temperature, etc. and an IV. My hospital gave me a small shot before the IV to numb that spot. Worked great. I also had a shot of heparin to prevent clotting. When they hooked me up, I was already in the lovely hospital garb. I know I had the standard non-slip socks and also support hose. I was in that prep room for quite some time with visits from my patient advocate, lots of nurses with questions, the anesthesiologist, and my surgeon. At some point they allowed my husband back and we chatted for awhile. I can't remember for this surgery if they put something in my IV before I left the prep room or if I I remember riding down the hall (I've had many surgeries.) Is that what you were looking for?

[JonathanS 75]

I checked in a PATT and went up to the staging area very quickly. This was a small area that was walled on 3 sides with a pull back curtain. I then took off my clothing and put on the gown and got on the bed. I stayed there for about an hour watching TV, meeting with anesthesia, and seeing my surgeon. As soon as I talked to anesthesia a nurse came in and gave me some medicine that she said would help me relax. Needless to say she was right. I was loving life! I can't tell you how much time passed between then as I really didn't have a sense of it. A nurse came in and said it was time to go. I said my goodbyes and away we went. I was rolled into the OR and asked to hop on the table. I laid back and everyone was very calming. I got to meet my surgical assistant for the first time. They attached the arm rests to the table which made me feel better. They also laid these wonderfully warm blankets on top of me. I then remember him saying that it was time to go to sleep and placing the mask over my face. It was maybe a 3 second count before I was out.

I then remember waking up and my stomach hurting. As soon as I started to wake up the nurse put the pain pump switch in my hand and told me to press it if I needed it. I was pressing the heck outta that thing. I remember the tones. 1 tone for meds, 2 if it wasn't time yet. I however had that nice reaction to the anesthesia and was severely nauseated. I constantly told my nurse that I was going to throw up. Of course this wasn't true as there was absolutely nothing in my stomach. They tried a few different medicines on me until we settled on phenergan. This really helped and just made me sleep. I was told that I was in post op for 3 hours before being sent to my room. I honestly didn't feel it was that length of time but I was very out of it.

Be prepared that the first few hours after are nothing fun. However, I think if I wouldn't have had the reaction that I would have been able to walk and move around within 2 hours as everyone says. I was not hitting the pain pump after the first 12. My pain level always stayed under 5.

Good luck and well wishes on a speedy recovery!

[steelergirl 135]

Wow!!!so helpful ..thanks for info..my surgery is in one week!

[dkellly 17]

Going in tomorrow I'm curious as well

Good Luck

[Aaron in Tulsa 147]

Thanks everyone! This is exactly the information I was looking for.

[Holly5.3 423]

Good luck Aaron! You are in my prayers! Everything will be great! I'm 3 weeks post op on Thursday and am so happy I got sleeved! A new year and a new you, on it's way for 2013!

[shayv123 96]

If your doc can give you the patch for nausea it makes a world of difference and it stays on for 3 days. I still had the zofran that melts under my tongue as a back up, but havent needed since 3 days after surgery

[JonathanS 75]

If your doc can give you the patch for nausea it makes a world of difference and it stays on for 3 days. I still had the zofran that melts under my tongue as a back up, but havent needed since 3 days after surgery

Shay, now that you mention it ... They did give me a patch behind my ear. It really helped me feel normal again because they were able to take me off the phenergan which put me to sleep. I would really recommend the patch to anyone with nausea.

[Donny 270]

What everyone said was spot on for me as well! And I can't stress it enough to walk as much/often as you can! Good luck to y'all!

[Aaron in Tulsa 147]

Well, I'm laying here half-naked just waiting on the surgeon. :-) I did get a nausea patch so hopefully that will help. Thanks all for your prayers. Here we go!

[abetterme4.2 268]

Well' date=' I'm laying here half-naked just waiting on the surgeon. :-) I did get a nausea patch so hopefully that will help. Thanks all for your prayers. Here we go![/quote']

Good luck and wishing you a very speedy recovery!

[steelergirl 135]

Good luck!!

[dkellly 17]

Good Luck , Your In My Prayers