Pre-Op Questions

[Kelsey Marie 49]

So tomorrow I go in to see my surgeon for all of my pre-op blood work and to go over all of the final things before surgery on Thursday. I was wondering if anyone had any questions that y'all think I should ask him when I go in. I feel like I'm forgetting things.

[Knitchic 97]

Great question as I was wondering the same thing. I plan to ask if it will for sure be laparoscopic since he is doing hernia repair at the same time. My surgeons office does an all day pre surgery info prior to surgery as far as nutrition and such.

[armywife79 123]

Hi guys! When I went for this, I asked what he felt I could be at risk for post surgery, how this would effect both my medications and the way pain meds work. I asked that they note in my surgical plan that I have high anxiety and wanted a sedative pre surgery, I asked about recovery time and going back to work. I also checked to be sure I had a good number for the nutritionist and his nurse and also the after hours on call number. Hope that helps!

[Kelsey Marie 49]

This is great!! I didn't even consider my anxiety going into it and I know on Thursday I'll be a mess!

[armywife79 123]

Yeah, I only learned that after a few surgeries but, once your iv is in and the doctor comes to see you before surgery, they can give you a sweet hit of delaudid as soon as anesthesia is done talking to you in holding. It really makes you totally fine with whatever comes next! Also, always ask for a hit of pain meds the minute you wake up! You won't feel pain right away sometimes after waking up but, this is a big surgery so, best to keep any pain at bay. You should have a morphine pump pretty soon after. Don't be afraid to use it! Keep yourself pain free. Also, ask your nurse for the lemon mouth swabs pretty regularly after surgery to help with the dry mouth until you get cleared for liquids the day after with the swallow test. Don't be scared to drink, it doesn't hurt and it really helps you get better if you hydrate. I wish you lots of luck, this is the hard part but, five months out, it feels like second nature!

[theother_onefoot 122]

I would say ask about a catheter. Some doctors use them and some don't, some people like them and some don't.

My doctor said he wasn't going to use one for me, which I didn't mind, but then the night after surgery I got really frustrated. They keep you so pumped full of fluids with the IV (and I was actually able to start sipping Water pretty early because my surgeon does the leak test while I was still under), that by the time I was trying to go to sleep I was literally getting up every hour and a half to pee until 4-something in the morning. And not just a "I kind of have to go..." but a serious, "I am going to wet myself in 10 seconds!" EVERY time until I finally fell asleep for two or so hours and they had a rounds change and came to wake me up for my vitals.. Ugh, haha. But each time I had to go, a nurse had to come unhook everything, let me go, then hook it all back up... It was exhausting in itself! -- even though I got so insistent some of the times I unhooked everything I was able to as quickly as possible so the nurse only had to do the IV and I could shuffle out of the bed pronto.

Also, be sure your IV isn't in your dominant hand... It would have really been a hassle if mine was.

Edited August 25, 2015 by theother_onefoot

[choosehope 233]

Mine was today. I asked what the chances were that they would

get in there and not be able to do a bypass (I've had other abdominal surgeries and probably have adhesions. ). She asked if I wanted her to do a sleeve instead if a bypass wasn't possible or if I wanted to have nothing done. No brainer for me. Do something! But I'm glad I asked.

[drmeow 323]

I never would have thought of that! I have a lot of adhesions (ruptured gallbladder) also; in fact, my surgeon is supposed to get rid of them when I have the bypass. I guess I'd better tell him the same thing - I'd rather have the bp but if for some reason he can't I'll take the sleeve.