Out Patient Surgery... Scared

Missprdiva · August 5, 2008

Hey All...

Soooo I am having my surgery on Friday... my surgery is outpatient... I am scared... can anyone give me insignt on how your outpatient surgery went?

Northwest_Nance · August 5, 2008

My out-patient surgery went great! And I'm an old lady of 55! Everyone is different so I can only speak of my experience. I got there at 11:30, surgery began at 12:45. I walked myself to the operating room and got up on the table. The next thing I remember is being in the recovery room. I wasn't in pain, but I did feel as though I had a tight binding around my stomach (which I didn't). An hour later I was up and walking to a lounge chair and the nurses were laughing about how fast I was able to walk. By 4:30 or so, I was walking out to the car and by 5:00 I was at home. At 5:30 my friend left and I was perfectly comfortable being alone. However, I did keep my cell phone handy, and my best friend called me in the evening and also first thing in the morning to check on me.

I felt really good that first day when I got home. I did a lot of walking, on doctor's orders. I watched TV, played on the computer. I had a lot of energy which I think might have been a reaction to whatever they gave me to wake me up from the anesthesia. I stayed up until 11:00 p.m.

I did wake up in the middle of the night in pain. Not bad bad pain, but definitely uncomfortable. I should have taken my pain meds before I went to sleep. Pain meds work much better if you take them before the pain is bad. After that I slept the rest of the night. When I woke up the next morning, I felt a little dragged out and again, my stomach felt like I had a tight binding around it. I took several pretty good walks.

Then at around 1:00, just about exactly 24 hours after my surgery, it's like it all caught up with me and suddenly I was so tired, I couldn't keep my eyes open. I went to lay down for a nap and I slept all afternoon, got up for a little while in the early evening, then went back to bed for the night.

By the third day I was feeling really good and by the 4th day I woke up and realized I felt absolutely wonderful.

You're going to be fine.... good luck and congratulations!

Missprdiva · August 5, 2008

Thank you for the feedback! glad you are doing well.. :cool2: and you are not old!!!

emily111 · August 5, 2008

:cool2: you sound just like me!!! I had my pre op class and everyone in the class was in patient except me. I was so upset I tried to change it to in patient and they said I would have to change my surgery date so I declined. One good thing about out patient means that your healthy thats why I was scheduled as outpatient. You will go in they will get you ready let your family sit with you until they give you the silly meds and off you go. If you live in town then you can go home as soon as you wake up but if you live out of town dont go home until the next day. :thumbup: If your nervous about throwing up let the anesthesiologist know and he will put special meds in ur IV also I was given special pain meds called mepragan fortis it has anti nasuea meds in it and its great :thumbup: Dont worry I worried for nothing and like my doc told me if anything happens they will bring you to the hospital for an over night stay :thumbup:

Maribelle · August 5, 2008

Wow! How exciting that you surgery is just a few days away. Your pic is gorgeous, BTW. I am scheduled for outpatient, too, and really happy about it. It seems impossible to get any good rest at a hospital with all of the nurses and housekeeping people dropping in. I'd rather be home, cozy in my own bed. Do you have anyone lined up to stay with you in case you need to be babied? I'm sure it will go great.

Kissmygrits · August 5, 2008

I was outpatient too and it was a great experience. I went into the hospital for the surgery in the wee A.M. hours and then left by like 1pm that afternoon. I needed to be wheeled to the car (a precaution due to the anesthesia) but I felt fine. The surgeon made me promise to walk around at home if he agreed to let me go home. I'm a germophobe and hate hospitals and I would do anything to not have to spend the night there.

The only down side to being outpatient I guess is that you have to remind yourself to take your pain meds and prepare your own juices, etc., but that just gives you another reason to get out of bed and move around.

I don't think you would be given the outpatient option if you were a higher risk patient, so I agree with whomever said that you must be pretty healthy.