vena cava filter

Can anyone help with their experience with getting the filter? I am supposed to go next week and am a little worried. Surgery is scheduled for 8/27/07

Hi Dannyell, I had a vena cava filter placed 10 days before  my gastric bypass.  It was done as an outpatient procedure and really wasn't bad at all.  After I got to the hospital, I had to put on the obligatory hospital gown and then got an IV.  Right before they wheeled me into the room where the procedure was performed, they gave some meds to relax me.....I liked that stuff!  Once in the room, I was put on a table under the fluoroscope. I was draped, given more meds and they numbed my neck.  They told me what they were doing and when I might feel some pressure, etc....but it was never painful.   Then once in a while they'd ask me to hold my breath so they could get a picture to see if the filter was in the right place.   It took them about an hour and then they put a pressure bandage on my neck and wheeled me back to a room for observation for an hour.  Then I went home.  My neck was tender for a few days, but not bad at all.  That night when I got home, I took ibuprofen and it was fine.  It looked like I had a mosquito bite on my neck for a few days and then it has gradually gotten smaller and smaller.

In March, I had the filter removed and it was pretty much the same as having it put on.  I had hoped they'd be able to go through the scar from when they put it in, but they couldn't do that and went about an inch below it.  So I have two small marks on my neck....looks like I was bitten by Dracula!  Here's a link to a picture of me that shows the scars.  They're the two marks on the side of my neck.  http://s202.photobucket.com/albums/aa257/KyChris/Cave%20Run% 20Lake%20June%202007/?action=view¤t=100_1423.jpg If you have any questions...just let me know!

I had the vena cava filter put in also....I was freaked out about it for days. I even posted here and had several people respond and like they said it was nothing. Just like Chris said exactly. I worried about it for nothing.

Hello fellow Dr Shina Patient ,  I had mine placed one week before surgery at Baptist East hospital, the staff there were amazing, the hardest part was the wait, The Dr had an emergency so i was on hold which is fine, then they wheeled me down to O.R and was awake through the whle process, but did not feel Anything at all. Good luck and let me know if you have any questions....2 week post op today and down 22 lbs. Yipee.... Missy