How long were you under?

The average time that you are actually under anesthesia is about an hour... give or take... then you are taken to the recovery room where you basically sleep it off... you'll be there about 2 hours on avg. Once your vital signs and oxygen saturation and pain levels are stable you will be moved to your room (if its ready). Don't freak if you are in recovery longer than 2 hours. Those folks will hold onto you like a new baby if there is the slightest indication of a bubble. In recovery you receive one to one care and they know on the floor you will not get that. They have to make sure you are safe before they turn you lose. If you are there longer than the 2 hours it might be that your room on the surgical unit is not ready yet, the receiving nurse on the unit may be swamped or dealing with an emergency or problem family or patient. Most folks don't remember the recovery room even though you will carry on a conversation with the nurses there... (the wonders of anesthesia). One thing that all post ops don't take and should is a SF cough drop or hard candy... your throat may be irritated from the intubation tube inserted in your throat to maintain an open airway during surgery. It is a hard plastic tube that is inserted after you are asleep but it does irritate. ( I woke up with a squeeky voice!) Clear this with your doc first of course, but take something just in case. Make sure its SF!!! Don't want to dump immediately post op. I took my fan to cover up some of the noises, my pillow, my new nightie and robe, and my lotion and shower gel (gotta love Bath and Body) It felt so good on post op day number 2 to take a shower and to smell good and be in my own clothes!!! I took books, mags, etc but I just couldn't concentrate long enough to fool with them. A friend brought in his laptop and a couple of movies and that helped alot! Chap stick or blistex for your lips and you might want to get some of those little crystal lite "to go" sticks (wally worlds are good too) for your water... it was real easy to ge****er in the hosp but not anything else. Since surgery I have been water intolerant... can't stand the taste but the to go sticks have been a god send!! Hope this helps... Wanda

Thanks for all the helpful info Wanda! I really appreciate it. Did you have the lap RNY? I'm asking because you said you had a shower post op day 2. I am scheduled to go home that day barring any complications so I was just wondering. Do you know if anyone is allowed in recovery with you? My husband is having a case of "the nerves" and is badgering me about all the specifics, ie: how long, when can he see me, when should he start to worry.....I fell kinda bad for putting him through this but I think we'll both get over that quickly Thanks again, Dina

Hey Dina, No problem on sharing info... I had an open ... incision is only 4 inches long. The recovery room process is determined by each hospital... some do allow visitors and some strictly don't. Things can go wrong and the staff have to react very quickly and trying to shoo out visitors who are concerned (or nosy) can interfere with delivering emergent care in a timely manner. The staff really only has 4 minutes to react and provide care to severe complications... it could take that long to explain to visitors that they need to get out and show them the door. Now don't get panicked ... these instances are rare... BUT... you may have oxygen, you'll have an IV, and whatever else your physician has ordered plus the effects of anesthesia does not leave you looking your prettiest! You will be pale, maybe even a little puffy (if under anesthesia for an extended period of time) and family tends to panick when they see such drastic changes in their loved ones appearance... While you are recovering you will receive one on one care and you do not need your nurse being pulled to explain things that could distract her attention to you. Tell hubby to take a pill... count on seeing you about 2 hours after you get out of surgery... and to not count on seeing you in recovery. Tell him to stay in the hospital because it might be less time than expected and the staff will not look for him forever. Hopefully they will use a pager or beeper to notify him of the "all clear". Call your doc and get specifics on your hospital and your docs protocal. Now don't you dare feel bad for "putting him out". This is his responsibility to take care of you. I know for a fact that there are 10,000 things that you have done for him that "put you out" but you did it anyway... if he is troubled by being responsible and providing love and care to the one he chose to love forever...TUFFF!!!! Tell him to get over it... your energy and love of life will be more than worth any effort he will have to put forth! Love yourself sweetie.. you're worth it! Hugs Wanda