About Gas....

 So I finally got word from my insurance that they DO cover the surgeon's fees. What a relief. Now I'm wondering about gas. I know they'll pump me full of gas so they can see what's going on in there. Question is, how does the gas get out? In the usual way? I know, dumb question. I'll be at Abbott where they only have shared rooms. I'm thinking about my roommate being exposed the gas thing. Oh, well, too bad for her.

Benjamin Franklin was quoted as saying "Fart Proudly".  There is also a book by that name that further exapands his philosophy on the subject, of which I have a copy.  Since surgery, I have determined that those are good and necessary words to live by.

You may experience some pain from the gas they use to inflate your abdominal cavity during surgery, but it  dissipates within a few days.

Dissipate is different than farting. Isn't it?

See, I'm starting to go nuts - surgery is just around the corner.

In this case dissipate is different than farting, but that word works better in social settings...oops, I dissipated sounds better than oops, I farted.  With the surgical gas, I think your body absorbs and metabolizes it, but you would have to ask your surgeon about that.

I used to be a surgical scrub tech for 15 years before becoming a full time music teacher.

Rick is right...the CO2 will dissolve into the body. The surgeons do 'suction' out as much gas as possible, but there is always some left. You might have referred pain up into the shoulders, but maybe not, too.

You might not pass gas for several days after surgery.
CONGRATS ON YOUR INSURANCE PAYING THE SURGEON'S FEE.

Praying for your successful surgery tomorrow and looking forward to hearing from you on the Boards when you're feeling well enough.

Leda

Leda, new photo! Very nice. Good work. 

Wert,

I was also worried about the residual gas, but it turned out to be a non-issue. I did not have any should pain either. But when you are able to "dissipate", it is wonderful! I am back to work full time just 8 days after surgery and feeling pretty good. Once the drain tube came out I felt even better. I am praying for your surgery tomorrow!

It took me a few days to pass gas. I didn't have any gas pains in my shoulders or upper body, which I had heard would happen. From what I read it sounds like the trapped gas moves around and the shoulder blade areas until it finall leaves the body, and can be quite painful as it does this. I don't know if it was surgeon skill or dumb luck that this didn't happen to me, but I'm sure glad it didn't! You may want to have some Gas-x strips on hand in case. I've heard they work wonders if you do have trapped gas.

Thanks, everyone, for your gassy help. I guess I'm looking forward to my first good dissipation! 

That's a new one to teach my young sons!  You don't say Fart you say "Excuse me, I dissipated"!
I love it!

Glad to hear they are covering your costs~  The very best of luck on your surgery.

Tess