Pre-op appt all done

PCA = patient controlled analgesic - its basically the morphine button.  A machine releases morphine into your IV on a schedule and then if you need extra you can press a button and get a dose, but you only get one dose every two hours generally.  You will probably be friends with your PCA because you want to manage your pain before it gets bad.  Remember, they are going to make you get up and walk around a lot, in my case every two hours from 2 hrs after surgery.  If you manage your pain well you recover faster and all that good stuff too.  I've been reading up on the painball thing this morning - its called On-Q http://www.iflo.com/prod_onq_classic.php and it looks like a good thing because it helps minimize the amount of morphine you need for pain control.

I got the pain ball-- yep and it helped! I had rny at 930 and was in my room at around 1 pm. I was up walking at 2 pm! That pain ball does make a huge difference helping get you off morphine sooner and up an walking around! What hospital are you having yours in? I had mine in Methodist Transplant and got the most awesome care! I hope all goes well! ((HUG))

Thanks!  I am having mine at Innova hospital, but I wanted it at Methodist Transplant because its about 2 miles from me and Dr. Patel goes there as well.  Unfortunately, Innova is across town, but that's where they submitted for insurance approval and I didn't want to fuss with changing it.  After visiting Innova I am very confident, but I just wi**** wasn't all the way across town, downtown.  I'm glad your surgery went well and you were up and around so well.  See you on the losers side! 

Wow, Monday is the day?! How exciting!!! Make sure and keep us up to date for when you get out of the hospital! I cleaned my house inside out before my surgery - my folks stayed at my place while I was in surgery and I wanted it spotless. It took me days but boy was it clean! I'm the same as  you with my veins, but mine are ridged and floating, which means that when they think they have it and poke, it moves. Lots of fun . I usually ask them to do a butterfly on my upper arm - it works every time. But then I always get someone who thinks they can be the one person to get it and they end up making me look like a junky - I'm to the point where I only let them have one try, then I won't let them try again. I'll be thinking about you on Mnday hon! Pam

Thank you everyone for your good wishes!  I am really starting to get anxious.  I am so ready to get this hospital thing over with!!!!   I can't wait to be on the other side of this whole process, melting away :)  I'll keep everyone posted about my progress - I should be out of the hospital Wed morning if all goes well.