Surgery 11 hours ago: my experience LONG

Good evening all,

I has my surgery this morning at 7:30 am. The hospital had me arrive at 5:30 and was efficient at getting me changed, IV in and everything else. After meeting one last time with Dr. K and my anesthesia doctor,I was rolled to OR room 4 were I switched beds.

The next thing I remember is waking up in recovery with bad pain in my abdomen. My nose tube and breathing tube were already gone, but I sill couldn't talk enough to be heard, so I knocked on the bad rails to get attention. I told the nurse I hurt and she gave me another dose as well as a hand held button for boosters. Despite this, the pain was still bad. They quickly switched me to a different pain med, and life has been good since.

Because of the pain, I spend almost 4 hours in recovery. Then i was moved to my room (ths hospital has ALL private rooms, too. I am chewing ice, and slowly drinking water. I have already been on two walks- the first to the nurses station and back to get my bearings, and the second about an hour ago. This walk felt sooo good, I kept walking and walking. Logged three Laps around the floor (guessing 1/6 mile or more).

I did end up with a large rash and itching EVERYWHERE from the anesthesia so thy are giving me Benadryl.

I will update again as I can, hopefully my experience is a help to those having surgery soon.

Congrats! It sounds like things are going well.

Eating ice and walking! Awesome! Keep up the good work. Have them give you something for swelling in your tummy Toradol is what they gave me and it totally stopped the nausea and pain. It is an anti-inflammatory. The reason I was in so much pain was from all the swelling. They tried a pump and another pain med and nothing made a difference like Toradol and Reglan.  I LIVED FOR THE TORADOL and REGLAN. The morphine did nothing for me but make me sick. 

Toradol, oh yeah.  That was what saved me after my hernia operation.  For some unknown reason, my surgeon wasn't in favor of it.  It was given to me by  the doctor on the night shift.  It was what  got me up and walking and then able to go home the next day.  Thank goodness for Toradol!

Bekka,  Two walks already!  That's great!  Keep up the good work and you'll be going home in no time!  

IMHO, Toradol is the absolute best anti-inflammatory drug on the market.  It is non-narcotic.

In order for it to work the best with person's system is to, you need a shot or IV, then 5 days worth of pills.

The reason why Dr's are hesitant to use Toradol is due to kidney damage and/or failure.  That is the only negative.  So, some Dr's think "I better not use it". 

 

Toradol is great.  It's an anti-inflammatory, an "NSAID" actually, in the same class as Ibuprofen, but it's available in IV form.  One big reason it's avoided in post-op patients is that, like all of the NSAIDS, is the bleeding side effect.  NSAIDS can inhibit your body's ability to clot.  That's why you stop Ibuprofen days or weeks before a surgery, and many MD's don't like to give it in the days immediatly post op.  It can make a post op bleed worse, and it can be a problem if you must return to surgery for any reason. 

Tonya, RN

Yup, the risk is minimal for renal failure or damage unless you already have kidney issues but some doctors get weird about it.    I would certainly risk it if you don't. Ask your doctor. It is amazing. You are actually treating the reason for your pain rather than just masking it. 

 You said "dr. K." Did you have your surgery with Dr. Kelly?