What to "REALLY" expect!!

I just wandered what pre test they do, and what to expect when I get to the Hospitol on the day of surgery. Any gory details are fine with me, and the things most might forget to tell. Thanks

You asked for anyone's experience so here is a LONG recall of pre-surgery. As far as pre test, one week before surgery I had my pre op appointment at the hospital. I got there and after about 30 min wait, I was called back to some sort of case worker in front of a computer. She verified all my information such as insurance, doctor, surgery date and time, stuff like that. This took about 30 minutes. After this, I went to another waiting room and about 15 minutes later, a nurse came and I went to a room where she asked me the basic questions (name, etc) then went over the surgery briefly and asked if I had any questions. Then, an anethistist (gas doc) came in and went over what his job was and asked if there was anything he needed to know about me. I told him about my temporary crown and the fact that I have really bad nausea after surgery and he made notes in my file and gave me a patch to put behind my ear the night before surgery to help with the nausea. While he was talking to me, I moved to the chair where they draw blood and a tech drew about 4 vials of my blood. After this, the nurse gave me 2 wrist bands to take home and told me I had to bring them back on the day of surgery and NOT LOSE THEM lol. After talking to the nurse and gas doc, I went and had an EKG done which took all of 20 minutes tops. Then I was free until surgery day. The day of surgery I arrived at 8 am with my hubby and mother. I checked in at the counter where I was supposed too and hubby and mother were allowed to come back with me to a 'holding' area. This was a huge room with curtained rooms all around the perimiter - maybe 10 rooms in total with a nurses station in the middle. The nurse directed me to my assigned 'room' and instructed me to remove my clothes and put on the hospital gown provided. Thankfully it was so roomy I could have prolly fit two of me in it (and I weighed 284 at the time). There was a tv and remote control and I settled in the bed while hubby and mom parked in the chairs next to the bed. We made small talk and about 30 minutes later, the nurse came back and started my IV. I was worried about this part particulary since I have tiny veins and medical folks always have a hard time starting IV's and drawing blood. She worked on my hands for about 10 minutes to find a good vein before she poked me. Luckily she got a good 'stick' on the first shot. Of course right after the IV was in, I had the urge to go potty (prolly leftover urges from the bowel prep the day before). Mother and hubby took turns going potty with me and holding my IV while I went. My surgery was scheduled for 11 am but due to an emergeny I kept being pushed back (I was ok with this even though anxious!) Finially around 5 pm the nurse from the surgical area came to get me and I settled in the bed for the ride. I had asked for Versed (if that is spelled correctly) to relax me prior to surgery, and my only disapointment was that she didn't give me my 'happy juice' in my IV until I was parked right outside the surgery. I remember waiting in bed just outside the surgery room for 15 min or so really anxious (hubby and mom had to wait back in holding room - they were not allowed upstairs with me) and I wished they had given me the Versed earlier. Then I was wheeled into the operating room and saw all the folks and I joked with the doctors "I hope you are feeling fresh - being as it's this late you all ok with doing this?" They all smiled and said it was ok. The last thing I remember was them starting to put on the heart monitors on my chest then I was out. My first awakening was of me partly sitting up in the recovery room and leaning to the right as I was trying to throw up. A nurse was there instantly with a bed pan (not as if there was anyting to come up lol). I settled back and told them I had to pee. (now you prolly know, but they put in a catheter while you are in surgery and at the tip of this located in your bladder is a small balloon that is inflated so it won't slip back out) well this small balloon gave me the feeling I had to pee really bad even if no urine was there. I passed out again and woke up next time in my hospital room. Well, that was my experience - everyone is different Kia 284/199/155

Mine was the first surgery of the morning so I had to be at the hospital at 6 am. I was taken into a "pre-op" room where they gave me the gown to put on backwards and Ted hose and sockies to keep my feet warm. After about 30 minutes they came in to put the IV in andthen 10 minutes later I was wheeled to the "holding" area for surgery. They gave me really warm blankets and that fest SOOOOOOO Good. It was only about 15 minutes from then that they took me back to the OR. I remember them asking me to scoot over to the OR table. They asked me to tilt my head back and open my mouth as wide as I could get it so they could check my throat. (They entebate you during the process...so they were looking to make sure you didn't have any problems with a tube going in.). After that they gave me a shot in the IV and said this will.......I remember NOTHING after that till I woke up in my room. I didn't have any pain because the morphine pump was my friend! The next morning they came in and removed the Catheter and told me it was time to get up and walk....so I did. I developed a REALLY bad gas bubble that was causing SERIOUS pain so they wound up keeping me an extra day and running more tests to make sure I didn't have a leak. They gave me some mylanta and that helped pu**** through. I felt like a New Woman immediately. (Of course no one should have been allowed in my room....the fumes were TOXIC!) The doctor came in to see how I was doing and I told him that once the gas moved I was fine and raring to go home.....I haven't looked back since. (Except for having to have my Gall Bladder out recently). I didn't have any one at the hospital with me the whole day - not that it would have mattered - I was so out of it I wouldn't have known if they were there or not! You're in my prayers!!! Dee Dee

My preop visit was on a Friday. I was taken on a tour of the hospital and a nurse went over steps that would occur before and after my surgery on the following Tuesday. I filled out paperwork, and had an EKG and blood drawn. The nurse went over the Spirometer (sp?) usage with me. On Tuesday, I was the first surgery and had to arrive at 6 a.m. I was very nervous, but ready to go. I was told to put only a gown on which was very large. I remember being put under (and was given anti-anxiety and anti-nausea meds) as I was being put under. This helped a lot. The operating room was freezing, it felt like I was going into a meat locker! I remember having to roll over onto the operating table, and the next thing I knew I woke up in my hospital room. I had to get up and march in place within 4 hours. I could not have anything to eat or drin****il after they tested for leaks. I woke up with a very sore throat and raspy voice from the tube being put down my throat. This passed in a few days. I came through the surgery great, but on my second day in the hospital I developed a complication. I don't know what I would have done without my daughter or husband which stayed in the hospital with me during this time. My intestines stopped working, as my surgeon said--they went to sleep. I began having the dry heaves, and feeling very, very anxious. I then had to have a stomach drain inserted. I had to keep this for 2 weeks, and take a drug called Reglan to help my digestive system to continue to work. My hospital stay was 6 days. This was a very scary time for me and my family. We all prayed and prayed. I had to continue taking the Reglan which later was found to be causing much of my anxiety. After coming off of that drug, I improved greatly. What I was not prepared for though, was at about 3 weeks post- op depression set in for me. I began a med for this and within 2 weeks was doing much much better. This may not happen for you, but if it does please know that it is normal for some people that have this surgery done, and see your doctor. At this point, I had to see my PCP. Isomonia also hit me, and I take something at night which helps me to sleep. Also, one of the best things I did was bring some flushable baby wipes with me to the hospital. The test they run with the dye gives you very loose stools and the wipes help so much with this!! I will pray for you that all will go well. If I can help in any way, feel free to email me. God Bless You, LMW

I'm not going to repeat what I saw here.. but I was NOT prepared for the post-op depression. I was so depressed that I wanted to die!! I wanted to eat.. I felt like my husband had died. I was that upset. I cried for 5 days.. non-stop. I was empty inside. I finally went to the Dr and he put me on Xanex... 5 days worth. I was fine after that.