Surgery is in 1 Week!

So I use to check out this forum a lot more often then I got caught up with school...but now I'm back! And I have my surgery date..Jan. 2nd!!! So I have a question for you: What is something no one told you pre-op that you wish you had known? Be brutally honest! I love to be well-prepared for things.

I am most nervous mostly about the IV because I've never had surgery before, I'm also nervous about what I might say while I'm loopy I've heard some pretty funny stories!! Also, how did you keep yourself entertained in the hospital? Or were you pretty much out of it?

Thanks for all your help over the past year, I appreciate it!

Don't worry about the IV, that is nothing!  Actually, it will become your best friend when you start using the morphine drip button, that button is what kept me entertained.  Instead of drunk dialing I was drugged dialing!  I would hold the phone up to the IV, press the morphine button, and allow the person I called to hear the beep of the machine.  Then I would say "you know what that was?"  I got a kick out of it, but then again I was out of my mind.

The only thing that really bothered me was the gas pains, but then they went away and I was fine.

Don't worry, it really wasn't bad at all.  It was actually a refreshing experience and excellent hospital care after hearing a lot of horror stories! -Z

Good to hear...thank you!! I'm sure my friends will love some "drugged dialing" haha I should probably warn them! Thanks again.

It wasnt anything for me...  And I am sure i didnt say anything silly,, my husband did say i kept going what did i do to myself!? lol    I wouldnt stress. And congrats!

HAHA, I was totally cracking up at ZB's post because I totally had the "drug dialing" experience!  I talked to a few people the day of my surgery and the day after and do not remember AT ALL!!!!  I told my friend who was coming out to stay with me a week after my surgery that I was chowing down ice chips and by the time she got there we'd be seeing all the san francisco sights.  Hahaha.  It was pretty amusing. I had never had surgery before either and the one thing I kept worrying about was waking up during surgery and being able to feel it...pretty useless worry...I just remember walking in, hopping on the table, them putting on those squeezy things on my legs, and then I was out...woke up in recovery and was screaming about the pain...which I don't even remember now.  I think I just woke up screaming about how much pain I was in because I was drugged...I wasn't really even in pain.  haha, weird I know.   I kept myself entertained by walking A LOT...I knew that's what would get me out of there faster.  When I wasn't walking, I was sleeping or talking to my Mom...we did have a little TV above my bed I watched a little bit of by the last day (I was in the hospital 4 days).   The worst thing about it all were the night shift nurses...HORRIBLE....I would advice you to press the nurse button 30 minutes before you know you are going to need your meds because they will forget to come or they will take 30 minutes to get to your room after you push the button.  Also, remember not to push the morphine drip too much or it will lock it and you won't be able to get any...I think I was morphine happy and used way too much!!!  Also, be careful and make sure the food you are getting is what you are actually supposed to have.  I had a break down one night because they brought me a tray full of sugary liquids, even sprite!!!  I was like, ummm, I COULD DIE IF I DRINK THIS...and went off on the nurse.  Hahaha, I guess I was a little over dramatic, but still!!!!!!!!! Just be an advocate for yourself!!!  :)  GOOD LUCK! Kim