Question:
How do you look immediatly post op?

I have an easily shaken by the sight of hospital stuff father, and two sons, 8 & 11, and I would like to prepare them for what they may see in the hospital, especially my dad! He gets seriously queasy and maybe he should not be there.    — Carol S. (posted on January 1, 2003)

January 1, 2003
Carol, I had an NG tube coming from my nose, a foley catheter and an IV. Of course I had the JP drain, but it was hidden by the hospital gown. I'm sure I looked terrible. But I don't think it was anything too alarming. The NG tube came out the next morning as well as the catheter. The IVs came out the second day.
   — Patty_Butler

January 1, 2003
My husband is normally AWESOME with everything. Did fine with childbirth and even watches the gory surgery type television shows. But he had a VERY hard time with seeing me right after surgery... so I asked him to type his answer: It had been a long day in the waiting room. I was nervous and hungry, and had been given very little feedback from the surgery team. When I was finally allowed to see her, she was EXTREMELY pale, lethargic, and not too coherent. She also was attached to IVs, not only in her arm, but also a central line in her neck, and had the NG tube in her nose as well as was on oxygen. I was completely unprepared to see her that way and was lightheaded, weak and nauseous. He looked like he was about to throw up, so I took one look at him and told him I was fine but he needed to go home, that I really didn't need him looking at me that way. Besides we had two little girls at home that he needed to tend to. Later on that night I asked the nurse to give him a call and tell him that I was fine and wasn't at all upset. I NEVER expected that reaction from him though. Just our personal experience.
   — Virginia N.

January 1, 2003
hi there :) , i agree with the previous poster, youll have a tube from the nose and a cath and iv but your incision will be covered and unless they clean it in his presence, hell never see it. youll probably look tired and a little puffy from all the fluids they pump you with but its not too bad. best of luck to you.
   — carrie M.

January 1, 2003
Not everyone has the NG tube still in....mine was taken out before I came fully out of the anesthesia. The only "connection" to anything I had on me was the catheter, which isn't in full view. They usually hook the collection bag at the side of the bed. Basically, right after surgery, you lay there in bed looking dopey from the meds. with messy hair until you or someone else can fix it. I wouldn't say it's enough to make anyone <i>queasy</i>.
   — [Deactivated Member]

January 1, 2003
Oh, plus an IV in my hand....
   — [Deactivated Member]

January 1, 2003
In one word, fat. :)
   — Goldilauxx B.

January 1, 2003
Carol, From what I was told I had NG tube, IV's, oxygen. My 13 year old son has never been around or exposed to anyone who has had surgery. I had his stepfather talk with him while I was in surgery to prepare him for what I would look like. I was so out of it that I was barley aware they were in the room after surgery. My husband and sister spoke to me but my son wouldn't say anything, I was later told he was as white as a ghost.
   — Jeana S.

January 1, 2003
My husband gets very upset if he sees me hurting. Knowing this was going to be a big ugly surgery I DID NOT allow him to be there for my peace of mind. This surgery was the most selfish thing I have ever done , by that I mean I made the choice without any regard or consultation with friends or relatives not even my own husband. My son who is a med professional and my daughter who is pretty tough were there so I was not alone. I was in the hospital for 5 days , my husband came on the 3rd tubes were out he could deal so could I. The discriptions the other posters gave you are accurate , I don't know if I'd let such young children see that .
   — Rose A.

January 1, 2003
A lot will depend on whether you have open or lap, and the personal preferences of the surgeon. Five of us in our family have had proximal lap RNY surgery, and were back in our rooms 2-3 hours after we were taken to surgery with only an IV in place. Because the catheter that was in our bladders was removed in the Recovery Room, we were all up and on our feet to the bathroom within a few hours of returning to our rooms. All family members should be prepared for patients to appear extremely pale for the first several hours post-op. This is generally an after-effect of the anesthesia, and does not necessarily reflect unusual blood loss or poor oxygenation. The surgeon and respiratory therapists will be carefully monitoring those issues. Your question is one that is really best answered by your surgeon. Find out ahead of time if you should expect to spend any time in ICU immediately post-op, and what types of tubes or drains do his/her patients routinely have in place during that period. It might be helpful if your family member(s) could be present when you have that discussion so that they can have their own questions and concerns addressed. Remember that no question is a foolish question and that complete and thorough pre-op information is your best protection from unnecessary anxiety and post-op "surprises"! Best wishes.
   — Diana T.

January 2, 2003
If you have a JP drain coming out of your stomach, DON'T show them. My surgeon showed my parents my drain and my mom was like "oh eeew...that kinda bothers me!" heehee So yeah, don't show them that stuff if you can help it! :o)
   — fropunka

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