Question:
Will Mom be able to get an IV? What would they do w/o it?

Hi, this is misty, my mom is worried. She is having surgery same day as me and has had surgeries before where they could never get IV to stay in her. Is the IV strictly for pain control or does she need it through the whole surgery? Is there something she can do to prevent this problem? Can they do w/o it? Maybe our local hospital is unequipped, or uneducated on how to deal with large patients. I didn't have any any answers for her. Hope you guys can help, thanks =)    — mistyclapp (posted on January 31, 2003)

January 31, 2003
I just had my surgery 2 1/2 weeks ago and here's what happened to me: <p> I had to be admitted to the hospital 3 days prior to surgery. They tried numerous times to get an IV started for me, without success. My surgeon told them to stop trying and just bring me to pre-op early the morning of surgery instead. In the pre-op area, the anesthesiologist was able to get an IV started just enough to get me in the OR and get me to sleep. Once I was asleep, they started a central line in my neck which served to collect blood and give pain meds and all other meds for the remainder of my stay. Good thing too, I don't remember it but I was told the IV the anesthesiologist started blew during the surgery and was no longer any use to them. Just glad I was out for most of that. She'll do fine. They have procedures in place for patients like your mom and I that forget to bring any veins with them to the hospital :-)
   — thumpiez

January 31, 2003
My surgeon puts everyones IV in their neck. It eliminates poking larger size patients repeatedly and also allows for the large amounts of fluid you get after surgery. It doesn't hurt they put it in after you are out. The worst part was some of my hair got caught in the tape.
   — Linda A.

January 31, 2003
The IV will be necessary for at least two or three days. But if your mom has real problems, they can install a central line - it is an IV line that is put in at the base of the neck - my son had one when he was two and had to have kidney surgery. This is done with a minor surgical procedure and is painless. I know of several WLS patients who have had to have a central line and it solves the problem completely. Have your mom talk to the surgeon or the anesthesiologist about her problem - they can best advise her on what will need to be done. Good luck to both of you with your surgeries.
   — Patty_Butler

February 3, 2003
In september I was admitted to the hospital because I needed IV antibiotics. They couldn't get an IV to run for more than 18 hours...I was poked many times. Eventually they put in a central line while I was awake...it wasn't that bad...my mom made it there just in time to rub my foot and talk me through it...she is an RN. So I'm going to have surgery next week...yea!... and I already told the doctor that IVs don't not stay for me and he said they would start one just enough to put me under then put in a central line. The IV problem is not just an overweight issue a lot of people have bad veins.
   — Sarahlicious