Surgery

Is it true that from the time they knock you out until the time you wake up feels like 2 seconds?
Yes! It's really bizarre--one minute I was woozy from the Versed and breathing deep from the nitrous oxide mask, and the next I was waking up. I was shivering pretty hard from the anesthesia leaving my system, but the nurses piled on warm blankets and that helped a lot.

What does it feel like when you wake up? Confused, nauseated, vomit, dazed?
Like I said, I was shaking for a minute or two, but the blankets and just coming out of the anesthesia made that pass very quickly. I wasn't confused at all. I asked if one of my ovaries had been saved (yes) and asked the nurse if she would pray in thanksgiving with me (she did) and mentioned that it hurt. They hooked up my morphine pump right away and that was that. I did say, well before the surgery, that I was very nervous about becoming nauseated and asked if they could take every precaution. They gave me an antacid before the surgery and put a scopolamine patch (a motion sickness patch) behind my ear too, and I had absolutely no problems.

Are you in a lot of pain after the surgery?
Not really--mine was a laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy, so the only cuts were three small ones on the outside, but I have had abdominal surgery before and I was fine. Trust me, they want you to feel as well and painless as possible, and if you don't, they'll make it happen. But the morphine pump is a beautiful thing. Don't be afraid to use it when you've got it, because they've got a governor on it so you can't overdose or get hooked on it.

How long are you in the hospital?
For this, I came in on Monday and left on Wednesday, though I could have left a day earlier. I just felt more comfortable staying an extra night. When I had more extensive abdominal surgery last year, I was in from Wednesday to Sunday. Hospital food isn't as bad as it used to be, so don't worry! And most hospitals will let someone stay in the room with you.

Do they make you start walking the day of your surgery? Or the day after?
I wanted to walk as soon as I could, so that first night in the hospital the nurse rigged my IV pole and catheter bag and off I went. If I'd felt unsteady or dizzy at all, she wouldn't have allowed it. If you're having full abdominal surgery, you might could wait until the next day, but do try as soon as you're safely able. It really does speed up the feeling-better process.

How long before you can drive?
My doctor said two weeks, but I may make it three, and I've heard as long as six. It varies depending on what kind of surgery you're having.

The waiting is the hardest part, Bernice. In just a little while you're going to be feeling so much healthier, so relieved, and so free from all these problems. Best of luck and I hope to hear from you really soon!

Hi Bernice1

It's pretty normal to be a nervous wreck during the days heading into your surgery. The answers to your questions will differ from person to person, depending on your own body and your doctor's instructions, but I've included my experiences below as yet another perspective to add to the great responses you've already received.

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Is it true that from the time they knock you out until the time you wake up feels like 2 seconds?

For me, this was true. During surgery two years earlier, I know that I dreamed during the surgery. During my hysterectomy, I felt like no time at all had passed.

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What does it feel like when you wake up? Confused, nauseated, vomit, dazed?

I confused for a brief time and then realized where I was. I was in pain, but as soon as I was able to croak the word "pain," a nurse was right there to take care of me. One of the things that I learned was that I shouldn't take morphine. Even with anti-nausea meds, I vomited off and on. More than anything, I felt completely wiped out. I was so tired, and all I wanted to do was sleep.

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Are you in a lot of pain after the surgery?

I was--until I called the nurse over to me. All of my nurses were wonderful and made sure that I took my medication on schedule so it didn't get overwhelming. And I got to use the most wonderful heating pad ever while I was in the hospital. It was big enough to wrap around me a bit, and it was filled with circulating warm water.

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How long are you in the hospital?

I had a TVH and was in for about 22 hours, which included an overnight. The clock didn't start until I was admitted to my room.

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Do they make you start walking the day of your surgery? Or the day after?

They wanted me walking as soon as possible. My surgery was at 7:30 am, and by 5 pm, the nurses were talking about how it was past time for me to get up. However, due to my reactions to the morphine, they didn't actually try to get me up until 1 am. I couldn't walk unassisted until around 6:30 the next morning.

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How long before you can drive?

My doctor told me I could drive as soon as I was off the narcotics and felt ready. I did drive very short distances ( less than two miles) during my second week.

These are good questions to ask your doctor, since each patient has her own needs.

I'm sending you some

>>The waiting is the hardest part, Bernice. In just a little while you're going to be feeling so much healthier, so relieved, and so free from all these problems. Best of luck and I hope to hear from you really soon!<<

Thank you. I'll have my husband bring my laptop to the hospital so I can post when I feel up to it.

Bernice

>>I'm sending you some :armshugs <<

Thank you

Bernice

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Originally Posted by Bernice1 Is it true that from the time they knock you out until the time you wake up feels like 2 seconds? What does it feel like when you wake up? Confused, nauseated, vomit, dazed? Are you in a lot of pain after the surgery? How long are you in the hospital? Do they make you start walking the day of your surgery? Or the day after? How long before you can drive?

Good questions! The amount of pain, how long you're in the hospital, the amount & timing of the walking & when you can drive will depend on what type of hyst you're having, likely, and what your doctor recommends. Ask him/her what he/she recommends for you.

I had a RALH (left the ovaries/tubes & took the uterus/cervix) on Wednesday. I could have gone home that day if I'd chosen to. I have a bed that's a bizillion feet off the ground (not really, but I do have to *climb* up into it) so I figured it'd be better to stay the first night in the hospital.

It absolutely did feel like 2 seconds between going to sleep & waking up. I've had other surgeries & that's been the pattern with me.

The only time I felt nauseated after surgery was when I had my gall bladder out. This time they gave me a Darvocet and suggested I eat something with it - I wasn't overly enthused about it, but didn't feel nauseated. I had 1/2 cracker & some ginger ale.

I did get out of bed fairly soon to try to go potty (they took the catheter out probably only a couple hours or so after I was out of surgery. That first time going potty was HARD b/c of the cath removal not b/c of the surgery so much. After a few times, though, it was coming much more easily.

The only walking I did was to the bathroom and back. I probably could have requested to take a walk in the halls if I wanted, but didn't really feel like going anywhere.

They turned off my bed alarm early (at my hospital, they usually keep it on for 24 hours, but I got mine turned off about 10 hours early b/c I was doing well walking to the potty by myself and getting myself back in bed with no dizziness and no incidents). That was nice to be able to get up by myself to go to the bathroom rather than calling for the nurse. They said I was their star patient. :-) Yeah, they probably say that to everyone, but it felt good nonetheless.

I didn't wake up confused or nauseated or anything. I answered who I was, where I was & what year it was right away when the nurse asked.

With the RALH my doc told me I could drive the next day if I felt like it. I didn't feel like it & didn't really feel like it until yesterday (3 days post-op) when I went to the library to pick up the rest of my holds. I did take my son with me just in case since it was my first time out without dh. It was nice to have someone to carry my books for me (yep, I raised a gentleman - proud of that boy).

My sis had a TVH and my sis in law had the same. They couldn't drive for 2 weeks. They both were in a lot more pain than I was.

I hope this helps!
Stacie

A few more questions:

Do they put you on a stict diet after surgery? Or can you eat anything you want?

I take thyroid pills, claitin, singulair, nose spray, iron (from the bleeding because of my heavy and long periods), Prilosac for reflux and a multi vitamin. Will any of these affect my surgery or the anesthesia?

I never have a catheter. Does it hurt? Do we all have one in after any surgery? How long does it stay in?

I want to lose about 50 pounds (I'm 5'3 and about 175 pounds), when can I start walking the treadmill again?

You are all very helpful.

Bernice

Do they put you on a stict diet after surgery? Or can you eat anything you want? My surgeon never put me on any diet even though I need one. I just have not had much of an appetite. When I got my first meal in ICU I had a 3 egg cheese omelet, sausage, juice, and I can't remember what else but there was alot of food and I was quite surprised.

I take thyroid pills, claitin, singulair, nose spray, iron (from the bleeding because of my heavy and long periods), Prilosac for reflux and a multi vitamin. Will any of these affect my surgery or the anesthesia? You need to check with the anestheslogist (spelling is way off) or your doctor on this one.

I never have a catheter. Does it hurt? Do we all have one in after any surgery? How long does it stay in? Whoever did my catheter did an AMAZING job. I had no burning after my hysterectomy. After my D&C now that was a whole nother story. It burned like heck to urinate for a couple of days. I am pretty sure everyone gets one because you are on so many fluids and they want to keep your bladder empty.

I want to lose about 50 pounds (I'm 5'3 and about 175 pounds), when can I start walking the treadmill again? This is a doctor question.