pre-op jitters

My surgery date is 4/19/01. Needless to say, I am quite nervous and scared. Many questions and thoughts going thru my mind, even tho I have discussed everything w/my dr., who is really very good and whom I trust fully. Basically, the post-op pain. A little about me, 42 yo, w/fibroids, you know, the HEAVY, long periods, clotting, and anemia. Also, anyone out there w/high blood pressure? Also, a smoker. How much do you think these things affected your surgery before and after? Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

Many thanks,
Tina

Hi Tina, .

I had a TAH/BSO under general anesthesia. The only pain I had was at the incision. It was very severe when I woke up on the way to recovery. It lasted only a few minutes because I fell asleep again. I woke up again as I was being taken to my room and the pain was bad until the pump was set up. I fell asleep again. Within a couple of hours I was wide awake with no pain at all. For the next 5 or 6 days my incision hurt only when getting out of bed. And that was the only pain I had in my recovery. They do not want you to be in pain and will do their best to control it. Just let them know what's going on.

As long as they know you're a smoker and have high BP they will be able to deal with it. You didn't say what type of anesthesia you're having.

I wish you Good Luck and an uneventful recovery!

Tina,

I'm 32 years old and I too am having surgery on 4/19/01. I'm having a TAH due to enlarged uterus and fibroids. My blood pressure is slightly high, but the dr. said we will just monitor it for here on out. Hopefully, it will return to normal once this whole ordeal is over.

Good luck to you and I will be praying for you. I am so nervous about this whole thing, but it helps to know I can come to this site to meet other women like myself.

When we're recovered, I can't wait to hear all about your experience at the castlerincess:.

God Bless you and see you on the other side.

Dana

Tina,

You will have pain if having a TAH no doubt about it. But it is easily controlled with the pain meds they will give you. My biggest problem with this surgery was the getting in and out of bed/chair for the first few days. I'd say that by the 5th day post op this got much easier and greatly improved with each passing day. I can't say how smoking affects the surgery. I don't smoke (quit 10+ years ago), but some others who smoke might be able to help there, or perhaps ask the nurse when you go to the hospital. They (hospital staff) will also know what do with with respect to high bp. Mine is normally low, but I do know that it was slightly elevated the day of my surgery.

Best of luck to you and post again when you are up to it.

Donna

Thanks so much for your replies. I do feel alittle better. I didn't mention in previous post that I was having an adbom. hyster. (ovaries are staying) w/general anasthesia. I was also told to eat or drink nothing after midnight, but I suppose anything the day prior should be on the light side. True? I have to be at hospital at 5:30am (yikes!), but the earlier the better I guess. Less time to fret. I will be relieved when this is done, as this is my third date set for surgery, due to a questionable chest xray the first time (which turned out OK, it was the way I was standing and it showed up something funky on the xray) and as recent as last Friday, the 13th, due to a cold and cough, so I hope tomorrow goes off w/out a hitch, as the anticipation is starting to drive me and everyone else in my house a little crazy. Thanks again!

Tina

Tina! A fellow NY-er! I had my TAH/BSO 6 weeks ago. One of the things I found so amazing about my hospital experience was the high priority that everyone placed on managing my pain. From the moment I opened my eyes, the nurses were asking me how I felt, to rate my pain, and doing everything possible to make me comfortable. I had a big sense of a burning, achy, cramp kind of pain at the very beginning, maybe a 6? Then they hooked up my morphine pump (PCA) and added a shot of Toradol for good measure...within a few minutes (in la-la land time) it was down to a 2. Everyone asked all the time how it was.

After the first 24 hours I got off the PCA, and went to 800 mgs of Motrin every four hours. That was all I needed for the pain from then on. Everyone is different, but you should not be in pain....discomfort is more like it. If the nurses are not helping you, make noise until they do.

I agree with what the others here have said...as long as your doctor and anesthesiologist are aware of your smoking and BP you should be ok. They will monitor you every second.

Hang in there...these days are the hardest by far. You're almost through it!!!

Karen

Tina,
Just wanted to say I sure hope your surgery goes as scheduled...finally. No wonder you are nervous with the delays and everything! See you on the other side!

Tina, I hope that all goes well for you. I will be thinking of you. Take care..

Tina,
I smoke too, but with low blood pressure. I was worried about that too, though. You will most likely be given Heparin shots and wear beautiful thigh-high stockings to prevent clots. You will be so relieved to get the darn thing over with, to be sure! What was the hardest for me was the first day, after the surgery. I was 4 hours in recovery instead of the "planned" one hour. I have the constitution of an elephant, and also take medication for anxiety attacks; hence, I think I had a lot to wake from! I had the sweats the first night and by the next day, having visitors was possible. The first day, I could nod hello and go back to sleep. I had a TVH (kept ovaries too, I am grateful). I think the constipation and gas pains have been the most annoyingly persistent.
Enough of me!! I just want you to know everything is going to be okay...better than ok!

I am in Germany, so figuring the time difference...You are there now.
My thoughts are with you and many angels are looking after you
Drink LOTS of water when you get home; don't stop just because you leave the castle!!!
Jenny aka "wildaffe"