Pre-op appointment

Hello fellow sisters and good luck to all of you who have surgery soon!

I had my pre-op appointment on Tues 10th and it went much better than expected. I managed to get about 25 questions answered! I took my DH with me and he was a wonderful support. We were in the hospital for a total of 4 hours! My appointment was for 10 o'clock and we eventually saw a staff nurse for about 30mins. She was quite bossy and let me know a few of the ward rules - no pyjamas, no talc, you must have big knickers, they don't supply sanitary pads or anything else and you must have a bath every day, although you can have a shower as well. It seems they want to keep your belly wet. I am sure it will be as much as I can do to just have a bath at first so I don't know how I will manage to wash my hair as it gets very greasy as it is very short, this will do nothing for my self-esteem. I am having it done the day before I go in though. I was quite surprised to learn that even though my operation is sheduled for 2.30 on Mon. 23rd, when I go in on Sun. night I will be able to bring something with me to eat, I will be able to have breakfast the next day and a drink up until 10 a.m., just water after that until noon. She said I was very well read and I said I am very concerned about my health and try to look after myself as far as possible. I told her I did not want the patch under my skin when I woke up as advised by one of your ladies and she said I was not down for one but did not like it when after a short discussion I told her I had ordered some progesterone cream from the US and intended using it if necessary. I have decided to see how it goes hormone wise, sensibly or not and I will not be bullied into putting any harmful chemicals into my body especially if they prove unnecessary. We then waited another hour and saw a junior doctor to sign the consent forms. She told me I would need a smear and I politely reminded her that I was having my cervix removed and that my last pap smear was normal! I was then sent for a heart trace - I have a small murmur which they say is quite normal and after that I had to wait for a blood test for anemia as they were closed for lunch! I also had to have my lithium levels checked even though I said they had only been done 2 months previously by my GP. They would not give my the results of these over the phone so I am going to ask on Sunday. I am put out at having to have my lithium levels checked, this is nothing to do with the surgery. If I go into a psychiatric ward they will not be asking if I have had a hysterectomy I hope!

I have taken all your advice and bought myself a pantie girdle for after and lots of large cushions for the bed and couch. I have also purchased a 3 position foot stool and a herb filled compress which can be used hot or cold. I am going out tomorrow to buy myself a couple of loose dresses, and a nice bed jacket as advised in Sheila's Happy Hysterectomy book. I shall wear my favourite sweats, baggy jumper and slip on trainers there and back and I have a few cushions in the car for the journey home.

So I am all set and not as scared as I thought I would be although getting a little ratty with poor old DH. I don't want to get worked up too soon. I am taking a tape of my favourite songs with me and some relaxation tapes of waves and seagulls. Hopefully this will give me some restful sleep on the Sun. night. I have let all my friends and relatives know and taken your advice about not visiting too soon.

I will let you all know how I get on in the castle and how I am progressing at home. As everyone says this is a truly wonderful site and I am so glad I found it.

Best wishes to you all,

Beryl

You seem to have most things worked out. I took in a dry shampoo spray for my hair because of the difficulty in washing it.
Worked well for me.
Regards,
Diane.

my pre op is tuesday and i am scrared out of my gord, can u help me maybe give me some good tips on what i should ask and bring to the hospital i am having a hystorectamy wensday they found a spot on my left side of my overie and a mass on my right they are suspecting 50/50 chance of cancer but i have to think postive if i think negative it gets hard for me ,and my family also.
Hope to here from u soon

Dear Brendalee, Try not to be scared, although I was but I came away very reassured after having my questions answered. Some of the things I asked were:- Will I have a catheter, IV and drain, what kind of painkiller will I have and how will it be administered, will I have an epidural, enema or stool softener, what time will my op be, how long will I be in hospital, when can I last eat and drink, will I have support socks to guard against thrombosis, when can I lift, walk, have sex, will I be able to have a bath or shower and when, what are the risks, will I have stitches or staples and if stitches will they be dissolvable, will I have to shave myself or will they (my DH kindly obliged - well beyond the cause of duty I'd say!), will they perform a biopsy of the organs they remove and will I receive the results, will I have a hormone test.

I am sorry to hear about your cancer, it must be hard to stay positive but it is the only way.

Thanks for the tip about the shampoo Diane, I will go out and buy some today on my last shopping trip! I believe you were the one who told me to mention the patch at the pre-op, thanks again.

Thank you also to the kind hostess who showed concern and gave me advice about the lump on my vagina. I bathed it in tea tree oil and put antiseptic cream on and it has now all cleared up. Good job as I had to shave at home!

I had met withmy doctor in Januaray and had 28 question sanswered . My preop will be march 4th and surgery march 9th. I don;t think teh doctor will answer my question stehn, although I'm making anoter list!!LOL
She reassured m eand I felt much better with my decision after speaking with her. I am a big scrady cat chicken and freak myself out just thinking of all that can go wrong. Now I'll place that all in her hands and let go.