Pre op tomorrow, very scared!

You are in my prayers. Just came back from my final pre-op tests (EKG, Chest x-ray, blood test and blood matching), even have the red wrist band that I have to wear to show what blood type I need. I am going in tomorrow and starting to get anxious and worried. I to am the only one in my family to have to go through this and not really sure they get how long the recovery will be. Finally got through to someone at work (I'm a teacher) to let them know I need the time off. So my parents plan to take me out to dinner tonight, maybe have a drink then to bed early so I can be at the "castle" by 6 am. Once again good luck to you and I'll have you in my prayers. See you in the post-op threads soon.

Im 5 days post op.. I was soooo worried, I made myself sick! I finally calmed down having my neice with me going into the castle. It was NOTHING like I imagined. the staff made me so comfortable and the pain after was like a mild period. good luck all will be fine

I know how you feel. 3 weeks ago I had surgery and I was very scared. I went in to have one ovarie removed and woke up to find out everything had been removed due to unexpected complications. You'll fall to sleep quickly and wake up feeling like no time has passed at all. I think it's great that you found this site pre-op. It really helps to know that you are not alone in your feelings. Don't beat yourself up for being scared. Most everyone I've read about has pre-surgery jitters. It will be okay. Hang in there.

Thank you for the support and prayers! God Bless You in everything you do! Carla

I was shaking like a leaf at my pre-op. So many questions and emotions at once. I can promise you its not as bad as your head will make it seem. I'm 3 weeks post op and doing well.(except for being bored outta my mind) My hospital stay was very short and recovery has been trucking along fairly well. Word to the wise do Not paint your livingroom at 2 weeks post op: I still get sore and tired but I'm keeping up with my kids just fine. I hope to return to work next week. Best of luck to you and a speedy recovery

Crystal

please let me know how your pre-op went mine is tomorrow, I'm not nervous about it, I'm so glad after this surgery I will be pain free and that's what I"m looking forward to the pain free side of life. otherwise I would be a nervous wreck.

Adding my prayers and good wishes. 10 days to go for me!

Someone mentioned crystallized ginger. How do you use that to relieve gas? Do you just eat it "as is" or do you have to put it in something else?

Thanks!

Hi Barb,
That was me that mentioned crystalized ginger - just eat it as is I prefer the non-sugared crystalized ginger but the sugar dusted works just as well. Also - if you have health store nearby, I highly recommend ginger beer (like root beer with ginger added). Drinking this just after surgery REALLY helps with the medical gas issues. I don't know WHY it works, but I know it DOES work. A few years ago I had a kidney removed and the only pain I experienced was that horrible medical gas settling in the my shoulders. It would reduce me to tears. A friend of my father's called about 4 days post-op to check on me (she is from Jamaica). She told him to get ginger beer and have me drink a few glasses as quickly as I could. She said this is routinely used in Jamaica. I was leary, but I was in so much pain that I would have tried anything. Well....it WORKED - and it worked FAST. I am totally hooked on ginger now. I took a little baggie of ginger with me to the hospital for this surgery and when the gas pains would come, I would eat a small piece of ginger and ZAP it was GONE
Good luck! I hope it works for you, too!!!

Thanks, Meadowdog! That sounds easy enough. I'll check into the ginger beer too, but I definitely know I can get the crystallized ginger.

My pre-op appointments went just fine and I actually feel a little more at ease about my surgery tomorrow. First I went to the hospital and pre-registered, had my vital signs taken, then sat with another nurse who took down my medical history, then I met with the anethesioligist, then to the lab for 1 tube of blood drawn and last of all yesterday I went to my doctor who gave me my last minute instructions to drink magnesium citrate today at noon. I can not eat any solid food after noon today, only liquids. My surgery is scheduled at noon tomorrow. I also have written down some of the suggestions that other people have posted and I am going to go out to get some stuff today. I am going to the health food store to see about getting some crystalised Ginger and Ginger beer.