Questions??!

Ladies i have a few questions. The longer i wait for my big day the more questions i have. makeing myslef nuts. :eyes: First do they use staples or stiches to close you up? Next do they always do a spinal/epideral(sp) or is that something u have to ask for? what is the advantage to it? I have read something about a "binder" they may put on after surgery. What is that? Oh one more thing....i wear contacts and am blind with out them, last time they made me take them out before going to pre-opt. any suggestions on how to do it so i can keep them in longer. it makes it even scary not being able to see. thanks!

I had my TAH in January. My Dr used the dissolving stitches that you can't see from the outside plus steri-strips. Being a maternal-child nurse, I have seen Drs used staples also. It is the Dr's preference as to how the close the skin. Ask your Dr what he/she uses.
For my TAH, I had an epidural with light sedation using versed and fentanyl. I then kept the epidural as a drip for 24 hrs for pain management. I had requested the epidural first with my Dr. She then wrote on my orders that I brought to the hospital that I desired an epidural. The anesthesiologist also has to agree. Plus he has to go over the pros and cons and discuss general anesthesia with you just in case it is needed. I was given some versed before he started the epidural to relax me.
For my RSO almost 3 weeks ago I also had an epidural, but without sedation at all this time. It was like having a c-section. I felt a little pulling and pressure but no pain. I wouldn't do the hyster without the sedation because it is a more involved surgery.
The advantage to the epidural to me was that I wasn't so dopey from the drugs. There is less of a chance of developing pneumonia after the surgery.
I had an abdominal binder put on in the recovery room. It is something your Dr has to order. I have also read of other buying the swelly belly band from this site and using it. The binder helps to add support with moving around after the surgery, plus it may play a role in reducing swelling. I wore mine for 4 weeks post-op.
The only thing I can suggest is that you bring your glasses with you to the hospital. That way you can keep them on or have them handed to you immediately after surgery in the recovery room.
Best wishes on your upcoming surgery,
Nancy

Hi !!

Let me take a stab at your questions.... just my experience.

Staples vs. stitches depends on the procedure and the doc - this is a great question to pose to your doctor.

The spinal/epidural question -- I had a general only. While you can have an epidural, I was advised that because of the length of the surgery, it's recommended that you go under general. In my case, I'm glad I did, because the surgery they thought would last 1-1/2 hours ended up lasting over 2-1/2 hours, and that would have had me very anxious indeed if I had been awake. It's hard enough being in the operating room, but they'd end up having a nurse assigned to you to keep you informed.

They can also give you an epidural in addition to the general. I've heard this is very good for pain relief.

I had a tummy binder (not all princesses do). It looked like a wide Ace bandage with velcro on each end. It gave me great support for the first few post-op weeks.

I'm like you -- so near-sighted that I have a hard time finding my glasses on the nightstand! You will be told to take out the contacts, so it would be a good idea to bring your glasses with you. If you don't have glasses, you have time to get an inexpensive pair before surgery. They'll let you wear your glasses right up until you go into the actual operating room, and they'll put them in a little bag right next to you so you can get them again in the recovery room. Nurses can't be worrying about your contacts, so there's really no choice on this one. Hope this helps.

Thanks for the info. i ment epidural in addition to the general. no way would i go for just an epidural..i'm not that brave. well when i had my lap i got to the hospital and they had me change into thier wonderful gown. i put my glasses on there and then when they took me to the holding area i guess it is call i couldn't take my glasses there. they made me leave them with my family. i was there for what seemed like forever.....and couldn't see a thing!! i hated it! i have one more question. everyone says take gas x. but will they let u take your own in the hospital?? maybe this is a silly question, but just want things to go smooth. thanks!!

Hi Redhd,
I wear contacts and I also hate not being able to see. I was allowed to wear mine all the way up until they took me in for surgery. By that time, they had already given me that nice "cocktail" to calm my nerves so I honestly don't remember if I put my glasses on or not.
Hopefully, they will give you something if you're nervous and if you are like I was, you won't really care.

As for the epidural.....I was given that option in addition to general anesthesia, but I finally decided not to have it. I didn't want to have a "false sense" of how I was feeling and how much pain I was in.
My doctor did a nerve block in the incision area and it worked great for me. I didn't have any pain at all when I woke up.

Alot of ladies have the epidural for pain management and I've read that it works really well for most.
Good luck to you in whatever you decide if you are given that option.

I did take Gas-X with me, but the hospital ended up giving me any meds that I needed. (Maybe they wanted that extra dollar.....who knows.)

Also, about the question of staples or stitches......I had one stitch that ran the entire length of my incision and then steri strips over that. Like someone else mentioned, it is up to the DR as to what he/she prefers.

I did not have a binder, so I have no input on that topic.

I hope everything goes well for you and I wish you the best. Good luck.

My doc did not apply a binder, but suggested I purchase one when I returned to his office with a seroma at 10 days post op. The binder was great! It gave me support and held everything in place. It was a godsend when it came time to go back to work at 5 weeks. I got my binder at CVS pharmacy.

I had a spinal with sedation which knocked me out and I had the benefit of extra pain relief as the spinal wore off. With a spinal you are not awake you just aren't completely under the control of general anesthesia which requires a lot more drugs and i believe you are "breathed" for. I prefer the spinal. if you're main concern for not having that option is not wanting to be awake, you don't have to be.
Also,even though my Doc normally ues staples. i requestedand received steristrips instead. Whatever you choose, i wish you an easy and healthful recovery.