TAH: Surgery - wedding band

Probably very silly but my husband and I never take off our wedding bands. Both of us were divorced due to cheating spouses so our vows were that we would never remove them once we placed them.

With surgery, they always say remove all jewelry and leave it at home. I read a post that allowed them to keep the band (not engagement ring) on only and the nurse taped it to the finger.

Any experience on wedding band removals?

At my hospital all jewelry has to be taken off. Would you be able to call the hospital and ask them if you could keep your wedding band on?

Hi Mila
I am in Hamilton and yeah you generally need to remove your wedding band unless you want them to cut it off you if you swell up for any reason. I would rather take it off and put it away at home than have the alternate happen. Good luck!

	Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Jackies Probably very silly but my husband and I never take off our wedding bands. Both of us were divorced due to cheating spouses so our vows were that we would never remove them once we placed them. With surgery, they always say remove all jewelry and leave it at home. I read a post that allowed them to keep the band (not engagement ring) on only and the nurse taped it to the finger. Any experience on wedding band removals?

My husband and i are the same way. We never take ours off. What i did for my last two surgerys and will do for this one is wear it until they are ready to take me back and when i kiss my dh bye i give it to him and he gives it back to me in recovery.

Thank you, kitzuki .... that's a good idea!

Letting them put it safe or giving it to your other half is sensible in the uk they will put tape over a wedding ring if you want to keep it on I'm not married but my rings that I wear get put away one is my mothers engagement ring and her wedding ring is kept on the chain with my crucifix and is always worn

I am 6 days post-op. It was emotionally difficult to remove my wedding band, but I am certainly glad that I did. My fingers really swelled after surgery and it would have been really painful. All of me swelled. I don't know if it was all the extra IV fluids, or what. My wonderful husband held on to my ring during surgery...and it was a special part of my recovery celebration to have him slip it back on my finger again. All is well now. Don't worry!

You should take your ring off and give it to your hubby. The issue is not just swelling (imagine how horrible you would feel if they had to cut it off) but if they should happen to need to use the defibrillator you will get a very nasty burn from it. My hospital will not do surgery if you are wearing any jewelry anywhere.

I did not want to remove mine either but it can create a short electrically should they have to do anything emergently. My hubby put it back on me before I was fully conscious :-)

Just a suggestion, but maybe your husband can keep your ring safe during surgery. If you are swollen after surgery you can wear it on a chain around your neck. When you are able to wear it on your finger again you and your husband can have a private celebration of your love and commitment to each other.