my pre-op visit

Well, I had seen the doc so many times in the past 3 months, there wasn't a whole lot left to ask. I did find out that my insurance will allow 3 days for TAH/BSO, but doc said she would keep me 3 nights, more if it was necessary. She told me not to be a hero and to stay as long as I could. Doc also had me sign a form from my insurance company stating that I understood that I would no longer be able to bear children!!!! I must have looked at her like she was crazy, because she said she knew it was strange, but has had many patients who did not fully understand, thats really scarey!

I asked what kind of pain meds I would be receiving and she said oxycodone...NO freakin way! I had told them numerous times that it was not an option, makes me violently ill,, don't know why, it just does. She said she would probably give me percocets to go home with,, isn't there something better then that? I'm not expecting pain, but want to be prepared for it. I also asked if she could send my scripts to the pharmacy because I don't want to have to sit and wait for them.
We talked about the gas issue, and constipation too. My castle gives you gas-x, and collace, and whatever else is necessary. They provide heating pads, ice packs, walkers, socks, heavier blankets and with any luck a private room. The visiting room has PC's, cable, and lounge chairs for you to relax in while you have visitors, which will be great if I have a roomie. I'm going to get some earplugs so I will be able to sleep too.
I tried to get a straight answer out of her about HRT, and what they were going to prescribe, but didn't get one. I think she is leaving it up to the surgeon to decide afterwards, it will have a lot to do with how much endo is there. I have plenty stored in my fluff to get me through a few days anyways...
7 days to go,, haven't smoked in 2 weeks, and feeling pretty good. Made it through my last period,, and will not miss it at all. I'm even more sure that this is the right thing for me, and will keep praying that all goes well with no complications. Now, if my kids will be patient, and my dad can handle the office for a week without calling me 10 times a day, all will be fine.
I'm looking forward to spring awakening the new me.

Donna

My first purchase when I'm feeling better will be new sheets!! and underwear. I am going to burn the old ones!

Sounds like you've got things under control! Two weeks without smoking... that's excellent! I quit a little over two years ago and have noticed that I never get quite as sick as I did before. Your recovery will be so much better sans cigarrettes!

Good luck!

Laura

Just for your information, Percocet has oxycodone in it. I'd ask her to maybe give you Vicodin instead which is hydrocodone not oxycodone. I've taken roxicodone, percocet and know that they each contain oxycodone in it. If you want to look up percocet you can go to www.drugs.com to find that info out. It says about percocet the following....

"Generic Name: acetaminophen and oxycodone (a see tah MIH no fen and ox ee KOE done)
Brand Names: Endocet, Percocet-10/ 650, Percocet-2.5/ 325, Percocet-5/ 325, Percocet-7.5/ 500, Roxicet, Roxilox, Tylox"

Please remember these and if you have had problems with oxycodone I don't know why she would be giving you something with oxycodone. You can even take a page of information with it saying that you told her that you cannot take anything with oxycodone in it. I did fine with Lortab or 2 vicodins. It's about the same strength as 2 percocets.

You mentioned that she would be giving you percocets after surgery but did she say anything about right after surgery like a morphine pump or epidural for the first couple of days after surgery?

As far as worrying about your dad calling you maybe you can have your calls screened by the hospital operator. There are certain calling hours so he won't be able to call you in the middle of the night. Check with the hospital and see when the calling hours are. Make sure that you tell him that you won't be up to phone calls and I myself had trouble answering my phone because it was on the other side of the bed and I couldn't roll over as the epidural was keeping me from doing that. If there isn't an answer he may try to call back but don't expect to answer your phone everytime it rings. With ear plugs you can hopefully not have to listen to your phone if it rings. If it's really important he can come to the hospital.

If you have a morphine pump you may be nauseated and not feeling well at all the first day or so. You may feel very groggy depending on the type of anesthesia that you get during surgery. With me I didn't have the grogginess as the spinal/epidural or SEC for short kept me pain free. Problem was that I couldn't get my rest because of my noisy demented elderly roomate. I had asked for a private room even at pre op and by the time surgery was over they said one wasn't available. Plus I had to be close to the nurses station due to the epidural. I'm glad I was close to the nurses station. I was pretty much ignored by the nurses once I was moved to another room after my epidural came out. Fortunately my husband was there to tell a nurse that I was feeling very nauseated and she quickly got some zofran to put in my I.V.

I'm surprised that the gyn you saw isn't the actual surgeon. Have you even met the actual surgeon? My gyn was the surgeon and both him and his partner worked on me together. Good luck to you and I hope that your surgery goes well for you.

Oh don't settle for something called Darvocet. It has a lot of Tylenol but doesn't really work on pain as it has only a tiny bit of narcotic in it. I'd try to get her to give you Vicodin or Lortab instead. The Vicodin is usually 5mg of hydrocodone with 500mg of Tylenol and the Lortab is 10mg of hydrocodone with 500 mg of Tyelenol. s

You sound like you have most everything together! Congrats!

And way to go on the not smoking! I will be smoke-free for 5 years on April 1st and don't get as sick as I once used to or as often. Your recovery should be much easier on you.

And have fun, when you're up to it, on your little shopping adventure!

Take care!

Sounds like your ready friend I`m saying a prayer for you that all goes well Renee

Hi Donna! I just wanted you to know that there are other painkillers that contain oxycodone as well: percodan, oxycontin, combunox, roxycodone, endocet, tylox, percolone, oxyFAST, oxylR, intensol. I don't know if thats a complete list, but before anybody gives you anything, ask, ask, ask. You have every right to know what you are taking and every right to refuse it. List oxycodone as an allergy when you go to the castle. The last thing when you are trying to heal is a nasty reaction!
Congratulations on quitting smoking! I'm sure it was hard, but it will be well worth it.
Take care,

Donna, congrats on giving up the smokes! Your recovery will go much better, and you will feel healthier in the long run. And don't back down on the oxycodone issue. If you list it as an allery, then the pharmacy won't even send it up for you.
I had to sign one of those papers, too, and I am 51 years old!

Hope all goes well. Sounds like you're getting everything together. Good luck to you!

Just got a note in the mail from my doc.. She said its an additive in the oxycodone that makes me vomit. Shes going to look into something else.. Thanks for all the input and info. I really hate meds, but I'm not willing to suffer either.
My doc is assisting the surgeon, who I've known for a 3 years. I have endo, and possible adhesions so my doc referred me to one of the senior surgeons. I'm very fortunate, the head of onocology is on duty in the OR this month. It was another question I was insistant on. I didn't want them to get in there and find problems they couldn't deal with. I go to a teaching hospital so there is always specialist on hand thank god.
I mentioned the nausea from anestesia, and headaches so they will put the zofran in the IV.. before surgery or after??
I started again.... can you believe it? Was walking home from my dads, and had to run for the bathroom. This is the forth month in a row that this has happened, wouldn't you think the first nine days were enough? Again.. I will not miss this at all.
Donna

Hi, I am scheduled for TAH on 3/22/06 and I have gone from 10 cig a day to 5 how did you finally quit. My doc suggest that I quit all the way but 5 is not bad but I want none. He said that usually a pack or more causes complications. please help me to find a way to stop all together, I have no will power at this point to nerves. Thanks

Donna, I am so proud of you for quitting! With all the stress of surgery your tough! I am still smoking...not proud of it, I will quit though. I am trying to keep it to a minimum too Diane, I am still at 10 a day though! I think it was easiest in the past when I had got down to 3 to just stop.

Donna, I am allergic to lots of stuff, morphine, percocet, vicodin,kelflex, I have been living on Darvocet for months and was really dissapointed when he gave me that for pain at my pre-op...it just really doesn't cut it sometimes, but maybe I won't need more. I actually found Toradal to be terrific in the hospital after my complicated D&C.

I hope it all works out for you with the meds!
Betts