24th March is OHS date - finally!

[Anya]

Well after my earlier rant thread I finally got the call from my now new BFF, my surgeon's secretary, scheduling my surgery for 24 March. On one hand I'm relieved, after 2 + months of hearing nothing, to finally getting a date. On the other hand, I'm anxious now that I finally have a date :eek2: I have to have a pre-op assessment a week prior at which time I will be advised of check in time and will also have to attend a class of some sort. I'm going to ask if my sternum can be glued as I've read it can reduce the healing time and living by myself, that would certainly be a bonus.

March 24th is a Monday (YAY!), so with any luck I should be let loose on the following Friday or Saturday - just in time for the b/f to tend to my every need since I see him on weekends

Anya

 

[Duffey]

Congrats on getting your date! I remember the day I got mine almost as well as I remember the day of replacement. When you've waited awhile, it's a huge relief to finally get confirmation that it will soon be over.

 

[Paleowoman]

Hi Anya,

You're right it is a relief but also an anxiety to finally have a date for surgery !

Does the hospital know that you live on your own ? I know that here they would find that a problem for the first week or so after discharge. Maybe it's different in Canada ? Is there anyone who can pop in on you the first week after your b/f is not around ? You'd be surprised at what you can and what you can't do the first couple of weeks and there doesn't seem to be a way to predict in advance as everyone's body reacts differently. And there's all the meds they put you on which have an effect too. Get in lots of food and provisions

 

[big_L]

Your sternum will likely be wired with the skin glued. It's nice not to have stitches.

 

[Anya]

Thanks everyone for your good wishes/replies.

Yes Ann I did mention that I lived alone to the surgeon and at the time had asked him if I could be transferred to a rehab clinic for a few extra days post-surgery. Of course the secretary knew nothing of this, nor if he had made any arrangements, so I'm assuming he didn't. I do have a friend that could pop in, or even stay with me (she's offered), but at this point the idea of having someone fussing over me isn't very appealing. She's even volunteered to drive me to the hospital and wait the 4 - 5 hrs until surgery is finished to make sure I'm OK, but that's another thing I don't want to ask her to do either. I don't have family here (they all live 'over the pond'). Being fiercely independent can be a curse

Big L I'd prefer if they used glue/wires on my sternum since the glue is supposed to cut down on recovery time.

 

[Paleowoman]

I did mention that I lived alone to the surgeon and at the time had asked him if I could be transferred to a rehab clinic for a few extra days post-surgery

They might mention that at your pre-assessment appointment.

Being fiercely independent can be a curse

Yes I know. I'm a very independent person and when my hubby fusses it makes me feel like an invalid which I'm not. But it's incredibly annoying when you can't do something simple, say like lifting a pan or opening something that's tricky which was never tricky before surgery - during the first few weeks things like that simply irritated me no end and I could never have imagined simple things could be difficult. Having someone who I could ask to do things for me was a great help. Who was it on this forum said that the most important thing to have after surgery is a servant

Still, even now, there's things I want to do, I want to paint the kitchen, I want to move a pile of quite heavy furniture to rearrange a room, all things I'd planned to do before I knew I'd have surgery when I did but didn't have time to do, and can't do now...and I don't want to direct hubby to do them, so I'm annoyed with myself that I can't do them !

Keep your help options open ! Though having someone there while you're in surgery is probably pointless. They keep you asleep for several hours after surgery - my surgery took two hours and although the surgeon told hubby I was fine, I was kept asleep for a further eight hours - he came to see me and took a picture of me all wrapped up and on the ventilator !

 

[Anya]

Ann I'm much like you and I predict I'll be really furious with myself more often than not! I've never been incapicitated for more than a few days in my life, so I'm not relishing the idea of not being able to do simple things for any length of time. I've led a very sedindary life (desk job to TV at night) and could probably lose about 10 lbs and not miss them, so I expect recovery might be slower……. I will definitely have a good talk with my friend about wasting a day of her life waiting in the hospital waiting room and I think I'll just ask her to call me once or twice a day to see how I'm doing rather than fuss around the house here. As for the b/f…he doesn't even want to visit me in hospital! Says it would be too stressful for him seeing me attached to tubes, wires etc., so probably better he stays away and remembers me as I am

Meanwhile take it easy on yourself and don't push it, the painting and furniture shifting can wait

 

[Mentu]

A Little Comfort

A Little Comfort

Anya, sometimes even Bede is down.



Larry

 

[Anya]

Aww, so cute Larry :smile2:

To anyone reading this old thread my surgery was cancelled at the last minute. I'm now rescheduled for April 16th. Just want to get it done and over with!

 

[Paleowoman]

Sorry to hear your surgery was cancelled Anya…..I think that's very stressful on top of pre-surgical stress. Wishing you well for the 16th !

 

[Anya]

Anne, thank you for your good wishes. Yes, it was mega stressful but at this point I'm done with stressing and just want it done so that I can get on with the rest of my life.