Are they gonna, like, shave my armpits?

[AtlantaPat]

Quick note to tell you all that though I've been mostly a lurker here the past several months, I've found so much good advice and encouragement on vr.com. Thank you for that.

Something I've wondered about for the past couple weeks or so is what to expect on the morning of surgery. I've think I've got my head around the day of pre-op tests and appointments I'll have on Tuesday, but generally, how is this next Wednesday going to play out? (The part I'm awake for, anyway )

I realize the procedures differ somewhat depending on the hospital and the surgery, but in broad terms, what will it be like? What should I expect to happen to me and how might I feel? Was there one overwhelming emotion that any of you felt as they wheeled you into the OR? (Are you actually still awake when they take you in or do they knock you out before you have a chance to see all the lights, hoses, monitors, etc...and perhaps freak out? )

I'm going in for a mitral valve repair (or maybe I should say Dr. Smedira is very confident it'll be a repair) and will have a minimally-invasive mid-steronotomy.

I'm less worried than I was, say, a month ago, that I'll jump off the cart during the pre-op procedures, tear out the IV and run out of the hospital into the middle of the street, but being able to sort of visualize what that morning (and maybe the ICU when I start to come out of it) will be like can only help.

Thanks,
Pat
____________________
Mitral valve repair scheduled
Dr. Nicholas Smedira
Cleveland Clinic/ April 5th

 

[Nancy]

They always gave Joe something to relax him shortly after he got into the pre-op room.

As far as the tubes and other things that come out of and go into you, think of them as your friends. They are there to help you do all the body type things that you will be too out of it to do on your own. AND you really want to be out of it for the first few hours. So you can relax knowing that you have all those mechanical friends with their cold loving arms wrapped around you keeping you safe.

You will be taken care of very well, and professionally. They really cover every aspect of your needs. Just bring your little body there, and they will do the rest.

 

[Mary]

I went in on a Monday for my heart cath and preop testing, with surgery scheduled for Tuesday, so I faced a similar surgery schedule as what you will.
I was the second surgery that day, so I had most of the morning to wait through. All of my family came up and we visited in the waiting room for some time. After that, they let my husband stay with me until they took me down to the operating room. There had been a little confusion over what time I would be going down, so I received the pill to relax me only about five minutes beforehand. That concerned me, because I knew that I needed some time to let it take effect.
The anesthesiologist met me outside the surgical suite, and when I told him I was still anxious, he gave me an injection into my IV, and I was completely out of it within 60 seconds. My only memory is being wheeled into the OR, and a nurse saying my name.
After waiting so long to have the surgery, it was amazing how quickly events unfolded once it was time.
Be very clear about your needs and expectations, and I think the medical professionals will be happy to accomodate your requests.

 

[JimL]

If I were going in for surgery again, I would be sure to ask for a little "happy juice" as soon as possible. When I did have surgery, I begged them to give me something before they started plugging the tubes in all over, and they did. They can insert one needle, give me something for relaxation, and then stick in all the needles and tubes they want.

If I were going in for surgery again, I would be sure to ask for all the warm blankets they would give me. Seriously. These are really great. Ask for them as soon as you can. Ask for more. Ask for them for all your VRcom friends.

 

[MikeHeim]

I know others have been different, but I was wide awake when they wheeled me into the OR. However, I don't think I was awake for more than five minutes. I was hooked to an IV in the prep room, and I suspect that I was given something to relax me (even though they never mentioned it). I remember being pretty calm throughout the entire ordeal. I think you'll be surprised. I thought that everything and everyone seemed organized and orderly, which probably helped my sense of calm (witnessing chaos probably would have worried me). I even tried to be introspective and profound with my last thoughts as I was wheeled in, but I think I just got distracted by all the shiny things.

 

[JeanneImp]

Matt walks into the OR with his doctors.....

but now that he has had the taste of VERSED (yes, he loves it) I am sure he will ask for it.

 

[paulk]

Yes.

You'll be quite busy before surgery, and get a lot of attention from the nurses. I had a full sternectomy, and got the most thorough shave I've ever had. Expect EKG pads, blood tests, an IV, multiple wrist ID bands. Also expect to be asked your name and why you're there a few times (I suppose they want to make sure they're shaving the right person!). I was, if I recall correctly, quite wide awake as I was being wheeled into the OR, but only recall a couple minutes in the OR, mostly just saying hi to all the various folks. Chatting with the docs & nurses took my mind off the surgery. There are a lot of people in the OR! I'm a pretty anxious person, but for some reason felt pretty calm, I think I was glad to get the waiting over with. I don't think I was given anything to calm me. The nurses & docs were all very helpful & friendly - they must do this a lot!

-Paul

 

[sue943]

I think I was away with the fairies, I don't really remember them coming to my room for me, just a vague memory. Next thing I remember is being in ICU and hearing a voice asking why I was still there and not in high dependency.

 

[ArleneT]

Pat,

I was totally awake until they took me into the OR. That bothered me, but turned out to be a good thing. The anesthesiologist for my case prefers to remove the breathing tube in the OR and I think if you get any happy juice before, it affects when that can be removed. They put the IVs in my arm and as soon as the second one was in, they said we are going to put you to sleep now and I don't remember them saying "now". This was at Cleveland Clinic also, so you might want to see if they can tell you who your anesthesiologist will be. If it's Dr. Starr, you probably have a good chance of having the breathing tube removed in the OR also. It was wonderful to not have to deal with that when I woke up.

I kept my eyes closed from the minute they came out to get me from the hall where I had been waiting for a while. I didn't want to have any flash backs later of what the place and machines, etc. looked like.


They encourage you to bring a CD player and listen to the Guided Imagery CD that they will give you. You can even take it right into the OR.

Since I didn't have anything to relax me before, I was terrified and the nurses in the OR who were putting in the IVs could tell this. There were a couple of extras there and one massaged my feet and the other stroked my hair right up until I went to sleep. They are really caring professionals at CC. You are in very good hands.

Have you set up your web page on TheStatus.com? That's a wonderful way for friends and family to keep posted on how you are doing. It was SO much easier for my husband. He posted once and eeveryone could go to the page for the update. They can also leave messages for you.

Looking forward to your good news after surgery.

Arlene

 

[hensylee]

early the morning of surgery, I took the shower with that special soap. We checked in, went up to surgery section, they took me in and did something, but can't recall the shaving, tho I am sure they shaved a BUNCH on my chest, abdomen, and leg (saphenous vein for bypasses). Last I recall is she said 'it's cold in there, so we have warmed sheets waiting for you'. When they wrapped me in them, it felt like my own mother's arms and off I went to never never........ so pleasant, so easy.

 

[RCB]

My experience at CC

My experience at CC

Pat,
My recommendation to everybody is shave everything except head and
underarms. The biggest reason is you will do a more comfortable job and you
never know where they will stick tape that will be taken on an off repeatedly.
If having your hair pulled out is your idea of fun, then don't shave.

The morning of surgery, I was wheel down to the prep-room, the nurse introduced herself and asked me why I was there- I told her the procdures and my name and dr. Next another person, put an IV in me, I close my eyes and send a little message skyward and woke-up with someone asking me if I was awake.

They did all the work- I didn't have to do a thing!

You will be fine!

 

[dj/utvolsfan]

Hey Surgery Buddy!

Hey Surgery Buddy!

Hi Atlanta Pat, Good to see you back on. SOOOO, how are we doing??????????? My daughter just informed me that we lose an hour this weekend! Of all weekends!!!!! God truely does have a funny sense of humor! I have been experiencing such calmness these last few days. I am so so ready to get this over with. Are you?
Wow, these fellow vr.comers are warriors, aren't they? MikeHeim said something like I was only aware for FIVE minutes! Someone else said, oh, just aware for two minutes...then everyone else's stories of what they saw! Yikes! Man, knock me out at the door! Please! I remember having my cath at CCF in Feb and feeling so brave....little did I know I was artificially courageous. Funny, I really do remember feeling quite proud of myself. One of the items to talk to pre-op clearance about is ' drugging me to the maximum allowed by law! So what was I saying about feeling so peaceful and serene!???
Hey, if I don't actually see you in Cleveland - you certainly will be in my closest thoughts and prayers!
Let's do this!

Debbi

 

[Guest]

Heh.

The morning of my surgery, they told me to be there an hour too early ... they had forgotten that they don't start surgeries on the "early schedule" on Monday mornings. So, I had an uncomfortable hour on the waiting room chairs ... not fun.

But, once the party got started, I was wisked away into the pre-op room where they had me strip and change into that gosh darn gown. Unfortunately, none of those nurses were cute...or, maybe that was a good thing? Anyway, Mom, Dad, my sis and her then boyfriend (now hubby) and my best friend from then Virginia (now N Carolina) all took their turns talking with me as they prepped me. The last thing I remember is trying to tell them something.... I was out before the bed even moved toward the operating room.

After I was awake a few days, my best friend told me that I was trying to tell them something about my Monte Carlos...have no clue what it was....




Cort, "Mr MC" / "Mr Road Trip", 32swm/pig valve/pacemaker
MC:family.IL.guide.future = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/
chdQB = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/quilt.html
"What happened next is hard to tell" ... Ray Stevens ... 'Mississippi Squirrel Revival'

 

[liza]

For my 1st OHS I remember being wheeled into the OR, being transferred to the operating table, and all the staff introducing themselves and that's it. My anesthetist talked to me post-op to see what I remembered. Apparently I complained alot about how much the arterial line hurt, but I don't remember that.

My 2nd surgery was a bit scarier because they couldn't get an IV going in me. So they wheeled me into the OR to let one of the "experts" put one in. They were prepping me for the line in my neck and I was getting really freaked out when someone finally got an IV going in my arm. Then I don't remember much after that.

Both times I didn't have to wait too long before my surgery. It went surprisingly fast, and I was amazingly calm both times. This is something they've done a million times, so it *should* go pretty smoothly for you.

Liza

 

[Gnusgal]

Matt walks into the OR with his doctors.....

but now that he has had the taste of VERSED (yes, he loves it) I am sure he will ask for it.

Oooh... Versed... My favorite! I ask for it by name now. Just give me a little bit of that and you can do anything you want to me!

Seriously, though, when I had my VR I remember them giving me some versed in my IV, I took off my glasses to hand them to my mom, turned my head to look at my husband and said "Ooh. That was fun" (the room spun like when you've had a bit to drink). After that, I don't remember a thing. My husband tells me I got quite silly at that point. A nurse came in and introduced herself, saying to think of her like "Beth or Gina" (other nurses I'd met that week in pre-op). I then started repeating, in a sing-song voice "A Beth or a Gina, a Beth or a Gina..." and giggling like I was the funniest thing in the world. I don't remember the OR, though I'm told I was still babbling as they wheeled me away.

Versed is wonderful because it not only relaxes you, it also prevents you from remembering the completely stupid things you do and say while you're loopy! My anesthesiologist called it "milk of amnesia."

 

[ALCapshaw2]

I'm less worried than I was, say, a month ago, that I'll jump off the cart during the pre-op procedures, tear out the IV and run out of the hospital into the middle of the street, but being able to sort of visualize what that morning (and maybe the ICU when I start to come out of it) will be like can only help.

Thanks,
Pat
____________________
Mitral valve repair scheduled
Dr. Nicholas Smedira
Cleveland Clinic/ April 5th

That sounds like a line right out of the (VERY FUNNY) book by Humorist Louis Grizzard entitled "They Took Out My Heart and Stomped That Sucker Flat".

You'll laugh until your sides ache reading his book...
until you learn that he didn't survive his third "Pig Valve" replacement... BUT, that was a LONG time ago and heart surgery (and valves) are MUCH BETTER now.

'AL Capshaw'

 

[Atlanta Sweetheart]

Good luck

Good luck

and God's speed to you Pat. I know all will go well. When I had my mitral valve surgery I was given something to make me relax in pre-op. I said good bye to my family and friends at the elevator and don't even remember getting to the OR. I woke up in ICU and had all the tubes, monitors etc. My family told me I had gotten repaired and that was the best news. I had surgery on Wednesday and was home on Saturday! So take care and email when you're on the "other side." Your heart will feel rock steady and once your incisions heal you'll be better than ever!!

 

[Der Biermeister]

I've been wondering if it wouldn't be wise to do an overall chest shave like the night before I go in. After over a week in the hospital (two weeks ago), I cannot believe how much pain I endured just from -- what had to be -- over a hundred ekg patches stuck, and removed, from all over my chest and abdomen - pulling hair every which way.

So -- I think I am going to shave.

Another question -- is the happy juice the same stuff they give for minor things like colonoscopies? Sounds like it might be. If it is -- and they obviously have you under a LOT deeper and for a longer period -- do you have an nausea or vomiting when you wake up?

 

[RCB]

Think I remember him

Think I remember him

That sounds like a line right out of the (VERY FUNNY) book by Humorist Louis Grizzard entitled "They Took Out My Heart and Stomped That Sucker Flat".

You'll laugh until your sides ache reading his book...
until you learn that he didn't survive his third "Pig Valve" replacement... BUT, that was a LONG time ago and heart surgery (and valves) are MUCH BETTER now.

'AL Capshaw'

Al wasn't he a radio or TV host? I remember seeing him, being interview before his last surgery, talk about how since his surgery he "had a hankering
for corn, scraching his back on a tree and playing in mud". Sometime later
his death was annouced, but I thought that was in the '80s. He was a funny guy.

 

[JimL]

Lewis Grizzard, They Tore Out My Heart & Stomped That Sucker Flat (1982) a most delightful book. I wouldn't recommend reading it in the first few weeks after surgery. At least, I remember that laughing during those weeks brought a whole new world of pain. But after that, the book is wonderful.