Are they gonna, like, shave my armpits?

[Lynlw]

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?

Hi, I just wanted to say that there are some preety good products for taking the stickers and tape off w/out pain one is medi sol (made by orange sol) smells like oranges ), you rub the tape w/ it and it desolves the adhesive, there are other brands, but I caan't think fo the names right now.
Justin has gotten both versed or valium preop, Lyn

 

[tobagotwo]

The chest shave is a good idea. For some reason I can't fathom, they may also have you wash your whole front with that reddish-orange-brown soap after they have the IV in the back of your hand. Plainly a two-handed job, but winds up being a stand-in-front-of-the-sink, unwieldy, one-handed sponge bath thing, with dripping everywhere.

As far as the rest of the body, the thing that has surprised me most about it from the descriptions in posts is the fact that it's shockingly different in different hospitals.

Some do the whole pubic shave for the cath, although it isn't close enough to cause a problem for most people. For me, they just asked me to trim the edge and the longer hairs that could fall to that side, then a couple of quick swipes with the razor in the actual incision area. "Tighty-Whities" do a yeoman's job of keeping everything else out of play. One less area to itch aggravatingly for a week. Why do so many hospitals not consider their patients' comfort in these small things that are under their control?

If you're going to be on a helper pump to "rest" your heart before surgery, there may be more shaving requirements there. Except for those with problem hearts, I find this a disturbing and unnecessarily damaging trend in some hospitals, as the unit is left in the artery overnight.

There is some nausea after the surgery, at least insofar as eating is concerned. Nothing tastes right. However, the consensus seems to be that it's left over from the main anesthesia, which can take weeks to work out of your system.

Personally, I think that requesting patient-controlled Fentanyl for post-operative pain makes sense for most, rather than just going with the typical morphine. It's a close relative of morphine, but less of a soporific (sleep inducer), and has reduced occurrence of nausea, mental confusion, and constipation (morphine's ability to cause this is legendary). I had it, and it handled the pain with no problem, and it left me mentally sharp and competent to torment the hospital staff.

One more thing...ask if they use a lip clip to hold the breathing tube. If they do, ask if they'll tape yours instead. The lip clip left me with a sore, swollen lip for two days. Completely unnecessary discomfort.

Best wishes,

 

[Destinova]

Personally, I think that requesting patient-controlled Fentanyl for post-operative pain makes sense for most, rather than just going with the typical morphine. It's a close relative of morphine, but less of a soporific (sleep inducer), and has reduced occurrence of nausea, mental confusion, and constipation (morphine's ability to cause this is legendary).

Ooh I am going to have to remember to do that. I didn't know there might be an option for Fentanyl instead of Morphine, and I love Fentanyl..probably as much as some of you others like Versed.

I've had it for a couple of transesophogeal electrocardiograms, and my angio....and it was the best stuff EVER. All I remember from my angio was starting to feel the cath in my chest a bit and asking the doc if I could have more Fentanyl. He looked at the nurse and shrugged "He's a pretty big guy, give him another shot." he said. Oh man I would have hugged him if I could have stood up.

 

[perkicar]

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.

Ah, my favorite drug as well. I was SOOOO glad when I heard the anesthesiologist say "give her 4 of versed". The next thing I remember is waking up in ICU! They had a terrible time getting my IV's started (ending up putting in the Swan/Ganz while I was still awake) so I was VERY glad to get some happy juice. In fact, I never did have a peripheral IV, just an arterial line in my wrist.
Wow-in a month it'll have been a YEAR since my surgery!

Carolyn

 

[Paul117]

one more country heard from

one more country heard from

I had Mitral Valve repair via the Davinci Robot and told them I wanted to see it so they didn't quite knock me out until I was under the thing (bought stock in the compay that made it afterward) the nursing staff stayed right by me side the whole time and tried to keep me occupied. as to the shaving part, are you have an armpitectomy????you'll be fine those people shave stuff for a living!!

good luck let us know

 

[athul]

Pat,

As a VR.com viewer, and past mech. valve recipient, I found the weeks PRIOR to surgery filled with, what seems to be similar questions as yours. I thought I'd share my experience as others had with me. It seemed to help.
My pre-op tests (1 week prior to surgery) went well until a question and answer session with the anesthesiologist. This guy tells me that they had to put a tube the size of the straw my wife had in her coke she was drinking in my neck to monitor blood pressure?? and another in my arm BEFORE they put me out....well that just did it. After 6 weeks of waiting and wondering (by far the worst part) this jerk tells me that. I could have hit him (probably would have if I weren't afraid he'd cut back on the happy juice on surgery day).
After one last week of terrible contemplating of what lies ahead, it was surgery morning.
Went in at 6:30 am, registered (5 minutes), followed family into waiting room (2 minutes), was called to go back to the prep room where a wonderful nurse had me undress and hop on a table w/robe. Of course, at this time its' like riding a roller coaster once you're strapped in...there's no way out.
This nurse hooked up the IV & gave me the most painless shot of morphine (hip) within 5 minutes. Then Tony came in, shaved me from chest to knees. We had a great and comforting conversation. By the time he was finished, the morphine had taken effect and I remember my mom coming in for a few minutes then they say my wife and kids came in. Honestly, the next thing I remember is a blurry recovery room around 7pm, then it was the next day and I had already walked myself from ICU to the recovery room (don't remember this)
By this time, most tubes had been removed with exception of the chest tubes which were not fun but the discomfort lasted only a minute.
My account of the 5 days in the hospital was that it was surprisingly painless for what I had expected. Took a while for the food sensors to come back but really was not too bad.
Took 2 months before I could feel good enough to get back to work.
Its now been 5 months and I feel great.
Finished with rehab (20 weeks)..you should do this if the opportunity allows.
I've been going to the gym ever since rehab finished and am lifting weights (relatively low lbs)
Pat, you're in for an exciting ride for what will definately be the beginning of the rest of your life.
I wish you great luck and hope your experience is problem-free and painless.
I'll be thinking of you and sending prayers your way.

Andy