pre-surgery

[youppi69]

Hello, everyone
I'm back from St Lucia well rested and was not thinking about my upcoming surgery next week til I got a few calls today and now I'm terrified.
I go this Thursday for pre-admit info and teaching materials , etc .
Apparently the Ct Angiogram I had 2 weeks ago did not show enough info and now I am going to be having an Angiogram ( thru groin with catheter ) on May 2 and being admitted on May 1 and surgery on May 3.
Originally I was going to be going in the day of surgery only and in for a week.
I am scared to death, it would have been easier going in the day of surgery and just being put out, now I am going to have anxiety and ??????

Why????
Help me overcome my fear and what questions do I ask them on Thursday for pre-admit?
I know, relax and it will be fine but easier said than done

 

[geebee]

You will be kept busy during the days in the hospital pre-op (in fact, you might wish for quiet time), can have sleeping pills for nightime and you will be through your surgery before you know it.

You may find that you will still not be in much more than a week. Many people go home 4 or 5 days after surgery these days.

Worrying is normal - just try to stay busy.

 

[WayneGM]

If you didn't have fears or anxiety you wouldn't be normal.

The cath isn't too bad. It sounds worse than it really is. Between the cath and the pre-admission, I think time will fly by. Better to be busy than waiting and thinking too much.

My pre-admission at Toronto General was half a day and they covered a lot. First there were orientation classes. There were about 8 of us, all having OHS within the week. Some were having theirs the next day. Mine was scheduled for later in the week but actually ended up being 3 weeks later as I got "bumped" off the schedule due to an emergency patient....I was all psyched up and ready to go but they weren't ready for me but that's another story.

Anyway, at the orientation we discussed how to prepare pre-op and for post-op, and were shown some videos. Then I met individually with members of the surgical team and post-op team to discuss the specifics of their role, and what to expect, in my OHS end-to-end. I filled out lots of forms (administrative stuff, room options, etc.). Because Toronto General is a university hospital, I had several students come by to ask if I would agree to participate in various research projects, and they explained what they were. Mostly it just meant letting them take a bit more blood so I agreed. Also met with a volunteer who had been through OHS and he told me his story. This was before I found VR.com so this was the first time I was hearing about OHS first hand by someone who had been through it.

During my stay, I found the staff very pleasant and very accommodating. They really do know their stuff and empathsize with what you are going through and do help ease the anxiety.

I know it isn't easy but just focus on getting ready and think about your new life post-op. Best wishes for a successful suregery and uneventful recovery.

 

[Phyllis]

They will keep you busy and it will go much quicker than you are imagining! For some reason, I had you on the calendar for May 7th so I changed it to the 3rd. Best wishes to you for a successful surgery and uneventful recovery.

 

[hensylee]

You, I believe that once you walk through those doors, the die is cast and you will relax. After all you have just placed yourself in their hands and must move forward. You probably won't even be afraid once you are settled in. Rest when they let you - take something you like with you if you think you will be edgy, but I bet you won't have time or desire to do anything with it. You will be just fine. Know that you have a whole group out here wishing you onward and upward. Blessins...........

 

[MaryC]

As the time got closer I found myself moving forward toward the surgery. I was (pleasantly!) surprised that it was true when people on this forum say it is not so bad - actually all of the scenarios you dream up in your head are so much worse than the real thing. I can still see my family's relieved expressions when they saw how quickly I was my old self in the hospital. You will do fine, you'll see!

 

[marky]

I felt the same way.. the surgery took over my thoughts, then the day before.. everything changed.. I got very calm and relaxed.

You will too like the others said, you will be so busy it will fly by. Take some time to hang with famiy/friends try to laugh.. you will soon be on this side of the mountain!

 

[67walkon]

Knowing you will be great afterwards has to be a relief. Someone posted a link to a minimally invasive aortic valve replacement video, which I watched in full. Seeing it done to someone else really made me feel better. The doctors know what they are doing, there are lots of people in the OR taking care of you and it is hard to imagine a better environment.

I don't know when I will have my bicuspid valve replaced, but it could be later this summer. I will be more nervous than you are, but calmed by knowing how many people have been through it and done so well. Just reading their responses to you makes me feel better.

You'll do fine and be encouraging me in a short time!

John

 

[Curtsmum]

Sorry no tips for the nerves, just wanted to wish you the best of luck with surgery and a successful recovery. Paula

 

[Cooker]

I had a case of nerves on the ride to the hospital but as soon as I got there (cath. Monday, Surgery Tuesday) the gave me these little pills and all was well , by the time they were rolling me down for my shave and surgery they could have cut off my head and I would have still been singing!

The whole thing is not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. I went in on Monday and home on Friday. I am sure all will go well for you. You will be in my prayers.

Tom

 

[CathyK.]

It is a little nerve racking before you go in but like others have said, once you are there I think you concentrate on what they are doing at the time and then before you know it, everything is over. I went in on a friday for OHS and was home by noon on Monday. I hope everything goes as smoothly for you. You will be home before you know it. My prayers are with you!!

 

[ruth]

Sorry to hear you are having a case of the nerves, I did too. Think of how lucky you are to live in a time and place where your heart can be fixed. Try to focus on the future and how much better you will be after you get through this hurdle. Also focus on the fabulous odds that are quite in your favor, this is a surgery with a very high success rate. For me the nervousness stopped about a week pre-op.

I went in for an angiogram on Monday, surgery Tuesday and home on Sunday. Even with being in the hospital that long it felt like time flew by, how, I'm not sure, but it did. I fretted over the angiogram and it was a walk in the park. They gave me some "happy pill" that made the time drift by even though I was awake and amusing myself with the way-cool photos of dye going through the vessels. I fretted over the surgery and somehow I slept right through it .

Seriously, though, try to keep your sense of humor, look at the bright side (you're getting a life-saving surgery), and remember that nervousness just means you're normal.

You'll get through it, we all have.

Wishing you the best for a successful surgery and uneventful recovery.

Ruth

 

[catwoman]

The hardest part for me was going through the hospital's doors. Once I was inside, I knew there was no turning back, and I became quite calm.

 

[youppi69]

I had a case of nerves on the ride to the hospital but as soon as I got there (cath. Monday, Surgery Tuesday) the gave me these little pills and all was well , by the time they were rolling me down for my shave and surgery they could have cut off my head and I would have still been singing!

The whole thing is not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. I went in on Monday and home on Friday. I am sure all will go well for you. You will be in my prayers.

Tom

Thanks so much for the words of encouragement
it helps alot