Video

[Marge]

My hospital tells me that when I go in among the things I will be doing is viewing a video of stuff relating to the surgery. Is this a standard sort of thing hospitals do? If you who have had your valve surgery have seen such a video, what, typically, is on it?

I want to be a compliant and cooperative partient and do what they want me to do as best I can (while trying hard not to run screaming out of the place) -- but I'm nervous about this video. Will it show the actual operation? I am not really into gory or graphic videos; I was one of only two people who left the room when they showed the graphic accident video when I was working off my speeding ticket at traffic school. I definitely DO NOT want to see an actual video of a valve repair or replacement. (My husband found one online at the University of Maryland Med School site and said it was "very good, very educational" -- I refused to watch it.) I don't think I even want to see videos that will show me what the operating room or the CPU look like or what happens to you there. I want to be doped up so good that I am basically unaware I am in those places in real life -- why should I want to see 'em on a video.

 

[dwfreck]

I watched two videos while waiting for a catherization. I was fine for the first one, but started to feel faint during the second one. They were nearly identical in terms of "gore" (which is to say, very little), but the second one just got to me. I closed my eyes and asked the nurse to turn it off, which she did.

If you're worried about the video, call the hospital and ask them about it. It may not be gory at all; it could be as simple as a video tour of the rooms and hallways you'll be visiting so you're more familiar with them after surgery. It could be a review of pre-surgery and post-surgery recommendations, policies, non-invasive procedures.

 

[fyrfytr]

Hey Marge,
The hospital where I had my surgery also had my wife and I view a video before my surgery. I don't know about other hospitals and what they do but this video was more for your loved one. It talked a little about the surgery (didn't show anything) and it talked about the tubes and lines and that your loved one should be prepared for what they will see. It also talked about the recovery and the different places you will be and about how long in each place like CICU and the step down unit, when the tubes will be removed and things like that. Also about what to do when you are discharged from the hospital. I hope this helps you out. It is nothing to worry about.
Take Care

 

[Nancy]

Hi Marge-

Everyone's different as to how much they can digest prior to surgery. If you are slightly brave some evening try this site, http://www.stevegoldberger.com/bt/BumtickerHomePage1a.html

Steve Goldberger gives his day by day account of his valve surgery. It's written in a very entertaining way, and it helped me get over the jitters before Joe's second valve surgery. It just about as pleasant reading about valve surgery as you will ever possibly read.

I warn you, the opening page has a pic of him in ICU with all his tubes and stuff, but even then you will laugh.

He's a good guy and has helped so many people put things in perspective.

I hope you try it.

 

[Raverlaw]

They made me watch the video while I was recuperating from the cath. It was pretty mild stuff, no gore at all. The scariest thing was showing a patient with all of the tubes, but you need to see that, I think, so when you wake up you will know what all that stuff does.

The video is meant to be comforting to family members and does a good job of presenting the surgery as a (incredible to think about it) routine procedure that is done tens of thousands of times each year. My ICU nurse was very proud of the video because it was filmed in a hospital (in Virginia, I think) where he had worked!

I joked with him that it was cruel and unusual punishment to instruct a patient not to move for the next six hours and then turn on a marketing video and leave the room!

All in all, I don't think the video will bother you. Knowledge is power!

 

[Johnny Stephens]

I was shown a very smarmy video about the catheterization and surgery. It seemed to be more for my family, and didn't really give me any new information that I'd either found here or in my own reading.

I was actually a little disappointed that it wasn't more 'technical', but that's just me. I'm sure they would turn it off if you found it upsetting.

 

[Marge]

Well, thank you for all the replies.

I guess if I can stand the surgery I can stand a lousy video. The tubes, though, are a bit of a problem. I am claustrophobic and I tend to freak out when things appear to be closing in on me; I realize I have to be somewhat awake B4 they take the breathing tube out so they can see whether I'm able to breathe on my own. However, I hope it is not totally unrealistic to hope that they will keep me well doped up while the rest of the #$%^^E&&**() tubes are still in me?

OTOH, I doubt my husband needs to see a video in order not to be bothered by me having tubes in me. He's ex career USAF, has been shot, survived about four crashes, has seen lots worse.

Golly, I hope I don't have to have another catheritization.

If I understood my surgeon correctly, I do another echo and a CTscan later this month, and a TEE at the hospital, but the cath I had back on October 25 is sufficient for his purposes.

The cath itself is a piece of cake, and I had NO trouble or pain or discomfort afterwards whatsoever; wouldn't mind undergoing another one at all especially if I had the same hunky technicians doing it -- I just don't want to spend another six hours flat on my back in the so-called recovery area with people having noisy block parties in the cubicles to the left & right of me.

 

[Heather Fisher]

Marge,

I think the cath was worse from the surgery. I got in the room and they were playing "Hotel California" by the Eagles. As in "You can check out anytime you like but you can never leave." It was freezing cold and I was nervous. The cath itself was not that bad, I just remember freezing and shaking. The surgery was almost a piece of cake in comparison.

I don't blame you. I have watched many surgeries in an OR but not related to the heart. I had no desire to see what they were going to do. Something related to what kind of tubes to expect, etc., that would be O.K. Just no blood and gore!

Heather

 

[Harpoon]

Nope, no videos here, and you know what, I'd be leary about it if someone tried to show me one.


Once upon a time while I was being evaluated for a wisdom tooth extraction (I went elsewhere mainly because my cardiologist wanted me in a HOSPITAL if I was to go under general anesthetic, not in some dentist office) and after the doc looked at my teeth an assistant tossed me into a small room with a combination TV/VCR and inserted the proverbial tape....


Ok, I've got questions, I've got some VERY specific questions that regard my heart condition and the need for prophylaxis in addition to the typical extraction questions.

You mean to tell me this videotape is going to answer THOSE for me?

And by the way, what are you doing that makes you too busy to sit down and talk to me in person about my questions and concerns????


Granted, I'm sure a video on valve surgery is pretty comprehensive if they're using it and all, but still, I'd be much morecomfortable if I was sitting in the room talking to my doctor instead of passively watching some short movie that is supposed to anticipate my questions....

I had time to talk to all of my doctors. My fiance and I sat down with Dr. James Young, for the discussion on transplant options and the evaluation. We talked one on one with Dr. Roger Mee. We talked with Dr. Lourdes Prieto who took a far amount of time before the cath proceedure (she's the cath specialist) about what was going to happen and then afterwards, a few times, about the results and her opinions on it.

The only thing we didn't do was talk to the docs in person after they held their group powwow to plot a course of action in my treatment. I did talk to a few docs on the phone about their decisions, but they didn't have their meeting until a week after all my testing was done and I was back home.

Very personal attention, all through the process. They satisfied every concern I had, they went out of their way to make sure I and my family knew what was happening and why and they never sat me in a room by myself with some stupid videotape.


Just my lowly opinion, I'd be wary of the videos.

 

[Nancy]

Oh, I don't know--

I think those kinds of things are just enhancement tools to help the very nervous deal with reality in a "soft" way. I don't think they're meant to hurt or scare anyone, otherwise they wouldn't sit you down alone with the tape. They should never take the place of direct conversation with your doctors if that is what you want. Just make your feelings known. Sometimes the PAs can answer most of your questions anyway.

They tried to show Joe the "video" after his third valve surgery , he either fell asleep or walked out of the room, can't remember which, saying he felt woozy. He had "lived" the tape several times, and felt he could have been the actor in the vid. No educational tools needed there.

The ones I've seen are "touchy-feely" things. Can't harm you. Might help.

 

[Les]

Knowledge is Power...

 

[medtronic of borg]

videos

videos

The videos are mostly education for patients, and loved ones. Not gory at all. Mostly we nurses have helped in the making of these films with Idea of NOT sca the H*&%^ out of someone. As for my self I have assisted in surgeries and think nothing of it. (that was before this stroke thing got ahold of me). Several of my surgeries have been filmed for educational purposes. I'd love to see them. They say no ,yet alow me to watch my pacer implant via a mirior.

 

[hensylee]

for bypass, they gave me one to bring home. They just had a person explaining the procedures and that it is a serious surgery - it started out:

So you are having heart surgery..............

no gore, no real details.

Then they made me bring it back.