When do I stop working? What should I pack?

[tigerlily]

Hello everyone,

It's definitely countdown time. My last day at work is Fri. and my surgery is Tues. I don't feel ready. My house is so messy with relatives coming (I'm crazy to worry about that I know), I don't even know what to take to the hospital (one of my questions), I haven't talked with a lot of people I want to talk to before this happens, have enough time to pray, write at letter to my son, etc. etc.

Those of you who have done this please tell me if you worked almost up to the time of surgery and also, what did you take with you to the hospital.

One other thing that concerns me, I have something minor going on under my jaw at the top of my neck. It feels the way a swollen, tender gland would feel but there's no sign of a lump of any kind. I think it may be related to my ear or sinuses. No fever. Is that anything I should be concerned about right before surgery?

This week at work I have no backup to help me. I don't need the stress. On the other hand, they have been very understanding of all the doctor's appointments etc.

Would like to hear your thoughts and have the benefit of your experience.

 

[geebee]

First off - call your doctor about the neck thing. It's worth a call just to be sure because you don't want to get into the hospital and find out it's a problem.

Worry all you want - it will take your mind off being concerned about surgery.

It's great you have your family coming. You must know, they won't care about your house being messy - let them clean it. Let then do something for you; family feels so helpless during these times.

Here is a thread about what to take to the hospital: http://www.valvereplacement.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13283

Keep calm, hug your family, eat some chocolate, take a long bath, watch the sunset.

 

[MikeHeim]

I'm sure someone will come around and post a link to one of the discussion threads which discuss what people suggest bringing to the hospital. The one thing that I can't stress enough is that you need to bring either your own pillow or neck roll. I found the hospital pillows to be pretty inadequate and they had absolutely nothing that did a good job of supporting my neck. BY FAR my biggest pain when I woke up was in my neck. Looking back, I think that's the only thing I really needed at the hospital. I was much too distracted to do any reading, but you might be different.

As far as working up to surgery: I worked on Wednesday, had pre-op on Thursday, and went to surgery on Friday. I probably could have taken another day or two, but the last thing I needed was time to brood at home about what was going to happen. Work was actually a welcome escape. I don't think I worried too much about the house being that clean. Impressing family members wasn't that high on my list.

Best wishes!

 

[Jimmy]

Tigerlilly

Tigerlilly

The one thing I would take is track pants and a top so you bum isn't hanging out, you know the way those hospital gowns are, as far as the neck thing I'm sure your surgeon will check that out. believe it or not it could be nerves they can do an awful lot to the body. I am sorry but I don't even know what you are going in for, but whatever it may be I hope it turns out well for you. Lets face it if you're going in for something it has to be better than how you are now or you would'nt be going in. Good Luck
Jimmy just remember that the mind can do wonders, be positive!

 

[Praline]

Tigerlily

Tigerlily

I can understand how you feel. I am just 6 weeks post-op. My surgery was on a Wednesday. My last day at work was that Monday.

I had to chuckle at your worry about the not so clean house. My sister came down to help me and she ended up cleaning the house. I had no "get up and go" to do anything right before surgery. Don't worry about the house work, it will still be there after surgery.

As to what to take with you, I could not keep anything with me going into surgery. My husband had to take everything home,even my eyeglasses. So what I did was pack a bag with stuff and put it in the car. When my husband came to see me after surgery, he brought the bag. I had pajama bottoms, a light weight but warm robe, slippers, tooth paste and a toothbrush, deodorant, a couple of books with short stories, and a CD player and CD's. You may want to buy a cheap CD player just in case something happened to it. I bought mine at Best buys for about $14.00. It worked fine.

I also had a swollen gland under my jaw. I went to see my Primary Care Physician a few days before surgery. I did not have a temperature and everything was fine.

Good luck on your surgery. You will be fine. The stress and worry before is really the worst part.

Don't forget to let us know how you are doing after surgery.

 

[Marguerite53]

Hi Tigerlily. I know what you mean about the letter to your son. I have 3 to write!! (and my husband makes 4). My idea for that, after scratching down several unsuccessful notes, is to go to the local library with a drink with a straw. Don't tell anyone, leave the cell phone in the car. The drink with the straw is for biting/sucking on in case you start to get emotional. It may not work for you, but when we said our last good-byes to our first at college, that frappachino saved me hours and hours of bawling!

Certainly don't worry about your house. People DO want to pitch in and I'm sure they will. As far as finding time to speak with everyone, maybe you could send out one email to everyone all at once, thanking them in advance for their prayers and all. You can address them personally after the surgery.....they'll be curious and want the attention then anyway!!

As for anything else, of course, I'm taking notes!! Try to give YOU some time this weekend. and as Mary said to me elsewhere.....Breathe.

Best wishes!!

Marguerite

 

[SusanC54]

Hi Tigerlily, I know exactly what you're going through. i have surgery scheduled for April 25, have known about it since January 18th. I carefully considered when to have the surgery, since I still have a senior in high school at home, as well as a foreign exchange student.......surgeon told me that I really should have this surgery this spring, although after graduation would have been more convenient. In considering the date, I looked at spring break times and decided to spend time with my kids and family and will be taking a whole month off before surgery.....granted, I work part-time and have a very supportive husband. I want to get things done like updating a will ( I know that's kind of morbid, but necessary), writing letters to all the kids and my husband, finishing up some special projects for graduation that I probably won't have the energy to do after the surgery, and most of all spend time with my extended family who live all over the country (we are all meeting in the Caribbean for a week before my surgery....I feel really lucky!) I have a very demanding boss, and I decided that I had to think of me first, and forget about whatever she might need or want from me......I am actually quitting the job because it involves heavy lifting and heavy mental stress from the boss! Anyway, I fortunately have the luxury of being able to do this, and I'm looking forward to the time before the surgery.

Susan

 

[Georgia]

Tigerlily - surely you're not going to have a houseful of people at home when you're released from the hospital? If your relatives are planning on staying to "keep you company" when you get home, you need to get someone to get them out of there, leaving one caretaker. It's very difficult to have a crowd around that first week home - concentration is nil, the noise and conversation are tiring, and you have YOU to concentrate on - the few things you need to do (breathe, walk, nap, shower, dress) are time-consuming. You need calm and quiet.

Further, you shouldn't be around a bunch of folks who can be carrying viruses or bacterial ailments. Stay out of crowds. Flu is just now cranking up around the country and you really really don't want to catch it post-ohs. Oh, that coughing and sneezing and fever - not to mention the chance of infecting your poor recovering heart.

My mother was quite put out because I wouldn't let her come to "help" after surgery. She's elderly and never stops talking, and I knew she'd simply drive me crazy. Perhaps that's self-centered and cruel; but I know what I can tolerate. And the one time you want to be self-centered is when you're recovering from this most difficult surgery.

Best of luck.

 

[KAJ]

Tigerlily,

My last day at work was on a Friday, We flew to Birmingham, AL for the surgery that following Sunday.

As far as what to bring, yes, bring your own pillow. I wish I would have brought mine. As others have stated, bring the usual personal hygiene items.
The CD player was a blessing. The music helped me to relax.

In addition, if you wear contacts, bring glasses if you have them. When I had major chest surgery in 82, I did not think to bring my glasses. I was in ICU for 3 days and could not see a thing. I think that just made it harder since I could not see my environment around me.
During this last surgery, the first thing my wife asked me when I woke up in ICU was if I wanted my glasses. A nurse said I would not want them. My wife yes said "oh yes he will." I did want them. Being able to see everything around me help me to better cope with the situation.

Karl

 

[dj/utvolsfan]

Go to doctor...just for peace of mind.

Go to doctor...just for peace of mind.

I guarantee you will be fine. It is truely amazing what stress can do to our bodies. On the outside we are so strong, but I think it is the inside that must take a beating. Maybe the little lump is just your body's way of saying, hey, take care of me, slow down! Let others take care of the house.
I am scheduled for surgery on Wednesday, April 5. Scheduled for pre-op workup and interview on Monday, April 2 and Tuesday, April 3. I am teaching up through Friday, March 31. The link that GeeBee gave you is great. I have already packed my bags for the most part with those little items I never would have thought of. Packing my bag reminded me of those special pregnancy days!!!
I don't want to sound like Debbi Downer cause I am truely optimistic but I also have a lump on my jaw. In fact, it is what forced me to get to Cleveland. I had cancelled a trip in October to CCF, but this 'thing' on my jaw wouldn't go away so I went to an ent doctor...finally. Well, he told me he wouldn't touch me with a heart beat like mine!!! I told him about me putting off CCF and before I knew what had hit me, I had a ct scan appt, a call into Cleveland, and two days later a call from this sweet ENT doctor's office telling me the doctor knew I would be ok and they were wanting to check and see if I was going to keep the CCF appt this time. Turns out I have a salivary gland tumor which 9 out of 10 times is beneign. I am counting on that statistic. It has all the signs of being beneign. Just hearing that word 'tumor' scares me to death....on top of the heart thing too. Dr. Stewart at Cleveland was not overly concerned about it either. Just one of those things that doesn't need to be there. It is the same incision as a face lift so I have been told I can have half my face lifted for free if I don't mind the other half being the same. Haha! Anyways, I have the heart surgery scheduled April 5 and then sometime during my recuperation 3 to 6 week period I am looking at another surgery to have the tumor removed. It is an overnight stay with tubes placed, etc. Dr. Stewart has metnioned having it done there at Cleveland so I can be watched by the experts, but logistically, I don't know quite yet. I am overwhelmed at this point in my life.....but I will make it!!! Note to anyone out there who has been or known that 1 out 10 that had a cancerous salivary gland tumor.....I truely cannot handle hearing that right now. I need to stay strong.
Take care. Debbi

 

[tigerlily]

Thanks ever so much for all your wonderful tips. I worked a long day today so I could feel caught up and ready to leave. I'm thinking I might quit my job after surgery but I just haven't had enough time to work that decision through. Everything happened so quick for me. 5 weeks ago, I thought I still had months if not years to think about this. Debbi, try not to worry about the swollen gland thing. I had one under my jaw for nearly a year. I had all kinds of tests including mri and needle biopsy and finally, it just went away on it's own. That's not to say you should ignore it, give it the attention it needs but chances are great that it's nothing. So don't fret.

Shirley