When to schedule my surgery?!

[paulk]

Hi,

I'm stressing out over when to schedule my surgery. Had it scheduled for 2/13, then found out surgeon was taking vacation on 2/14. Ok, I wasn't comfortable with that. I rescheduled for the 2/20, just after he gets back from vacation, is this a good idea? I'd really rather get it done sooner, so I can get the recovery phase started sooner. I was thinking of Thursday, 2/9, but my surgeon won't be on call that weekend, and then leaves on vacation 2/14. How important is it to have my surgeon available in the days immediately after surgery? I'm freaking out just a bit because I've never had any really invasive surgery like this before.

Thanks for any advice you can offer, or for just listening
-Paul

 

[kingpeta]

Paul,

I had my surgery right after my surgeon returned from vacation. Don't know if it made any difference though. Everything went fine.

Where are you having surgery and by whom?

PS - even if your surgeon isn't around right after surgery, he'll have competent assistants checking in on you - don't worry about it!

 

[geebee]

Paul,

IMHO, having the surgeon around would be important (at least to me). I had a lot of questions the few days after my surgeries that I felt the surgeon needed to answer. Now, I don't know about most people, maybe surgeons just aren't around depending on their schedules, but mine were.

If you can wait until the 20th, you should be comforted by the fact that you will have a rested surgeon. However, we did have a member recently whose surgery was postponed because her surgeon decided to extend his vacation.

I should also think if you have your surgery on the 9th, even if your surgeon isn't on call for the weekend, they can still find him should an emergency occur. Do you know if he will be in the hospital on the 13th?

Just some food for thought. Good luck.

 

[Marguerite53]

Do we know how urgent your surgery is? Will waiting that extra week cause your condition to cause you any danger? If not, then I would respect your own gut instinct which immediately told you to reschedule it for when he got back from his vacation. Is it important to have him around for you post-surgery?? TO YOU it sounds like it is, so honor your intuition.

I haven't had my surgery yet, but am surgeon shopping right now. I know I would feel as you do -- I'd want him around for questions. I think you made a good choice, but ONLY if it is safe for you to do so.

Hang in there!! Try not to overthink too much!!

Marguerite

 

[Debster]

Okay-how wacko is this? When my mom had her mitral valve replaced last April-she NEVER saw her surgeon after surgery and hasn't seen him to this day!!! He came and talked to us after she was out, and that was it! She saw many cardios(there are like 12 or so in her practice) while she was in the hospital, but never again saw the man who did it. Not the best deal in the world-and her surgery was high risk(she waited to long for surgery and has other health issues) I would not recommend this to others, just sharing this weird experience!! Debbie ps I did meet the man before her surgery-was impressed with him and heard many glowing recommendations, not sure what the deal was!

 

[PamO]

I'm with Gina on this. I know after my husband's surgery, his surgeon was around quite a bit and both of us asked him a lot of questions. I would just feel more comfortable having the person who operated on me around and not playing golf in the Bahamas!

Unless it's impossible to wait due to your condition, I would wait and have the surgeon here. He'll be nice and rested!

 

[Tom F.]

After my surgery the surgeon was around as I was waking up later in the day, but I did not see him after that the entire time I was in the hospital. My cardiologist did step in a few times, however. The day after I came home my surgeon did call me at home to check on how I was doing. My sense is that for the most part the surgeon steps out of the picture and the cardiologist take over during recovery, at least that is how mine worked. But I also had a generally event-free recovery too.

 

[MikeHeim]

I'm along the lines with Tom F. and Debster. I saw my surgeon once for the consultation prior to surgery, and then one time as I was waking up. (My fiance will never let me forget some of the stupid stuff I slurred in his direction under anethesia.) There was a Cardiologist that had been present at my surgery at all times during the hospital, and they would come and check on me frequently. They seemed extremely knowledgable and couldn't have been more helpful. My surgery was also on a Friday, so my surgeon wouldn't have been in the office anyway (I know that he was available by phone and was called a couple times). Whether or not your surgeon is "on call" is irrellavent. You are his patient and if there is some anomoly during your recovery, it is up to him to figure out what to do.

From what I've learned about surgeons, they seem to be almost machines. They aren't like the rest of us (maybe I should speak for myself) and daze out at work and get distracted on Friday's or before vacations.

I scheduled my surgery for less than three weeks after my consultation on the first day that was available. I was deeply troubled that I had a problem with my heart and more and more permanent damage was being caused every day that it wasn't fixed. (That's not exactly a true statement, but that was certainly how I felt.) If it were me, I would schedule it for February 9th. That said, it's not me and I'm sure you'll make a good decision. I really don't think that there is a "wrong" answer on this one.

 

[paulk]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts guys & gals. I'll talk it over with my wife tonite & decide then. There is no huge hurry, both cardios said as I should have surgery within the next 3 months. My surgeon is Dr. Paul Seifert, and I'll be using the Wisconsin Heart Hospital.

-Paul

 

[PamO]

I can see how someone wouldn't see their surgeon too much after the procedure and the cardio takes over. Our situation was a little unique, I must admit. My husband's surgeon and cardio are personal friends of ours - a perk of owning a golf shop, yeah? His surgeon will still call once in a while to see how he's doing, but mainly to talk golf!

 

[bvdr]

Paul, I would feel more comfortable with my surgeon around those first few days. Usually you have very little contact after you get discharged from the hospital but it is nice to know he is there at least while you are still there. I saw my surgeon for an intial consult then I was evaluated for a mitral valvoplasty by a cardiologist who is an expert at that. When he evaluated me and found I was not a candidate for the valvoplasty he called the surgeon and I was scheduled for the valve replacement. So, I saw the surgeon for consult, for surgery, and on his rounds for 5 days. I have not seen nor spoken to him since. That is why it isn't too important that you like the personality of your surgeon since you spend so little time with him. Mine was really nice but I choose him because of his reputation and qualifications. Good luck with all the decisions right now. I know people have already told you this but you are in the most stressful part right now.

 

[Cris N]

My surgeon went on vacation the day after my surgery but he has two PAs who alternated coming in to see me - they spent more time with me than the surgeon would have... he would have been in the OR anyway. Quite frankly, it didn't really bother me.

I did have a second hospitalization after I had been home for two days... he stopped in to see me a few times then - probably to jack up the insurance payments!
Cris

 

[Lynlw]

one of the times Justin's last surgery was postponed was because the surgeon was going out of town for a few days the day after Justin's surgery. IF anything happened and Justin had to go back, after spending all the time and energy picking the "right" surgeon, I wouldn't want somone else taking him back if there was a complication. We rarely saw the sugeons post op but as long as he was around for any complications, that's what mattered to me. Lyn

 

[ALCapshaw2]

WHEN to Schedule Surgery

WHEN to Schedule Surgery

GOOD QUESTION Paul !

I asked that same question of my PCP who recommended not scheduling the week BEFORE or AFTER the surgeon goes on vacation or on a business trip.

It turned out that was not possible for my surgeon within the next 2 months so I chose a Tuesday after a weekend trip (by the surgeon), supposedly 'first in line' on a Tuesday, Monday being his day to see patients in clinic. He would be around for remainder of the week, if needed.

THEN, when he got back, a heart had become available for transplant (he is the head transplant surgeon at the best known heart hospital in my state). He did the transplant between midnight Sunday and 6 am Monday. I 'assume' he then kept his Monday appointments. Tuesday morning, ANOTHER heart had become available so I was bumped to #2 for the day and he did his second transplant in 36 hours. FINALLY, I was taken in for my surgery (without notification to my family) Tuesday afternoon.

When I awoke, the first thing he told me was that he implanted a mechanical valve (instead of the Bovine Pericardial we had agreed upon) due to scar tissue (from Radiation Treatment for Hodgkins Disease). Some other concerns we had discussed were never addressed again. I only saw his Surgical Resident after the initial post-surgery meeting.

My hometown Cardiologist did my followup after release from the hospital. My recovery was 'a little rocky' due to some chest wall irritation and inflamation which my Cardio finally figured out after a few visits to the ER, PCP, and Lung Specialist. I envied all of those who reported fast and smooth recoveries !

Bottom Line #1: IF your surgeon also does Heart Transplants, you need to understand that you could be 'bumped' anytime a heart becomes available.

Bottom Line #2: Even with good planning and scheduling, there are NO GUARANTEES that it will go as planned. I suspect most do, but there can always be exceptions.

I hope I didn't scare you. Chances are HIGHLY in your favor for a good outcome.

Hope yours goes according to whatever plan you work out with your surgeon.

'AL Capshaw'

 

[MikeHeim]

I asked that same question of my PCP who recommended not scheduling the week BEFORE or AFTER the surgeon goes on vacation or on a business trip.

Why is that? That sounds like a pretty irresponsible thing for a PCP to just throw out.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Why is that? That sounds like a pretty irresponsible thing for a PCP to just throw out.

I 'assumed' it was to allow the surgeon to focus on his normal routine and not be distracted (or fatigued) by extraneous events.

'AL Capshaw'

 

[joanne6]

I had a similar experience with my surgeon going on vacation. I had the surgery on a Monday. Saw him briefly Tues and Wed and not again until my 1 month follow up. I was discharged from his care at that appt. His PA, however, was availabe whenever I needed her. I saw her for a long visit daily in the hospital and then could (and did ) beep her regularly after discharge.
I agreee that the surgeons do their job and then leave the postop work to other members of the team.
You have to do what makes you comfortable. Just be sure to let us know what you decide.

 

[MikeHeim]

I 'assumed' it was to allow the surgeon to focus on his normal routine and not be distracted (or fatigued) by extraneous events.

'AL Capshaw'

Absolutely no offense meant to you, but I still think this is a ridiculous thing for your PCP to say. I would hope that all surgeons are professional enough to block outside distractions during such important work. For all I know, my surgeon (or yours) may have had a fight with his wife the night before my surgery, or perhaps one of his kids didn't come home until 3AM and couldn't sleep. (Feel free to make up your own stressful life event and insert here, there are hundreds.) Vacations are not even close to the most distracting event in a person's life.

 

[tobagotwo]

I would also want the surgeon around. I saw very little of him after the surgery. I think it's because when he stopped by on the afternoon after the surgery, I stood up to talk to him and shook his hand. I was feeling quite good and surprisingly healthy, and certainly didn't seem very needy.

However, in the very unlikely event that anything untoward had occurred, he is the one I would want to go back in.

Your gut instincts on this sound right to me.

Best wishes,

 

[paulk]

Thanks

Thanks

I've decided to set my surgery for Thursday, february 9th. I talked with the surgeons office today, and they assured me that my surgeon will see me every day after surgery, including that saturday and sunday. That was my biggest concern. This also alleviates some of my waiting period, I really want to get this done sooner, so I don't have to think about it so long, and start recovering sooner. Finally, it fits in better with family support, my mom will be around through the end of february, and is willing to do whatever she can during my recovery. My wifes folks are even willing to fly up from florida while I'm in the hospital to hold the fort down & get the kids off to school.

Thanks for your thoughts and encouragement. Next step, find my way through my companys short term disablity policy.

-Paul