Surgery in T minus ONE WEEK?!

[FlightyBrood]

im nervous of course, and i even had some second thoughts (because what if i end up not wanting this after all?) but after much thinking and deciding, I have waited long enough for this. (eight years is more than enough time to decide whats best for me)

and so im taking the plunge and getting surgery! Itll be done through Dr.Jed Horowitz in California. He's really awesome, and his sidekick girl is a real treat to be around, so it should go well.

He doesn't have any pictures of the actual procedure, but he's definitely done the procedure before. He also hesitated a long time and then apologized that he wouldnt be able to pull off the procedure without scarring, which I was totally aware of. He never stopped saying how sorry he was and told me that theyd to everything they could to minimize the scars. Im not that worried about that.

this year so far has been the worst thing. My beloved pet rat died, i broke my tooth which required two deep cleanings (i am HORRIBLE with needles, i had to be numbed multiple times in one sitting) and a root canal, i had a convention (which was fun but stressful), my phone broke and its just been one thing after another. things have finally started to calm down, and im hoping that surgery is the last hurdle i need to jump before celebrating my boyfriends (getting his OWN surgery in two weeks) 21st birthday in beautiful Las Vegas.

i have my pre op appointment the day after tomorrow, my surgery the 5th and hopefully everything goes well.

everything is all worked out with driving and being taken care of. How long was it before everyone got back up and were able to go out and return to normal? if it depends on the type of surgery, im getting the usual two scars across the chest type which i cant remember what its called right now.

[Kreuzfidel]

Congrats!  That's really amazing - and pretty cool that you'll both be having your surgeries within a few weeks of one another.

I'm only 6 days post-op, so I don't know when the return to normality is.  I'm feeling pretty good, just sore - so I would imagine it would be a few weeks most likely.

[Catherine Sarah]

Hi FlightyBrood,

Congratulations. I hope your procedure goes well for you. Being nervous is nothing unusual. May mean there are some unanswered questions still hanging about. Do you know the exact procedure you need to follow on the day of admission? What happens post-op etc, etc. The plethora of little details like this can make such a difference to some.

Don't expect too much of normality to exist post-op. After all this is a brand new life you've created. You don't want baggage from your past to haunt you.

Keep us in the loop and let us know how you're coping.

Huggs
Catherine

[FlightyBrood]

Hi FlightyBrood,

Congratulations. I hope your procedure goes well for you. Being nervous is nothing unusual. May mean there are some unanswered questions still hanging about. Do you know the exact procedure you need to follow on the day of admission? What happens post-op etc, etc. The plethora of little details like this can make such a difference to some.

Don't expect too much of normality to exist post-op. After all this is a brand new life you've created. You don't want baggage from your past to haunt you.

Keep us in the loop and let us know how you're coping.

Huggs
Catherine

I had my pre-op appointment yesterday, and I got all the details about the procedure, a double incision procedure, and went over every single bit of the aftercare with the nurse in charge. She even went through each medication I was prescribed and the physical feelings that would come just after waking up from anesthesia.

She also gave me every particular detail about what will be going down the actual morning of my surgery, so I am up to date on that. I think the only questions are how tired will I be after the surgery, when can i get back to my daily life (there is a new wardrobe in my future!) and when will I be able to leave the house, even if it's just to pick up milk or something. Not that I would need that, we are doing a shopping trip before Wednesday, which is when my surgery is scheduled for. (I thought it was tuesday for some reason.) I also have my boyfriend, who i live with, to take care of me, and my mother who lives down the street.

I guess a general update of how I am feeling is...just done with waiting. It's all I can think about at night, not really worried about living through it so much as just general thinking about the healing process. I'm not worried about it at all, just...thinking things like "I wonder how it will go" and "I wonder if I will be able to go out to eat right after". i know i will probably not even want to do anything but go home after the surgery but i seem to have it in my head that ill just get up and be on my way. I know that is not the case, so i dont know whats up with that!

My only fear, my absolute only fear with surgery is the needle for the anesthetic. I am HORRIBLE with needles, to the point of me whining and panic when I get my T shot still. It doesnt hurt, i am just terrified of the things. It is so bad that when i gave blood for this surgery, my blood began to run backwards and I almost passed out. They had to use a tiny needle. A lot of people tell me to just think about something else, but i cant bring myself to not notice the feeling of a needle in my arm no matter how hard i try. im afraid im going to panic when they put the needle in and something weird is going to happen or something.

I am hoping that, since my surgery is at 7:30 in the morning, i will be so tired that i wont even care about the needle going in. 

thanks for all the support i am getting! i am so excited, this week can not got any slower, it seems!

[Alexthecat]

You won't feel like eating after. Get your guy to make you some soup for the evening. They didn't give me enough pain meds in the drip so I felt like ->-bleeped-<-. Save your big out to eat party for the day you get your drains out.

[Catherine Sarah]

Hi FB,

Sounds like all the right things passing through your head. It's quite natural when you're headed for surgery. As for your own real fear; don't worry there'll be soooo many people round your gurney in pre-op all wanting a part of the action, you'll think it's a concert you're going to. You won't even notice when the needle went in or who did it. 

Good luck and a speedy recovery.

Huggs
Catherine

[Kreuzfidel]

Don't work yourself up too much about the needle prick, mate.  It is literally only a tiny second or so of pain and it's over - in my case, I didn't get gas to inhale, just the needle in my arm.  It was a sharp prick and she said she was giving me something to make me sleepy and that was the last thing I remember!  You'll be fine. 

[FlightyBrood]

i wasnt aware i would be having drains actually. is it possible that i wont need them or something? it wasnt mentioned to me at all, and it seems like kind of a big thing to leave out...

ive been doing top surgery research for years and years though, so i know how to handle drains, i think. I didnt think id need them because they werent mentioned to me by the surgeon or either of the two nurses i talked to.

[aleon515]

The drains are a bit uncomfortable. But really I don't like blood but I was very okay with them. I guess while I knew the blood and stuff we from me, I was able to kind of cut myself off from the knowledge. You are all wrapped up and can't see it coming out. You can get a local anesthetic for the IV, but I have heard it is really cold and so on, so it might be worse.

--Jay

[Kreuzfidel]

The vast majority of people having top surgery have drains from what I have seen.  You can always ask about them point-blank beforehand to prepare yourself, if you want.

But I agree with aleon - I didn't really pay much mind to them being there and I faint at the sight of blood.  You really are mummified pretty much so you can't see where they come out of your body unless you get unwrapped to bathe and even then, you would have to deliberately look to see them. 

They stung a bit when they removed them, but other than that - it was really just basically uncomfortable having them in - but no more so than anything else (considering you will have just had major surgery).

[FlightyBrood]

I'm actually not going to be bandaged up. I will be put in this weird vest thing-basically a binder.

I do have nipple tape things, but no bandages. I have heard top surgery being done without drains, but I will make sure to ask about them. In fact, I will drop the nurse an e-mail to ask. Drains don't bother me at all, but obviously I would prefer not to have them! I don't really know where they would go with that weird vest thing anyways.

I'm really zen right now about the whole thing, i have managed to keep myself occupied with preparing which is good. Tomorrow i start these weird herbal things they gave me to help with healing.

keep ya'll posted!

[Alexthecat]

Drains will go in your hairy armpits.

[Kreuzfidel]

I'm actually not going to be bandaged up. I will be put in this weird vest thing-basically a binder.

I do have nipple tape things, but no bandages. I have heard top surgery being done without drains, but I will make sure to ask about them. In fact, I will drop the nurse an e-mail to ask. Drains don't bother me at all, but obviously I would prefer not to have them! I don't really know where they would go with that weird vest thing anyways.

I'm really zen right now about the whole thing, i have managed to keep myself occupied with preparing which is good. Tomorrow i start these weird herbal things they gave me to help with healing.

keep ya'll posted!

You'll be fine - I didn't have bandages either, but instead have this binder they gave me.  Emailing the nurse is a good idea.

Drains will go in your hairy armpits.

Actually, they didn't my drain holes in my armpits, but instead they put them on the sides of my ribcage.

[FlightyBrood]

Well, we've hit something of a...hurdle.

The nurse gave us some herbal things that we are supposed to take three times a day starting three days before the surgery.

It's got flour in it, and the boyfriend is gluten intolerant. It's also got gelatin in it, i think the only food allergy i have. The office is closed today, so I can't call them to ask if it is super important we take these things until tomorrow.

We didnt think there was anything bad for us in them until after i took them and started feeling ill.  Everything happens for a reason, and i think me getting ill was so that we would read the ingredients on the pills, because me taking them isnt going to kill me, but the boyfriend taking them would have seriously messed him up three days before his surgery.

im not too worried since they are just an herbal supplement thing that says its supposed to help with healing or something. i cant imagine something that contains wheat would be important, as gluten intolerant people are out there by the handful, and i think vegetarians cant eat gelatin.

just an update, really. im calling the office first thing tomorrow morning, then its food shopping and a hockey game!

[Alexthecat]

I didn't have to take anything like that. You probably will be fine without them.

[aleon515]

Well my arm pits WEREN'T hairy since you are supposed to shave them (and I would definitely advise doing this-- tape coming off of hair is painful). I think the idea that these drains come out of you, well you know it intellectually, but I haven't met people who were bothered by the actual drain goo. (It's not all blood, that's why I use the scientific term.   )

You will have a vest, bandages or something, so it's not like you are going to actually see the goo go from you to the drain, if you have them. And if you don't, well there are many unpretty things re: top surgery.

--Jay

[FlightyBrood]

Well my arm pits WEREN'T hairy since you are supposed to shave them (and I would definitely advise doing this-- tape coming off of hair is painful). I think the idea that these drains come out of you, well you know it intellectually, but I haven't met people who were bothered by the actual drain goo. (It's not all blood, that's why I use the scientific term.   )

You will have a vest, bandages or something, so it's not like you are going to actually see the goo go from you to the drain, if you have them. And if you don't, well there are many unpretty things re: top surgery.

--Jay

I'm not worried in the slightest about the drains. Goo doesnt bug me, blood does but ive looked up pictures and i wasnt squicked at all so i think ill be fine, provided i actually have them. I'm calling tomorrow to ask. I'm also not worried about the actual incisions. I'm a bit...weird about my skin not being totally clean, so if anything is going to bug me its all the inevitable crap thats going to be gathering around the incisions. but, its nothing i cant handle.

I dont have many people i can turn to for support-not because they dont support me but because i am stealth with nearly all my friends. A few people that know, some friends that watched me grow up, have offered to send good energy and thoughts my way, and one friend ive known since gradeschool asked if id like her to pray for me. I said yes, because having so many people think about me and doing everything they can to wish me well puts me at extreme ease! No more nerves, really!

Even about the needle. I decided I'm going to tell the anesthesiologist about my best friend the whole time. Thinking about her will calm me down while the needle goes in. I'm set for this, I'm ready to have this off my mind (and body!) And thanks to you guys for all the support im getting! It means worlds to me. I'll keep everyone posted about the drains and pills situation.

P.S. Jay, that cat in your icon looks EXACTLY like mine!

[aleon515]

No the cats don't really look identical from face forward, but I can see the resemblance a bit. He's actually got points, but it's the same color. Padfoot just died this week. Very sad about this.   Your's is a cute one to be sure.

It's good to let the doctor know about your fears. It helped me a lot to talk to Dr G. He was like you are the most healthy guy in the world and why could you possibly worry about this.

--Jay

[FlightyBrood]

Sorry to hear about padfoot losing a pet is the worst thing. I just lost my beloved pet rat last month.

My mother is sick with the flu. She's freaking out cause I was around her minimally last night, and she doesbt want my surgery to have to be rescheduled. She's really upset she can't make it to the day of too. The boyfriends been given the command to call her right after I get out of surgery.

The nurse called me back today and said instead of taking the pills we are allergic to, we can drink pineapple juice! Much better than pills. Also she said there likely will not be drains. So that's cool too.

We just did our pre surgery shopping trip. Got a bunch of food and juice. We got called ladies at checkout though...

Even that can't ruin my excitement though!

[Declan.]

Ask for a small IV needle. They're more comfortable. Other than the initial sting, the worst part of an IV is the soreness, which takes a long time to set in. You'll be asleep by then. Don't be dehydrated or they will have trouble finding a vein. From my experience (many, many IVs...), the side of the wrist is the best place to get it. The skin there is really not sensitive.

You sound like me. The IV and the drains are bothering me more than anything else when I think about getting surgery, lol.