Quote from: Jenna Marie on January 05, 2015, 06:10:10 PM
Ainsley : I went with my wife, and she did in fact spend every single minute they'd let her at the residence, which worked out to ~12 hours a day. However, I did have a single room (albeit a really tiny one!) and I hear they've cracked down on visitors since I was there over two years ago, so you might want to ask either the clinic or someone who's been more recently. If it's true, I think it's a bad idea - it's downright cruel to separate you from your wife when you need her most.

Jenna--Thanks for the info.  I totally agree that it is cruel to separate me from my wife.  Even if I am supposed to be resting, I assure you I will rest much better knowing she is there next to me.  Maybe I am a baby, and that is fine with me, but she is my rock and it will be tough while she is not there.  I had cancer and was on chemo for a year and a half, then had radiation and she was with me the entire time.  Surgery, chemo clinic, home chemo pump, radiation therapy, throwing up, you name it and she was right there with me.  Now, the most important event in my life so far and she may have limited access to me....hmmmm...I wonder the logic behind it; sauf for the clinic staff having to deal with SOs and patients...

Ainsley : Wow, that sounds like a very tough time for both of you, and I'm glad you're OK now.

I almost never disagree with Izzy, but I do this time, and agree with you - the current hours are not "plenty," and I actually did much better and was much less depressed when my wife could be there with me, even when I had to do all the aftercare work. (Honestly, she *helped* with a lot of that; it was easier to stay on top of things when she was there!) Maybe you can get a special dispensation from them... when I was there, one woman was in a single room that had a double bed, and she was allowed to let her wife sleep overnight in the bed with her once.

Thanks for the information everyone!  I get anxious really easily, and I know that i'll be anxious as hell the day before/day of surgery lol.  I'm hoping knowing all the little things before hand will ease this.

Ainsley I hope they'll allow your wife to be with you for longer, it seems strange that they wouldn't, especially at the recovery house.  A friend of mine is coming up with me, so I'm hoping that the visiting hours will be sufficient.

Did anyone get a trachea shave with the surgery as well?

Quote from: katiew88 on January 06, 2015, 06:29:20 PM

Did anyone get a trachea shave with the surgery as well?

I originally planned for BA at the same time, mainly because I didn't want two recoveries.  I decided to wait as I thought having the extra procedure might interfere with how I cared for myself post op.   I felt after that I had made the right choice for me, but IDK how involved a trachea shave is or if it would inhibit anything after.

Jenna, thanks!  Doing great for nearly 4 years now.   Will be 4 years NED in March.
I think we are on the same page because my wife will keep me on task and help me with any aftercare -as prescribed.  She is meticulous about that stuff.  I may bring up the subject of her companionship and presence with me throughout the process to the clinic and see what comes of it.  Like I always say -You can't win if you don't play.  So, it's worth a try.

Katie, it looks like you will be there a few months before me.  I am very happy for you, btw.
I look forward to hearing how it goes for you and your companion.  Hopefully they will be accommodating for you.  Let me know!

When I was in Montreal last September there were two girls with trach shaves.  They didn't seem to have any problems with it and just had a bandage where the incision was.  By the time they went home the bandages had come off and I couldn't even see redness or a scar.

On the issue of family visiting.  My boyfriend and mother flew to Montreal with me.  We had three full days together in the city before I checked into the hospital.  We stayed at the bed and breakfast (Gite) and they stayed there the entire time.  My room there for one night was paid for as part of my surgery as I never had to stay at the residence prior to surgery.

My mom actually got a little sick during the trip but my boyfriend visited me every day.  In the hospital visiting hours are generous.  They went with me to check in at 7 the evening before surgery and stayed until 9.  The next day they came before surgery and were in my room waiting when I got back.  They stayed until 7pm, or 8 when visiting hours ended.

At the recovery house they could visit until 8 as well.  After you start dilations, that will occupy much of your time and a few hours a day is probably all you will be able to visit.  It's only 6 days, and you are lucky to have your spouse with you.  Her support, the staff and the other girls in your group will help you get through it.  Family is usually not allowed upstairs in the rooms.

Just want to add to this a little.

You are having i mean having major surgery with the chance of infection at its highest at the beginning.

There visiting hrs are for you and the other patients safety.

As others and Tammy just said you will have your hands and time full once you start your dilations.

Relaxing is also needed in this time for healing to begin.

So breath. Relax you will be in good hands.

Thanks everyone.  Im gonna hold off on the trachea shave for now.  Just got my medical package from brassard with all the forms and packing lists etc.  It's all getting very real now! 

Also, theres a medication that I'm on which is in the avoid list.  I emailed Suzanne in Montreal about it, and she just told me to continue it.  Anyone have experience with this sort of thing?  Should I get a second opinion?  Or is her word all I need to care about for my stay over there?

I figured the medication thing out.  Talked with my doctor and Brassard again.

How much time pre-surgery will I have to myself?  I arrive on a Saturday, and surgery isn't until a Monday.  Just wondering because friends are coming up and I was hoping to explore Montreal a bit. 

Quote from: katiew88 on February 23, 2015, 11:33:56 AM
How much time pre-surgery will I have to myself?  I arrive on a Saturday, and surgery isn't until a Monday.  Just wondering because friends are coming up and I was hoping to explore Montreal a bit.

Hope this helps...I arrived in Montreal on Sept 8, stayed one night at the B&B.
The next day, I had arrive at the clinic/hospital before 6pm, but I was so anxious, got there about 4pm. After the check in, and shown where all the important things were, they showed me to my room. About an hour later a roomie showed up...pretty sure there are usually two to a room. We had dinner that night.
Around 7am the following day, after some preparation stuff, someone from the surgery side said "nina, you're up first."
We went upstairs, had chats with various members of the surgery team, then surgery around 8 or 8:15am.
Next thing I knew, I woke up back in my room, hooked up to IV and so on, and was on Facebook around 11am.

I think it was Friday morning - about 48 hours following surgery that I was wheeled over to the recovery centre.

Cool thanks MuffinHeart,  were you able to do anything in Montreal on September 8 or 9? before having to check into the hospital?  Also I'm staying at the recovery centre the first night, then going to hospital the next night.

Probably a different story for me as I only live about an hour away from Montreal, so we didn't really need to get up and around and see the town.

The night before I went to the hospital, to be honest, just walked around and reflected. I was nervous, anxious, lots of angst. Don't think I could really take my mind off of what was happening in a couple days. We walked to a convenience store, picked up a few snacks and watched some tv at the B&B.

The afternoon that I checked in, basically stayed right there. We could have wandered around the city that day, but I was super paranoid - what if I wasn't looking when I crossed the street lol...worried I'd get hit by a car or something go wrong. Nope, this paranoid chick stayed put.

There really isn't a lot around that area like restaurants or shopping.
I think what you'll find is when you check in to the recovery center, you'll probably chat with a lot of the other people there and time will fly by so fast. Before you know it, you'll be back at the other building.

I'm laughing thinking about my roomie at the recovery center. While I experienced zero pain, never needing pain medication other than what they gave you before each meal and at bedtime, I never felt like venturing anywhere. My roomie, on the other hand, she went shopping, to McDonalds...she went for 3 and 4 hour walks. I couldn't believe...it was like she hadn't had surgery, and here I am just wanting to stay put.

Quote from: katiew88 on February 23, 2015, 11:33:56 AM
How much time pre-surgery will I have to myself?  I arrive on a Saturday, and surgery isn't until a Monday.  Just wondering because friends are coming up and I was hoping to explore Montreal a bit.

I think it will depends on what time you arrive on Saturday.  I arrived late afternoon 2 days before the surgery date, and I don't have time to get out and explore, since I was told that you need to shave etc down below at around 4pm (going out to Montreal proper and back by 4pm is not plausible if you don't know the way and without any private transportation). You might be able to sneak out a bit if you have local friends who can drive you from and back to the recovery center. Also to give you more time, maybe make sure you shave everything down below before you fly out to Montreal.
Later in the afternoon they will have you done your first enema before moving to the hospital, at the hospital they will have you do another enema again and nothing to eat till after your surgery.

Thanks jfong and Muffinheart.  Sounds like there really wont be much free time, might just hang out in the park that's near them(weather permitting).