So what am I to expect the first 24hrs after surgery?  I'm opting for spinal, so anesthesia effects are of no concern.  Anything I should be aware of?

Lots of sleep they keep you well medicated

Ashley

It's a bit off since I haven't had SRS but I had the spinal thing once (twice) on some other occasion. So I just want to say that no matter how good you feel and how much you're tempted to move - don't! I learned it the hard way that the nurses weren't joking about that

g

Hi Kristyn

Tick tock, tick tock, your time is just about there  .

You mentioned that you are going to have a spinal.  In a sense thinking about what I went through,  I had an epidural and I remember it very much because I was in a room just next to the surgery room and 'my twin sister" was being being aroused from her surgery.  I was asked to turn on my side and they were saying to keep very still for the procedure.  They located the site and commenced the procedure.  I concentrated on keeping still because of the nature of the procedure and with a minute or so the procedure was completed.

I was then wheeled in to the surgery room and I think they asked if I could move from the trolley on to the operating table, I said yes and I successfully made the manoeuvre.  After that it was lights out.

After surgery, I remember they woke me up and immediately I went back to sleep.  The time after in my hospital room, as far as I can remember I did not have any morphine type drugs and even though I have mentioned the pain level in another thread as around 4 to 5, thinking about it, I do not think I even really approached that level.  Maybe it was around 2 to 3, unfortunately it was so long ago.  I do not think I will be able to ever recall the exact pain level after surgery, because of the epidural was preventing the pain from being registered.

So basically there will be minimal pain and you will be sleeping the effects of the anaesthetics of.

Stop worrying you will be fine and as you have mentioned before our stories are similar, so that means you will have a fantastic future ahead of you.  Wishing you all the best for your up and coming surgery and speedy recovery.

My kindest regards as always
Sarah B

Quote from: Sarah B on September 08, 2010, 02:51:20 PM


Stop worrying you will be fine and as you have mentioned before our stories are similar, so that means you will have a fantastic future ahead of you.  Wishing you all the best for your up and coming surgery and speedy recovery.

My kindest regards as always
Sarah B

Thanks Sarah.  Actually I'm not really worried anymore--today I started to feel a great deal of confidence which replaced some of the fears and worries I was experiencing earlier.  It's odd, but maybe I'm really ready for it now.

Quote from: juststarting on September 08, 2010, 02:45:53 PM
Lots of sleep they keep you well medicated

Ashley

Even though you were medicated, were you conscious as to what was going on when you were awake?

Ya Kristyn I kind of sliped in and out of sleep the first day. The nurse's come and go check your vitals and ask you how the pain is if you want any water ect.You'll be looking forward to the first meal the next day I practically licked my plate clean I was so hungry!If I don't get to talk to you before you go GOOD LUCK and I look forward to reading your posts while your there.Enjoy your time there they truly do spoil you there and I'm sure you'll miss everybody after you leave I still do Please say hi to everyone for me. You'll find that sitting is one of the harder things to do after surgery especially at the dinner table I found if I took the chair and turned it around so the back was up agains't the table you could kneel on the chair and somewhat enjoy the meal, Oh and the food is excellent

Ashley

Quote from: juststarting on September 08, 2010, 04:24:49 PM
Ya Kristyn I kind of sliped in and out of sleep the first day. The nurse's come and go check your vitals and ask you how the pain is if you want any water ect.You'll be looking forward to the first meal the next day I practically licked my plate clean I was so hungry!If I don't get to talk to you before you go GOOD LUCK and I look forward to reading your posts while your there.Enjoy your time there they truly do spoil you there and I'm sure you'll miss everybody after you leave I still do Please say hi to everyone for me. You'll find that sitting is one of the harder things to do after surgery especially at the dinner table I found if I took the chair and turned it around so the back was up agains't the table you could kneel on the chair and somewhat enjoy the meal, Oh and the food is excellent

Ashley

Thanks Ash.  What was your first meal after surgery and, at the residence, do they have water coolers or do you drink tap water?

Last Tues for my Labi op....

I had a full GA Kristyn, thank gawd I did... as I know the surgery was trickier and longer than expected.... but this was the first serious anaesthesia for me in almost 20 years...

Went fab, absolutely no hang-over what so ever Dr Best (how apt)... was a trooper...

On waking I had that awful overwhelming sensation of desperately needing to pee....but then twigged twas the catheter appearing from under the covers...

Not much you can do about that one....

Then it was being wheeled out of the recovery room up into private room... nurses at Greenbaum all first rate, fabulous after care... Janine & Morgan got me nicely through the nite...

The laptop was a saving grace from keeping me nicely distracted... but it would be fibbing to say it's a cake walk it isn't...

But they'll keep on top of the pain control so as always you do get through it....

But boy do you use up panty pads....like having the mother of all periods...complete with vaginal cramps...

Hey a sorta right of passage...?

But you'll make it through....those of us that opt for this all do Kristyn, and if you have blips along the way... well good things always are worth fighting for....

And all yer virtual TG mates on here (susans) will be rooting for you...(scuse the pun)

Now get focused and get to it girl.... plane departs in just a few days...

And my next ops on the 14th.... so like you I'll be right back in the thick of it....

And I'm sure SaraR will report in soon enuff?

Good luck...

Auntie C xx

They have water coolers Kristyn. They have ice cream too for dessert  but you have to ask for it and say its your birthday or something you have to check out the oatmeal cookies there in in a basket by the table they are to die for especially at night when you can't sleep that and some hot chocolate and some good conversation with whoever is on night shift usally its Isabella she's great everybody is great there.I'm trying to remember what my first meal was and for the life of me I don't recall I think it was breakfast but not to sure like I said good drugs.Girl if theres one good tip I can give you about that place Carol told me one time and it was after they took off the dressing she told me take your pain pills every 4 hours whether you think you need them or not because then all the pressure is on those few stitches that keep the stent in and trust me it hurts but if you keep up on the pain killers its not to bad and chill on the prune juice the girls I was with were so afraid of having there first bowel movement thats all they drank and payed for it afterwards.It will come and if not they have stool softeners to help, Your better with that then all that prune juice. Oh I geuss I have more then one tip wish I lived in Montreal so I could visit and help theres Movies in the cabinet in the atrium the local channels suck especially if you don't speak French and Ice is your friend you'll know what I mean when your there! If you need somebody to talk to you know my email address, Don't hesitate to write.Like I said before your in good hands he's the best and his bedside manor is great

Quote from: Cruelladeville on September 08, 2010, 09:26:32 PM
Last Tues for my Labi op....

I had a full GA Kristyn, thank gawd I did... as I know the surgery was trickier and longer than expected.... but this was the first serious anaesthesia for me in almost 20 years...

Went fab, absolutely no hang-over what so ever Dr Best (how apt)... was a trooper...

Congrats!  Good to hear!

Quote

But you'll make it through....those of us that opt for this all do Kristyn, and if you have blips along the way... well good things always are worth fighting for....

True.  Thanks.

Quote
And all yer virtual TG mates on here (susans) will be rooting for you...(scuse the pun)

Don't you mean ROTO-ROOTING?   

Quote
Now get focused and get to it girl.... plane departs in just a few days...

All done--just got to clean my apartment.  The place looks like a meth lab! 

Quote
And my next ops on the 14th.... so like you I'll be right back in the thick of it....


Good luck...

Good luck to you too, hun!   

Auntie C xx
[/quote]

Quote from: juststarting on September 08, 2010, 10:42:43 PM
They have water coolers Kristyn.

Beautiful!

Quote
They have ice cream too for dessert  but you have to ask for it and say its your birthday or something you have to check out the oatmeal cookies there in in a basket by the table they are to die for especially at night when you can't sleep that and some hot chocolate

Cookies??  Icecream??  I'll get fat!!!  Don't they have fruit?

Quote
Carol told me one time and it was after they took off the dressing she told me take your pain pills every 4 hours whether you think you need them or not because then all the pressure is on those few stitches that keep the stent in and trust me it hurts but if you keep up on the pain killers its not to bad

Ahhhh.  That's why you looked so content when I was there!   

Quote
If you need somebody to talk to you know my email address, Don't hesitate to write.Like I said before your in good hands he's the best and his bedside manor is great

Thanks for all that Ashley.  You're going to have to pm me your email--I can't find your card.

I sent you a email let me know if you get it and yes they have a big bowl of fruit, They love the fiber there

Ashley

Take it as it goes along.  Everyone responds differently.  I think mental attitude plays a big part.

My surgery was in the morning.  I had a general, woke up around 10AM and felt fine, a bit groggy, but otherwise fine.  I was in no pain and didn't even consider pain medication until late that night when the nurse suggested it might help in getting a better night's sleep.

Juliekins woke up in pain big time!  She was pretty much out of it and miserable.  She had a very rough recovery. 

We both had Brassard.  So you never know.  Be positive.  I really think that helps a lot.

Quote from: juststarting on September 09, 2010, 08:12:32 AM
I sent you a email let me know if you get it and yes they have a big bowl of fruit, They love the fiber there

Ashley

Thanks Ash!  I love the fiber here!!! 

Quote from: Julie Marie on September 09, 2010, 08:26:21 AM

We both had Brassard.  So you never know.  Be positive.  I really think that helps a lot.

That's all I feel now--positive.  Thanks Julie!