Surgery: What do you know now that you wish you knew before?

[bsmcneil]

If you've had surgery (particularly more substantive ones), what did you learn before/after? What was helpful in getting through (mentally, physically, logistically)? What surprised you? What do you wish you had known? Any "hacks", urban legends that didn't really pan out?

I'm personally having one (not looking for attention - but I thought it might be weird if I wasn't honest). I'm trying to think things through - the other surgeries I had (fairly minor), I hadn't really known what to expect. I'm also sort of alone - with friends and acquaintances throughout the country. So, I'm trying to make a list of "Ways you can help (from afar)" - things like, sending me movie or book recs, memes, etc.

 

[bsmcneil]

If you've had surgery (particularly more substantive ones), what did you learn before/after? What was helpful in getting through (mentally, physically, logistically)? What surprised you? What do you wish you had known? Any "hacks", urban legends that didn't really pan out?

I'm personally having one (not looking for attention - but I thought it might be weird if I wasn't honest). I'm trying to think things through - the other surgeries I had (fairly minor), I hadn't really known what to expect. I'm also sort of alone - with friends and acquaintances throughout the country. So, I'm trying to make a list of "Ways you can help (from afar)" - things like, sending me movie or book recs, memes, etc.

I should've added - mine is ACDF (interior, due to a spinal cord thing)

 

[JoanneAZ]

This may seem obvious but, don’t be afraid to ask questions about the surgery and recovery before the surgery. If you’re kept in the hospital post surgically ask the nurses and doctors questions as they come to you. Write them down if you need to. There is no such thing as a stupid question, especially when it comes to your health.

Good luck with your procedure and recovery. I hope it all goes smoothly.

 

[mylilnikita]

Well my first was an unplanned c section. It was so unplanned that during the hospital tour I decided to leave at the c section part because oh no it wasn’t part of how I saw it going for me lol.
I was straight out scared they didn’t go oh hey we will strap your arms down etc. the anesthesiologist realized I was freaking and talked me through stuff.

Both last year abd this year I had procedures done under GA . I was more vocal asked questions let then know that as long as I know what is going to happen in advance I’ll be ok. Both times went smoothly.

I’ll be getting a hysterectomy not sure when now as my gyno has stopped doing surgery and I have an appointment at end o month at the sister office.
But guess what? I’ll he letting them know I expect to know the drill as it were.
You have to be your best advocate! Good luck

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

Recovery
Meal plan and batch cook or have food prepared for 2 weeks when you come home. You will have brain fog, fatigue and most surgery's you cant lift heavy items for a few weeks. Preparing all the food and snacks needed NOW before surgery when you are in the right frame of mind really makes a difference afterwards. When you come home, you just follow the meal planner and instructions

I did a day by day breakfast, lunch and dinner plan. I made a spreadsheet and hung it on the fridge with the exact food for each meal for 14 days. Everything only had to be reheated, not cooked, and anything I put in the freezer was labeled with what it was and the day/ date to be eaten.

The day before you have the surgery set up your recovery room. Make it cozy, have all the items you need within reaching distance.

I bought a bed table. I put lots of pillows and cushions on the bed and arranged them in a comfy upright sleeping position. I had a step to get off and on the bed. I had a table on each side of the bed with everything I needed, snacks, drinks, entertainment, medications.

Some people buy a pick up stick, for things that fall on the ground, as most likely you wont be able to just bend down and get something if it falls on the floor.

 

[JoanneAZ]

Also, don’t be afraid to ask for and/or accept help because you will need it.
As Bad Pink Tink said, you will have brain fog. Keep entertainment handy that you can drop in and out of… Books, YouTube videos, etc. I watched a lot of old tv on Netflix and HBO Max. I’d seen them before so it didn’t matter if I fell asleep in the middle of an episode.
If you’re in pain TAKE the pain meds! Ask if you can supplement with Tylenol or ibuprofen. We (retired RN here) used to give our post c-section moms Tylenol and Ibuprofen every 6 hours timed so they got something every 3 hours. Many had no need for narcotics on top of that. It’s easier to stay ahead of the pain than to bring pain down once it’s there. If you take Tylenol or ibuprofen make sure you aren’t accidentally doubling the dosage with your prescribed pain meds as some narcotics do include them.
I might think of more advice.

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

Also, don’t be afraid to ask for and/or accept help because you will need it.
As Bad Pink Tink said, you will have brain fog. Keep entertainment handy that you can drop in and out of… Books, YouTube videos, etc. I watched a lot of old tv on Netflix and HBO Max. I’d seen them before so it didn’t matter if I fell asleep in the middle of an episode.
If you’re in pain TAKE the pain meds! Ask if you can supplement with Tylenol or ibuprofen. We (retired RN here) used to give our post c-section moms Tylenol and Ibuprofen every 6 hours timed so they got something every 3 hours. Many had no need for narcotics on top of that. It’s easier to stay ahead of the pain than to bring pain down once it’s there. If you take Tylenol or ibuprofen make sure you aren’t accidentally doubling the dosage with your prescribed pain meds as some narcotics do include them.
I might think of more advice.

Should have mentioned I had a hysterectomy with c section incision. I stayed in bed for 6 weeks, but I am lucky, I work from home. From day 8 I started back working from bed. I was exhausted though and would nap for about 3 hours after lunch.

I also didnt have any narcotics, the hospital sent me home with an antibiotic prescription and I only took paracetamol / Tylenol, every 4 to 6 hours for about a week. I just took them at the same times as the antibiotics and because they were continually in my system, I didnt have any pain.

 

[unrequited23]

Piggybacking on the pain medication advice, make a plan to physically write down which medications you are taking and what time you are taking them. Set alarms in your phone to remind/wake you. DS13 had surgery last year and needed medicine every 3 hours for 2 weeks, meaning I got no more than 2.5 hrs of consecutive sleep for two weeks. The meds chart really helped.

Also, get everything you might need for the restroom together. Think about how you will need to transfer and what you will need to reach. (Basing this on a non-weight bearing ankle fracture, unplanned c section and appendectomy.)

If you will be getting any deliveries and have the space, set up a small table for deliveries so you will not have to bend down to pick them up.

Taste test some protein shakes now so you know which ones you like. Your appetite will probably decrease after surgery but the protein will help you heal.

 

[lovesmurfs]

I've had a number of surgeries (gall bladder removal, full hysterectomy with incision, double knee replacement). For me, take the TIME to recover. Work doesn't need me back as soon as I think I need to. Take healing time.

Take ALL the meds. You won't get hooked, and your doctor won't let you get hooked. But manage your pain.

Do whatever physical therapy or exercises they tell you to. Don't lie to yourself that you're doing the work. Just do it.

 

[mjkacmom]

My last surgery was an emergency appendectomy. I wish I head headphones, but I did manage to put on my white noise app on my phone and keep it next to my head (my roommate was an elderly woman who’s family was allowed to stay way past visiting hours and were pretty loud). Hospitals are not easy to sleep in (I’ve had about 6 surgeries all together).

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

Hospitals are not easy to sleep in (I’ve had about 6 surgeries all together).

I agree. I was also in a room with an elderly woman, her family would put the tv and light on before they left and she would sleep like that. I brought a sleepmask and headphones and the light and noise from her side didn't bother me.

I need my coffee in the morning and I knew that the hospital wouldn't have barista style coffee , only instant, so I brought some high end micro ground coffee sachets and just asked for hot water and milk at breakfast. I also brought some candy and chocolate, and a book.

I also brought travel sized moisturizer , facewash , wash cloth and shower gel.

My hospital bag was very similar to a weekend away carry on bag.

When your insides have been squished, poked, prodded, cut, moved about and who knows what else, and you are just lying there in a hospital bed, and nothing feels like it should, its really nice to give yourself a mini facial. It was funny one morning I was just back in bed after using the restroom and had just started putting moisturizer on my face when my surgeon and his team were doing rounds.

 

[barkley]

If you’re in pain TAKE the pain meds!

manage your pain.

YES, MANAGE the pain. i've known far too many people who were so fearful of addiction that they failed to take the very minor/reasonable amount of pain management meds their doctors instructed them to causing a delay in recovery.

if you live alone review your insurance documents and see what kind of coverage you might have for items/services that might be beneficial-mine covers a patient emergency alert system (think 'life alert') which if you can't get out of bed or a chair during recover or (god forbid) take a fall can be essential. mine also covers 2 weeks of 2 meals per day delivered to your home after a surgical hospital stay of some types.

what I've learned from my own surgeries/my family members-

if you will have any healing wounds get a waterproof mattress cover for your bed (better yet-get 2) put one on your mattress and top with a sheet, put another on top of that sheet and top with second sheet-if your wounds seep you can pull the top sheet and cover off and have a clean bed while the others launder (also protects your mattress from nasty stains). if you will be recovering on a reclining chair you can cover the chair with one of these covers as well (they are similar to a fitted sheet). on the subject of recliner type chairs-if you will have difficulty getting upright your insurance may cover rental of a recliner/lift chair-if not the cover is nomimal and makes a huge difference in regaining mobility.

make sure to consume foods that will keep you........um.........regular. pain meds can constipate and it's the last thing you want to deal with if you are recovering from surgery.

if you will have movement restrictions get clothing together ahead of time and make it easily accessible. my oldest had surgery that restricted raising arms/using arms for about a month-the solution for tops was shirts that button up the front (nothing that went over the head). we hit a charity shop and bought a pile that we did'nt care if they got stained from wound weeping. sweat pants and fleece lounging pants were easy to get on/off.

 

[irlandaise]

On the mental side, I was going in for some surgery once--not really major, but it required general anesthesia--and I was nervous about it, so I talked with a lay counselor at my church. I had been doing meditation and affirmations to stop being afraid, and she said, "Surgery is scary. Don't worry about being nervous!" Once i stopped trying to fight the fear, it eased up.

Of course different people have different ways of handling anxiety, but keep that in mind. Don't criticize yourself if you're nervous!

 

[bsmcneil]

This may seem obvious but, don’t be afraid to ask questions about the surgery and recovery before the surgery. If you’re kept in the hospital post surgically ask the nurses and doctors questions as they come to you. Write them down if you need to. There is no such thing as a stupid question, especially when it comes to your health.

Good luck with your procedure and recovery. I hope it all goes smoothly.

I'm really, really, really bad at asking questions. Or even knowing what to ask. I get incredibly meek (as a Mouse) when it comes to institutions (especially medical ones). I will be kept overnight and all.

 

[bsmcneil]

My last surgery was an emergency appendectomy. I wish I head headphones, but I did manage to put on my white noise app on my phone and keep it next to my head (my roommate was an elderly woman who’s family was allowed to stay way past visiting hours and were pretty loud). Hospitals are not easy to sleep in (I’ve had about 6 surgeries all together).

I'm thinking about borrowing my kid's headphones for exactly this reason!

 

[LuvBulldogs]

I've had two surgeries over the years -- both outpatient.

Suggestions, assuming you know the date /can prepare:
- Check the internet /try to learn exactly what you'll face with your specific surgery.
- Clean the house top to bottom. Change your bedsheets. It'll be a while before you'll have the energy to do it again.
- Stock the kitchen with plenty of frozen meals that can just be tossed into the oven, salad and sandwich fixing, and plenty of drinks. Aim for comfort stuff. This is a time to indulge yourself. Also stock up on paper plates and cups -- create as little mess as possible.
- If friends ask what they can do, ask for a meal.
- Get yourself a package of lollipops. If you have a tube down your throat, which you probably will, you may have a sore throat afterward. If you're kinda loopy, lollipops may be safer than hard candies.
- On the day of the surgery, dress in easy-on /easy-off sweatpants and oversized shirt. Lay a pair of comfortable PJs on the bed before you leave the house.
- You'll probably be prescribed pain meds. Someone'll almost certainly need to go pick it up once you're home. Have Tylenol (or your favorite other med) in the house -- you shouldn't allow yourself to be in pain, but if you're able to "drop down" from prescription pain reliever to Tylenol, all the better.
- You'll come home with a packet of written info. You may be woozy at the hospital, so keep this /read it carefully.
- Don't push yourself. I remember we'd planned to watch a movie, and my kids had made me a special dinner (to eat on the sofa) and brought me a chair for my feet -- after 20 minutes, I had to say, "Enough".

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Geez, I don’t know if I have any tips that people here haven’t already covered. Except this one, maybe. I had chest, arm and leg surgery this summer (for breast cancer) and was having trouble sleeping afterward at home as I was uncomfortable. I bought one of those “chair pillows” that allowed me to sit up but also sleep on it, it being firmer than pillows were. I used it for a couple of months. I also had trouble in the car, whether I was driving or a passenger, as the bumps would cause pain, so I kept a pillow in the car, too, to hold under my chest.

I don’t have many tips for pre-op as I was nervous myself and dreading going in. When the anesthesiologist asked if they could start giving me something to help me relax, but warned it would make me “goofy”, I said, “I don’t want to be goofy” lol, so they held off, and wheeled me into the OR sitting up, fully awake and chatting. The OR nurses’ jaws dropped when I came in. In retrospect, not sure it was the best thing as I was awake in there for about ten or fifteen minutes, talking to staff, and they were prepping me at the same time. Finally the anesthesiologist said, “I’m going to put this mask on your face now, Pea, it’s time to put you to sleep. Breathe in some nice deep breaths”. I did, thinking omg, here we go, the last thing I remember being a nurse rubbing my hand (God love her, I knew I had a friend in there), and I woke up ten hours later not remembering anything about the surgery itself, thankfully. I later asked my surgeon how they managed to wrap my chest while I was fully asleep and he said I was the first person to ever ask that, and then explained how. (One person held my head up, two people held my arms out, and he wrapped!) In retrospect, probably more than I wanted to hear, haha.

Surgery puts us all in such a vulnerable position. But for the most part, it’s very safe today and staff do a wonderful job, even if we don’t realize they’re there or what they’re actually doing with us. As a health professional myself, I really appreciate that. Good luck to everyone with your surgeries!

 

[LuvBulldogs]

Geez, I don’t know if I have any tips that people here haven’t already covered. Except this one, maybe. I had chest, arm and leg surgery this summer (for breast cancer) and was having trouble sleeping afterward at home as I was uncomfortable. I bought one of those “chair pillows” that allowed me to sit up but also sleep on it, it being firmer than pillows were. I used it for a couple of months. I also had trouble in the car, whether I was driving or a passenger, as the bumps would cause pain, so I kept a pillow in the car, too, to hold under my chest.

I don’t have many tips for pre-op as I was nervous myself and dreading going in. When the anesthesiologist asked if they could start giving me something to help me relax, but warned it would make me “goofy”, I said, “I don’t want to be goofy” lol, so they held off, and wheeled me into the OR sitting up, fully awake and chatting. The OR nurses’ jaws dropped when I came in. In retrospect, not sure it was the best thing as I was awake in there for about ten or fifteen minutes, talking to staff, and they were prepping me at the same time. Finally the anesthesiologist said, “I’m going to put this mask on your face now, Pea, it’s time to put you to sleep. Breathe in some nice deep breaths”. I did, thinking omg, here we go, the last thing I remember being a nurse rubbing my hand (God love her, I knew I had a friend in there), and I woke up ten hours later not remembering anything about the surgery itself, thankfully. I later asked my surgeon how they managed to wrap my chest while I was fully asleep and he said I was the first person to ever ask that, and then explained how. (One person held my head up, two people held my arms out, and he wrapped!) In retrospect, probably more than I wanted to hear, haha.

Surgery puts us all in such a vulnerable position. But for the most part, it’s very safe today and staff do a wonderful job, even if we don’t realize they’re there or what they’re actually doing with us. As a health professional myself, I really appreciate that. Good luck to everyone with your surgeries!

Oh, definitely take the stuff that makes you "goofy". I think they said "loopy" to me. My husband reported to me later that once that kicked in, I wasn't nervous /wasn't at all concerned when they wheeled me away.

You don't need to be strong -- let go and let the surgeon take care of it.

When they put that mask over your face, you go out FAST. I remember thinking, I'm going to try hard to follow instructions perfectly -- I want to be a good patient. I counted 10 ... nothing else. Didn't even get to 9.

 

[tvguy]

My mom was an RN and said a patient should always have someone with them to be their advocate and look out for mistakes. I had an ablation,...... first time other than when I was born that I had been in the hospital. I was still a little groggy but sent my wife home so she was home before it got dark. Nurse came in and gave me some blood pressure medicine and I did not have the wits about me to ask what it was. It was a medication I am allergic to. No ill effects, and I did not catch it until 4 days later when I was reading my hospital chart at home. Cardiologist was very upset that he did not notice the allergy in my chart, and only slightly less upset that the RN did not notice it either.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Oh, definitely take the stuff that makes you "goofy". I think they said "loopy" to me. My husband reported to me later that once that kicked in, I wasn't nervous /wasn't at all concerned when they wheeled me away.

You don't need to be strong -- let go and let the surgeon take care of it.

When they put that mask over your face, you go out FAST. I remember thinking, I'm going to try hard to follow instructions perfectly -- I want to be a good patient. I counted 10 ... nothing else. Didn't even get to 9.

Nope, I saw my husband get it once and when they wheeled him out, he was laughing like a creepy hyena!

My mom was an RN and said a patient should always have someone with them to be their advocate and look out for mistakes. I had an ablation,...... first time other than when I was born that I had been in the hospital. I was still a little groggy but sent my wife home so she was home before it got dark. Nurse came in and gave me some blood pressure medicine and I did not have the wits about me to ask what it was. It was a medication I am allergic to. No ill effects, and I did not catch it until 4 days later when I was reading my hospital chart at home. Cardiologist was very upset that he did not notice the allergy in my chart, and only slightly less upset that the RN did not notice it either.

There was also a pharmacist involved in that that dispensed the medication, fyi.