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

[flyingdumbo127]

Prayers and hugs, Bsmcneil, thinking of youNot surgery but even for a few days hospital or rehab stay, my lightweight backpack has been an amazing help to me. Just make sure you are able to easily reach any bag or perhaps put a waist pack around table or chair legs to secure it and then place higher. I also used a shoelace to tie a bag to a hospital table. Wishing you a smooth surgery and recovery. Remember we all care

 

[JoanneAZ]

Never leave your phone or any other valuable (like glasses or a tablet) item in your bed, your gown pocket, or on your meal tray. If it isn’t caught before sheets/gowns/trays go down to linen and/or the kitchen it’s likely you’ll never see it again.

If you’re bad with questions have someone in your life (or even those of us here) help you. Write the questions down, start before you go in for your procedure. If you can’t bring yourself to ask them have your friend/family member ask for you. You can also hand the paper to the doctor or nurse. Doctors often come to see their patients early in the morning. I know I’m not well put together at 6 or 7am. Ask the basics: when can I shower, when can I drive, what activities are not okay, etc.

If you smoke or vape don’t do it on the day of surgery and try not to start up again afterwards, it really can affect your recovery after anesthesia.

Make sure you are given discharge instructions including info about your meds in writing. You may think you’ll remember but it’s best to have materials to reference for you and any care givers you may have.

As someone else said if physical therapy is ordered, do it. PT can be so beneficial to your recovery after anesthesia even if the exercises seem simple. Ask if you should or are allowed to do the exercises at home, too.

 

[Living42Day]

I've had two major surgeries this year, then one with twilight anesthesia. I had one where they gave me some type of anxiety medicine, the other they did not (different surgery, different surgeon).

I think I preferred the gyn surgery with the anxiety medicine, as the last thing I remember is going into the surgery suite and the surgeon rubbing my feet and telling me I'm in good hands and to relax. I had told him I was a bit nervous in my last appointment so they waited to prep me until I was completely out. He is such a nice guy.

The second one, they didn't wait until I was knocked out before my gown was partially disrobed from the bottom half. Kind of didn't appreciate that, at least let me peacefully pass out to feel like I maintained dignity! That one, I had pretty severe nausea afterwards so just keep in mind that is possible depending on how you respond to the meds they give.

I woke up from the twilight anesthesia and asked what they gave me, the nurse anesthetist responded they gave me fentanyl and propofol. I laughed and said I hope I don't do the fenty fold (an unfortunate effect of smoking blues). I think she thought I was serious lol!

 

[Tuffcookie]

HYDRATE before surgery! I had foot surgery in May of 2024. I have stage 3a kidney function. The anesthesia affects your kidneys if you are not hydrated enough, before going to surgery, It took my kidney numbers (egfr) approximately 9 months to get back up to where they were pre-surgery.

 

[irlandaise]

- 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.

Or popsicles! They're even better at relieving sore throats. The hospital should have some for when you're there, but have a package at home, too.

 

[Jonnnyap]

There is some great advice above - taking pain meds on a regular schedule to keep ahead and let your body avoid stress, take time to recover and let yourself heal, be your own advocate and ask questions (and hopefully have someone there to assist on your behalf), etc. But I'll add that you should stay off work/email at least for a few days; with medication, you might not make the best decisions or be mentally ready, even if you feel like this would help pass the time. I made the mistake of thinking I was OK to return for some "light work emails" after surgery, and it caused more problems with misinterpretations and me not making complete sense. So take the time you need to recover and stay off email - work or personal. It'll all be there in a few days when the surgery/medication has abated a bit.

And since this is a Disney board, I'd recommend scheduling a Disney trip for post-recovery when you feel up for it. That'll give you something positive to look forward to!

Hope it goes well for you and you have peace and recover well.

 

[irlandaise]

And since this is a Disney board, I'd recommend scheduling a Disney trip for post-recovery when you feel up for it. That'll give you something positive to look forward to!

Best advice yet!

 

[easyas123]

I kept a pillow in the car, too, to hold under my chest.

This 100%. I had major surgery and a pillow in the car to help was a lifesaver. I've heard others say much the same about abdominal surgery. And I can't stress this enough, PT. Do the PT. Get up, walk around. Move as directed by your care team. The difference in doing or not doing the PT is night & day in terms of recovery (in my opinion).

 

[Rogue1677x]

The worst surgery I had was my gas bypass, because it included all the gems you don't want from the medical community: multiple attempts at giving me medications I am allergic to, losts of gaslighlighting, and despite my pain level, they offered Tylenol.

I ended up in the ER a week later because I couldn't drink enough fluids and started fainting. The very surgeon who did my bypass told me I didn't have any complications and to just drink more. Further testing showed I had swelling in my throat that was making it painful for fluids, let alone progressing to anything else.

That was in 2022 and I'm still having complications from it. Bah!

Atleast my brain surgery went much better.

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Huge hug dear Rogue. I'm so sorry you had such an awful experience.

 

[Rogue1677x]

Huge hug dear Rogue. I'm so sorry you had such an awful experience.

Thanks so much! I've always advocated for myself but this just kept falling on people who refused to listen.

 

[leebee]

I've gall bladder, uterine ablation, gastric bypass (sleeve), and total knee replacement surgeries. I learned after my gall bladder surgery that I am very very susceptible to nausea and vomiting post-surgery from the anesthesia. It was AWFUL- think the worst motion sickness and vomiting ever- and it took them about 12 hours to figure out the issue. For the subsequent surgeries, I reiterated this many times to the surgeons and they listened- and my recovery was much better.

It sounds silly, but keep a shoe box beside you on the bed. You can drop meds, cell phone, TV remote, chap stick, whatever into it. Sometimes it just hurts too much to twist around and reach for the bedside table. Also a great place to keep a pen and small notepad for recording your meds. Another handy thing was a small flashlight from the dollar store (so you can see what you are writing in the middle of the night), although if you have a cell phone I guess the flashlight from that works, too.

YES... write down what meds you take, what time, how many. You won't remember what you took and when early on, and if you wake up at night it's nice to know if you can have a pain pill, or if you already took one and don't remember it.

NO WORK EMAILS OR ONLINE SHOPPING for at least a week post-surgery. Don't learn the hard way!

 

[bsmcneil]

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".

So super helpful!

 

[bsmcneil]

Or popsicles! They're even better at relieving sore throats. The hospital should have some for when you're there, but have a package at home, too.

Can I tell you something funny? We just moved and I brought a couple of those old school popsicles with me. My kids were like, "Why? We don't eat those." and I mentioned they'd help with the surgery. Guess what we're completely out of 10 days after moving and a week before the surgery, lol

 

[bsmcneil]

I've gall bladder, uterine ablation, gastric bypass (sleeve), and total knee replacement surgeries. I learned after my gall bladder surgery that I am very very susceptible to nausea and vomiting post-surgery from the anesthesia. It was AWFUL- think the worst motion sickness and vomiting ever- and it took them about 12 hours to figure out the issue. For the subsequent surgeries, I reiterated this many times to the surgeons and they listened- and my recovery was much better.

It sounds silly, but keep a shoe box beside you on the bed. You can drop meds, cell phone, TV remote, chap stick, whatever into it. Sometimes it just hurts too much to twist around and reach for the bedside table. Also a great place to keep a pen and small notepad for recording your meds. Another handy thing was a small flashlight from the dollar store (so you can see what you are writing in the middle of the night), although if you have a cell phone I guess the flashlight from that works, too.

YES... write down what meds you take, what time, how many. You won't remember what you took and when early on, and if you wake up at night it's nice to know if you can have a pain pill, or if you already took one and don't remember it.

NO WORK EMAILS OR ONLINE SHOPPING for at least a week post-surgery. Don't learn the hard way!

Never would've thought about the shoebox. Brilliant! Also - I feel like anyone who goes through a surgery should get a 100 dollar credit to buy anything they want on Amazon just to see what weird thing they'd buy

 

[VandVsmama]

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.

Things I've learned from surgeries:

• take the prescribed pain meds on time. Set a timer if you need to. Write down what the next time is that you're supposed to take it.
• follow the discharge instructions. If they say to not lift anything more than 10 lb, then don't do that.
• Ask for help from others.
• Don't try to 'suck it up and tough it out.' Recovery can be hard sometimes.
• If you're on prescription pain meds, buy some gentle laxatives over the counter ahead of time (like Dulcolax). Take it regularly while you're taking the pain meds so things don't 'slow down' in the GI department.
• expect to probably not ever have full sensation on your surgical scar ever again. It's weird.
• expect as your nerve endings grow back, you may occasionally get 'zingers,' where you'll feel this weird twinge, almost painful but not quite and it makes you sort of stop and you think, "Woah, that was weird." Totally normal. Ask your provider about it if concerned.
• Write down your questions ahead of time so you won't forget to ask them during the appointment.
• Have somebody else in the room with you when they're explaining discharge instructions.
• Have somebody else in the room with you for your first post-op appointment so you don't forget what the provider tells you.
• Stock up on whatever comfort items you'll need ahead of time.

 

[china mom]

Take your time waking up, especially if it is outpatient. I always come out of anesthesia quickly and am always chomping to the bit to get out of there. I always say that "next time" I will try to wake up more slowly and not rush but I always end up jumping up, getting dressed and then feeling groggy on the way home. Five more minutes and a cup of juice probably would do me wonders.

 

[lovesmurfs]

Oh, and these are GREAT if it's going to be a while before you can shower/bathe.

I used these after my knee surgeries.

https://a.co/d/6CeLzH1

 

[Lumpy1106]

I've had two back surgeries, both on the disc between L4-L5, 10 years apart. Go to an aggressive PT that understands your lifestyle and goals - then really take it seriously and work hard. The quicker the recovery the better mental health outcome and end result.

 

[lovesmurfs]

I've had two back surgeries, both on the disc between L4-L5, 10 years apart. Go to an aggressive PT that understands your lifestyle and goals - then really take it seriously and work hard. The quicker the recovery the better mental health outcome and end result.

...but not too aggressive. My SIL had to have a second back surgery because her physical therapist overworked her.