Random Things My Doc Didn't Tell Me

[phazer08 15]

While I'm pretty sure my doc did great in surgery (everything seems to work so far) and she is super up-beat and happy, there were a few small details she left out of the pre-op overview.

1. My doc did not mention that I couldn't have ANYthing post-op of the day of surgery - no Water, no ice chips, nada. I was so thankful someone had mention Biotene mouth rinse as it was a life saver.
2. She did not say, "where we take out your port (I was lap-band to bypass revision) is going to be really sore for probably 4 weeks. You might want to a) be mentally prepared for that and buy an abdominal binder. There was no offer of a block of any sort. The first time I stood up, I thought someone was ripping out my innards.
3. She prescribed Lovenox injections for a week (blood thinner for clot prevention). She mentioned this in an off-hand manner during final pre-op appointment. She didn't say how I, who had never done this, was supposed to magically learn to. She did not say (despite looking at my chart in pre-op appointment) Oh - you're on hormones, you'll need to do these shots for a month, not just a week. And then forget to call the pharmacy with new scrip twice after I called her office to remind her.

She also used a hospital that had nurses who were experienced with bariatric patients. Of the 5 or so RNs that I had, 4 were top notch. One in particular was amaze-balls and he showed me how to do injections and talked me through a bunch of stuff. I {{heart}} you Dustin!

Any others have similar things to add?

[James Marusek 5,244]

Yea, the Lovenox shots were a pain to give myself. I had bruises all over my body for almost a month because of this blood thinner. Since you are giving them to yourself for a month, expect to see bruises and a lot of them.

[WLSResources/ClothingExch 3,444]

I didn't want to add to what will probably become a gripefest, but you brought to mind my appendectomy of 30 years ago. I was prepared for all eventualities, but not the catheter that was placed before I was awakened. An IV or other tubing would have been fine, but I was most peeved knowing that someone had been fiddling around between my legs without my prior knowledge.

My real purpose is to say that, In a perfect world, we're told everything we need to know about what to do and not to do; what to expect; and what may occur. In a more perfect world, we ask, not leaving the office or hospital with questions unaskeds. I seem to recall having asked lots of things before my band surgery. It taught me to ask more before the second band surgery four days later. Nothing went unasked -- including things that turned out to be irrelevant -- before gall bladder surgery two months later.

You're not happy with your surgeon right now. I hope you never need any sort of abdominal surgery again, but remember this experience as a lesson.

[phazer08 15]

You make me out much more upset than I am. I just thought by starting a thread of the 'little things', it might help someone. I didn't really need a lesson. This is about my 8th abdominal surgery.

Edited September 3, 2016 by phazer08

[sherri~ 77]

I can understand your frustration. With my gall bladder surgery I think the surgeon may have mentioned gas pain from the laparoscopic procedure, but I was in AGONY! That taught me to say this anytime I'm with a doctor..."for you as a doctor, you do _________ multiple times...but for me as a patient, not so much". Fill in the info. All the info.

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[KristenLe 5,980]

@@phazer08 The RNs are usually the ones to provide education. Thankfully you had great nurses! I have already been told about the no drinking the first 24 hrs and I'm actually dreading the leak test more than anything.

[bpowell16 31]

Thank you for heads up--lovenox for a month (hrt) I thought it would be a week

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[LisaMergs 2,857]

I like catheters, lol. Especially when in the hospital. Such a pain to have to get up and down to go potty

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