Going in 4 days for Pre-Op....

[VanillaBeanGonzo]

Well Thursday I go in for my pre-op meeting to get my labwork done and to meet with my anesthesiologist. My surgery to remove my gallbladder by laparoscopy is the following Wednesday. Did anyone else have to go in and do these arrangements before surgery??

I am just ready to be rid of having attacks!

[VanillaBeanGonzo]

I know..I do not understand how drug addicts do it!! I bet the veins do get tired with all of the poking, prodding, and many, many meds. I will bring this burning up to the doctor.

Thanks so much!

[April2]

Yes, I'd mention it to the anesthesiologist. I don't remember anything burning. I do remember when they put an IV in my hand/wrist after the surgery, every time they'd put new medicine in through the IV in my hand it started to hurt after awhile. They said the veins get overloaded after awhile and they moved the IV to my other hand/wrist. It was ok for awhile again, and then it started to hurt again everytime they came to put in new medicine. It finally hurt real bad and I told them they either needed to move the IV again or take it out. I think sometimes your vein can collapse or just gets overused. It kinda makes you wonder how in the world drug addicts are able to shoot up all the time, doesn't it??!! I couldn't do it!
Discuss everything that you can think of that may concern you or be of interest to the anesthesiologist. It's better to give too many details than not enough, I'd think.

[VanillaBeanGonzo]

Thanks for the details April2. When I had my tonsils out, the anesthetic they put in my IV to put me under burned really bad..I remember feeling that. Should I bring this up with the  anesthesiologist or would that be considered normal??

The pampering part doesnt seem bad at all and I cannot wait to be free of this pain! :)

[April2]

I know you're nervous. Try to not be afraid. I didn't have my gallbladder out but did have an ulcer/firbrous scar tissue removed in my small intestine and a resection about two months ago. Also I had an appendectomy three years ago removed laprascopically. It's normal and good for them to do a pre-op before your surgery. They want to make sure everything looks good with you. The anesthesiologist will have lot's of questions for you. He will want to know if you've or any family members ever had a reaction to anesthesia or other meds. My mom had a bad reaction to anesthesia so I told my anesthesiologist that and they were extra careful and watchful of me. I did fine though!
The day of the surgery you will have a lot of people in the room, including the doctor (sometimes there's two doctors), the anesthesiologist, a couple of nurses or techs. They will be monitering your heart, your breathing, blood pressure, etc. Don't worry! They will be taking good care of you! After my surgeries, they let me self-medicate too, with morphine in my IV. I just had to click a button every 8 (?) I think, minutes, if I wanted more pain medication. I liked that. I could be more in control of pain management. Also, since they're doing it laproscopically, you'll heal faster. My first surgery was done laprascopically, my second was laprascopically and also had an incision long enough for him to slip his hand in. I noticed a difference with this one. I had more pain and it took longer to heal. With the laprascopic surgery, they will make two or three tiny incisions and you won't even notice them once they're healed.
I hope any of this helps and puts your mind at ease. Just take it easy and let others pamper you for awhile while you're in the hospital and after you go home, just put your feet up and rest and let others do for you for awhile. And before you know it, you'll be on the road to recovery in no time!
Best wishes.

[bostongal]

Yes many times.  I hope your surgery goes well!!!!

[Avas Mom]

Nope. but good luck. it will be so nice when you have it out.