post-op

[Guest guest]

Hi all

someone asked about catheters etc post-op and i have read some of the

replies... I asked about having a catheter in but my doc said that

increased the risk of urinary infection so he didn't want to do

that.....my experience was quite different to others I have read so

far, so just for an alternative view this is what happened to me (in

England):

pre-op i was wheeled to the ante room and a port thingy (sorry don't

know the medical name I think it might be a 'canula' or something

like that) was put into the back of my hand. I was asked to breathe

some oxygen through a gas mask while they put some anesthetic into

the canula and i remember a slight stinging pain while i quickly went

to sleep.

I remember someone calling my name in the recovery room (which must

have been about 2 hours later) and then i was wheeled to intensive

care. I had an iv line in my hand and in my neck (i think one was to

keep me hydrated and one for self-administered morphine - i just had

to press a button when i felt that i needed pain relief and the

morphine was delivered through the iv). I also had an oxygen mask

on...which was kept on for the first 6 hours continuously and then

the next 10 hours or so while i was sleeping. I didn't have any

support leg bandages etc.

They wouldn't let me get out of bed for the toilet until the day

after my op..and actually i felt so dozy and in pain (i didn't want

to use very much morphine) i don't think I could have done at first

anyway...so they bought me a bed pan and were very good about running

taps near me while i urinated! I couldn't fault the care and

sensitivity of the nurses..they were brilliant to me ))

I had a barium swallow the next morning to check everything was

working well and then i was allowed home that evening

for the person who asked about travelling alone i think i could

probably managed that if i had waited until about 3/4 days post op.

hope this helps...as you can see there are many different ways of

doing this...so u really have to ask your doctor if you want to know

what will be recommended in your case.

Helen