Re: Surgery is Tomorrow Morning, and I'm Nervous! A Few Questions

October 4, 2004

Hey ,

Some people on this board probably remember me, I had surgery

last December. The first few days are the toughest, but you will get

through it. Sleeping is very tough at the begining, the best thing

you can do is just sleep when you are tired, whenever that is, and

dont worry about getting on a normal schedule, you are going to be

awake at very odd times at the begining.

Being wired didn't freak me out when I woke up, the first night

in the hospital is rough, getting used to everything, but someone on

this site made a great sugestion. Bring a picture of a loved one to

keep with you through the night so you have some sense of normalcy.

I had a picture of my girlfriend and I and it was definitely

comforting. Hope everything goes well and you will get through it...

>

> I have been doing well all week until just a little bit ago. I am

> just plain nervous about my upper/lower/genio, but I know that I'm

in

> excellent hands.

>

> I have a few questions:

>

> What was waking up like?

>

> How long was your nose uncomfortably congested?

>

> Did have any problems sleeping while in the hospital?

>

> I'm sure I'm worrying about a whole bunch of little stuff that is

not

> worth worrying over in the end.

>

October 4, 2004

Hey ,

Some people on this board probably remember me, I had surgery

last December. The first few days are the toughest, but you will get

through it. Sleeping is very tough at the begining, the best thing

you can do is just sleep when you are tired, whenever that is, and

dont worry about getting on a normal schedule, you are going to be

awake at very odd times at the begining.

Being wired didn't freak me out when I woke up, the first night

in the hospital is rough, getting used to everything, but someone on

this site made a great sugestion. Bring a picture of a loved one to

keep with you through the night so you have some sense of normalcy.

I had a picture of my girlfriend and I and it was definitely

comforting. Hope everything goes well and you will get through it...

>

> I have been doing well all week until just a little bit ago. I am

> just plain nervous about my upper/lower/genio, but I know that I'm

in

> excellent hands.

>

> I have a few questions:

>

> What was waking up like?

>

> How long was your nose uncomfortably congested?

>

> Did have any problems sleeping while in the hospital?

>

> I'm sure I'm worrying about a whole bunch of little stuff that is

not

> worth worrying over in the end.

>

October 4, 2004

Hi , I had same as you, upper/lower/genio on June 25th.

I have had 2 other surgeries and waking up in the hospital was

exactly the same each time. REALLY groggy. In recovery room, hard

to remember much at all until i was wheeled to my hospital room. I

do remember the recov room nurse telling me constantly to breathe

more deeply.

Congestion was an issue for me for only the first two days. Not a

big concern for me.

Sleeping at the hospital was terrible because the nurses came in

every two hours or so to take temp and pressure etc. Wasn't much

better at home. i had a hard time for about 1.5 weeks, slept in

reclining chair for almost a week, that was a big help.

A lot of people say they did not need pain meds, i did, i used them

and it was fine. If you're uncomfortable, that is what they are

there for.

Eating was hard, i had to do it in front of a mirror for about 2

weeks. Lots of slurping, dribbles, it really improves somewhat

quickly.

Best of luck. Can't wait to hear how it all goes.

>

> I have been doing well all week until just a little bit ago. I am

> just plain nervous about my upper/lower/genio, but I know that I'm

in

> excellent hands.

>

> I have a few questions:

>

> What was waking up like?

>

> How long was your nose uncomfortably congested?

>

> Did have any problems sleeping while in the hospital?

>

> I'm sure I'm worrying about a whole bunch of little stuff that is

not

> worth worrying over in the end.

>

October 4, 2004

Hi , I had same as you, upper/lower/genio on June 25th.

I have had 2 other surgeries and waking up in the hospital was

exactly the same each time. REALLY groggy. In recovery room, hard

to remember much at all until i was wheeled to my hospital room. I

do remember the recov room nurse telling me constantly to breathe

more deeply.

Congestion was an issue for me for only the first two days. Not a

big concern for me.

Sleeping at the hospital was terrible because the nurses came in

every two hours or so to take temp and pressure etc. Wasn't much

better at home. i had a hard time for about 1.5 weeks, slept in

reclining chair for almost a week, that was a big help.

A lot of people say they did not need pain meds, i did, i used them

and it was fine. If you're uncomfortable, that is what they are

there for.

Eating was hard, i had to do it in front of a mirror for about 2

weeks. Lots of slurping, dribbles, it really improves somewhat

quickly.

Best of luck. Can't wait to hear how it all goes.

>

> I have been doing well all week until just a little bit ago. I am

> just plain nervous about my upper/lower/genio, but I know that I'm

in

> excellent hands.

>

> I have a few questions:

>

> What was waking up like?

>

> How long was your nose uncomfortably congested?

>

> Did have any problems sleeping while in the hospital?

>

> I'm sure I'm worrying about a whole bunch of little stuff that is

not

> worth worrying over in the end.

>

October 4, 2004

Yes, i agree, i had two pictures of my then 9 month old daughter and

it was GREAT to have them there. K

> >

> > I have been doing well all week until just a little bit ago. I

am

> > just plain nervous about my upper/lower/genio, but I know that

I'm

> in

> > excellent hands.

> >

> > I have a few questions:

> >

> > What was waking up like?

> >

> > How long was your nose uncomfortably congested?

> >

> > Did have any problems sleeping while in the hospital?

> >

> > I'm sure I'm worrying about a whole bunch of little stuff that

is

> not

> > worth worrying over in the end.

> >

October 4, 2004

Yes, i agree, i had two pictures of my then 9 month old daughter and

it was GREAT to have them there. K

> >

> > I have been doing well all week until just a little bit ago. I

am

> > just plain nervous about my upper/lower/genio, but I know that

I'm

> in

> > excellent hands.

> >

> > I have a few questions:

> >

> > What was waking up like?

> >

> > How long was your nose uncomfortably congested?

> >

> > Did have any problems sleeping while in the hospital?

> >

> > I'm sure I'm worrying about a whole bunch of little stuff that

is

> not

> > worth worrying over in the end.

> >

October 4, 2004

Hi ,

I had upper/lower/genio 2 years ago.

I woke up in recovery feeling very hot - cried " Hot! Hot! "

and " Change tape! Change tape! " - I never opened my eyes, but could

hear the nurses say " what's she saying? Oh - she's sweating "

and " what's she mean about a tape? " " Oh, we already changed it "

(referring to cassette tapes I used during and after surgery). They

fixed my blankies and I went promptly back to sleep. Next thing was I

heard them calling my name very loudly and I guess I finally opened

my eyes. At that point they wheeled me up to my room.

I honestly felt great as soon as I woke up and never looked back.

My nose was never uncomfortably congested. Ask the nurses to show you

how to clean yours out with q-tips and distilled water (later I used

hydrogen peroxide solution and over 600 q-tips). It made all the

difference for me. Also check out Breath Right strips - they help to

open your nose up. Don't blow your nose until your surgeon gives you

the ok, and make sure you follow his/her instructions on how to do

it. A humidifier running in the bedroom and any other room you're in

will help too.

Sleeping wasn't a problem for me. You won't get into much of a

routine as they seem to come in every so often to check on you. It

wasn't until I got home from the hospital that I really started to

feel tired (Thursday after Tuesday surgery). I would sleep for about

3 hours, then have to take my liquid tylenol (children's). Stay on

top of your meds, even if you don't think you need them. And sleep

propped up, not flat.

Take it easy, enjoy the ride. Surgery is easy as you get to sleep

through it. Afterwards, don't panic, take some time to check out your

situation (I thought I couldn't breathe, but I could breathe a bit

through my nose, and a bit through my mouth, and figured between the

two I'd manage ok, as I did).

Good luck!

>

> I have been doing well all week until just a little bit ago. I am

> just plain nervous about my upper/lower/genio, but I know that I'm

in

> excellent hands.

>

> I have a few questions:

>

> What was waking up like?

>

> How long was your nose uncomfortably congested?

>

> Did have any problems sleeping while in the hospital?

>

> I'm sure I'm worrying about a whole bunch of little stuff that is

not

> worth worrying over in the end.

>

October 4, 2004