Re: Hospital Nightmare

[Guest guest]

Hi Tara,

Wow! You really had an experience! I am so sorry about your arm

and being so frightened from the throwing up. I can't believe they

lost your blood either. That is inexcusable. I would make a formal

complaint with the place that drew your blood as well as the

hospital. They need to correct the problems that caused that

problem for you.

Your story also has given me an idea of something I am going to do

before my surgery. I am going to bring in my phone with me and have

the person staying with me use their phone on vibrate - ring. I

will " call " them in any situation if they have gone to sleep or are

not present when something comes up. I am also going to see about

taking a laptop with me (and charger) to communicate with, as well

as a pad and pencil.

How are you doing now? Are you banded or wired? Where are you in

your recovery process? Sorry for all the questions!

Thank you for your detailed report! I think it will help others

prepare for such situations and perhaps avoid these kinds of

problems. Thank you!

Fran

> Hey all... I'm Tara and I'm sorta new to the site. I joined

maybe

> a week or 2 ago. I also just had double jaw surgery, 3 impacted

> wisdom teeth removed, and some sinus work done almost 4 weeks ago.

> I just wanted to share with ya'll a snippet of my story. And

> maybe ya'll could too. Tell it for the first time to new comers

and

> refresh for the 'ol vets. ;o)

> I'm 20 years old and am from Louisiana. I had my surgery on May

> 23rd.

> Prior to my surgery I was asked to get a physical. I wasn't

worried

> or anything about that until I actually get to the doctor's office

> and I'm informed that I'm gonna have to give a blood sample! Well,

> I'm a HUGE baby when it comes to needles. So I go in and the nurse

> takes my blood and I just about pass out. LoL So I leave there and

> the next couple days I go and see my sergeon. At this appointment

he

> tells me that I'm gonna have to donate 2 pints of blood for myself

> incase the he needed it during the opperation. So needless to say

I

> freaked out and just about turned down the surgery. I managed to

> talk my surgeon into letting my dad donate a pint for me (since

> we're the same blood type) and I would do the other pint. Me and

my

> dad went at the same time to donate. My pulse was too fast so they

> couldn't take from me that day. I managed to get off work early

the

> next day and drive about 30 minutes from home to another blood

bank

> to try again. I managed to do it that time and it didn't really

hurt

> at all! I was amazed! I was so happy I had finally did it!! LOL

> So all is fine and dandy... day for pre-op comes. I find out I

> have to give another blood sample! Not only that I have to pee in

a

> cup (which I had never done LoL) and get x-rays of my lungs taken.

> Surgery days FINALLY rolls around. I get out the bed about

> 4:30am. We leave and head to the hospital at about 4:45. We

finally

> get there about 5:45. (the longest hour of my life! LOL) They

> finally take me to get preped and everything a little after 6. Ok,

> so I'm lying pretty much naked in the hospital bed... was hooked

up

> here and there to this and that... had my IV in... I was pretty

much

> ready to go. So litterally about 15 minutes before they were going

> to take me back, I'm informed that they don't have my blood I

> donated and have no record what-so-ever that I had even gone to

> donate!! I was SO mad! The whole idea of me donating my own blood

> was so that I wouldn't have to get some strangers blood. I was NOT

> going to risk catching something from somebody elses blood! They

did

> however have my dads blood there and said they would use that

before

> anything else. I had a long talk with my parents about it and we

> decide to go ahead and go through with the surgery. I don't

remember

> much after that. I do, however, remember my mom with me in the

room

> they put you in with other people before they take you into the

> operating room and the nurse said " Now I'm gonna put something in

> your IV and it's gonna help calm you down. " When I tell you AS

SOON

> AS she put it in there I was feeling it.. I mean it! That was the

> best feeling I had ever had!! LoL I don't have a clue what was in

> that drug, but I remember asking if I could have some to take

home.

> LOL My mom said everybody was cracking up at me cause I was flying

> high! LoL

> So I wake up after surgery and I noticed that I had a tube up

my

> nose, down my throat and in my stomach! That thing was SO

> uncomfortable! They kept wanting me to caugh so I could get the

> blood up. It wasn't gonna happen! LoL So finally they come and

take

> the tube out (which was not pleasent) and I go back to sleep.

> A hospital is not a good place to try and sleep. Nurses kept

> coming in what seemed like every hour or two to check this and

test

> that (the whole time I was there... which was 4 nights and 5 days)

> One point I was starting to get up and move around a bit and I

> had just come back from the bathroom and I'm sitting on my bed and

> it hits me... " I'm gonna throw up! " so I motion to my mom what was

> about to happen and she gets my little pan and there it comes. I

was

> SO scared! (this is kinda gross) It couldn't come out between the

> bands fast enough and was backing up in my mouth and back down my

> throat. I just new I was gonna die right there. LoL so my moms

> freaking out, she calls the nurse and tells her what was

> happening... well, the nurse takes her sweet time and manages to

> come in after I'm finished and still alive.

> The next night I couldn't sleep for anything! And it never

> failed, as soon as I would doze off a nurse would come in and

check

> my blood pressure or give me medicine or change out the IV. Well

> this time she was putting something in my IV. It was making my arm

> burn so I tried to tell her but couldn't and she didn't understand

> me and kept telling me " oh thats just the medicine making it

> uncomfortable " well, I got frustrated with trying to talk to her

so

> I tried to stick out the pain and go back to sleep. It stopped

> hurting for a while but all of a sudden my arm started hurting SO

> bad! My mom was sleeping in the bed next to me so I tried to get

her

> attention. I was mumbling as loud as I could to get her to wake up

> but it wouldn't work. I even went so far as to look for something

to

> throw at her to wake her up! I didn't find anything. LoL so I

> reached over with my good arm and called the nurse. She comes in

and

> I try to tell her whats wrong but she didn't understand. So she

> turned down the drip and left. At this time my mom woke up and I

was

> about in tears trying to tell her that my arm was hurting. So she

> finally understood and turned on the light and I freaked out when

I

> saw my arm! It was swollen up about two times it's normal size. My

> fingers were also all swollen up like little hot dogs. So we call

> the nurse again and she comes in and this time my mom tells her

what

> was wrong. Apperntly my vein collapsed. So she took it out that

hand

> and said that she was gonna try to put it in the other hand. She

> gets everything ready and I grab my moms hand and she sticks me...

> well... she kept rolling my vein and couldn't sick it. I was

pretty

> much screaming best I could for her to stop. She did. She also

went

> and got some medicine to " calm me down " and she said she would be

> back in an hour to try. Next try wasn't so bad and she finally got

> it.

> The only other thing that I had a problem with was nightmares.

I

> had some of the worst dreams my last night there! They were so bad

I

> actually tried to stay awake all night. By this point I just

wanted

> to go home. I was in a horrible mood and was grouchy. But when I

got

> home, everything got 100% better!

> I'm SO sorry if that story bored any of you... I'm bored myself

> and I just thought it would be fun to share stories. )

[Guest guest]

Hi Tara

Welcome to the group and congrats on getting to the other side! Your

hospital stay does sound like it was a major nightmare. I had the

exact same problem as you did with my arm and the two catherers in it

and the nurse that was meant to be looking after me also seemed more

interested in gossiping with her colleagues than tending to me

despite the fact that I was crying like a baby. I have never felt so

much pain in my life. Now I'm 12 days post-op and I still have a

huge bruise on my wrist from where all the tubes were in. Darn IVs

and tubes.

I'm sorry to hear about your vomiting and blood donation stories too.

I was lucky because I didn't vomit once. I had them give me

Fomatidine pre-op to avoid any vomiting because from previous

surgeries I knew I got sick from the anesthesia. I'm also a big

scaredy cat when it comes to needles so I was glad to hear that my

doctor did not require me to donate any pre-op. Instead he had me

take iron supplements for a whole month pre-op to build up the iron

in my blood and thus make it easier for it to clot post-op. I don't

suffer from anemia or have any clotting disorders but I still think

the iron helped.

There are a few other members from Louisiana on this board including

Caboose and OrthoDale and I'm sure they'll drop you a Hello

soon enough.

Anyway, thanks for sharing your experiences and keep on posting! I'm

sure all pre and post-opers appreciate. I know I do:-) Happy

continued recovery. I can't wait to get to 4 weeks post-op.

Sara

[Guest guest]

Fran,

Excuse me as I toss in my two cents.

I don't know if the laws are the same in other states or areas ...

but where I live in NY there are no cell phones allowed in the

hospital. As I understand it, it has something to do with how your

phone can interfere with the medical equipment.

Anyway, just wanted to give you that FYI ... just in case.

Carol

> > Hey all... I'm Tara and I'm sorta new to the site. I joined

> maybe

> > a week or 2 ago. I also just had double jaw surgery, 3 impacted

> > wisdom teeth removed, and some sinus work done almost 4 weeks

ago.

> > I just wanted to share with ya'll a snippet of my story. And

> > maybe ya'll could too. Tell it for the first time to new comers

> and

> > refresh for the 'ol vets. ;o)

> > I'm 20 years old and am from Louisiana. I had my surgery on

May

> > 23rd.

> > Prior to my surgery I was asked to get a physical. I wasn't

> worried

> > or anything about that until I actually get to the doctor's

office

> > and I'm informed that I'm gonna have to give a blood sample!

Well,

> > I'm a HUGE baby when it comes to needles. So I go in and the

nurse

> > takes my blood and I just about pass out. LoL So I leave there

and

> > the next couple days I go and see my sergeon. At this appointment

> he

> > tells me that I'm gonna have to donate 2 pints of blood for

myself

> > incase the he needed it during the opperation. So needless to

say

> I

> > freaked out and just about turned down the surgery. I managed to

> > talk my surgeon into letting my dad donate a pint for me (since

> > we're the same blood type) and I would do the other pint. Me and

> my

> > dad went at the same time to donate. My pulse was too fast so

they

> > couldn't take from me that day. I managed to get off work early

> the

> > next day and drive about 30 minutes from home to another blood

> bank

> > to try again. I managed to do it that time and it didn't really

> hurt

> > at all! I was amazed! I was so happy I had finally did it!! LOL

> > So all is fine and dandy... day for pre-op comes. I find out I

> > have to give another blood sample! Not only that I have to pee in

> a

> > cup (which I had never done LoL) and get x-rays of my lungs taken.

> > Surgery days FINALLY rolls around. I get out the bed about

> > 4:30am. We leave and head to the hospital at about 4:45. We

> finally

> > get there about 5:45. (the longest hour of my life! LOL) They

> > finally take me to get preped and everything a little after 6.

Ok,

> > so I'm lying pretty much naked in the hospital bed... was hooked

> up

> > here and there to this and that... had my IV in... I was pretty

> much

> > ready to go. So litterally about 15 minutes before they were

going

> > to take me back, I'm informed that they don't have my blood I

> > donated and have no record what-so-ever that I had even gone to

> > donate!! I was SO mad! The whole idea of me donating my own blood

> > was so that I wouldn't have to get some strangers blood. I was

NOT

> > going to risk catching something from somebody elses blood! They

> did

> > however have my dads blood there and said they would use that

> before

> > anything else. I had a long talk with my parents about it and we

> > decide to go ahead and go through with the surgery. I don't

> remember

> > much after that. I do, however, remember my mom with me in the

> room

> > they put you in with other people before they take you into the

> > operating room and the nurse said " Now I'm gonna put something in

> > your IV and it's gonna help calm you down. " When I tell you AS

> SOON

> > AS she put it in there I was feeling it.. I mean it! That was the

> > best feeling I had ever had!! LoL I don't have a clue what was in

> > that drug, but I remember asking if I could have some to take

> home.

> > LOL My mom said everybody was cracking up at me cause I was

flying

> > high! LoL

> > So I wake up after surgery and I noticed that I had a tube up

> my

> > nose, down my throat and in my stomach! That thing was SO

> > uncomfortable! They kept wanting me to caugh so I could get the

> > blood up. It wasn't gonna happen! LoL So finally they come and

> take

> > the tube out (which was not pleasent) and I go back to sleep.

> > A hospital is not a good place to try and sleep. Nurses kept

> > coming in what seemed like every hour or two to check this and

> test

> > that (the whole time I was there... which was 4 nights and 5 days)

> > One point I was starting to get up and move around a bit and I

> > had just come back from the bathroom and I'm sitting on my bed

and

> > it hits me... " I'm gonna throw up! " so I motion to my mom what

was

> > about to happen and she gets my little pan and there it comes. I

> was

> > SO scared! (this is kinda gross) It couldn't come out between the

> > bands fast enough and was backing up in my mouth and back down my

> > throat. I just new I was gonna die right there. LoL so my moms

> > freaking out, she calls the nurse and tells her what was

> > happening... well, the nurse takes her sweet time and manages to

> > come in after I'm finished and still alive.

> > The next night I couldn't sleep for anything! And it never

> > failed, as soon as I would doze off a nurse would come in and

> check

> > my blood pressure or give me medicine or change out the IV. Well

> > this time she was putting something in my IV. It was making my

arm

> > burn so I tried to tell her but couldn't and she didn't

understand

> > me and kept telling me " oh thats just the medicine making it

> > uncomfortable " well, I got frustrated with trying to talk to her

> so

> > I tried to stick out the pain and go back to sleep. It stopped

> > hurting for a while but all of a sudden my arm started hurting SO

> > bad! My mom was sleeping in the bed next to me so I tried to get

> her

> > attention. I was mumbling as loud as I could to get her to wake

up

> > but it wouldn't work. I even went so far as to look for something

> to

> > throw at her to wake her up! I didn't find anything. LoL so I

> > reached over with my good arm and called the nurse. She comes in

> and

> > I try to tell her whats wrong but she didn't understand. So she

> > turned down the drip and left. At this time my mom woke up and I

> was

> > about in tears trying to tell her that my arm was hurting. So she

> > finally understood and turned on the light and I freaked out when

> I

> > saw my arm! It was swollen up about two times it's normal size.

My

> > fingers were also all swollen up like little hot dogs. So we call

> > the nurse again and she comes in and this time my mom tells her

> what

> > was wrong. Apperntly my vein collapsed. So she took it out that

> hand

> > and said that she was gonna try to put it in the other hand. She

> > gets everything ready and I grab my moms hand and she sticks

me...

> > well... she kept rolling my vein and couldn't sick it. I was

> pretty

> > much screaming best I could for her to stop. She did. She also

> went

> > and got some medicine to " calm me down " and she said she would be

> > back in an hour to try. Next try wasn't so bad and she finally

got

> > it.

> > The only other thing that I had a problem with was nightmares.

> I

> > had some of the worst dreams my last night there! They were so

bad

> I

> > actually tried to stay awake all night. By this point I just

> wanted

> > to go home. I was in a horrible mood and was grouchy. But when I

> got

> > home, everything got 100% better!

> > I'm SO sorry if that story bored any of you... I'm bored

myself

> > and I just thought it would be fun to share stories. )

[Guest guest]

Hi Carol,

I think you may be right! I will check on this before I do that.

Good catch!

Fran

> > > Hey all... I'm Tara and I'm sorta new to the site. I joined

> > maybe

> > > a week or 2 ago. I also just had double jaw surgery, 3

impacted

> > > wisdom teeth removed, and some sinus work done almost 4 weeks

> ago.

> > > I just wanted to share with ya'll a snippet of my story.

And

> > > maybe ya'll could too. Tell it for the first time to new

comers

> > and

> > > refresh for the 'ol vets. ;o)

> > > I'm 20 years old and am from Louisiana. I had my surgery on

> May

> > > 23rd.

> > > Prior to my surgery I was asked to get a physical. I wasn't

> > worried

> > > or anything about that until I actually get to the doctor's

> office

> > > and I'm informed that I'm gonna have to give a blood sample!

> Well,

> > > I'm a HUGE baby when it comes to needles. So I go in and the

> nurse

> > > takes my blood and I just about pass out. LoL So I leave there

> and

> > > the next couple days I go and see my sergeon. At this

appointment

> > he

> > > tells me that I'm gonna have to donate 2 pints of blood for

> myself

> > > incase the he needed it during the opperation. So needless to

> say

> > I

> > > freaked out and just about turned down the surgery. I managed

to

> > > talk my surgeon into letting my dad donate a pint for me

(since

> > > we're the same blood type) and I would do the other pint. Me

and

> > my

> > > dad went at the same time to donate. My pulse was too fast so

> they

> > > couldn't take from me that day. I managed to get off work

early

> > the

> > > next day and drive about 30 minutes from home to another blood

> > bank

> > > to try again. I managed to do it that time and it didn't

really

> > hurt

> > > at all! I was amazed! I was so happy I had finally did it!!

LOL

> > > So all is fine and dandy... day for pre-op comes. I find

out I

> > > have to give another blood sample! Not only that I have to pee

in

> > a

> > > cup (which I had never done LoL) and get x-rays of my lungs

taken.

> > > Surgery days FINALLY rolls around. I get out the bed about

> > > 4:30am. We leave and head to the hospital at about 4:45. We

> > finally

> > > get there about 5:45. (the longest hour of my life! LOL) They

> > > finally take me to get preped and everything a little after 6.

> Ok,

> > > so I'm lying pretty much naked in the hospital bed... was

hooked

> > up

> > > here and there to this and that... had my IV in... I was

pretty

> > much

> > > ready to go. So litterally about 15 minutes before they were

> going

> > > to take me back, I'm informed that they don't have my blood I

> > > donated and have no record what-so-ever that I had even gone

to

> > > donate!! I was SO mad! The whole idea of me donating my own

blood

> > > was so that I wouldn't have to get some strangers blood. I was

> NOT

> > > going to risk catching something from somebody elses blood!

They

> > did

> > > however have my dads blood there and said they would use that

> > before

> > > anything else. I had a long talk with my parents about it and

we

> > > decide to go ahead and go through with the surgery. I don't

> > remember

> > > much after that. I do, however, remember my mom with me in the

> > room

> > > they put you in with other people before they take you into

the

> > > operating room and the nurse said " Now I'm gonna put something

in

> > > your IV and it's gonna help calm you down. " When I tell you AS

> > SOON

> > > AS she put it in there I was feeling it.. I mean it! That was

the

> > > best feeling I had ever had!! LoL I don't have a clue what was

in

> > > that drug, but I remember asking if I could have some to take

> > home.

> > > LOL My mom said everybody was cracking up at me cause I was

> flying

> > > high! LoL

> > > So I wake up after surgery and I noticed that I had a tube

up

> > my

> > > nose, down my throat and in my stomach! That thing was SO

> > > uncomfortable! They kept wanting me to caugh so I could get

the

> > > blood up. It wasn't gonna happen! LoL So finally they come and

> > take

> > > the tube out (which was not pleasent) and I go back to sleep.

> > > A hospital is not a good place to try and sleep. Nurses

kept

> > > coming in what seemed like every hour or two to check this and

> > test

> > > that (the whole time I was there... which was 4 nights and 5

days)

> > > One point I was starting to get up and move around a bit

and I

> > > had just come back from the bathroom and I'm sitting on my bed

> and

> > > it hits me... " I'm gonna throw up! " so I motion to my mom what

> was

> > > about to happen and she gets my little pan and there it comes.

I

> > was

> > > SO scared! (this is kinda gross) It couldn't come out between

the

> > > bands fast enough and was backing up in my mouth and back down

my

> > > throat. I just new I was gonna die right there. LoL so my moms

> > > freaking out, she calls the nurse and tells her what was

> > > happening... well, the nurse takes her sweet time and manages

to

> > > come in after I'm finished and still alive.

> > > The next night I couldn't sleep for anything! And it never

> > > failed, as soon as I would doze off a nurse would come in and

> > check

> > > my blood pressure or give me medicine or change out the IV.

Well

> > > this time she was putting something in my IV. It was making my

> arm

> > > burn so I tried to tell her but couldn't and she didn't

> understand

> > > me and kept telling me " oh thats just the medicine making it

> > > uncomfortable " well, I got frustrated with trying to talk to

her

> > so

> > > I tried to stick out the pain and go back to sleep. It stopped

> > > hurting for a while but all of a sudden my arm started hurting

SO

> > > bad! My mom was sleeping in the bed next to me so I tried to

get

> > her

> > > attention. I was mumbling as loud as I could to get her to

wake

> up

> > > but it wouldn't work. I even went so far as to look for

something

> > to

> > > throw at her to wake her up! I didn't find anything. LoL so I

> > > reached over with my good arm and called the nurse. She comes

in

> > and

> > > I try to tell her whats wrong but she didn't understand. So

she

> > > turned down the drip and left. At this time my mom woke up and

I

> > was

> > > about in tears trying to tell her that my arm was hurting. So

she

> > > finally understood and turned on the light and I freaked out

when

> > I

> > > saw my arm! It was swollen up about two times it's normal

size.

> My

> > > fingers were also all swollen up like little hot dogs. So we

call

> > > the nurse again and she comes in and this time my mom tells

her

> > what

> > > was wrong. Apperntly my vein collapsed. So she took it out

that

> > hand

> > > and said that she was gonna try to put it in the other hand.

She

> > > gets everything ready and I grab my moms hand and she sticks

> me...

> > > well... she kept rolling my vein and couldn't sick it. I was

> > pretty

> > > much screaming best I could for her to stop. She did. She also

> > went

> > > and got some medicine to " calm me down " and she said she would

be

> > > back in an hour to try. Next try wasn't so bad and she finally

> got

> > > it.

> > > The only other thing that I had a problem with was

nightmares.

> > I

> > > had some of the worst dreams my last night there! They were so

> bad

> > I

> > > actually tried to stay awake all night. By this point I just

> > wanted

> > > to go home. I was in a horrible mood and was grouchy. But when

I

> > got

> > > home, everything got 100% better!

> > > I'm SO sorry if that story bored any of you... I'm bored

> myself

> > > and I just thought it would be fun to share stories. )

[Guest guest]

Fran,

I'm sorry if I was a downer. I just didn't want you to rely on it

and then not be able to use it. My advice would be to have something

hard - a book, a ruler, whatever - so that you can bang on the sides

of the hospital bed. I had a clipboard with paper so that I could

communicate with visitors and staff ... and there were a couple of

times when I couldn't think of any other way to get their attention,

so I banged it on the metal. It worked!

Take care,

Carol

> > > > Hey all... I'm Tara and I'm sorta new to the site. I

joined

> > > maybe

> > > > a week or 2 ago. I also just had double jaw surgery, 3

> impacted

> > > > wisdom teeth removed, and some sinus work done almost 4 weeks

> > ago.

> > > > I just wanted to share with ya'll a snippet of my story.

> And

> > > > maybe ya'll could too. Tell it for the first time to new

> comers

> > > and

> > > > refresh for the 'ol vets. ;o)

> > > > I'm 20 years old and am from Louisiana. I had my surgery

on

> > May

> > > > 23rd.

> > > > Prior to my surgery I was asked to get a physical. I wasn't

> > > worried

> > > > or anything about that until I actually get to the doctor's

> > office

> > > > and I'm informed that I'm gonna have to give a blood sample!

> > Well,

> > > > I'm a HUGE baby when it comes to needles. So I go in and the

> > nurse

> > > > takes my blood and I just about pass out. LoL So I leave

there

> > and

> > > > the next couple days I go and see my sergeon. At this

> appointment

> > > he

> > > > tells me that I'm gonna have to donate 2 pints of blood for

> > myself

> > > > incase the he needed it during the opperation. So needless

to

> > say

> > > I

> > > > freaked out and just about turned down the surgery. I managed

> to

> > > > talk my surgeon into letting my dad donate a pint for me

> (since

> > > > we're the same blood type) and I would do the other pint. Me

> and

> > > my

> > > > dad went at the same time to donate. My pulse was too fast so

> > they

> > > > couldn't take from me that day. I managed to get off work

> early

> > > the

> > > > next day and drive about 30 minutes from home to another

blood

> > > bank

> > > > to try again. I managed to do it that time and it didn't

> really

> > > hurt

> > > > at all! I was amazed! I was so happy I had finally did it!!

> LOL

> > > > So all is fine and dandy... day for pre-op comes. I find

> out I

> > > > have to give another blood sample! Not only that I have to

pee

> in

> > > a

> > > > cup (which I had never done LoL) and get x-rays of my lungs

> taken.

> > > > Surgery days FINALLY rolls around. I get out the bed about

> > > > 4:30am. We leave and head to the hospital at about 4:45. We

> > > finally

> > > > get there about 5:45. (the longest hour of my life! LOL) They

> > > > finally take me to get preped and everything a little after

6.

> > Ok,

> > > > so I'm lying pretty much naked in the hospital bed... was

> hooked

> > > up

> > > > here and there to this and that... had my IV in... I was

> pretty

> > > much

> > > > ready to go. So litterally about 15 minutes before they were

> > going

> > > > to take me back, I'm informed that they don't have my blood I

> > > > donated and have no record what-so-ever that I had even gone

> to

> > > > donate!! I was SO mad! The whole idea of me donating my own

> blood

> > > > was so that I wouldn't have to get some strangers blood. I

was

> > NOT

> > > > going to risk catching something from somebody elses blood!

> They

> > > did

> > > > however have my dads blood there and said they would use that

> > > before

> > > > anything else. I had a long talk with my parents about it and

> we

> > > > decide to go ahead and go through with the surgery. I don't

> > > remember

> > > > much after that. I do, however, remember my mom with me in

the

> > > room

> > > > they put you in with other people before they take you into

> the

> > > > operating room and the nurse said " Now I'm gonna put

something

> in

> > > > your IV and it's gonna help calm you down. " When I tell you

AS

> > > SOON

> > > > AS she put it in there I was feeling it.. I mean it! That was

> the

> > > > best feeling I had ever had!! LoL I don't have a clue what

was

> in

> > > > that drug, but I remember asking if I could have some to take

> > > home.

> > > > LOL My mom said everybody was cracking up at me cause I was

> > flying

> > > > high! LoL

> > > > So I wake up after surgery and I noticed that I had a tube

> up

> > > my

> > > > nose, down my throat and in my stomach! That thing was SO

> > > > uncomfortable! They kept wanting me to caugh so I could get

> the

> > > > blood up. It wasn't gonna happen! LoL So finally they come

and

> > > take

> > > > the tube out (which was not pleasent) and I go back to sleep.

> > > > A hospital is not a good place to try and sleep. Nurses

> kept

> > > > coming in what seemed like every hour or two to check this

and

> > > test

> > > > that (the whole time I was there... which was 4 nights and 5

> days)

> > > > One point I was starting to get up and move around a bit

> and I

> > > > had just come back from the bathroom and I'm sitting on my

bed

> > and

> > > > it hits me... " I'm gonna throw up! " so I motion to my mom

what

> > was

> > > > about to happen and she gets my little pan and there it

comes.

> I

> > > was

> > > > SO scared! (this is kinda gross) It couldn't come out between

> the

> > > > bands fast enough and was backing up in my mouth and back

down

> my

> > > > throat. I just new I was gonna die right there. LoL so my

moms

> > > > freaking out, she calls the nurse and tells her what was

> > > > happening... well, the nurse takes her sweet time and manages

> to

> > > > come in after I'm finished and still alive.

> > > > The next night I couldn't sleep for anything! And it never

> > > > failed, as soon as I would doze off a nurse would come in and

> > > check

> > > > my blood pressure or give me medicine or change out the IV.

> Well

> > > > this time she was putting something in my IV. It was making

my

> > arm

> > > > burn so I tried to tell her but couldn't and she didn't

> > understand

> > > > me and kept telling me " oh thats just the medicine making it

> > > > uncomfortable " well, I got frustrated with trying to talk to

> her

> > > so

> > > > I tried to stick out the pain and go back to sleep. It

stopped

> > > > hurting for a while but all of a sudden my arm started

hurting

> SO

> > > > bad! My mom was sleeping in the bed next to me so I tried to

> get

> > > her

> > > > attention. I was mumbling as loud as I could to get her to

> wake

> > up

> > > > but it wouldn't work. I even went so far as to look for

> something

> > > to

> > > > throw at her to wake her up! I didn't find anything. LoL so I

> > > > reached over with my good arm and called the nurse. She comes

> in

> > > and

> > > > I try to tell her whats wrong but she didn't understand. So

> she

> > > > turned down the drip and left. At this time my mom woke up

and

> I

> > > was

> > > > about in tears trying to tell her that my arm was hurting. So

> she

> > > > finally understood and turned on the light and I freaked out

> when

> > > I

> > > > saw my arm! It was swollen up about two times it's normal

> size.

> > My

> > > > fingers were also all swollen up like little hot dogs. So we

> call

> > > > the nurse again and she comes in and this time my mom tells

> her

> > > what

> > > > was wrong. Apperntly my vein collapsed. So she took it out

> that

> > > hand

> > > > and said that she was gonna try to put it in the other hand.

> She

> > > > gets everything ready and I grab my moms hand and she sticks

> > me...

> > > > well... she kept rolling my vein and couldn't sick it. I was

> > > pretty

> > > > much screaming best I could for her to stop. She did. She

also

> > > went

> > > > and got some medicine to " calm me down " and she said she

would

> be

> > > > back in an hour to try. Next try wasn't so bad and she

finally

> > got

> > > > it.

> > > > The only other thing that I had a problem with was

> nightmares.

> > > I

> > > > had some of the worst dreams my last night there! They were

so

> > bad

> > > I

> > > > actually tried to stay awake all night. By this point I just

> > > wanted

> > > > to go home. I was in a horrible mood and was grouchy. But

when

> I

> > > got

> > > > home, everything got 100% better!

> > > > I'm SO sorry if that story bored any of you... I'm bored

> > myself

> > > > and I just thought it would be fun to share stories. )

[Guest guest]

Fran, cell phones are usually forbidden in hospitals (as Carol

said), at least some areas as they interfere with telemetry (heart

monitoring, respiration monitoring,etc.) Most of us want to make

sure they get correct results from telemetry . Check with your

hospital for their policy.

As for communicating I am taking a small whiteboard with pen, and

small tablet. I'm thinking having a bell and using the cell phone

idea at home to page my husband if I'm not up to doing it myself.

The laptop I'll take with me but not to hospital as I don't think

they'll have a wireless connection and security could be an issue.

Plus the first day I'll be heavily sedated. The next day I'll

probably be working at getting the feeding down pat and resting.

I had thought of having my husband stay with me the first night, but

it appears they'll have me in ICU, so probably he won't be able to

stay. It does help having someone with you especially immediately

after the surgery as when I had my reconstructive surgery done the

nurses did something and forgot to reconnect the leg pressure

cuffs. So I had my husband go get the nurse. (I wasn't allowed up

for 24 hrs-so the pressure cuffs are to prevent blood clots),

Shirley

> Fran,

> Excuse me as I toss in my two cents.

> I don't know if the laws are the same in other states or areas ...

> but where I live in NY there are no cell phones allowed in the

> hospital. As I understand it, it has something to do with how

your

> phone can interfere with the medical equipment.

> Anyway, just wanted to give you that FYI ... just in case.

> Carol

[Guest guest]

Tara

Whoa that was a heavy email to get through, but I was

glad you described about throwing up as I worried

after surgery you may have to swallow it back (ick!!)

Onwards and upwards from here girlie xxx!!!

[Guest guest]

Hi Shirley,

Thank you! Those are some great tips too. I am starting to make a

list of ideas. I am a ways off, but these are things that can make

the post op experience easier I think. Thanks again!

Fran

> > Fran,

> > Excuse me as I toss in my two cents.

> > I don't know if the laws are the same in other states or

areas ...

> > but where I live in NY there are no cell phones allowed in the

> > hospital. As I understand it, it has something to do with how

> your

> > phone can interfere with the medical equipment.

> > Anyway, just wanted to give you that FYI ... just in case.

> > Carol