Re: Back from Pre-Op screening ...

[Guest guest]

,

Getting stuck with a needle is no phone on any day but two on the

same day, that is cruel! Glad you survived. Regarding your iron

deficiency, maybe you need to take some iron supplements? My doctor

told me to take Ferro Sequel (which is an over the counter

supplement) pre-surgery. Check with your doctor though first. Either

that or eat up lots of spinach girl!!

Re the breathing tubes. I know thet sound dreadful but when I woke up

I was happy to still have them. I can't imagine how I would have

coped without them on. You have all this blood still in your stomach

and the last thing you want to be doing is vomit it up. The

nasalgastric tube keeps that from happening and then the breathing

tube really does help because at first your mouth is all blocked as

well as your nose so any extra help you can get is welcome!

I'm sure you'll be just fine and if you should ever panic just

imagine all of us in the OR with you holding your hand:-)

Sara

> Hi all,

>

> Well I survived the blood donation and pre-op screening this

morning

> at the hospital. The blood donation was not bad at all, Although,

> they do have some concerns because my hemoglobin count is quite

low,

> which means I need quite a bit more iron before next Tuesday. They

> almost didn't do the blood donation, but decided it would be okay.

I

> was a little annoyed because I ended up having to do all be lab

work

> again which as you may recall my OS approved doing it at my

Physical

> appt. last month stating that it wouldn't be to soon. The hospital

> didn't go for that one and called him and informed him that it had

to

> be done again. So they had to stick me again after the blood

> donation..OUCH! When I got home the hospital called me and stated

> that I was a day to early to do the test for blood type and wanted

me

> to come back at the end of the week. I told them no way because

the

> hospital is well over an hour away in DC traffic. They then

decided

> that they could do this on the morning of my surgery.

>

> Other than that we went over the procedure and I was informed that

> when I wake up from surgery I will have the tubes still in until I

> can breathe on my own. Not what I was wanting to hear, but I will

> manage somehow or another. They informed me that I would be given

> something to relax me before being taken to the OR and once in the

OR

> they would check my vital signs and then off to lala land I go.

>

> I have to sport around this blue band around my wrist for the next

> week which contains my blood donation info. Isn't this going to be

a

> new fashion statement, this bright blue wristband with #XS typed

> quite big on the front? I am sure I will get the beat down for

this

> at work tomorrow..(haha) I also have the purple tape wrapped

around

> my arm where I donated my blood. They stated that I have to wear

it

> for at least 4 to 5 hours. It's getting ready to be ripped off

> shortly.

>

> Anyway, on a good note, all my pre-op appts. are complete!! Next

is

> the surgery!! YEAAAAAAA!!!!

>

> That's it for now, I am just a little weak from the donation, so I

> need to go find some iron fortified foods!!

>

> Bye for now,

> --Caboose

[Guest guest]

Hi Sara,

Actually my OS did inform me to start taking iron supplements which I

just started over the weekend. So hopefully by next week I will be

okay. I got a little worried when they were taking my temp also

because when I saw 99.2, I was like oh my gosh stop here because if I

have a temperature they are not going to let me donate my blood or

may possibly postpone my surgery due to possible infection. Luckily

it stopped right at 99.2 which is not considered a fever.

Oh by the way, so much for the fashion attire at the hospital. They

informed me to leave my wardrobe at home and only bring things like a

brush, lotion, etc. They stated I will go home in what I came in

wearing. I was like what, I bought a robe, new slippers, pj's, for

nothing. Don't worry, I will have my hubby sneak those in for me!

Anyway, I am off to the grocery store to get some food. Those mashed

potatoes you ate surely sound good, I will be sure to add that to my

list..(haha)

Adios,

> > Hi all,

> >

> > Well I survived the blood donation and pre-op screening this

> morning

> > at the hospital. The blood donation was not bad at all,

Although,

> > they do have some concerns because my hemoglobin count is quite

> low,

> > which means I need quite a bit more iron before next Tuesday.

They

> > almost didn't do the blood donation, but decided it would be

okay.

> I

> > was a little annoyed because I ended up having to do all be lab

> work

> > again which as you may recall my OS approved doing it at my

> Physical

> > appt. last month stating that it wouldn't be to soon. The

hospital

> > didn't go for that one and called him and informed him that it

had

> to

> > be done again. So they had to stick me again after the blood

> > donation..OUCH! When I got home the hospital called me and

stated

> > that I was a day to early to do the test for blood type and

wanted

> me

> > to come back at the end of the week. I told them no way because

> the

> > hospital is well over an hour away in DC traffic. They then

> decided

> > that they could do this on the morning of my surgery.

> >

> > Other than that we went over the procedure and I was informed

that

> > when I wake up from surgery I will have the tubes still in until

I

> > can breathe on my own. Not what I was wanting to hear, but I

will

> > manage somehow or another. They informed me that I would be

given

> > something to relax me before being taken to the OR and once in

the

> OR

> > they would check my vital signs and then off to lala land I go.

> >

> > I have to sport around this blue band around my wrist for the

next

> > week which contains my blood donation info. Isn't this going to

be

> a

> > new fashion statement, this bright blue wristband with #XS typed

> > quite big on the front? I am sure I will get the beat down for

> this

> > at work tomorrow..(haha) I also have the purple tape wrapped

> around

> > my arm where I donated my blood. They stated that I have to wear

> it

> > for at least 4 to 5 hours. It's getting ready to be ripped off

> > shortly.

> >

> > Anyway, on a good note, all my pre-op appts. are complete!! Next

> is

> > the surgery!! YEAAAAAAA!!!!

> >

> > That's it for now, I am just a little weak from the donation, so

I

> > need to go find some iron fortified foods!!

> >

> > Bye for now,

> > --Caboose

[Guest guest]

, Glad to hear all the preops went ok. As an ex-blood banker,

you've have to wear the fancy bracelet for a while. The reason for

that is they match your blood from specimen donated with your own

unit of blood. It is to prevent you getting the wrong type of blood

which can be fatal. I have to have a Type & Screen for a blood

transfusion, too. In my case they won't have my own blood as I

couldn't donate as were going out of town. Plus with my lousy veins

and mastectomy (can't draw from that side), they probably wouldn't

have got a unit anyways.

My surgeon doesn't believe I'll need it, but if I need it I'll have

to use others donated blood. Husband couldn't donate as he's a

different blood type.

Here it's 3 days to surgery and I'm watching a TV program on

hospital acquired infections. Having worked 20 years in a hospital,

I know all to well about them. Just make sure everyone washes their

hands!

Tomorrow afternoon we'll head down to San for our stay until

I'm released - which hopefully will be by the weekend.

I tried adding blenderized canned peaches with heavy syrup with some

vanilla glucerna (more peaches than Glucerna), didn't taste too

bad. Peaches byself is real good. I tried blenderizing sausage,

scrambled eggs and salsa the other day. Wasn't the same as eating

normally. I wonder if our taste buds will be the same or numbness

will affect it. Hmmm.. Oh, the Esure High Calcium Chocolate is

pretty good, I need the calcium due to osteopenia and not sure I can

take the " horse pills " after surgery.

I'll update you on Wednesday after my preops/physical and getting

hooks on. Not too much longer before this train leaves the station.

Shirley

[Guest guest]

,

I had 99.2 on my pre-surgical testing day, too. I was worried. But

I was told that unless it's over 100 ... they won't consider it

a " fever " and the surgery can move forward as planned.

Just FYI ...

Best of luck ... you're so close!

Carol

> > > Hi all,

> > >

> > > Well I survived the blood donation and pre-op screening this

> > morning

> > > at the hospital. The blood donation was not bad at all,

> Although,

> > > they do have some concerns because my hemoglobin count is quite

> > low,

> > > which means I need quite a bit more iron before next Tuesday.

> They

> > > almost didn't do the blood donation, but decided it would be

> okay.

> > I

> > > was a little annoyed because I ended up having to do all be lab

> > work

> > > again which as you may recall my OS approved doing it at my

> > Physical

> > > appt. last month stating that it wouldn't be to soon. The

> hospital

> > > didn't go for that one and called him and informed him that it

> had

> > to

> > > be done again. So they had to stick me again after the blood

> > > donation..OUCH! When I got home the hospital called me and

> stated

> > > that I was a day to early to do the test for blood type and

> wanted

> > me

> > > to come back at the end of the week. I told them no way

because

> > the

> > > hospital is well over an hour away in DC traffic. They then

> > decided

> > > that they could do this on the morning of my surgery.

> > >

> > > Other than that we went over the procedure and I was informed

> that

> > > when I wake up from surgery I will have the tubes still in

until

> I

> > > can breathe on my own. Not what I was wanting to hear, but I

> will

> > > manage somehow or another. They informed me that I would be

> given

> > > something to relax me before being taken to the OR and once in

> the

> > OR

> > > they would check my vital signs and then off to lala land I go.

> > >

> > > I have to sport around this blue band around my wrist for the

> next

> > > week which contains my blood donation info. Isn't this going

to

> be

> > a

> > > new fashion statement, this bright blue wristband with #XS

typed

> > > quite big on the front? I am sure I will get the beat down for

> > this

> > > at work tomorrow..(haha) I also have the purple tape wrapped

> > around

> > > my arm where I donated my blood. They stated that I have to

wear

> > it

> > > for at least 4 to 5 hours. It's getting ready to be ripped off

> > > shortly.

> > >

> > > Anyway, on a good note, all my pre-op appts. are complete!!

Next

> > is

> > > the surgery!! YEAAAAAAA!!!!

> > >

> > > That's it for now, I am just a little weak from the donation,

so

> I

> > > need to go find some iron fortified foods!!

> > >

> > > Bye for now,

> > > --Caboose