any surgical nurses

Tweety, BSN, RN · Aug 10, 2003

Are you having it by laproscope? Even if it has to be an open incision, relax.

GB surgery is the most common for of surgery and it's evolved into a day surgery. A couple of holes in your abdomen, pump your peritoneum full of air (gas), out comes the GB.

You then get up, move, deep breath, pee, eat or at least drink, and then go home.

Piece of cake. Relax and good luck.

angelbear · Aug 10, 2003

See tweety that is kind of what I am scared of, see I have fibromyalgia, a bleeding disorder, RLS and PLMD. I have been off of my pain meds for 4 days now and I am ready to cut off several sections of my body including my head. Of course then there wouldnt be much to operate on now would there. Oh well I am frightened on 2 counts 1. I am an obese female with a chronic condition who also happens to be a smoker who has tried but so far failed to quit. 2. There are alot of nurses who think there pts in pain are drug seekers. Number one I am afraid I wont even make it through surgery and then if I do I am afraid I will be writhing in pain. It doesnt help matters any that one of my residents (in his 30's) Is as we speak dieing from complications of GB surgery. I dont want to die and I dont want to be a big fat baby that drives the nurses nuts. My only hope is that I have an absolutely awsome hubby who promises he will advocate for me and refuse to bring me home with anything less than percocet for pain. After 2yrs of reg use of vicuprofen it is barely effective on my reg pain let alone post op pain. Guess if all goes well I will be going home same day so that is good.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Aug 10, 2003

I understand your concerns. Try to relax. I know that many obese patients do very well with this type of surgery. Ask for a nicotine patch too.

Also, please express to your surgeon if you see her/him tomorrow that you might need some extra pain meds immediately post-op because your tolerance. Chronic pain med takers needs extra help during post op. Tell him q4h is too long, you need something at quicker intervals or a pca (but that might be overkill is you are one-day surgery). That way you don't have to be in pain, and he isn't being called by the nurses and you wait.

Percocet sounds like a reasonable request. Best wishes.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Aug 11, 2003

bump.

How'd the surgery go angelbear???

angelbear · Aug 12, 2003

Dont know yet it is this morning. I am still a nervous wreck. If I die please say nice things about me on here ok.

Berta · Aug 12, 2003

angelbear, I'll keep you in my thoughts today. Good luck, Berta

Tweety, BSN, RN · Aug 12, 2003

Sweetie, I'll say nice things. But one thing I'll say "DRAMA QUEEN"....LOL

Best wishes, please let us know how you are doing post-op.

angelbear · Aug 13, 2003

Ok tweety I know I was being a drama queen big time. I think i was just a little extra nervous because of my pt with GB surgery complications dieing last night. Actually it went really well. The CRNA was awsome she gave me a cocktail for nausea of zofran, benadryl, and reglan before surgery and then during surgery they used Litocane and something beginning with an M on my surrounding organs Which she said would help with the fibro pain. Then they used demoral and phenergan IV till they sent me home this evening on percocet 2-10mg Q 6 and and 10mg of phenergan Q6. So I do think he is taking my pain seriously. I am home now and wide awake I am impressed but i will admit of all the surgeries I have had so far this is one of the most painful post op. But I am alive and doing good. The nurse said that tomorrow and the next day will probably be the worst but I am hoping she is wrong. Thanks tweety and Berta for your support. It means alot to me.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Aug 13, 2003

Glad to hear you're home and doing well. Hopefully the pain will subside very quickly. That's what I've noticed in patients I've taken care of over the years, that the postop pain isn't long lasting.

Take care!