Homesick Gypsy

I am 3 weeks post-op from abdominal hysterectomy with BSO. I had an excellent surgical outcome, despite nothing going as planned and lots of surprises. My only complaint is that the gas passer slipped me something in pre-op before I finished my pre...

I was wondering if mwbeah would be so kind as to point me in the direction of the sources you mentioned as something like up to 67% of women having a hysterectomy have cognitive dysfunction following surgery. I have been unable to find much and woul...

It seems as though some of the people responding are very defensive, perhaps rightly so. I'm not blaming anyone, including anesthesia. I'm just trying to find some answers. The article said there were 89 papers and that doctors were aware of the s...

Me again. I've been doing some research and found a term that describes what I've been experiencing: "Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction". Apparently it's more common than I knew and quite a few studies are being conducted. Even though I have no...

As a recent patient in the hospital, I'd like to add my two cents. I received and signed a "patient code of conduct" and behaved myself accordingly, as did my visitors. However, shortly after being placed in my room, a nurse insisted that I must hav...

I'm not a nurse (used to be NA) but wanted to chime in about my ob/gyn. I've been with him for 10 years and besides his gentle manner and jokes, he's an excellent doctor and surgeon. Several years ago I had day surgery where I was awake. I had an ...

Saw an ad this morning for a phlebotomist in Blue Springs, Missouri (nice suburb of Kansas City). Ad was in The Independence Examiner.

Thanks for your replies. I had morphine the first 20 hours after surgery, then one dose of Darvoset to which I am highly allergic. After two doses of Benadryl to reverse it, all I had post-operatively (even in the hospital) is Advil, which is what ...

CrohnieToo - my surgeon didn't promise an epidural, but he recommended it and I had spoken to one of the doctors in the anesthesiology group about it. Neither of them mentioned my weight might be an issue. That's why it was such an unexpected bomb ...

No disrespect intended. I only used gas passer because it's easier to type on a laptop than a-n-e-s-t-h-e-s-i-o-l-o-g-i-s-t.... And I think one of the allnurses participants actually uses it as his/her user name. My RN friend actually couldn't unde...

hearticu - The two reasons he gave were that I am obese (100 lbs overweight) and that the OR table would be tilted head down, putting pressure on my lungs. He told me he didn't feel like he could be sure of maintaining my airway under those two cond...

My daughter and best friend (an RN) were standing there and my recollection of everything that happened up to that moment is intact. Since I don't have much recollection of the hospital at all, I'm going to get a copy of my records next week. Perha...

Thanks jwk. The problem with a hysterectomy is that you don't know 100% for sure until you get a clear field. Evidently, my fibroids had grown faster than anticipated since the last sono, and there was a huge one on the back of my uterus. More imp...

I've noticed when I get my allergy shots that the nurse gloves up before she picks up the vial, syringe, etc. Today I noticed that AFTER she gloved up, she picked up the phone receiver to answer a call, then picked up a pen to write down a message, ...

My concern about the "dirty" gloves is that she is making a hole (however small) in my arm, and injecting something I'm already allergic to. She swabs my arm, wipes my arm dry, and then gives the injection with one hand, while with her other hand sh...

Maybe I am being too picky. She always grabs my arm before she gives the injection, wiggles it around, gives the injection, and wiggles it some more. I've never seen her "technique" before and it doesn't make my injections less painful, but it does...

I'm surprised in all this discussion, that no one mentioned Hepatitis C. Fairly common around here with tatoos.

I'm scheduled for TAH BSO and want to have an epidural. I know that pain meds are given through the epidural immediately after surgery, but what drugs are actually used in the epidural during surgery?

When my dad was diagnosed with congestive heart failure, we discussed a DNR with his cardiologist. Our preference was that if you're standing there and he drops, yes, revive him. We knew he was very ill, but wanted him around as long as possible. ...

When my mother was in hospice with lung cancer, we would have (and did) appreciate any soothing touch that was directed her way, as long as it was done with love and with a good intent. I think that's the bottom line of what nurses do - especially i...

Hi butterflynurse03, and thanks for your response. I'm talking about epidural anesthesia during the surgery. I'm planning for IV Toradol and ON Q for afterwards - I can't do morphine or codeine or any derivative.

I have read several pages of your posts and respect your professional demeanor, as well as your obvious knowledge. I'm scheduled for a total abdominal hysterectomy, possibly BSO as well, depending on what condition the ovaries are in. I'm trying to e...

Isn't Fentanyl a member of the same family as morphine?

I'm 50, and scheduled for total abdominal hysterectomy in the next few weeks. Possibly also a BSO, depending on how the ovaries look when he gets in there. I'm looking for alternatives to narcotic pain management post-op. I'm can't do morphine or co...

Hi Ashera, Thanks for your response. I'm curious about two things - if your hyst was abdominal, why did they have you in the lithotomy position? Also, what kind of anesthesia did you have? Thanks, Homesick Gypsy