MattDLEA Posted March 25, 2014 Posted March 25, 2014 So in a few months Im off in for a hernia op, as a day patient. In the consultancy I had it was confirmed as a hernia and they told me the day. But that was about it, I was expecting either another appointment or some more information. So a week before I go in for tests, what would happen here? Then a week later I have the op, I will be put to sleep and then allowed home later in the day, but cant drive for 10 days. I dont like needles but this has to be done. what happens on the day of the OP i have an opponent time of 7:00, am I allowed to take someone with me, do I need someone with me? I just dont know
Greenbeast Posted March 25, 2014 Posted March 25, 2014 I will be put to sleep hope it's not that bad! do I need someone with me? presumably, unless you are walking distance from the hospital?
bushby Posted March 25, 2014 Posted March 25, 2014 Hi Matt, the best thing to do would to talk to your consultant about the worry's you have. as for the needles i know how you feel I'm petrified of them.
benjie Posted March 25, 2014 Posted March 25, 2014 When I went in for a day op, a couple of years ago. The hospital didn't like the idea of someone waiting around in the hospital and said that they would ring to notify them I was out of surgery. You will need someone to drive for you.
Norphy Posted March 25, 2014 Posted March 25, 2014 If you're having a general anesthetic, you'll definitely need an escort out of the hospital. Last time I had one, I didn't get over the effects for about a week. That was not a good week, I can tell you.
MattDLEA Posted March 25, 2014 Author Posted March 25, 2014 Really, I was expecting to get some work done at home on those days So it would be possible for someone to come with me and stay until they get me sorted. then they would go home? How do you get hold of a consultant?
Norphy Posted March 25, 2014 Posted March 25, 2014 Dude, seriously, don't do any work if you've been signed off sick. You're signed off to rest and recuperate. Working during that time is not going to do yourself any favours. You won't get thanked for it. You may even get told off by your HR department if you do it.
Bananas Posted March 25, 2014 Posted March 25, 2014 (edited) Wife had this done after a hernia caused by C section. She had the keyhole surgery. They didnt let me in the hospital told me to clear off until 5pm (when they close that bit of hospital as there's no inpatients). On her letter it said bring your own pain relief. Now I don't want to worry you but if they try that on demand something prescription only as wife was in a fair bit of pain afterwards. At the very least you want to ask for 500mg/30mg Co-codamol Good luck it'll be worth it in the end. Friend didn't have an op on hers as she has a heart condition and they refused to operate and now she has more out than in and is on morphine and they're going to have to operate but now it's major surgery instead of the easy fix Do NOT do any work, seriously bed rest. Im assuming they're going to use the mesh method to repair your hernia you don't want to get up (even sitting upright) straight away, just take the time out and chill I had the sedation for a gastroscopy recently and it put me right out (not supposed to) but that Diazepam hit me for six and I went the next 2 days feeling so ill I was telling the wife to put a pillow over my head, so whenever you're having something like anesthetic you need to rest after Edited March 25, 2014 by Bananas
AMLinington Posted March 25, 2014 Posted March 25, 2014 You will turn up at 7:00 - you can go alone or take someone but you can't drive home so you'll need to make arrangements to be collected and for someone to stay with you. They will book you in and give you a backless nightie to wear, some forms to sign and so on. You should meet the Anaesthesiologist and surgeon and can ask them questions - make sure they have the right details in the notes - last time I went for day surgery his notes had the wrong information - it said right instead of left. I nearly hit the roof. Make sure you are happy before they put the canula in your hand. A nice anaesthetist will take time to talk to you about your preferences and you CAN request to be put out by gas and air. Don't be pressured. I've had 3 day surgeries and the experience with the anaesthetist makes all the difference. 2 were great - wonderful experiences and one was a horrible rude man. If you are afraid of the needle you CAN ask for gas. It smells of fake plastic strawberry but it's the last thing you'll remember lol. You'll sit around in your backless nightie for a while until it is your turn for surgery where they will arrive to wheel you down either on the bed or in a wheelchair to the anaesthetic room. They'll do the anaesthetic and the next thing you know you're waking up. They will probably keep you around for an hour or two for obs, might make you eat something. I react badly to GA and my blood pressure drops like a stone so we always request a fluid drip or I faint everywhere. Once they are happy with you you sign a release form and go home.
chazzy2501 Posted March 25, 2014 Posted March 25, 2014 I've had gas, it was for dental surgery. Blooming awesome, whilst breathing in the gas I thought I was still waiting for the op outside and on the table. Time was all messed up, the next thing I was waking up.. I walked out with a very drunk body
Dom_ Posted March 25, 2014 Posted March 25, 2014 Our little boy was in for a hernia removing last week - there were two appointment times, 7 or 12, we were told to turn up at 12 but not seen until 4.30 (not great when 4 years old and only allowed a light breakfast!). He was put under for about 30-40 mins, came round just fine, and was bouncing around the room a couple of hours later. We've struggled stopping him running/jumping as the doctors recommended. Hope you have as speedy a recovery as he did!
MattDLEA Posted March 25, 2014 Author Posted March 25, 2014 Cheers fokes, Banana can I ask whats your opinion on going up and downstairs? Also I have a little one she'll be 1 and half then I take it youd advise against lifting her and looking after her by myself in the days afterwards. Im assuming MESH too. AM can you explain about the canula and the gas and air... So can i be put under before the canula? Dom A few guys at my running club said they were back out having gentle jogs after two weeks. Hopefully this is the case.
Dom_ Posted March 25, 2014 Posted March 25, 2014 Cheers fokes, Banana can I ask whats your opinion on going up and downstairs? Also I have a little one she'll be 1 and half then I take it youd advise against lifting her and looking after her by myself in the days afterwards. Im assuming MESH too. AM can you explain about the canula and the gas and air... So can i be put under before the canula? Dom A few guys at my running club said they were back out having gentle jogs after two weeks. Hopefully this is the case. The canula will need to be in before you are put under afaik - they're meant to be pretty painful... but it's what they'll use to put you under (and bring you back round). Where is your hernia?
MattDLEA Posted March 25, 2014 Author Posted March 25, 2014 The canula will need to be in before you are put under afaik - they're meant to be pretty painful... but it's what they'll use to put you under (and bring you back round). Where is your hernia? Cheers Dude just what I wanted to hear Its a inguinal one
ButterflyMoon Posted March 25, 2014 Posted March 25, 2014 Don't worry @MattDLEA canula's are not too bad. A lot depends on the person putting it in. They will take good care of you and WILL listen to you about your fears.
Bananas Posted March 25, 2014 Posted March 25, 2014 We live in a bungalow but there are steps up from the car park, she managed steps just took it slowly. I don't think you'll have too much of a problem doing stairs just be prepared for a bit of discomfort and take it slow, esp when you first get home after being knocked out, last thing you want to do is fall over. Cannulas don't really hurt, well no worse than having a blood sample taken and I don't notice those anymore either, what hurts more is they use a large piece of sticky plastic to hold it on and if you have hairy hands it hurts when they whip it off (shave back of hands first maybe lol). I would try to minimise any heavy lifting and if you have to to make sure all the weight is on your knees not back and abdomen. FWIW the wife healed pretty quick and although it gave her some twinges still after a few days it was no more painful than if you'd fallen over and gotten some nasty bruising. Definitely make sure they give you some painkillers to take home, you dont want to be in pain after hours and need to see out of hours GP to get some. 30mg of codeine should make you feel nice and warm without knocking you out, so 500/30 Solpadol or 30mg of dihydrocodeine is what you want to ask for if you get the chance. You may not need them but just in case. Cannula is also used as a line in if anything happens, so they may still put one in even with gas and air don't know about that but just dont watch while they do it and it wont hurt so much, i've had about 20 of them in past 6 months from various hospital visits
MattDLEA Posted March 25, 2014 Author Posted March 25, 2014 OK Im getting reasuredand a bit scared now lol. I know it has to be done so will have to go with whatever they do. Im running the Great North Run this year so need to it sorting. I have never had blood or anything taken. Only things I have had done is inoculations or the dentist. Whats the eating like? where they allowed to eat the day before.
Bananas Posted March 25, 2014 Posted March 25, 2014 (edited) A Cannula is much much less painful than injection at the dentist, they just look scary bits of kit so don't look and you'll be ok they really don't hurt. If you're really worried about the pain of a cannula they can always give you some Emla cream (think thats what it's called) that numbs the area, they might do that for you. I've had dozens of these now and I don't even flinch when they do em now. You're allowed to eat and drink normally up until midnight the day before the op then absolutely nothing until after the op Edited March 25, 2014 by Bananas
MattDLEA Posted March 25, 2014 Author Posted March 25, 2014 You're allowed to eat and drink normally up until midnight the day before the op then absolutely nothing until after the op Phew I like my food 1
AMLinington Posted March 25, 2014 Posted March 25, 2014 (edited) Cheers fokes, Banana can I ask whats your opinion on going up and downstairs? Also I have a little one she'll be 1 and half then I take it youd advise against lifting her and looking after her by myself in the days afterwards. Im assuming MESH too. AM can you explain about the canula and the gas and air... So can i be put under before the canula? Dom A few guys at my running club said they were back out having gentle jogs after two weeks. Hopefully this is the case. I have to disagree with @dom - I was very nervous and had the following three experiences: 1) Very nice Russian bloke, agreed to use a local anaesthetic before putting the canula in. Didn't feel a thing. 2) Horrible man who ignored me and used 'cold spray' REALLY hurt. 3) Nice lady who put me out using gas and air before putting the canula in. So yes, you CAN have the canula put in after the gas and air. Don't let them push you around - there are options and if you are afraid they can do lots of things. It's worth saying though that I've had issues having blood tests for years and have always used EMLA cream and the drawing of the blood has always been really painful - made my whole arm ache. I recently had to have a whole bunch of them (I might be going under again soon...) and CBA with the EMLA faff and the ache. I asked them to use the little yellow butterfly needles and didn't feel a thing (although I still fainted). I remember waiting for the ache and asking the nurse if the blood was flowing and she said 'beautifully'. I then said 'Oh, that doesn't hurt at all. It's really not so bad' then I fainted. LOL. To be fair, one of our local clinics has a dedicated phlebotomy team and you call up and book a slot. None of this going to Godzilla at the local GPs for us. Edited March 25, 2014 by AMLinington
witch Posted March 25, 2014 Posted March 25, 2014 @MattDLEA No, you do not have to have the canula first. I had an op two months ago and I had the face mask,and they put the canula in my hand after I was out. I just pointed out that as I am terrified of needles, they would have to practically hold me down with me thrashing and screaming if they wanted to do it before hand, and no, the "magic cream" they give you to numb your hand doesnt work. TBH they were quite happy to wait till I was under It was fine
Bananas Posted March 25, 2014 Posted March 25, 2014 It didn't work in your experience I've had it before it's supposed to be applied then covered for at least 30 mins it's not instant. If you're scared of needles the cream ain't gonna help anyway. Anyway point is its not painful unless your pain threshold is really low it's less painful than say stubbing your toe. Not everywhere gives u the option of gas the wife wasn't. It'll all be fine anyway they look terrifying but once it's in the needle part is taken out and all that's left is a plastic tube into a vein. The worst bit imho is pulling the plaster off taking it off lol. When I was dehydrated in hospital it took them 8 goes to get one in I had holes everywhere just had to laugh
witch Posted March 25, 2014 Posted March 25, 2014 It didn't work in your experience I've had it before it's supposed to be applied then covered for at least 30 mins it's not instant. If you're scared of needles the cream ain't gonna help anyway. Anyway point is its not painful unless your pain threshold is really low it's less painful than say stubbing your toe. Not everywhere gives u the option of gas the wife wasn't. It'll all be fine anyway they look terrifying but once it's in the needle part is taken out and all that's left is a plastic tube into a vein. The worst bit imho is pulling the plaster off taking it off lol. When I was dehydrated in hospital it took them 8 goes to get one in I had holes everywhere just had to laugh Of course it is my opinion! Yes, I am very scared of needles and I hate the particular feeling of the needle going in - I would rather someone hit me with something to the same level of pain. I've had the cream many many times and never once has it helped - yes, it might help the OP but if he really is needle phobic he might do better than to look at alternatives. I never understand why they don't offer the mask - a friend of mine is an anaesthetist and he pointed out that they use the mask to keep you under during the op so it is no biggie to them to start off with it.
Devontechie Posted March 25, 2014 Posted March 25, 2014 When I had my operation 2 months ago, I had the canula put in my hand before I was given gas. The anaesthetist was really nice and was talking to me the whole time. He did have problems first time around, he tried to put it in the side of my wrist! Once canula was in, I was given gas as aswell as the general anaesthesia via the canula. I don't mind needles, so it didn't bother me. When I turned up at Guy's Hospital in the morning, I saw the anaesthetist and he talking about what he was going to do and made sure I was happy with it. Also talked about what dugs I was going to be given when I was under the GA as well as what I would be taking home with me. I going having another operation probably in the next 4-6 weeks at a different hospital, hopefully the anaesthetist will be as nice. When I had an operation back in 2002, I also had a good anaesthetist. He talked to me about what he was going to do and made sure I was happy.
Bananas Posted March 25, 2014 Posted March 25, 2014 Blimey calm down I wasn't having a go and the op didn't say he's needle phobic he said he's never had it done I was trying to reassure him without adding anything else to worry about. it's not really painful, phobias aside of course. I wasn't belittling your opinion sorry if it came across that way but not all drugs work on everyone and if you're that scared the adrenaline was probably countering it's affect or you were expecting the unpleasant experience so your brain filled in the gaps or it doesn't work on you for some reason. Most dental anathestic don't work on me at all I have to have the old school stuff it's just the way we're all different. Something like 5% of the population don't have the ability to process codeine into morphine so those painkillers don't work on them Horses for courses n all that glad you get on alright with the gas. You'll be fine op if you're really worried about the cannula ask the anaesthetist about alternatives but barring needle phobias they're not painful really and once it's in its just a bit of plastic there's no needle left in
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now