surgery scheduled...

[graciebeth]

My surgery(AVR) is scheduled for Monday, have to be at the hospital Sunday night..

What all do I need to take with me? And how will the things I take follow me around, from the room to ICU after surgery,back to a room?? Im thinking like my purse, my pillow, maybe a book or a word search, my clothes? where do they all go during this?

hugz-Grace

 

[Sona]

Hello !!!

Hello !!!

My wife had her MVR surgery 3 weeks ago ( May 17th ), so things are very fresh in my mind. Just before surgery, they took all personal belongings and kept till she came to ICU room. She was un-concisous for about 6-8 hours in ICU. There were lot of machines around her, breathing tube, lot of monitoring devices etc. It took her 24 hour after surgery to start talking ( very slowly ), she gained her conciousness but still wasn't in control of her body/muscles, only after 36-40 hours she started to talk well.

There was nothing allowed in the ICU room, in fact there wasn't even a place to place a flower pot ( nothing was allowed ). And she was sleeping 60-70% time there in ICU. After about 48 hours when she could sit upright for 30 mins( w/ the help from ICU Nurse ), then was moved to 'transitional room'.

I think till you go to 'transitional room', you won't be needing anything. There was Television in both ICU and transitional room . We carried all her medical history papers with us. Please feel free to ask anything.

All will be well, praying for you and will be waiting for your post in 'Post Surgery' thread.

 

[blessed1416]

Prayers coming your way

Prayers coming your way

When I had my surgery, they let me keep nothing- not even my wedding band, so make sure you have a safe place to keep your valuables or leave them at home. I personally wasn't able to concentrate enough well enough to read a book. I did however take a pen and tablet to jot down questions that I needed to ask prior to surgery and also used them to try to write messages while I was incubated. Definately take your comfortable pillow. I also had a list of people for my husband to call and their phone numbers so that he could let them know how surgery went. Another thing I found especially helpful was a basket of candy that my husband kept filled every day. The nurses and even the doctors seemed to appreciate their little treats, plus, it kept the nurses in my room a little more often. Wishing you the very best, and please let us know your progress.

 

[marky]

Nothing.. take nothing with you. I stronglydoubt you will want to do word search while in the hospital.. it took all I had to focus on the TV for a few moments.

the hospital furnished everything, including toothbrushes..
My husband brought my me carmex lip balm and daily he would bring in a walkman for me to relax with..once I got transfered to another room I kept that with me.

The only other thing he brought in was food, b/c the hospital stuff wasn't fit to eat.

I would say take nothing .. if you feel that you really Need something, let your spouse or loved one bring it in to you.
Blessing to you on your upcoming surgery!

 

[graciebeth]

The problem is

The problem is

the problem is that I dont have a husband that will be visiting me(im widowed) that will be coming from my home..My Mom lives a hour away from where I live,and so if I need something of mine from home I wont be able to get it..

I can do wtihout the books etc from home,but really wasnt sure where my things that I'll have with me when I arrive will go,like where will my purse go or the clothes I wear up there and the clothes I pack to wear home? I guess I could have Mom lock my stuff up in the trunk of her car..

anyway.

hugz
Grace

 

[adamsmom]

Gracie- know that you will have prayers and best wishes from everyone on this forum. I hope your surgery on Monday goes smoothly, and please give us an update when you can. We all will be anxious to hear that you are doing well. I want you to know we care!

 

[catwoman]

Grace:
I had a heart cath the day before my surgery and stayed overnight. Because I was going to my parents' home for 2 weeks when I was discharged, I had to take more things than otherwise.
I took everything in a TravelPro rolling suitcase. When I was rolled out of my first room to surgery, my husband just rolled my suitcase out to his car in the parking lot and then went into the waiting room. I had surgery @ 7 a.m. and stayed overnight in ICU. I was in a private room the next morning, maybe by noon. My husband, who had spent the night at my parents' home, brought my suitcase back to me then. I had my cellphone & phone directories, some reading material, toiletries, clothing. My mom or my husband kept my purse until I was discharged, I think.

My parents had insisted on taking care of me for 2 weeks after discharge. I had pooh-poohed that idea at first, then agreed and I'm glad I did. My husband works 4-day 40-hour workweeks in June & July and gets home later than usual, and he's exhausted. We live 50 miles from the hospital & cardio; my parents are much closer. Plus it was nice not to have to worry about meals, entertainment, etc. I had no appetite, so my mom focused on trying to get me to eat. My dad hovered over me, took me to doctors' appointments, made sure I was comfortable, constantly asking if there was anything he could do for me ("Please change bodies with me!" I'd joke ). My middle sister, who lived nearby, was my "social director," renting movies for us to watch at night.
I was grateful for their help and I really enjoyed being with them those two weeks. It was really boring when I went back home and was alone all day.

 

[shambles]

Excellent questions and replies.. I was thinking the same questions as Im having my surgery tomorrow. I wish I was staying in the hospital tonight, instead they have me coming in at 5:30am. Good grief. Do they actually think I'll be able to sleep tonight knowing I'll be up at 4am? What are they thinking...... grrrrrr

Sending you my prayers for your surgery on Monday.

Take care.

 

[Cooker]

Hi Gracie,

Here's wishing you a smooth surgery and a boring recovery. I did not need any of the things I took. The hospital had everything I needed. You pay for it why not use it. Everything I did take including my billfold was brought to me as soon as I was in my room.

You will be in my prayers.

 

[Phyllis]

Hi Gracie,
I put you on the calendar for next Monday. Hope you can have someone post for you and we send our best wishes for an easy climb up the mountain and an unenventful recovery.

 

[Georgia]

Ditto your own pillow; and some extra cases (you'll want to change the case every day because your hair will smell awful due to the meds).

Definitely a walkman or ipod or cd player; have your mom bring it to you icu; they let me keep it there and it went with me to the step-down unit. ICU is very noisy and people can be loud and crying and yelling - I expect it's the effect of coming out of anesthesia; I found it to be scary & didn't want to hear it.

I had tangerines (oranges would do as well). They limit your fluids but let you eat citrus. Really helped with the raging thirst for the first couple of days.

Nice smelling body lotion. Lip balm. Sugarless chewing gum.

Warn your mom that you'll look horrid when you're in icu; my husband wouldn't even talk about it, altho he'd been warned. Bad color, bloated, tubes, etc. But that initial stuff goes away pretty fast.

Best of luck. Hope there's someone who can post an update for you.

 

[Superbob]

Gracie and Shambles,

Good thoughts/prayers go with both of you. Look forward to hearing about your successful treks over the mountain.

As for what to bring, I remember packing a small bag of odds and ends, which my son kept in the car trunk, but I don't remember using any of it. The hospital supplied the essentials. Even the food wasn't too bad.

One thing that might be helpful is a good set of pjs or the equivalent to wear when you start taking walks around the hospital. I enjoyed the walks with those pretty nurses but I worried at times how much modesty those hospital gowns were protecting

Godspeed to you both.

 

[tigerlily]

Graciebeth,

Other than my toothbrush and something to wear on the trip home, I don't think I needed much else. However, it was comforting to pack the things I did, and if I hadn't had such a time with nausea in the hospital, I may have actually listened to the CDs, read the book, and written the notes I thought I would write. I had a bad reaction to the medications. Nausea seems to be an uncommon problem so don't be alarmed. I was just glad to watch the TV and take in all the beautiful flowers people sent me.

One thing I would suggest is some dry shampoo or scarves to wear. They wouldn't let me wash my hair the whole time I was in the hospital. After 6 days, I almost could have wrung the grease from my hair. Two things I brought that were very helpful were an exercise bra that opened in the front which was wonderful for me since I'm large busted and a bathrobe for those walks you take around the halls. A second stretchy bra would have been nice.

I will be remembering you this weekend along with Shambles whose surgery is tomorrow. You'll be fine and on your way to full recovery in no time.

 

[joanne6]

We had a great thread about what to bring to the hospital. It is way back in the archives of this forum. It had to be October '05n or after because that is when I joined. You beat me to the idea of the trunk of the car. My fluids were not limited in ICU and I enjoyed my diet soda as I do every day, I did need a small fan because the ICU was so warm. I really enjoyed having my portable CD player and soothing music even the night of the surgery. Best wishes for your surgery. I will be looking to hear from you after you are able to post again.