Question:
Ok I am hearing about this pain pump and where is that exactly attached to and
every night I am laying in bed scared out of my wits thinking that the morning of my surgery I am going to be in the O.R. getting too nervous and running out of there saying NO WAY I CAN'T DO IT! I am so scared that I am choosing to have surgery and I might die and leave my 5 year old daughter with out a mom. Is anyone pre-op out there with crazy thoughts like mine? — Pilar E. (posted on May 9, 2002)
May 9, 2002
This was me the night before sugery and even in the OR. I told them to
forget it and just take my gallbladder out, which needed removed anyway.
As you can tell by my frofile
I did do it and have lost 142lbs.
— lynbaby B.
May 9, 2002
I am in the same boat. I was fine up until about 3 days ago and I am
starting to flip out. I am scheduled for open RNY on May 23.. two weeks
today!!!!! All I can think is that I hope they put me out quickly so I
can't sneak out, lol. As for the pain pump, my doctor has given me
information on it. It is a pump that looks kinda like the pump at the end
of blood pressure cuff. It is connected to a cathider (sp?) that runs from
your incssion to the pump that is snuggle against the right side of your
body. If you have access to a fax machine I will be more than happy to
send you the paper he gave me.
Good Luck~ When is your date???
Candi
— Candi B.
May 9, 2002
It is only natural to be scared. I was petrified of leaving my kids and
hubby. In fact the night before I sat at the table crying my eyes out
writing them letters of why I chose this surgery and if they were reading
this letter I didn't make it etc. etc. It made me feel better that I was
leaving them with an explanation at least.
But thank the lord above I made it through with no complications and I did
not have a pain pump so I can not help you with that. I think it is
connected to your IV and it just drips through that nothing major. Best of
luck to you and this is the best decision I have ever made. LAP RNY
4-9-02rk
— Robin B.
May 9, 2002
I had the pain pump. It was connected to my iv in my arm...pice of cake
and I loved it. Never knew it was there. I was able to hit the button
(which layed in my bed with me!) every 6 minutes, and I DID! I think that
I was hitting it in my sleep. A lot of people say they gt headaches from
the morphine, but I was fine and left the hospital with Tylenol with
codine.
— barbpatter
May 9, 2002
Ok, sorry I think I am talking about a different kind of pain pump. I will
be having an extra pump including the pain pump. This pump that I was
talking about runs from your incission to your side. It keeps the
incession numb for three days~ Sorry!!
Candi
— Candi B.
May 9, 2002
I was on a continuous morphine drip through my IV. The morphine pump would
give me an extra blast if I felt I needed it. It got so that I got so
nauseous from the morphine that they discontinued the continuous drip. But
I could still use the pump if I wanted to. They switched me over to
Toradol shots and they worked really well. I left the hospital with a
bottle of LorTab Elixir (hydrocodone with acetominophen) and my pain is
totally under my control now. I had a fleeting thought while laying in the
pre-op room of just getting up and leaving. But I think we all do. Before
I knew it, I was under. Your thoughts are completely normal. Hugs, Joy
— [Deactivated Member]
May 9, 2002
the pain pump is put into your iv and they give you a button that you can
push every 6 minutes for pain. sometimes i used mine a lot, other time i
even forgot it was there. I am very lucky because I have not had pain at
all. The fears of leaving your child will remain until it's all over with.
I am 1 week post op today and was soooo happy to see my kids when i got
home...
— candymom64
May 9, 2002
Hi Pilar... What you are feeling is very normal. We go into this surgery
most times as a last attempt at finding good health. We want a stronger
quality of life, the ability to do things as a participant that we've been
reduced to doing as a spectator. Most times our health is on the downslide
so the only alternative is death or looking up. I got to the point where
the benefit outweighed the risk and that is what made this a peaceful
decision for me. I was totally peaceful leading up to surgery (what had me
stressed more was insurance approval)and on surgery day was very calm.
Really just about the only thing they do to you prior to going to sleep is
to put in the IV which is just a pinch. Everything else is done while you
are out. They gave me a mild sedation in my room and I never remember
leaving it to go to the OR. What someone mentioned about writing letters
is important. After I got things wrapped up at work that I needed to do, I
organized things for home. Had lists for my husband of what needed doing,
where things were; updated will; left a letter with my Stepdaughter if
something went wrong; letters to my brother, my kids, my husband and anyone
important in my life. I crossed the t's and dotted every i. This was not
morbid thinking or a fatalistic view but planning for the worst scenario.
It gave me peace of mind to make sure my children were taken care of and
that above all else, all in my life knew I loved them. I made calls to
friends and family and I said things previously unsaid. So on surgery day,
I began a new life without looking back and at 5 wks post op, I'm still
positive. I'm down 29#, feeling really good, back to work and life is
going forward and this summer I'll be here more healthy to run and play
with my 9 yr old granddaughter. This is what will happen for you too. I
must tell you also that I am first and foremost a Christian and when I
began this journey, I turned the out come over to God. I would live or I
would die and that was out of my hands anyhow. But my feeling is I can do
more good alive so thankfully God felt the same way! My thoughts are with
you.
— AJC750
May 9, 2002
Ok, this is going to sounds nuts, but here it goes.... Have you considered
seeing a Hypnotherapist? I had a session with a hypnotist a few days
before my surgery because I had the exact same concerns and fears as you.
I knew in my heart that this was the right decision for me, but my thoughts
of leaving my son withour a mom was really starting to freak me out. The
hypnotist put things into a different perspective for me, taught me self
relaxation and help instill a great deal of positive re-inforcement for a
quick recovery. May sound weird, but it worked for me. I felt great the
day of surgery and have not been on pain meds since day 2. I am now 2
weeks post op, have lost 29 lbs and feel great about my decision to have
this surgery! Good luck.
Pam Souza
— pam29922
Click Here to Return