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Pre-Admission Appointment.

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Posted 12/19/2009 6:43 PM (GMT 0)

I'm expecting a call anyday for my pre-admission appointment prior to open surgery now scheduled

for January 20th.

Since I have never had an operation or been in

a hospital, what do they do and what could I expect

during the pre-ad ?

Posted 12/19/2009 7:05 PM (GMT 0)
In my case, they checked and recorded by insurance plan details, my living will and any other legal documents, explained in detail the process of my admission, the testing and what I would have to do pre-op, such as taking an enema, etc. The ran a 12 lead ekg, chest xray, general thump and listen exam, a blood draw for testing, just a general medical exam to make sure I was fit enough for the surgery. Also a comprehensive medical history was taken.
Posted 12/19/2009 7:49 PM (GMT 0)
Not much to add to James post. Pretty much a non event, altho some hospitals annoy the h*ll out of you with taking history information by a nurse, then a PA, etc. Just procedure, but most guys just want to stand up and say enough already !

Goodlife
Posted 12/19/2009 8:45 PM (GMT 0)
Mine was just like the other guys. They also typed and crossed my blood and gave me a wrist band in case I needed blood during surgery (which I did). They also gave me a bunch of anti-bacterial cloths to use at home the night before on my body and again the morning of the surgery. The open surgery was not bad. I remember being in the pre-surgery area and the anesthesiologist saying he was going to give me something to make me relax. The next thing I knew I was awake and in recovery. My surgery lasted 6 hours because of some difficulty with reconnecting my uretha. I am obese and it really added to the problems for the surgeon. Pain was not much afterwards - took Vicodin for 2 days at home and then switched to anti-inflammatory. I only spent two nights in the hospital. They had me up and walking the day after surgery. Pay attention to the discharge instructions as far as cleaning your incision. A small portion of mine became infected (I don't know if I left the hospital that way or it was a result of me being a little afraid to get it wet in the shower). The doctor pulled the staples in that area and my wife plugged it with sterile gauze daily to let it heal. No pain, but my surgery was on October 22 and the incision just finished healing today December 19). I was required to have the cathetor for 3 weeks because they wanted to make sure the work they did on the bladder connection healed. Was not really a problem. Had one for one week in July and this was much easier. I stuck with the larger overnight bag and just laid it on the floor where I sat. When i went out I placed it in a shopping bag and carried it. I stayed out opf work for 6 weeks to make sure I was healed. I sit most of the day and the only problem I had the first week back was some pain after about 4 hours of sitting. I adjusted to it quickly and am now fine. Over all, I think the open surgery is not really that much worse than the robot. I guess it is all about the surgeon and what he is best at.
Posted 12/19/2009 9:02 PM (GMT 0)
Same thing James above said, pretty typical of most hospitals pre-surgery
Posted 12/19/2009 10:43 PM (GMT 0)
Usually a pre surgical exam means an EKG, Blood work and a chest Xray.
Posted 12/20/2009 2:26 AM (GMT 0)
Looks like you will have the same surgeon as I did, but at another hospital within the same group. 

Pre-op stuff is standard. They want to know what meds you're on and those that can affect surgery. Even though you've probably been asked that before. Also, they will do an EKG and complete med history to evaluate your fitness to anesthetics. Pretty normal stuff along with the bloodwork. If you're on aspirin, they'll want you to stop. If you're on any supplements, they may want you to stop those, also. They can affect bleeding and clotting.

One thing I would add is...the state of your mind in the recovery room when you wake up from surgery. The first thing I remember was a very efficient nurse right in my face asking me about pain and how I was doing...on a scale of 1-10. Those questions should be mutually exclusive. I kept answering "7" to how I was doing (10 being good). I believe that was interpreted as "7" on the pain scale (10 being bad). They kept giving me demerol, thinking I was in pain and I kept answering, I'm a 7. I think the multiple injections slowed my bowel recovery time and I could have been released earlier than 48 hours. The nurses that were taking care of me in my hospital room after the recovery room, told my wife they thought I was one of the happier patients they've dealt with.

Be careful with the catheter. It will be your friend for 2-3 weeks. Don't let it get tangled in anything and keep it clean (lots of posts here about catheter care). David in SC can probably give you the best advice on the catheter.

Good luck with your surgery and keep us posted.

All the best.

Mike

Mike

Posted 12/20/2009 2:41 AM (GMT 0)
Mike, you do realize the pain scale is 1-10 with 10 being for the most severe pain. lol. Come on fess up, you just wanted so of that dandy demoral, that's great stuff when you really hurt. Just messing with you brother. Bet you didn't feel any pain when they were doing that.

David in SC
Posted 12/21/2009 2:03 PM (GMT 0)

Greetings, JB.  Just a couple of things to add.  Sounds like you might be similar to me - I had never been put under - never had a broken bone, never even had a stitch.  Other than being too fat, in very good health.  When I was answering the nurses questions she finally said, I think I better check with the anesthesiologist just to make sure - I didn't have enough hospital experience for a 55 year old guy.  She gave his office a call and said everything was fine.  All together it took a couple of hours between the blood draw, chest x-ray, and all the questions.

One other thing I did that I don't know how often others have done.  I was given the option of going to the blood bank and giving a unit of my own blood.  I did this about 3 weeks prior to surgery.  They gave me a special band to wear on the day of surgery so that they would use my blood in case I needed it.  I didn't need it and unfortunately, just as they advised me in advance, my unit of blood was destroyed.  Just a thought.  David

Posted 1/13/2010 8:16 PM (GMT 0)
.
Well it was just like you guys said, no big deal, just a 'hurry up and wait' routine.

Went into the exam room right on time, 1pm. waited
25 minutes and someone came in to do the EKG.

Waited 20 minutes and a doctor came in to check on medicine, ask questions, took blood presure (too high)

Wait 30 minutes and someone wants to know if blood transfusions are okay, if needed.

Wait 15 minutes for a nurse to come and explain the pre stuff, recovery and the catheder thingy.

Wait for 30 minutes and someone takes me and borrows four vials of blood.

Go upstairs and wait (did I mention the "WAIT" before ?)
and they take a chest xray.

Ninety minutes later and we are back home.

What was I worried about anyway.

Jerry.
.
Posted 1/13/2010 9:13 PM (GMT 0)
Good luck on the 20th, and keep us posted.

Mike
Posted 1/13/2010 9:24 PM (GMT 0)
Jerry, Good luck. I had open surgery in pre-op holding I spoke with head nurse and signed some papers. Talked with the anesthesiologist about the cocktale that he would give me. Rolled me into Surgery fully awake. I moved from my bed to surgery table by myself. I spoke to the Dr before surgery in the surgery room. I actually asked the staff and Dr to join me in a prayer befor they started. THEY AGREED!

As soon as I finished the prayer the juce was pushed. Next thing I knew I was in my room . Don't even remember the recovery room. Pain was about 3. Very simple easy procedure for me.

In you want more info you can e-mail me.

Jeff T
Cajun Country
Posted 1/13/2010 9:25 PM (GMT 0)

JB  - Dr Chin did my RP at Victoria hospital in London on Oct 23 09.  They did the pre admit there about a week earlier.

If you have no other health issues, then the scenario Jim sketched is what they do.  I'll add that they go over the catheter routine pretty thoroughly.  In addition you get some reading material to take home that outlines in detail what will happen the day of surgery, the day after, the first day home and what to do at home.

I found all of this very clear and I followed the instructions carefully at home.  A nurse comes to your home shortly after you return from surgery to monitor how things are going.  She was the one who took out the staples.

I had quite a bit of concern about the surgery beforehand even though I know that Dr. Chin is one of the best surgeons in Ontario and probably in Canada.  When you read what has happened to others, the mind can start to worry.

The surgery went well.  As indicated below I have had no problems except of course for ED.

Hope that everything goes well for you with your upcoming surgery.  You certainly will be in the best of hands.

Don't hesitate to email me if you have any questions.

Skeener

Posted 1/13/2010 9:29 PM (GMT 0)

jb - I see I just replied to an old post of yours.  Glad to read that your preop went fine.  Am sure the surgery will too!!

Skeener

Posted 1/13/2010 9:58 PM (GMT 0)
Jerry, glad the pre-op went well for you. Sounds pretty typical. At my hospital, my pre-ops have lasted as little as 30 minutes to a much as 4 hours (due to emergencies going on). I am off for my next pre-op around noon tommorow. Hoping it will be one of the shorter versions myself. Good luck to you.

David in SC
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