Date Set.....

[musician2k]

My surgery date for AVR & aneurysm replacement is now set! I'm getting fixed on 7/11/06, with pre-op the day before (though, they don't keep you.) I mentioned this in another thread but it was suggested to me that I make a separate thread....

Now, thanks to all of you I'm *fairly* comfortable with things, and I think I pretty much know what's going to happen. I've asked this before - but will ask it again - the ONLY thing that really freaks me about post-op is the nausea/vomiting issue. I have migraines, and nausea/vomiting is a major part of my symptoms but is controlled, sometimes, by anti-nausea drugs such as Compazine. Are these types of drugs just not routinely given post-op to control the reactions we might have to the pain meds? Is there a medical reason why not? Just wondering. I know that if nausea is my ONLY concern post-op, I'll be doing well, but just am curious about this one thing. MANY people seem to mention this as a normal reaction post-op and am just curious why it's allowed to occur if there's a med out there than can curb or stop it.

Thanks, everyone....!

[Barbara Stewart]

Hi Music Man,
I had forgotten all about the nausea and vomiting coming out of general anesthetic, but I don't remember that at all with my two OHS. Maybe they control it since you will have a breathing tube, or maybe I just don't remember it, but either way, don't worry about it. Like you, I have a "thing" about being nauseated and vomiting, but that didn't even come up.

The anesthesiologist should come in to talk to you prior to surgery and you should talk to him about that. Post surgery they gave me morphine and I don't remember much about that time, but I don't remember nausea and I think I would have. The nurses did tell me that I'm quite amusing on morphhine.:o

Take it easy and don't worry, or at least talk to your surgeon about it. Hopefully, it will ease some of your anxiety.

Barbara

[Mary]

Musician,
Tell your anesthesiologist about your problems with nausea. I had some issues, talked to him beforehand, and they put an antinausea med in my IV line. I was fine!

[musician2k]

Mary: Thanks a lot! Great suggestion, I'll be sure to do that. :)



Musician,
Tell your anesthesiologist about your problems with nausea. I had some issues, talked to him beforehand, and they put an antinausea med in my IV line. I was fine!

[geebee]

Glad you got your date - it will be here before you know it.
I was given Compazine post-op after each of my surgeries. Like Mary said, just talk to your doctors. The last think you want is to be vomiting with a cracked sternum.

[knightfan2691]

My surgery date for AVR & aneurysm replacement is now set! I'm getting fixed on 7/11/06, with pre-op the day before (though, they don't keep you.)

*chuckles*

I was shocked that I had the pre-op done on a Friday ... and the surgery on a Monday at my last open heart surgery (January 2003). Why? Because my 2nd open heart surgery (March 1987) was an in-hospital overnight stay for the pre-op, including the drinking of a substance that literally cleared me out ... felt like from head to toe. Hated that. Ugh. Ssssooo...I was shocked (and glad, I might add) that I didn't have to have that treatment before my 2003 surgery ;).

Sssooo...CONGRATS on the surgery date! Thoughts/prayers coming your way....



Cort, "Mr MC" / "Mr Road Trip", 32swm/pig valve/pacemaker
MC:family.IL.guide.future = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/
chdQB = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/quilt.html
"We got mountains to climb" ... Rod Stewart ... 'Broken Arrow'

[joanne6]

I discussed this with the anesthesiologist before my surgery last summer. Don't know if this is routine or not but I had a tube from the mouth into the stomach. I had so many tubes I was only minimally aware of this one. Anyway, it solved the problem of n&v because it sucked everything out of the stomach. I would not have been a happy camper if I had to throw up on top of everything else going on. Talk to your surgeon and anesthesiologist.
Take care.

[musician2k]

Joanne:

Thanks so much, and thanks to everyone who's wished me well with this stuff. It's all very complicated, and I could just go into it like a person who's taking a plane flight for the first time (don't tell me how the plane flies, just fly the darn thing!) but, I feel the more you know, the better off you are. I'll definitely talk to the docs about these issues during my pre-op visit. By the way, my pre-op visit is the day before my surgery, but it's in the morning of that day, and I go home that night to return VERY early the next morning. Not sure how normal that is? But it'll be fine. Again thanks:)
;)


I discussed this with the anesthesiologist before my surgery last summer. Don't know if this is routine or not but I had a tube from the mouth into the stomach. I had so many tubes I was only minimally aware of this one. Anyway, it solved the problem of n&v because it sucked everything out of the stomach. I would not have been a happy camper if I had to throw up on top of everything else going on. Talk to your surgeon and anesthesiologist.
Take care.

[jwilliamsr]

Musician2k,

Glad you have your date set! Try not to worry too much. I finally was able to become comfortable with my decision when I began to think of it as a "life-extending" surgery that was absolutely necessary.... not an optional, elective thing.

Everyone above is absolutely right about mentioning your tendency toward nausea/vomiting to the anesthesiologist. They have specific drugs they can give before, during and after the surgery to help reduce the nausea. They work for many folks, but of course nothing is 100% effective. :(

I marked my calendar to pray for you and your doctors early and often on July 11.

Jimmy

[Phyllis]

Congratulations on having the date set and best wishes for a successful surgery and uneventful recovery. There have been many here who went in for the pre-op the day before and then early on the day of surgery. Dick had pre-op on a Tuesday, went home (back to our hotel since it was out of town), cath on Wed. and stayed in the hospital Wed. night for surgery early Thursday morning.

[Sherry]

I remember asking you this on the other thread, but I don't remember your answer. Is the group you're going to at Methodist Hospital or one of the others? Did you get a chance to weigh in with Dr. Pitt for a second opinion?

I am glad that you've got your date set. We'll definitely have you in our thoughts on that day and look forward to seeing you on the other side of the mountain, as we like to call it.

[Bryan B]

In addition to the good advice you have already gotten, you might want to ask about them using Fentanyl for post-op pain instead of Morphine. I had nausea and dry heaves after my first dose of Morphine, and after they switched me to Fentanyl the nausea and dry heaves subsided. Another benefit of Fentanyl is that you tend to be more lucid. Good luck with your upcoming surgery...the waiting was the worst part of the entire process for me. I could have used a few doses of Fentanyl prior to the surgery. :D

[musician2k]

Sherry:

Hello again, fellow Hoosier!

The Indiana Heart Center is affiliated with St. Vincent's. I had first seen a surgeon there by the name of Griffith, and he gave me his views regarding my heart situation (.6-.7cm2 opening, aortic aneuryism of around 5cm) and said he didn't want me to wait too long to have the surgery. He was however going on vacation...so I asked for what amounts to a second opinion (did this over the phone) and a Dr. Heinmansohn reviewed my case & had identical opinion regarding it. A CT scan of the area showed the aneuryism at 4.5cm, and felt it was safe for me to wait until the 11th.

I have kept your recommendation of Dr. Pitt in mind, however. If I do feel I need another objective opinion I'll certainly give him a call. I do appreciate that info :)





I remember asking you this on the other thread, but I don't remember your answer. Is the group you're going to at Methodist Hospital or one of the others? Did you get a chance to weigh in with Dr. Pitt for a second opinion?

I am glad that you've got your date set. We'll definitely have you in our thoughts on that day and look forward to seeing you on the other side of the mountain, as we like to call it.

[diegocentrico]

hi musician ...wish you a successfull , comfortable surgery and recovery . good to know the date .
plz someone tells me is there any way to estimate such a problems before the surgery ?

[Der Biermeister]

I normally have an iron stomach. But as I remember, on the 2nd day after waking, I got a bit nauseated. It may have been caused by the Percocets I was taking. Anyway, they gave me something for it, and withing minutes I was fine.

I guess the mind is the first thing to go because I can't remember if they administered it via IV or simply a pill. And it's only been 10 weeks.:confused:

[musician2k]

I've been told that the meds they give you (IV and otherwise...) can have amnesiac qualities so I don't think it's your mind, yet, Der :) But thanks for the input. I'm definitely going to mention the nausea thing during my pre-op appt. with the docs...

Again thanks for the advice :)



I normally have an iron stomach. But as I remember, on the 2nd day after waking, I got a bit nauseated. It may have been caused by the Percocets I was taking. Anyway, they gave me something for it, and withing minutes I was fine.

I guess the mind is the first thing to go because I can't remember if they administered it via IV or simply a pill. And it's only been 10 weeks.:confused: