I have an upcoming surgery that will require a 4-5 day stay at the hospital. I am wondering what I should bring? Please respond yes or no to my list.
1. Pajama's
2. Leisure clothes
3. robe
4. medication (Fentanyl, cymbalta, carbamezapine)
5. Photo album (of my son)
6. Toiletries
7. Slippers
8. pillow
Can you think of anything else.
Thanks in advance!
HELLASRULES
06-25-2007, 05:38 PM
Hi Onyxgates
I had a craniotomy in Dec and although I took pajamas, a robe, and slippers with me, I only used the slippers.
Toiletries you will need but just your essential stuff. (You won't be washing your hair for sure.)
Your meds are usually provided by the hospital during your stay, but they should be able to tell you that at pre-op testing. Have you had that yet?
I wouldn't actually bring anything with you the first day as you will most likely be monitored in ICU and no personal things are allowed.
I wouldn't take anything you can't live without as hospitals are not secure places. I might suggest just bringing one picture of your son for that reason.
A lot of those photos may not be replaceable.
You really don't need much when you lay there watching tv all day, or sleeping, eating, or maybe taking a walk down the hall.
I'd check with the pre-op testing people as they gave me a whole list of do's and don'ts for my stay.
Good Luck
Faith
onyxgates
06-25-2007, 10:22 PM
I am so nervous. I have never been in ICU as a patient. What will be hooked up? I am just scared and as the time gets closer I am getting worse and worse. I keep having anxiety attacks. My husband wants me to be this happy person and all I want to do is craw into my bed and sleep. I hate this. My pre-op tests are scheduled for next week EKG, Nasal Swab, Bloodwork, urine tests all of those fun things. Please I need medical clearance from my primary. OH FUN!!! My operation is July 9th. I wish it was June 9th and I was home already!!! Please tell me more about your story.
HELLASRULES
06-26-2007, 10:17 AM
Hi Onyxgates
It is scary isn't it? I was too and was so sure I wasn't going to wake up! LOL! It's funny to me now, but at the time I'm sure I felt just like you.
I'm not sure what you are having the craniotomy for, so things may be different than mine. I had a 2 cm tumor removed from my occipital lobe.
When I got to the hosppital the day of surgery everything went so fast it seems like minutes now. They started an IV and that's all I remember! Next thing I know I woke up in ICU. I had a heart monitor hooked up, a BP cuff on, O2 monitor on my toe as I recall, and a urinary catheter. I didnt feel too badly and remember only asking for pain meds once or twice in the 24 hours in the ICU.
Nurses monitor you every minute. Every hour or two they ask you the same questions over & over....my name, where was I, what day is it...stuff like that. They did that for the whole 2 days I was in the hospital.
Once the catheter was out I was moved to a regular room. ONce in there I never took any pain meds, not even a tylenol. Not sure if that's just me, or it's common. I know the brain has no feeling of it's own, so the only pain would come from the incision area.
I even took a phone call right after surgery in the ICU from one of my friends who was home freaking out since my sister hadn't called her yet. LOL.
All in all it was far worse worrying about having it done than the actual surgery.
The neurosurgeons are so skilled and the equipment they have to guide them all the way is just amazing, so they are well prepared and have done these surgeries so many times. You will be in good hands.
I put all my trust in the Lord and my surgery was a breeze! The nurses kept telling me I was amazing....because I never took a pain med and was walking the halls as soon as they let me. (I'd do anything to get out of there!) So I went home a day early.
Hope this helps a bit. I know I can't take away your anxiety, but I'll be praying for you on the 9th. You will be just fine.
Faith :)
cas29
06-26-2007, 04:30 PM
I agree, you won't really want to bring too much with you. You likely won't feel like reading, you may watch tv, you will likely sleep a lot.
If you are feeling up to having things after a day or two someone can bring them by for you - perhaps magazines, things that don't take too much focus power!
I had to go in the night before, and it was a long night indeed.
My surgery was in the frontal lobe, and I don't recall having what I would call typical headaches, but I did have some discomfort in the incision area.
I was out of bed walking the day after surgery for sure, though hooked up to IV tubes.
In a way I was fortunate in that I didn't have a lot of notice between getting confirmation of the tumour and having surgery - just one week.
I remember lying in the bed the morning of surgery praying for courage and strength, and I know my prayers were answered.
I pray for your tranquility and for a successful surgery.
onyxgates
06-26-2007, 09:53 PM
Thank you for your warm thoughts. They have found an aneurysm in the right frontal area. The doctor believes the operation should take 4 hours (I will also be getting an angioplasty to ensure there isn't a large bleed as my aneurysm is connected to the carotid artery. So I will deal with my leg and my head. The pain will mostly be in the scalp, jaw and headaches. I am very nervous. Just 13 days and counting. Thank you everyone for your warm wishes.
feelbad
06-29-2007, 09:31 AM
you will do just fine Onyx,really.its perfectly normal to feel a bit apprehensive before any surgery espescially when it is in our brains.being in the ICU really isn't too much different than any other part of the hosp except they are much more attentive there,lol.i was really very well taken care of while i was in there.they do allow your personal effects in the ICU,at least they did with me.wherever i went,my stuff went too.i hate the stupid H n Ps they have to do pre op too.so much stupid testing and all.
one thing i just wanted to tell you is when they are doing your intake(when you get to the hospital and are getting on that lovely gown and stuff?) in that preholding area where they ask your medical history and you tell them what meds you are on?make certain to have the nurse read back to you ALL of the meds you just told her,along with the dosages you are on.tho the risk of mistakes is lower now with the oversight they have in place,there can be something that the nurse didn't write down too clearly.you just need to make sure that all of your med info is placed into their system the RIGHT way from the beginning.I have had issues pop up while in for certain surgeries in the past,but this was back in the early 2000s.you just need to be doing your own oversight when it comes to meds you are given.if something they give you does not look the same as what you take at home,always question it.this would in most cases,just be a different generic but there was a huge 'almost' overdose of my neurontin way back when when there was not any generics yet and i just happened to notice that the pills she gave me were much larger in size and a totally different color than those at home so i asked her about it.turns out,somehow,some way i was being given my entire days dose of neurontin all in one shot! oh yikies.glad i asked or i would have been in for one hell of a ride there with a good flippin siezure.you just have to take some level of responsibility for your own care here in some ways,thats all.question anything that you don't 'feel' is right,K?you have to be your own advocate when you are in any hospital for anything ya know?it just never hurts to be careful,things can happen when you least expect them.thankfully things are better than they were even just a few years ago once they finally started addressing medical mistakes and actually aknowledging that they even existed.
hope i didn't freak you out there onyx,just want you to know the drill.i am sure you will do okay.pretty straight forward type of procedure you are having,so thats great.hang in there hon,it will all be just a blip on the screen soon.Marcia
