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devilgrrlThat really should say "What Should Samantha Do?". I'm having a bit of a conundrum. Anyone who's talked to me recently knows that I have been having a lot of generally bad feelings about my upcoming surgery. Nothing specific, just a general "this is not a good idea right now" feeling. I had hoped that meeting with the anaethesiologist would allay a lot of these fears.
Pre-reg was fine. The two nurses I saw were fine. But, oh, when we got to the anaethesiologist, all my fears and then some came to the forefront. Right off the bat, the guy told me he didn't know if he would or wouldn't be the guy taking care of me. Great. So I go through all of my fears with this guy and if he doesn't end up being the one who attends my surgery, I have to go through all the same shit, which always upset me to the point of tears. There's fear number one. I have no idea if this guy is or is not going to work with me. If he isn't, I will meet the person less than an hour before they put me under.
So I explain to him my very strong, not totally irrational phobia of needles. I tell him that the last time I had anaesthesia, I was given nitrous, a couple Valium, and EMLA cream, which is a numbing agent so you can't feel the needle prick. I had no problems.
Here comes the next problem. He tells me that a) I don't need any of that and b) he won't give me nitrous before anaesthesia. I ask why not. He tells me they can't, so I call him on it. My sister and I both had it for our wisdom teeth (which wasn't "real" surgery, according to him) and Steven had it for his hernia surgery, which was under general. I know that counts as major surgery. He ignores that and repeats he won't do it with adult patients and it could cause complications. He doesn't explain these complications, he just tells me there could be them. I tell him fine, I can sign off on that. He tells me no again, because supposedly, the gas is in the the OR and he doesn't want me in there before surgery because I could panic. I explain, again, to him that I have no problem with the surgery, it's the IV. I start getting the picture that he just doesn't want to be bothered.
So I switch tactics and ask if I can have someone with me holding my hand while they start the IV. Again, no. No reason, just no. Now, I'm getting panicky.
I ask about the EMLA. He'd prefer I not use it, but grudgingly gives me the ok. Fine there.
I ask about the Valium, even though I know I can override them and I would have to get a script between now and Tuesday. Again, he would prefer I not or I dry swallow them, but again, he agrees grudgingly.
Next I bring up the not eating for midnight on Monday the 7th until post surgery on the 8th. At surgery time, I will not have had food or water for 16 1/2 hours. Ultimately, I will most likely not have anything to eat for almost 20 hours by the time surgery is done and I come out of recovery. I can't do this. If I go more than about 4 or 5 hours without eating, I start getting shaky and nauseous, my skin gets clammy, I break out in a cold sweat, I get bitchy and spacey, and then lightheaded/dizzy. After that? I pass out if I don't eat. I tell him this and that the doctor suggested I eat a small meal around 4 hours before surgery. He asks me if I have had the testing for hypoglycemia.
I tell him no. Hello, needle fears? They take your blood a shitload, like every 15 minutes for 3 hours or something. Even my GP agreed it was better for me to not do the test and just assume I am and go with a specific, small, frequent meals diet. This has worked out fine.
He tells me that unless I've actually been diagnosed, he will not alter the orders. The best I can do is come in early, so that they can start me on a sugar IV sooner. I point out again that the IV is what bothers me. He tells me I'll just have to decide which is better for me then.
I am starting to hyperventilate a little now. I ask him about IV removal-- I had it done right after I came out, but before I was totally awake so I didn't really have to think about it. He told me that was not an option. I needed the IV in until I was fully awake, concious, and moving. I am now in tears at the point and hyperventilating. I tell him that I cannot handle the feeling of the line being pulled out. I will have a fullblown panic attack. I again state I have no problem signing releases, but I will not wait until I'm up, totally concious, and just about ready to go home.
Those are the main points. The other things I didn't like were when I asked if someone come back in recovery with me, after I had come out of anaesthesia, while I was waking up to hold my hand and so I had someone familiar to see when I first came to (something that I had at my previous surgery-- my mom was in a chair when I remember totally coming to and it was incredibly comforting.), he said no and offered no reason other than that's not how it's done here.
I asked if I could wear underwear, as I am incredibly uncomfortable at the thought of not having any on. I watch too many medical shows, I know, and I want knickers on. He said no. I asked why and he said they weren't sterile. Well, neither am I! They're not going to be sterile when I put them on after surgery, either, you know. My mom did explain that sometimes they have you not wear them because you might wet yourself coming out of anaesthesia. They let her wear hers, but told her to bring a second pair. No problem. I would have had less of a problem, too, if he had said that instead of giving me a half-assed answer.
He told me that I couldn't leave recovery until I got myself up from the bed, got myself redressed, and got myself into a recliner. Fine. Can I have help? No. If I react to the anaesthesia like I did last time, I'll be there overnight in recovery. I was a little woozy (I had to hold my mom's arm for balance) and I was good for a trip to the bathroom, then I was starting to be groggy again. I was out in the car, up long enough to flop into bed, and out for almost 12 hours after that. How the fuck am I going to be doing all this on crutches if I'm woozy!? After having my teeth out, I could still walk on both legs. My balance will already be off and I do not want to take a chance at falling. That's why I arranged to have a couple people to help me up the stairs. I know my balance will be a little off. But no, I have to dress myself, per his orders. In fact, he told me not to bother having anyone wait for me, they'll just call when I'm ready to go. I reiterated that I wanted someone I knew with me while I'm in recovery. Again, no.
Recovery isn't sterile. They bundle you up and let you sleep. I also know that they can let a close family member back there, if the patient requests it. I know because I've been the one waiting for someone to wake up a couple times. They've got chairs, for christ's sake.
If you don't mind, can you guys take my poll? It's open to anyone, I just want to know what you all would do in my situation.
[Poll #448681][Poll #448681]
Pre-reg was fine. The two nurses I saw were fine. But, oh, when we got to the anaethesiologist, all my fears and then some came to the forefront. Right off the bat, the guy told me he didn't know if he would or wouldn't be the guy taking care of me. Great. So I go through all of my fears with this guy and if he doesn't end up being the one who attends my surgery, I have to go through all the same shit, which always upset me to the point of tears. There's fear number one. I have no idea if this guy is or is not going to work with me. If he isn't, I will meet the person less than an hour before they put me under.
So I explain to him my very strong, not totally irrational phobia of needles. I tell him that the last time I had anaesthesia, I was given nitrous, a couple Valium, and EMLA cream, which is a numbing agent so you can't feel the needle prick. I had no problems.
Here comes the next problem. He tells me that a) I don't need any of that and b) he won't give me nitrous before anaesthesia. I ask why not. He tells me they can't, so I call him on it. My sister and I both had it for our wisdom teeth (which wasn't "real" surgery, according to him) and Steven had it for his hernia surgery, which was under general. I know that counts as major surgery. He ignores that and repeats he won't do it with adult patients and it could cause complications. He doesn't explain these complications, he just tells me there could be them. I tell him fine, I can sign off on that. He tells me no again, because supposedly, the gas is in the the OR and he doesn't want me in there before surgery because I could panic. I explain, again, to him that I have no problem with the surgery, it's the IV. I start getting the picture that he just doesn't want to be bothered.
So I switch tactics and ask if I can have someone with me holding my hand while they start the IV. Again, no. No reason, just no. Now, I'm getting panicky.
I ask about the EMLA. He'd prefer I not use it, but grudgingly gives me the ok. Fine there.
I ask about the Valium, even though I know I can override them and I would have to get a script between now and Tuesday. Again, he would prefer I not or I dry swallow them, but again, he agrees grudgingly.
Next I bring up the not eating for midnight on Monday the 7th until post surgery on the 8th. At surgery time, I will not have had food or water for 16 1/2 hours. Ultimately, I will most likely not have anything to eat for almost 20 hours by the time surgery is done and I come out of recovery. I can't do this. If I go more than about 4 or 5 hours without eating, I start getting shaky and nauseous, my skin gets clammy, I break out in a cold sweat, I get bitchy and spacey, and then lightheaded/dizzy. After that? I pass out if I don't eat. I tell him this and that the doctor suggested I eat a small meal around 4 hours before surgery. He asks me if I have had the testing for hypoglycemia.
I tell him no. Hello, needle fears? They take your blood a shitload, like every 15 minutes for 3 hours or something. Even my GP agreed it was better for me to not do the test and just assume I am and go with a specific, small, frequent meals diet. This has worked out fine.
He tells me that unless I've actually been diagnosed, he will not alter the orders. The best I can do is come in early, so that they can start me on a sugar IV sooner. I point out again that the IV is what bothers me. He tells me I'll just have to decide which is better for me then.
I am starting to hyperventilate a little now. I ask him about IV removal-- I had it done right after I came out, but before I was totally awake so I didn't really have to think about it. He told me that was not an option. I needed the IV in until I was fully awake, concious, and moving. I am now in tears at the point and hyperventilating. I tell him that I cannot handle the feeling of the line being pulled out. I will have a fullblown panic attack. I again state I have no problem signing releases, but I will not wait until I'm up, totally concious, and just about ready to go home.
Those are the main points. The other things I didn't like were when I asked if someone come back in recovery with me, after I had come out of anaesthesia, while I was waking up to hold my hand and so I had someone familiar to see when I first came to (something that I had at my previous surgery-- my mom was in a chair when I remember totally coming to and it was incredibly comforting.), he said no and offered no reason other than that's not how it's done here.
I asked if I could wear underwear, as I am incredibly uncomfortable at the thought of not having any on. I watch too many medical shows, I know, and I want knickers on. He said no. I asked why and he said they weren't sterile. Well, neither am I! They're not going to be sterile when I put them on after surgery, either, you know. My mom did explain that sometimes they have you not wear them because you might wet yourself coming out of anaesthesia. They let her wear hers, but told her to bring a second pair. No problem. I would have had less of a problem, too, if he had said that instead of giving me a half-assed answer.
He told me that I couldn't leave recovery until I got myself up from the bed, got myself redressed, and got myself into a recliner. Fine. Can I have help? No. If I react to the anaesthesia like I did last time, I'll be there overnight in recovery. I was a little woozy (I had to hold my mom's arm for balance) and I was good for a trip to the bathroom, then I was starting to be groggy again. I was out in the car, up long enough to flop into bed, and out for almost 12 hours after that. How the fuck am I going to be doing all this on crutches if I'm woozy!? After having my teeth out, I could still walk on both legs. My balance will already be off and I do not want to take a chance at falling. That's why I arranged to have a couple people to help me up the stairs. I know my balance will be a little off. But no, I have to dress myself, per his orders. In fact, he told me not to bother having anyone wait for me, they'll just call when I'm ready to go. I reiterated that I wanted someone I knew with me while I'm in recovery. Again, no.
Recovery isn't sterile. They bundle you up and let you sleep. I also know that they can let a close family member back there, if the patient requests it. I know because I've been the one waiting for someone to wake up a couple times. They've got chairs, for christ's sake.
If you don't mind, can you guys take my poll? It's open to anyone, I just want to know what you all would do in my situation.
[Poll #448681][Poll #448681]
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Date: 2005-03-06 06:05 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-03-06 07:37 am (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2005-03-06 05:50 pm (UTC)