Re: Scared - hospital 'phobia'

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/5/2006 1:27:05 A.M. Central Daylight Time, wjkh@... writes:

Hi everyoneI saw my orthopaedic surgeon this week and have been booked in for a THR on 28th November (she's booked up until then). I know I need this but I'm scared of the 5-6 day recovery in hospital. Six years ago I had a hysterectomy in the same private hospital (I live in a small city, so don't have many options and am lucky to have insurance that pays for it) and I had a terrible time after the surgery: The main problem was I had urinary retention, requiring a in-swelling catheter for 2 weeks. I had had this problem after an epidural when my daughter was born, and so knew what it was, but I had a hard time convincing the nurses, until my surgeon came to see me. I found the nurses to be fairly 'cold' and, as the same nursing staff are still there, I am worrying stupidly about how it will be this time. I also had difficulty getting enough pain relief for the first couple of days and they were'nt keen on giving me a sleeping pill at night either.I've just completed the admission form and have written on it that I want to discuss the possibility of having a catheter fitted during/before the operation, to avoid the fairly inevitable event of needing one fitted, in an acute situation, afterwards. I also intend to discuss with them the proposal that I have valium or similar, while I'm in hospital, to help me cope better. I'm currently being treated for depression, but am anxious as well. (I've had panic attacks in the past.) Also, I'll ask for a sleeping pill each night.Do you have any suggestions? Should I ask my surgeon to endorse these ideas, in case the nursing staff prove unsympathetic again? Any advice would be gratefully received in NZ

OMG yes, I don't know how it is there, but here you have to have everything approved by the Dr. I was just in the hospital for observation after some broken ribs and they wouldn't give me an ice pack because the Dr. hadn't prescribed one for me. I just thought that was the craziest thing that I had ever heard of.

[Guest guest]

-> Do you have any suggestions? Should I ask my surgeon to endorse these

> ideas, in case the nursing staff prove unsympathetic again? Any

> advice would be gratefully received

>

> in NZ

>

is correct. In the US, the doctor has to order everything. The nursing

staff carries

out the doctors orders. If the doctor doesn't order what ever you want, it won't

happen!

An indwelling catheter is standard for a THR in the US. Here they insert it

after they have

given you anesthesia in the operating room area. They usually keep it in a day

or two after

surgery. You might tell the OS about your other experiences and see if he would

think it is

a good idea to keep it in longer. They usually want it out as soon as possible

so that you

do not develop a bladder infection.

The OS is the guy who would write the orders so that you could have valium and a

sleeping pill if you want it. Good luck. I bet it will go better than you think

Phyllis

RTHR 7/14/06

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/5/2006 2:26:50 AM Eastern Standard Time, wjkh@... writes:

? Should I ask my surgeon to endorse these ideas, in case the nursing staff prove unsympathetic again? Any advice would be gratefully received

Yes definitly talk to the Doctor...the nurse only follow Dr's orders so the Dr is the boss.....they can't do anything without the Dr's OK.....

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/5/2006 4:13:26 AM Eastern Standard Time, halesmail@... writes:

They usually want it out as soon as possible so that you do not develop a bladder infection.

I had mine out 2 days after surgery and still got a bladder infection a week later!

Oh Well!

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/5/2006 7:40:26 A.M. Central Daylight Time, know_jack@... writes:

Oh boy, another catheter discussion...:-)Yes, discuss it all with your surgeon in advance....I had a TKR last February, & the catheter was malfuntioning but I couldn't convince the Staff that I was in pain because my bladder was full...They said they couldn't remove it without the Dr's approval, so I made them call him, 6:00 on a Saturday night(My OS was so good that he'd given me his cell phone # because after my surgery on a Thursday he was taking his family out of town for a long weekend of skiing)So yes, talk about everything in advance.Bob--- In Joint Replacement

Ha, and yes be sure to ask the Dr. if you can have something stronger than just the stool softeners for constipation if you need it. Everything gets slowed down and the pain meds don't help. If you take birth control pills they always make me bring mine from home also. The thing is though that they don't tell you this and you don't know you're not getting them at first if you are out of it.

[Guest guest]

Oh boy, another catheter discussion...:-)

Yes, discuss it all with your surgeon in advance....I had a TKR last

February, & the catheter was malfuntioning but I couldn't convince

the Staff that I was in pain because my bladder was full...They said

they couldn't remove it without the Dr's approval, so I made them

call him, 6:00 on a Saturday night(My OS was so good that he'd given

me his cell phone # because after my surgery on a Thursday he was

taking his family out of town for a long weekend of skiing)

So yes, talk about everything in advance.

Bob

>

>

> In a message dated 10/5/2006 1:27:05 A.M. Central Daylight Time,

> wjkh@... writes:

>

>

>

>

> Hi everyone

> I saw my orthopaedic surgeon this week and have been booked in for

a

> THR on 28th November (she's booked up until then).

>

> I know I need this but I'm scared of the 5-6 day recovery in

> hospital. Six years ago I had a hysterectomy in the same private

> hospital (I live in a small city, so don't have many options and

am

> lucky to have insurance that pays for it) and I had a terrible

time

> after the surgery: The main problem was I had urinary retention,

> requiring a in-swelling catheter for 2 weeks. I had had this

problem

> after an epidural when my daughter was born, and so knew what it

was,

> but I had a hard time convincing the nurses, until my surgeon came

to

> see me.

>

> I found the nurses to be fairly 'cold' and, as the same nursing

> staff are still there, I am worrying stupidly about how it will be

> this time. I also had difficulty getting enough pain relief for

the

> first couple of days and they were'nt keen on giving me a sleeping

> pill at night either.

>

> I've just completed the admission form and have written on it that

I

> want to discuss the possibility of having a catheter fitted

> during/before the operation, to avoid the fairly inevitable event

of

> needing one fitted, in an acute situation, afterwards. I also

intend

> to discuss with them the proposal that I have valium or similar,

> while I'm in hospital, to help me cope better. I'm currently being

> treated for depression, but am anxious as well. (I've had panic

> attacks in the past.) Also, I'll ask for a sleeping pill each

night.

>

> Do you have any suggestions? Should I ask my surgeon to endorse

these

> ideas, in case the nursing staff prove unsympathetic again? Any

> advice would be gratefully received

>

> in NZ

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> OMG yes, I don't know how it is there, but here you have to have

everything

> approved by the Dr. I was just in the hospital for observation

after some

> broken ribs and they wouldn't give me an ice pack because the Dr.

hadn't

> prescribed one for me. I just thought that was the craziest thing

that I had ever

> heard of.

>

[Guest guest]

>

> Hi everyone

> I saw my orthopaedic surgeon this week and have been booked in for

a

> THR on 28th November (she's booked up until then).

>

> I know I need this but I'm scared of the 5-6 day recovery in

> hospital. Six years ago I had a hysterectomy in the same private

> hospital (I live in a small city, so don't have many options and am

> lucky to have insurance that pays for it) and I had a terrible time

> after the surgery: The main problem was I had urinary retention,

> requiring a in-swelling catheter for 2 weeks. I had had this

problem

> after an epidural when my daughter was born, and so knew what it

was,

> but I had a hard time convincing the nurses, until my surgeon came

to

> see me.

>

> I found the nurses to be fairly 'cold' and, as the same nursing

> staff are still there, I am worrying stupidly about how it will be

> this time. I also had difficulty getting enough pain relief for the

> first couple of days and they were'nt keen on giving me a sleeping

> pill at night either.

>

> I've just completed the admission form and have written on it that

I

> want to discuss the possibility of having a catheter fitted

> during/before the operation, to avoid the fairly inevitable event

of

> needing one fitted, in an acute situation, afterwards. I also

intend

> to discuss with them the proposal that I have valium or similar,

> while I'm in hospital, to help me cope better. I'm currently being

> treated for depression, but am anxious as well. (I've had panic

> attacks in the past.) Also, I'll ask for a sleeping pill each night.

>

> Do you have any suggestions? Should I ask my surgeon to endorse

these

> ideas, in case the nursing staff prove unsympathetic again? Any

> advice would be gratefully received

>

> in NZ

The surgeon should have a person that schedules the surgery, and

makes sure that you are prepared for the procedure. That person

should be contacted so that the surgeon is aware of your concerns.

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you all very much for your helpful replies. I will

definitely take your advice and get everything settled

before my surgery, rather than waiting until something goes

wrong...

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Get the doctor to order these things. When you go for your preop ask them

what they have ordered. If you think it is not right and you can't convince

them otherwise get your local doctor to write to them about the issue.

Good luck for your surgery.

Aussie Margaret

RTHR 1990 revised 2004

Scared - hospital 'phobia'

| Hi everyone

| I saw my orthopaedic surgeon this week and have been booked in for a

| THR on 28th November (she's booked up until then).

|

| I know I need this but I'm scared of the 5-6 day recovery in

| hospital. Six years ago I had a hysterectomy in the same private

| hospital (I live in a small city, so don't have many options and am

| lucky to have insurance that pays for it) and I had a terrible time

| after the surgery: The main problem was I had urinary retention,

| requiring a in-swelling catheter for 2 weeks. I had had this problem

| after an epidural when my daughter was born, and so knew what it was,

| but I had a hard time convincing the nurses, until my surgeon came to

| see me.

|

| I found the nurses to be fairly 'cold' and, as the same nursing

| staff are still there, I am worrying stupidly about how it will be

| this time. I also had difficulty getting enough pain relief for the

| first couple of days and they were'nt keen on giving me a sleeping

| pill at night either.

|

| I've just completed the admission form and have written on it that I

| want to discuss the possibility of having a catheter fitted

| during/before the operation, to avoid the fairly inevitable event of

| needing one fitted, in an acute situation, afterwards. I also intend

| to discuss with them the proposal that I have valium or similar,

| while I'm in hospital, to help me cope better. I'm currently being

| treated for depression, but am anxious as well. (I've had panic

| attacks in the past.) Also, I'll ask for a sleeping pill each night.

|

| Do you have any suggestions? Should I ask my surgeon to endorse these

| ideas, in case the nursing staff prove unsympathetic again? Any

| advice would be gratefully received

|

| in NZ

|

Send instant messages to your online friends http://au.messenger.

[Guest guest]

, I also suffer from anxiety, which was only increased by the pain meds given to me in recovery. When I had both knees replaced four weeks ago, a wonderful nurse told me not to be apologetic for insisting upon meds for sleep and amity control. Your healing depends on your mental as well as physical well-being.

I'd also like to suggest that you have a friend or relative to stay with you your first couple nights in the hospital. It will help ease your anxiety, but that is only a secondary reason to have someone there. During my first night, the epidural connection to my pain medication broke off from my back. Even thought the pain box alarm went off constantly and I tried to convince my unresponsive, dazed nurse that something was desperately wrong, I went four hours without any pain medication. As Admissions had instructed, I had left my wallet with credit and calling cards at home. Though in trauma, I remembered a commercial for 1-800-Collect and used it to get in touch with my children, who paged my surgeon. But even my surgeon couldn't get in touch with "Pain Management," which in this hospital, is to supervise all paid medications. "Pain Management" turned out to be a doctor on call not answering his page. So again, my meds were delayed.

I was concerned early on that evening about my care. I heard my night nurse chastised by another for leaving me unattended on a bedside commode during one of my first dizzying attempts out of bed while she went to the employee break room. The same nurse said there were no orders that first night for my pain or anxiety meds, though I was told the next day they had been ordered. Then I heard the same nurse reprimanded again, outside my room, after much confusion about when I had been administered an anti-inflammatory that night. It turns out one of the dosages had been entered on the wrong chart. I know my nightmarish experience experience was rare, and am told the incident is being investigated. I plan to meet with hospital personnel next week. I will insist on answers. I also plan to write the hospital a glowing letter about the amazing team -- my nurse, aide and physical therapist -- that took over after that terrible night. They did everything possible to control my pain, calm me and make me comfortable in every way possible.

I was trying to be brave that night. Now I consider brave as being an aggressive advocate for myself. My brother will undergo TKR in January. You can be sure I will be applying everything I've learned from this experience to help him; and that he will have an advocate the first few nights of his hospital stay as well as phone numbers and a calling card at his bedside.

I wish you the best. I admit I'm tired of the pain. But just yesterday, I felt a new strength in my knees that I hadn't felt in years. It was very exciting!

>> Hi everyone> I saw my orthopaedic surgeon this week and have been booked in for a > THR on 28th November (she's booked up until then). > > I know I need this but I'm scared of the 5-6 day recovery in > hospital. Six years ago I had a hysterectomy in the same private > hospital (I live in a small city, so don't have many options and am > lucky to have insurance that pays for it) and I had a terrible time > after the surgery: The main problem was I had urinary retention, > requiring a in-swelling catheter for 2 weeks. I had had this problem > after an epidural when my daughter was born, and so knew what it was, > but I had a hard time convincing the nurses, until my surgeon came to > see me. > > I found the nurses to be fairly 'cold' and, as the same nursing > staff are still there, I am worrying stupidly about how it will be > this time. I also had difficulty getting enough pain relief for the > first couple of days and they were'nt keen on giving me a sleeping > pill at night either.> > I've just completed the admission form and have written on it that I > want to discuss the possibility of having a catheter fitted > during/before the operation, to avoid the fairly inevitable event of > needing one fitted, in an acute situation, afterwards. I also intend > to discuss with them the proposal that I have valium or similar, > while I'm in hospital, to help me cope better. I'm currently being > treated for depression, but am anxious as well. (I've had panic > attacks in the past.) Also, I'll ask for a sleeping pill each night.> > Do you have any suggestions? Should I ask my surgeon to endorse these > ideas, in case the nursing staff prove unsympathetic again? Any > advice would be gratefully received > > in NZ>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/5/2006 3:58:27 P.M. Central Standard Time, zztinau@... writes:

Do you have any suggestions? Should I ask my surgeon to endorse these| ideas, in case the nursing staff prove unsympathetic again? Any| advice would be gratefully received || in NZ

Hi , definitely talk to the surgeon and his nurse to let them know what you are concerned about and make sure that there is an option to get what you want without them having to contact the surgeon, which can take forever, I know! I know have a list of all of my meds, things that bother me, things I'm worried about, on thing is that the anesthetic makes me nauseous. They can give you something during surgery to keep that from happening. Personally, I will do anything to not have to have a catheter, but I can understand. I have the same phobia with not being able to poop afterwards.