Re: Baltimore hospital stay

June 24, 2004

> Hi Surfacehippies,

>

> I'm scheduled for resurfacing with Dr. Mont on July 12. Since I

live

> in 3 hours away in New Jersey, I'm am wondering how best to handle

> the 6am hospital check-in in Baltimore. Can any Dr. Mont veterans

> recommend a hotel/motel near the hospital?

The Cross Keys Radisson is about a 1/2 mile away from Sinai. It is

very easy to get from it to Sinai. In the winter I was able to get a

very good rate from priceline ($50) plus the priceline surcharge.

This didn't work in spring but the Radisson also has a special rate

for Sinai patients. Try priceline and if $50 doesn't work check with

Radisson about the Sinai rate.

> Would also appreciate any tips on what to bring along. Should I

> expect to be too groggy and/or hurting to do a little work in bed

on days 3 and 4?

Bring a pair of slip on footwear and some baggy shirts and pants. Gym

tops and pants a couple of sizes bigger then normal are a good idea.

They will be easy to put on and won't hinder movement when you go to

PT. Bring a tootbrush, toothpaste, shampoo and a hair brush. A CD

player is also a good idea - the TV at the hospital stinks.

Your pain at days 3 and 4 should be minimal to moderate. My

concentration wasn't great at days 3 and 4 but knowing you have a

deadline may improve your concentration.

Good luck - Great surgeon and Hospital.

Ed Bilateral Mont C+ 2/23 and 3/1/04

June 24, 2004

Reading this post somehow reminded me that right after surgery (that

evening), I called and had long conversations with 3 different friends.

And I have no memory of these conversations -- at all! They all said that

I sounded totally perky, coherent, in no pain, and chatty as can be. What

a hoot! But a more serious answer to your question: you'll no doubt be

able to write, but I wouldn't send it in for publication until you've had a

few days to re-read it! Best, Joyce (Dr Gross, LHR, 2/2/04)

sungold518@...

Baltimore hospital stay

Hi Surfacehippies,

I'm scheduled for resurfacing with Dr. Mont on July 12. Since I live

in 3 hours away in New Jersey, I'm am wondering how best to handle

the 6am hospital check-in in Baltimore. Can any Dr. Mont veterans

recommend a hotel/motel near the hospital?

Would also appreciate any tips on what to bring along. Should I

expect to be too groggy and/or hurting to do a little work in bed on

days 3 and 4? Sounds dumb, I know, but I'm a writer in a deadline

crunch and am hoping not to miss too many days of work. Dr. Mont's

assistants were very reassuring on this point, but I'd rather hear

from the people who've been there.

Thanks for any help.

Judy

June 24, 2004

Reading this post somehow reminded me that right after surgery (that

evening), I called and had long conversations with 3 different friends.

And I have no memory of these conversations -- at all! They all said that

I sounded totally perky, coherent, in no pain, and chatty as can be. What

a hoot! But a more serious answer to your question: you'll no doubt be

able to write, but I wouldn't send it in for publication until you've had a

few days to re-read it! Best, Joyce (Dr Gross, LHR, 2/2/04)

sungold518@...

Baltimore hospital stay

Hi Surfacehippies,

I'm scheduled for resurfacing with Dr. Mont on July 12. Since I live

in 3 hours away in New Jersey, I'm am wondering how best to handle

the 6am hospital check-in in Baltimore. Can any Dr. Mont veterans

recommend a hotel/motel near the hospital?

Would also appreciate any tips on what to bring along. Should I

expect to be too groggy and/or hurting to do a little work in bed on

days 3 and 4? Sounds dumb, I know, but I'm a writer in a deadline

crunch and am hoping not to miss too many days of work. Dr. Mont's

assistants were very reassuring on this point, but I'd rather hear

from the people who've been there.

Thanks for any help.

Judy

June 24, 2004

Dear Judy,

I'm a Mont resurf from New Jersey too!!! I cannot recommend the place I

stayed the night before; it was pretty awful (can't even remember the

name). When I went down for " DMA Day " I stayed at a Red Roof, which was

more than adequate; it was maybe a 15-minute drive to the hospital (can't

remember the town. All these blanks probably aren't real helpful. I

usually have a pretty good memory for that sort of info., but I guess I'm

too burned out right now -- have been at work for more than 12 hours (on

about 4 hours sleep last night)).

Re: the work question. I could not have done any work while at the

hospital, though I wasn't groggy, and I had very little pain. I did avail

myself of the morphine drip, but the nurse said I had used only about one

third of normal, so I must attribute the relative absence of pain to Dr.

Mont's skill. I don't know what else it could be, since I have a very low

pain threshold; I'm a real baby on that score.

The barriers to work had more to do with my response to the anesthesia

(that and some unrelated health problems), so my system was just really out

of whack. I knew that everyone responds differently, but I never thought

to ask if there is any way at all to gauge it in advance, and no such info

was offered. So perhaps you should ask that question, given the desire to

be as " with it " (not out of it) as possible.

Friends told me later that the side effects of anesthesia can last up to

two weeks, which is about what it was for me. Again, the effect wasn't

being groggy, it was just sort of being generally miserable and unable to

accomplish much of anything. But I think my reaction was very atypical;

that is, I don't think very many other resurfers have reported being so

knocked down/out for as long as I was.

I think my being much older than most resurfers -- 61 -- may have been a

contributing factor. Also, I was not getting enuf fluids, and you're

supposed to keep yourself very hydrated. The nurses would come by and

check on the water supply in my pitcher, which was usually pretty full --

because I wasn't drinking hardly any. Thinking back on it, the fluids

probably help flush out the remnants of the anesthesia. (What a doofus I

was!!) So, tell the nurses to stand there and make you drink. That may be

the key to the whole thing.

Anyway, I wish you the best of luck. If you're younger and in decent

shape, you'll probably do just fine. (BTW, if you're on any meds. I

suggest that you bring them ALL with you, despite any hospital instructions

to the contrary. Their pharmacy is VERY limited; has only the most

commonly prescribed stuff.)

Sincerely,

Kathleen (Mont, C+, May 8, 2003)

julijone03 wrote:

> Hi Surfacehippies,

>

> I'm scheduled for resurfacing with Dr. Mont on July 12. Since I live

> in 3 hours away in New Jersey, I'm am wondering how best to handle

> the 6am hospital check-in in Baltimore. Can any Dr. Mont veterans

> recommend a hotel/motel near the hospital?

> Would also appreciate any tips on what to bring along. Should I

> expect to be too groggy and/or hurting to do a little work in bed on

> days 3 and 4? Sounds dumb, I know, but I'm a writer in a deadline

> crunch and am hoping not to miss too many days of work. Dr. Mont's

> assistants were very reassuring on this point, but I'd rather hear

> from the people who've been there.

> Thanks for any help.

> Judy

>

June 24, 2004

Dear Judy,

I'm a Mont resurf from New Jersey too!!! I cannot recommend the place I

stayed the night before; it was pretty awful (can't even remember the

name). When I went down for " DMA Day " I stayed at a Red Roof, which was

more than adequate; it was maybe a 15-minute drive to the hospital (can't

remember the town. All these blanks probably aren't real helpful. I

usually have a pretty good memory for that sort of info., but I guess I'm

too burned out right now -- have been at work for more than 12 hours (on

about 4 hours sleep last night)).

Re: the work question. I could not have done any work while at the

hospital, though I wasn't groggy, and I had very little pain. I did avail

myself of the morphine drip, but the nurse said I had used only about one

third of normal, so I must attribute the relative absence of pain to Dr.

Mont's skill. I don't know what else it could be, since I have a very low

pain threshold; I'm a real baby on that score.

The barriers to work had more to do with my response to the anesthesia

(that and some unrelated health problems), so my system was just really out

of whack. I knew that everyone responds differently, but I never thought

to ask if there is any way at all to gauge it in advance, and no such info

was offered. So perhaps you should ask that question, given the desire to

be as " with it " (not out of it) as possible.

Friends told me later that the side effects of anesthesia can last up to

two weeks, which is about what it was for me. Again, the effect wasn't

being groggy, it was just sort of being generally miserable and unable to

accomplish much of anything. But I think my reaction was very atypical;

that is, I don't think very many other resurfers have reported being so

knocked down/out for as long as I was.

I think my being much older than most resurfers -- 61 -- may have been a

contributing factor. Also, I was not getting enuf fluids, and you're

supposed to keep yourself very hydrated. The nurses would come by and

check on the water supply in my pitcher, which was usually pretty full --

because I wasn't drinking hardly any. Thinking back on it, the fluids

probably help flush out the remnants of the anesthesia. (What a doofus I

was!!) So, tell the nurses to stand there and make you drink. That may be

the key to the whole thing.

Anyway, I wish you the best of luck. If you're younger and in decent

shape, you'll probably do just fine. (BTW, if you're on any meds. I

suggest that you bring them ALL with you, despite any hospital instructions

to the contrary. Their pharmacy is VERY limited; has only the most

commonly prescribed stuff.)

Sincerely,

Kathleen (Mont, C+, May 8, 2003)

julijone03 wrote:

> Hi Surfacehippies,

>

> I'm scheduled for resurfacing with Dr. Mont on July 12. Since I live

> in 3 hours away in New Jersey, I'm am wondering how best to handle

> the 6am hospital check-in in Baltimore. Can any Dr. Mont veterans

> recommend a hotel/motel near the hospital?

> Would also appreciate any tips on what to bring along. Should I

> expect to be too groggy and/or hurting to do a little work in bed on

> days 3 and 4? Sounds dumb, I know, but I'm a writer in a deadline

> crunch and am hoping not to miss too many days of work. Dr. Mont's

> assistants were very reassuring on this point, but I'd rather hear

> from the people who've been there.

> Thanks for any help.

> Judy

>

June 24, 2004

>Should I

>expect to be too groggy and/or hurting to do a little work in bed on

>days 3 and 4? Sounds dumb, I know, but I'm a writer in a deadline

>crunch and am hoping not to miss too many days of work.

Judy,

I was never really groggy, and in fact felt alert and fully in control of

my faculties. Except that I have no memory of my mother visiting me

immediately after my surgery, barely remember her visit after the

second. Also, I took 3 books and 7 magazines with me as I can normally

read a book a day if I have time. I read the same three pages of one

magazine over and over, and each time, it looked like brand new reading

material. If I were you, I would have a trusted friend read what you've

written to be sure that it is not some drugged-out gibberish, because I'm

sure it will look quite profound to you ;-).

Cindy

C+ 5/25/01 and 6/28/01

June 24, 2004