Thread: Micro-discectomy (I think)

So, more than 6 months after the pain became unendurable and I had to leave work, I am FINALLY getting my surgery to release my trapped nerve! Yay!

On Saturday I check into the hospital and I am a little bit terrified. It should only be for one night but I have never gone under anaesthesia, never been in hospital overnight, never had any medical history at all whatsoever. (worse, my mother has been a nurse, specifically OR and recovery, for 15 years and told me all her worst horror stories in that time.) It's all a bit new and frightening. Of course the beloved Himself happens to be Away playing soldier and so can't be here to hold my hand. I have to face down this monster all on my lonesome

Has anybody got any tips, tricks or advice on why I shouldn't be panicking? Can I bring a teddy bear to protect me? Is the food as bad as legends tell? Will I have to wee in front of people or use a bedpan?

Meep! scared

The food isnt too bad now and if you don't like anything on the menu they send off to the canteen for something you will eat. I've had 2 laparoscopies (sp) and 2 c sections oh and my tonsils out so I'm a bit of an old hat at the whole surgery business. You can take a roughty toughty teddy bear, they'll just take him off you beofre you go in the OR because it isn't sterile.

The knocky outy people (i can't spell the technical name) are usually always fabulous, you'll see them at pre-op and get to ask any questions you need to and they'll be there every step of the way and are great at relaxing you. I would have thought straight after surgery you'll more than likely have a cathater and I can't see any reason why you would need to wee in front of anyone unless they needed to make sure you could?

Just remember that for you it's a big deal, for them it's run of the mill and something they do every day without incident. they are highly trained professionals and you are in safe hands.

If you weren't all the way away up north I'd volunteer to come hold your hand! But seriously, it's not that scary. By all means, take your bear, and remember to take slippers and a dressing gown so you can actually wander down the corridor to the loo without exposing yourself. If you can't walk after the operation, you probably will have a bedpan brought to you, but your bed will come equipped with curtains for privacy, and you'll find that the majority of nurses are kind and caring people who went into the profession to help others (despite the fact that they may rack up a few horror stories in a 15 year career!). I think it's the same principle as 'you shouldn't watch reruns of Air Crash Investigation before transcontinental flights'. I think the majority of planned surgical procedures these days are pretty routine, and although it's all very new and frightening to you, the people who will actually be awake during your procedure have the experience and skill to ensure all goes well.

Anaesthesia is nothing to worry about - they'll just ask you to count backwards from ten and you'll fall asleep before you get to five. When you wake up in the recovery room, though, don't be over-enthusiastic like me and sit bolt upright on the gurney! Because, you only figure out once you're upright that you don't actually possess the requisite muscle tone to maintain the position, at which point you fall back onto the gurney with a resounding crash and make the duty nurse p--s herself

If, like me, you feel utterly rubbish by the time you're back on the ward, take heart from the fact that the feeling doesn't last very long (no more than ten minutes for me) and then they bring you food (which isn't great, but isn't horrendous either) whereafter you generally start feeling quite human again. It's different for everyone, and every procedure is different too, but basically you can trust the staff who have seen and done it all before, and who are there to ensure you get through the whole thing unscathed.

Best of luck, and let us know how it went! I'll be thinking of you!

Foodwise, see if they have an 'ethnic' menu for special diets! It tends to be vegetarian, but is much tastier than the usual bland crap. Weeing depends on the type of anaesthesia and how quickly they want you up and moving, but if its bedpan, they'll pull the curtains and wait outside until you've been.

Speaking as someone who works in a clinical setting, don't let ANYONE touch you unless you have SEEN them preferably wash their hands but at the very least alco-gel them (alco gel doesn't get rid of C.Diff) and ABSOLUTELY do not let them near any wound without hand care.
Don't share books/magazines etc....they are the source of the vast percentage of outbreaks. If you have a Kindle use it, rather than paper books.
Take squash as the water is gross.

Only been in hospital once for an op, so can't offer as much advice as the others but just wanted to say good luck and I hope things go well. All I remember is being bored as my op was postponed for 4 hours due to an emergency so take something to keep you occupied.
Take care x

Thanks ladies! Your advice has been super helpful with putting together the bag going with me. My own books, no swapping! and a small teddy bear, and a bottle of cordial have all been added. And thanks Drae for the offer of hand holding, it's really appreciated! xx

My advice would be- if something is bothering you speak up. I was left in a bed for 5 days with no food because I kept being put on the wrong lists. After the op I was so hungry but everytime I ate I was sick. I was only 17 at the time so was too timid to say anything- do not make that mistake. If something doesnt feel right say something and get it sorted

Only thing I can think of to add is that if you have any piercings, take the jewellery out at home when you're relaxed and not going to hurt yourself doing it! Try not to take anything valuable into hospital as well - they do have lockers but won't accept any responsibility for anything that goes walkies, even if it's locked away.

I had a GA for the first time a few weeks back I was petrified at the thought of going under but with wise words from Birdy and a very gorgeous gas man it was all a breeze.

Good luck x

oh oh oh and take your nail varnish off fingers and toes!

I had a notice I made that said

"Please wash your hands if you want to chat to me,
otherwise all I'll focus on is where on my bed you're touching!"

Keep a pen and pad near you and write down anything you want to know or think you need clarified for when the nursing staff have five minutes to chat to you.

Don't use the paper towels in the toilet, take a towel from home or, preferably, a bundle of face clothes in a carrier bag and wash them out every day.

I hate public or shared toilets so I bring a small sanitizing spray and spray around the toilet before i drop my knickers, even though I hover! Not overly keen on the toilet roll the last person who shit handled, so i have flushables wipes as well.

Goodness me we sound like complete nutters don't we??????

We're not, we're nurses.

Beebs x

Scary isn't it!! I get a bit hacked off though with the constant barrage of news rags blaming hospital staff for infections when we probably wash our hands more times in a day than many people do in a week!!

One more tip....when you use the loo and have washed your hands...use a paper towel to open the door as it is a favourite place for 'germs' to party!

Paranoid much? You would be too if you were constantly being blamed

Bugs galore
Oh oh oh and take baby wipes...hospital wards are THE hottest place in the WORLD now the heating is back on, they're brill for a quick freshen up and cool down

You're not to bad up north, down here you're lucky if the cleaning staff speak english let alone know how to follow the coded cleaning system!

Was horrified to see a mop being used in the ward kitchen that was coded for the toilets!

Originally Posted by bigbird67

One more tip....when you use the loo and have washed your hands...use a paper towel to open the door as it is a favourite place for 'germs' to party!

I've done this for years, people look at me as if I'm some sort of freak, but they're usually the people who give their hands a perfunctory 'swill' under the cold tap after the loo.

To be fair, in my lovely little domain each area has a named cleaner who actually appears to take pride in their job! We nearly had an 'incident' the other day when we found a fine layer of dust on a little used bin lid! Luckily, 1 quick phone call and the bin was taken away to be steam cleaned and another one left in its place! I kid you not!!!

What hospital are you having it done in Ms America? I've experience of ops in the Manchester Royal Infirmary and the Royal Bolton hospital. MRI was fab, Royal Bolton...never would you get me through the doors of that hospital again!

It's the private Fulwood one just outside of Preston; not my local but the NHS said I could go there if I wanted and I reckoned they would be faster than the NHS hospitals. It seems dead posh inside, there's a coffee machine in the waiting room and all. And when I had the pre-op all of the staff I spoke to had English as a first language! always a plus. My surgeon doesn't have English as a first language but he's fluent, and apparently one of the best at what he does, so no complaints.

baby wipes being added to the bag as we speak. You guys are great at this! Thanks so much! xxx