Why are they discouraging the catheter during surgery? Were you thinking of taping it in place, and connecting it to a collection bag? Their only reasonable alternative is to agree to empty the pouch for you if the procedure runs long. 

Good luck with the procedure and the pouch, Sharon!

sharon

my last surgery, to replace a shoulder, was about 3 hours long.  i didn't have a catheter in, but did intubate right before and hadn't eaten.  as you might recall i had difficulties afterwards, but it was because i couldn't manage to intubate with just one hand.  i needed the nurses to help, and unfortunately none of them knew about a k pouch.  so if they think you will have any difficulties i agree with you to hook up a 24/7 system.  don't let them try to figure the system out after surgery, when you aren't terribly coherent.  no harm in doing it, but also i think you will pull through ok with just being under 3 hours.  good luck!! sending healing white light.  janet

Sharon Good Luck!  Lots of healing thoughts and prayers. By the way 3 hours, not so long!  Piece of cake!

I’m sorry to learn that you are having more surgery, but wish you the best.  Be sure to bring a selection of catheters with you and let your hubby be your advocate while you are in the hospital.  I did not have a catheter with me when I was admitted to the ER with dehydration and I asked the nurse to get one for me.  It took a couple of attempts to get a 30fr  Foley catheter; they had none of the ones we internal pouchers use.

Bill

Thanks guys, 

I am hoping that my output will remain thin and intubation should be a snap...I think that they are worried about cross contamination???

I will ask for a leg bag and see...I'll bring in 2 catheters...thanks Bill...Good idea.

Just want it to be over. I am not looking forward to it. 

Keeping my fingers crossed.

Sharon

Best of luck for a swift surgery and recovery, Sharon. You are a fighter!

Sharon, I think you are probably right about the contamination notion. They also may have some concern about dislodging it when moving you about, even though it is low on your abdomen. With no oral intake, it should not be a big issue during the surgery.

Good luck with the surgery. I know you always have problems with the integrity of incisions and poor healing. Too bad they can't use Super Glue for big surgeries!

Jan

I am back home...the surgery went well, I got hooked up by order of the anesthesiologist who was great...he gave me something pre-op to keep me calm and then put me under with gas before digging for an I.V. line. All good.

The surgery was 3+hrs...I came out of it fine but my B.P bottomed out at 80/40 and they had a hard time getting it back up until today. 

Which means that aside from the extreme pain and inability to move, I would not have been able to lift my arms to intubate....I could barely lift my head up.

1 pt for the anesthesiologist. 

Pain. The only word I can think of is severe pain. Who the hell said that it didn't hurt, lied. Those darn drains really hurt...But the I.V. didn't...Another point for my anesthesiologist...he also put pay to the nausea by automatically ordering gravol in my I.V...I may just marry the man!

2 weeks of dressing changes and a lot of physio to get movement back into my arms...rats...not going to be as easy as I thought that it would be.

For now my B.P is 10/50...still under the anesthsia fog but much better.

My pouch hates strait drain...it did not drain more than 10cc the whole time but I was happy to have the tube in just in case...Right now, with a bum right arm, intubation is a nightmare...so I have given up on solids...can't deal with the need to intubate and clear the tube so lots of liquids, grape juice and tamadol.

Some interesting new things going on post op here...They are now very proactive in post op care...firstly pain meds are automatic (yea!)...next, they give you an oxygen mask with some sort of product for your lungs to make sure that you do not get pneumonia..and finally the white support hose are obligatory to avoid phlebitis...and a final point...no Nsaids post op...apparently it inhibits healing.

All well now...am home and praying for this rain to stop...Paris is under flood warning...if I am flooded out I will be in big trouble.

Sharon

Glad you are at home! 

Glad your on the mend, and hopefully not on the ground floor!

Jan

Ground floor loft...flat as a pancake...not even a front stoop! (but we do have an upstairs...so we can take everything of value (papers, pictures, electronics...) up to safety-

500 meters from the Seine...but for now, at least it has not over-flowed the retaining walls...we are getting ready just in case...I am in no condition to be carrying things up and down stairs though...praying for the best and preparing for the worst.

K pouches do not do well in flood conditions with no electricity or running water...I have a stock of clean water, batteries and rechargeable flashlights (plus tons of candles).

Keeping my fingers crossed and my stitches dry.

Sharon

Sharon -- Haven't been around much lately and just saw this post. I hope you are doing well and managing to keep dry?

Gin

Just fine now that the waters are receding Gin,

We were concerned but not (yet) scared....How are things doing on your end? How is the health? How are you feeling? Are things finally improving?

Sharon