Surgery

[jennaceeta25]

I know you guys don't know me that well but I'm having surgery soon on my colon and I'm petrified. I was wondering if any of you had surgery in the past or maybe had a colon removed. Recovery time is 2 months, so I might not be on as much. I didn't want people wondering where I was at or anything.

The surgery might be the 6th of September.

[linmiste]

Hey, Jenna (is it okay if I shorten your name?), I'm sorry to hear about your surgery. Definitely scary. I only had one surgery where they put me under -- wisdom teeth. I was really scared. Mostly, I think, about not being in control of what was happening to me. I remember lying there, waiting for the anesthesia, and singing hymns. It was the only was to keep myself remotely calm. Next thing I knew, I was near tears and asking nurses to take the oxygen tubes out of my nose.

Do they put you out completely, or just give local drugs? The only side-effect I felt from anesthesia was that I didn't think my brain functioned quite as well for a few months. I'm sure your surgeons and doctors know what they are doing, and everything will go fine. God bless, and you'll be in my prayers.

[jennaceeta25]

linmiste said:

Hey, Jenna (is it okay if I shorten your name?), I'm sorry to hear about your surgery. Definitely scary. I only had one surgery where they put me under -- wisdom teeth. I was really scared. Mostly, I think, about not being in control of what was happening to me. I remember lying there, waiting for the anesthesia, and singing hymns. It was the only was to keep myself remotely calm. Next thing I knew, I was near tears and asking nurses to take the oxygen tubes out of my nose.

Do they put you out completely, or just give local drugs? The only side-effect I felt from anesthesia was that I didn't think my brain functioned quite as well for a few months. I'm sure your surgeons and doctors know what they are doing, and everything will go fine. God bless, and you'll be in my prayers.

Thanks for praying for me. That's sweet! Yeah, you can shorten my name if you want. My real name is Jennifer but I just decided to make it different. Aw, I'm sorry you were scared about your wisdom teeth. I might have to get mine out sometime in my life. Yeah, I'll be out completely because they're doing it liperstopically (sp?) through my stomach. I'll have a couple of inch scars on my tummy and a two inch one to get my precancer leson (sp?) out. I hope my surgeons know what they're doing..I'm sure they do. He's well known at the hospital I'm going too.

I'm just scared of waiting for it to arrive. I also heard that there will a tube going down my throat...doesn't sound too pleasant. I'll just keep thinking about Apolo durning surgery or something..

[linmiste]

I'm so sorry to hear it's a precancerous lesion. Still, if they get it out, you'll probably be fine from then on! I see you live in West Chester, PA. There are so many good hospitals in Philly! My mom did nurses training there years ago. I grew up in central Jersey, but now live in MA.

I think the tubes will probably be more miserable than the actual surgery! Yuck. Keep us posted!

[lexi]

Hi Jenna - I can understand being scared. Surgery is never pleasant, but things are quite routine today and I know you'll be fine and back on here before you know it!!

[jennaceeta25]

Have you heard of a Hospital called Lankanau? It's like a half an hour away from Philly, I think. That's where my surgery is taking place. They're really nice there. Yea, the tubes don't sound so good, does it? I'll keep you all posted, of course!

Thanks Lexi. I was a little depressed but now I think I'm ok. You all are so sweet! ;D

[August]

Jenna, I do wish you well! I'm sure things will be fine. If your doctors feel confident then it's probably quite routine.

I've never been put under for surgery, but those I know who have tell me it's not at all like sleep. I'm told it's more like the blink of an eye. When you awaken from sleep, you have a feeling that time has passed, but from what I've heard, waking from anesthesia is like closing your eyes, opening them right back up, and everyone telling you that it's over. It's hard to imagine, but if they're right, then that's pretty good.

I was wide awake for the removal of all my wisdom teeth. It was quick and there was no pain, but the sounds I could have done without because the dentist had to crack two of them to remove them. Kinda creepy.

Of course you will be in my prayers as well, but try not to stress too much. I'm sure you'll be just fine

[jennaceeta25]

Thank you August. I'll try not to stress too much. I had surgery before but I was just a kid, I can't remember much. Now that I'm an adult I can visualize what will happen and that's what scares me. Ouchie about your wisdom teeth..my dentist had to pull a tooth out my gum once while I was awake. It was painful. I'm glad you had no pain. Thank you for your prayers, it means a lot.

[number1fan]

dear jenna...from what you're telling us, everything sound very routine. isn't modern day medicine amazing...i betcha 10 years ago they wouldn't have been able to treat a 'pre-lession' which in time would make a condition like yours that much more serious and evasive. i'm sure it's the wait that's most difficult too. try to learn as much as you can about your procedure...your mind can't wander if it knows all the facts. of course you're in my daily prayers! chin-up!

[jennaceeta25]

Number1fan, you're right. I'm glad I live in the modern world because my GI doctor said if I don't have surgery soon I would die at the age of 60. Since I'm 20 it's much more serious. I'm trying to learn what happens durning surgery. Thanks for your prayers. ;D

[mellie]

Hey Jennaceeta,
I know what it's like to be scared going into surgery. I had surgery seven years ago on my knee, and I was terrified about being put under. I was also scared about the tube being inserted down my throat. The tube is put in place after you are out, so you don't feel a thing. The tube is inserted for your breathing in case you were to stop breathing on your own. It's a way the doctors and nurses are assured that if that happens, they can get oxygen into you. The only side affect of the tube is that your throat will be a little sore, and you might possibly get like a sore or blister on your lip where the tube is rubbing on it. All my friends that have had surgery, my sister and I all got the sore/blister on our lips after surgery. It looks like a fever blister.

This is what I went through when I had my surgery, and I will go into detail so you know what to expect.
I arrived at the hospital on the day of my surgery, and a nurse took me to my room for the day. I was asked to change into the gown, and to remove any metal items that I might have on(jewelry, barrette, underwire bra). The anesthesiologist came in, and asked if I was allergic to any medication to which I replied yes to penicillin. He then told me that they were going to put an IV in my hand, and told me that the first medication was so my stomach wouldn't be upset when they put the "cocktail" in. He then said that the next medication was the "cocktail" which he explained that it is a muscle relaxer and I forgot what else, but it is needed. He then asked me to put my doctors initials on the knee I was having surgery on. He joked saying that if I didn't know which knee it was then I couldn't complain if the doctor operated on the wrong one. I told him that that wasn't funny, and I knew which knee it was. When the anesthesiologist left, I felt really relaxed, and ready for a nap.
I was wheeled into the operating room, and the assisting nurse told me to think of a place where I could relax. She put an oxygen mask on me, and told me to take a deep breath. She then said do you have the place that's relaxing in your mind? I answered yes, and she said can you tell me? I said yes the bea...I was out, and I don't remember anything until I woke up an hour and a half later. When I was waking up, I felt like I had just fallen asleep. You know like when you've fallen asleep for about five minutes, but it feels longer when you wake up. The nurse that had spoken to me earlier said "welcome back, did you enjoy your day at the beach." I just nodded my head.
I was wheeled back to my room, and given a choice of apple juice or orange juice to drink. After an hour in my room, a nurse came to check on me, and asked how I was doing. I told her fine, and she said that I could get dressed because I could be released. The nurse said that some people get nauseated with the anesthesia, and it would be normal if I were to start vomitting later on, so not to worry about that because it's normal.

That's my story with surgery, and I know everything will be okay. I will definitely pray for you that everything turns out just fine. Sorry if it's long, but I wanted to put your mind at ease.

[jennaceeta25]

Mellie, you are a doll! Thank you for writing your story. I feel much more calm now. My surgery is going to take about 6 hours so they might need an anesthesiologist right by my side. Then after the surgery I stay a couple of days to heal. I'm glad your surgery worked out fine. I'm sure I'll say my special place is in Utah,

[mellie]

Hey it's no problem Jenna. You will have the anesthesiologist there in case you wake up during surgery. That's how it was when my friend had surgery to remove gall stones.

My mom just told me that my surgery was about two and a half hours long. I don't remember the time because I was out. The surgery lasted for a shorter amount of time than physical therapy did. It took me from July to January to completely learn how to walk again without crutches.

Anyway I am glad that my story helped to calm you down a bit.

[jennaceeta25]

aww! Were you on pain killers? I'm going to be so out of it... I'm not looking forward to the walking either. But, you gotta do what you gotta do. I've been diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis since Febuary with the cancerious leison. It's been in there long enough. It needs to come out. Maybe it's best that it should be on the 6th, to get it over with. Don't you think? Your story brighten my day as did everyones comments. Thanks guys!

And don't you worry, I'll keep you updated.

[ohnoagain]

Hi Jenna,
I'm a nurse, I don't know much about what you're having done. I'm thinking the procedure you described about the 2 inch scars and it sounds like the removal of the pre-cancerous lesion is a polyp, is a laparoscopy? But, I could be wrong. The tube down your throat is intubation, and an anesthesiologist has to be there. You won't have the tube put down your throat until you are completly under sedation via an IV drip in your arm. So you won't feel it go down or come out ( you shouldn't ). I don't know why it will take 6 hours, but I don't know your history, so I won't guess. If you are the type that gets sick after being "out", ask the Dr. when he comes in for your pre-op visit for an anti-emetic, that is given through your IV and will prevent or stop any nausea or vomiting that sometimes happens after anesthesia. I'm not trying to scare you, just giving you some advice that alot of people aren't aware of. I'm sure everything will be fine, you're young and you'll live to see Apolo grow into an old man. And yeah, if you think about him while counting backwards, you might have some wild dreams. Good luck to you and you have my thoughts and prayers.