Surgery Tips Needed!

[amystery]

Hello Ladies!
I have been dealing with some newly discovered health issues over the last few weeks, and to make a long story short, I am incredibly happy, blessed and thankful to report that what my GP was not sure was nothing or potentially cancer, is most very likely not cancer at all! I’ve seen some oncologists and basically I have two huge cystic masses (that they ro not think are cancerous) that need come out, and it can’t be done laparoscopically. I’ve been told I have two volley balls inside me. Yes, volley balls.
I may have to have part of my pancreas removed if one of the cysts is attached to the tail of my pancreas. If that is the case, I will also have to have my spleen removed. I should also have to have an ovary removed, but thankfully, it looks like only one of them is affected. I will also be getting my gallbladder removed, because apparently I have gallstones too!
I’m overweight, but was generally healthy prior to 2021. Ever since then, it’s been one nitpicky thing after another, but nothing really major. This will be my first time going under anesthesia, most definitely my first surgery, and most definitely the first time I’ll be admitted to a hospital. My incision will be vertical, basically from just under my breastbone down past my belly button (which they’ll go around).
Needless to say, I feel overwhelmed! I’m thankful, so thankful that not only did all the blood tests come back normal, but the surgeons feel good about everything too, but I could use some advice! If you have any tips or suggestions on how to make this go best for myself both pre and post op, I would be so greatly appreciative! I feel like I’m being thrown into the ocean without knowing how to swim!
i’d even love to hear any feedback on being in the hospital, what to take, what not to take, etc. i’ll be there for 5 days, and my little mind is running a mile a minute trying to figure all of this out!
Lastly, I covet your prayers! I am praying earnestly that the cyst is not attached to my pancreas. They think it is, but can’t know tor sure until they’re in there. I’m asking Jesus to heal me, or at least if it’s His will, to see that the cyst is not attached to my pancreas!
Thank y’all for your time, I know that was a long read!

 

[yeshua'sbride]

My advice would be to ask lots of questions before and after surgery. In my experience, being well informed diffuses a lot of the anxiety.

 

[Baby Yoda]

Agree, lot of questions. Write them down before you go to the doc's office.

Tip-- ask for anti-nausea medicine to be added to your drip ahead of time.

 

[Everlasting Life]

ing for the Lord's healing for you, all needed information and a successful surgery.

I seem to remember a shared caution about not having too much anesthesia than needed or a certain kind so as to have a better recovery.

 

[mphsmom]

I will be praying for you dear sister! I have had more surgeries than I can count. The best advice I can give you is prepare ahead of time for when you come home, because you will not be feeling up to doing anything for quite a while. Also, get plenty of rest and don't push yourself! Make sure you tell them when you are in pain before it gets too bad; it is easier to control the pain getting pain medicine on time than waiting to feel very painful because the medicine will not work as well if it has to fight severe pain. Oh, and have a good pillow ready. You will cough for a bit after surgery as the anesthesia leaves your body and having a pillow to brace your stomach with will help a great deal. I had a surgery on my abdomen and I could not get into my bed to sleep for a week or so because it hurt to much when I tried; I ended up having to sleep in a recliner. Make sure you have a comfortable place to sleep. If not a recliner, then make sure you have help getting into and out of bed.

 

[JoyJoyJoy]

Good advise has been given.
I second taking pain meds before the pain is severe...don't let pain get ahead of you.
Don't get constipated! Take a laxative if needed.
Get ready to take deep breaths after surgery. You want to keep those lungs open and working.
Give yourself time to heal. Please! If you are not up and running in a few weeks.. so what?? Take care of yourself.
Ask questions until you are satisfied.

 

[Ghoti Ichthus]

All good advice above.

Hugging your "coughing pillow" will be very helpful on the drive home because of bumps, stops, starts, turns, etc.

Have a couple weeks' meals prepared ahead of time, or someone else to take care of ALL of the cooking, prep-work, shopping, cleaning, taking out the trash, yard work, etc. for at least a couple of weeks (your doc and how you heal will dictate how long you need help and what you can start doing when).

Don't even think about taking care of pets, including feeding, watering, grooming walking a dog, or cleaning a litterbox for awhile (your doc and how you heal will dictate what you can do when). Jerking, bending, bending over, lifting, carrying . . . Boarding for a couple of weeks might be a good option for a large, high-drive dog that can't be trusted not to jump on you.

Let your Pastor know ahead of time so your church can be praying and people will volunteer/coordinate to help before and after with whatever you need. Maybe Pastor can come to the hospital and pray with you before or after. Hospitals have Chaplains, which are great resources, too. Make sure he or she is Christian before praying with him or her.

Don't be shy about asking for help, asking questions, or telling someone if you're scared, experiencing symptoms, are confused or don't remember something, need your back scratched, etc.

Remember to do Daisy Award(s) for any nurse(s) that go(es) above and beyond or was especially nice. A couple bags of individually wrapped small candies (nurse treats) to put somewhere in your hospital room is always a plus for them (there are always plastic containers at the hospital to dump the bags into to facilitate them helping themselves). Make sure the nurses, lab techs, etc. that come to your room know it's there for them (and maybe put a thank you sign on it so regular visitors don't eat it all, especially if you're in a shared room). Taking a spiral notebook and a couple of pens with you to the hospital will come in handy. Remember your Bible, but maybe make sure it's a spare and not a family heirloom or marked up copy because sometimes stuff happens in hospitals. Leave all your valuables at home. Only bring what you need (photo ID, insurance cards, etc.) and keep them in your locked drawer or closet, etc. when not actually needed (usually only when checking in, so you might be able to secure with the hospital; check ahead of time AND when checking in because policies and procedures different at different hospitals ). Make sure your Will to Live/similar is up-to-date and a copy in your records. Talk to your family, especially your designated representative about your wishes and make sure your designated representative has his or her own copy of your Will to Live/similar.

 

[amystery]

All good advice above.

Hugging your "coughing pillow" will be very helpful on the drive home because of bumps, stops, starts, turns, etc.

Have a couple weeks' meals prepared ahead of time, or someone else to take care of ALL of the cooking, prep-work, shopping, cleaning, taking out the trash, yard work, etc. for at least a couple of weeks (your doc and how you heal will dictate how long you need help and what you can start doing when).

Don't even think about taking care of pets, including feeding, watering, grooming walking a dog, or cleaning a litterbox for awhile (your doc and how you heal will dictate what you can do when). Jerking, bending, bending over, lifting, carrying . . . Boarding for a couple of weeks might be a good option for a large, high-drive dog that can't be trusted not to jump on you.

Let your Pastor know ahead of time so your church can be praying and people will volunteer/coordinate to help before and after with whatever you need. Maybe Pastor can come to the hospital and pray with you before or after. Hospitals have Chaplains, which are great resources, too. Make sure he or she is Christian before praying with him or her.

Don't be shy about asking for help, asking questions, or telling someone if you're scared, experiencing symptoms, are confused or don't remember something, need your back scratched, etc.

Remember to do Daisy Award(s) for any nurse(s) that go(es) above and beyond or was especially nice. A couple bags of individually wrapped small candies (nurse treats) to put somewhere in your hospital room is always a plus for them (there are always plastic containers at the hospital to dump the bags into to facilitate them helping themselves). Make sure the nurses, lab techs, etc. that come to your room know it's there for them (and maybe put a thank you sign on it so regular visitors don't eat it all, especially if you're in a shared room). Taking a spiral notebook and a couple of pens with you to the hospital will come in handy. Remember your Bible, but maybe make sure it's a spare and not a family heirloom or marked up copy because sometimes stuff happens in hospitals. Leave all your valuables at home. Only bring what you need (photo ID, insurance cards, etc.) and keep them in your locked drawer or closet, etc. when not actually needed (usually only when checking in, so you might be able to secure with the hospital; check ahead of time AND when checking in because policies and procedures different at different hospitals ). Make sure your Will to Live/similar is up-to-date and a copy in your records. Talk to your family, especially your designated representative about your wishes and make sure your designated representative has his or her own copy of your Will to Live/similar.

Oh my goodness! Thank you so much for all of this information!!! I can’t thank you enough!

 

[Ghoti Ichthus]

Oh my goodness! Thank you so much for all of this information!!! I can’t thank you enough!

You're more than welcome.

God bless you and everyone taking care of you.

 

[JoyJoyJoy]

Don't be shy about asking for help

This!!

For me, it's so hard to ask for.or accept help even though I love helping others.

Usually when a friend offers to do something for you, they really mean it.
A trip to the store, washing up some dishes, driving you to a Dr appt, running the vacuum...it makes the *do-er* feel good and useful.

 

[GotGrace]

Hello Ladies!
I have been dealing with some newly discovered health issues over the last few weeks, and to make a long story short, I am incredibly happy, blessed and thankful to report that what my GP was not sure was nothing or potentially cancer, is most very likely not cancer at all! I’ve seen some oncologists and basically I have two huge cystic masses (that they ro not think are cancerous) that need come out, and it can’t be done laparoscopically. I’ve been told I have two volley balls inside me. Yes, volley balls.
I may have to have part of my pancreas removed if one of the cysts is attached to the tail of my pancreas. If that is the case, I will also have to have my spleen removed. I should also have to have an ovary removed, but thankfully, it looks like only one of them is affected. I will also be getting my gallbladder removed, because apparently I have gallstones too!
I’m overweight, but was generally healthy prior to 2021. Ever since then, it’s been one nitpicky thing after another, but nothing really major. This will be my first time going under anesthesia, most definitely my first surgery, and most definitely the first time I’ll be admitted to a hospital. My incision will be vertical, basically from just under my breastbone down past my belly button (which they’ll go around).
Needless to say, I feel overwhelmed! I’m thankful, so thankful that not only did all the blood tests come back normal, but the surgeons feel good about everything too, but I could use some advice! If you have any tips or suggestions on how to make this go best for myself both pre and post op, I would be so greatly appreciative! I feel like I’m being thrown into the ocean without knowing how to swim!
i’d even love to hear any feedback on being in the hospital, what to take, what not to take, etc. i’ll be there for 5 days, and my little mind is running a mile a minute trying to figure all of this out!
Lastly, I covet your prayers! I am praying earnestly that the cyst is not attached to my pancreas. They think it is, but can’t know tor sure until they’re in there. I’m asking Jesus to heal me, or at least if it’s His will, to see that the cyst is not attached to my pancreas!
Thank y’all for your time, I know that was a long read!

Be sure to have an advocate such as a child or good friend to be watching your care while hospitalized. You can’t have too many people keeping a check on every thing.

 

[Begin2Happen]

Be sure to have an advocate such as a child or good friend to be watching your care while hospitalized. You can’t have too many people keeping a check on every thing.

And, if possible, have someone on hand to administer your pain medications for the first 24 hours or so after you get home.

 

[Baby Yoda]

seem to remember a shared caution about not having too much anesthesia than needed

Also you don't want to have too little, so I have nudged my anth. in past and said lightly "I don't want to wake up before this is over."

 

[Baby Yoda]

One more thing, make sure they draw on you where the organs are to be removed ahead of time. Less chance of them removing the wrong stuff.

 

[Ghoti Ichthus]

Also you don't want to have too little, so I have nudged my anth. in past and said lightly "I don't want to wake up before this is over."

I did wake up during a procedure once. I remember looking at the forceps the doc was holding and looking at what they had removed and saying "Hi" or "Hello," and him yelling at the anesthesiologist, "Get her under!" I don't remember any pain, though. I told them it takes a lot to get me under [sigh]

 

[amystery]

I did wake up during a procedure once. I remember looking at the forceps the doc was holding and looking at what they had removed and saying "Hi" or "Hello," and him yelling at the anesthesiologist, "Get her under!" I don't remember any pain, though. I told them it takes a lot to get me under [sigh]

This is my worst nightmare! It happened to my Grandma. I pray it doesn’t happen to me!!!

 

[Kerbluey]

Hi Amystery, I had a big baseball-sized cyst on my ovary years ago. I was just at a normal exam when the GYN discovered “a mass“ that he was certain was a cyst but sent me to the oncologist just in case. Nothing like being sent to the cancer doc to strike fear in your heart, huh?? The surgery went fine, and I’ve been fine ever since. I only wish they’d given it to me in a jar to display, haha.

Like another poster I’ve had more surgeries than I can count. I could probably do surgery by this point and all were fine. Praying for an uneventful procedure for you.

 

[Momma D]

I had gallbladder surgery done arthroscopically years ago.
I was fine until I had to pee, and the first tiny movement made me throw up and emptied my bladder at the same time!
I did have a lot of pain after getting home...getting in and out of bed was a nightmare. Being small was a disadvantage, according to the surgeon.
I had a longer period of recovery than I expected, but I pray all will go perfectly for you

 

[Ghoti Ichthus]

How did everything go, or are you still waiting?

 

[Momma D]

Love and prayers regarding your surgery.
May all God's blessings be a shield about you