Deborah's Journal

Terry Shermeister   Hey Deborah: I relate to those sour pusses. The nurse that did my EKG was one. Perhaps she was having a bad day. I tried to humor, small talk, but finally I just took over and told her that she needs to do the test, get it over with and get me out of here!

Deborah Flaherty  Thank goodness she got another tech after I reiterated that i was a hard stick. She was better suited to be a prison warden than a heath care professional! Thank goodness my experiences were good once I was done with her!

Steven A Husted  my prayers are with you for a successful surgery and recovery i know it can scare you and may be a little fearful but the lord will see you thru and you will be in recovery before you know it steve (popeye)

Pat Bluemel  Hey there. One day at a time and keep busy. You also won't really have a sense of all the tubes, it was three days before I realized I had a swan cath sticking out of my neck and that's when they were taking it out!

Deborah Flaherty  Thanks, Pat! I've been trying some complementary medicine techniques like yoga, reiki and meditation. I'll be having the surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital, where I have been followed for years!

Greg Johnson  You won't be bothered by the tubes. At least I wasnt. I was worried about the bladder cath. But I didn't even want them to remove it as it was so convenient. The neck I've wasn't even noticeable. Everyone that visited commented on it. But I couldn't feel it. Just don't be afraid to tell the nurses if one is uncomfortable. I had one IV that bothered me for two days and I finally told a nurse who reaped it and it was fine after that. Should have said something earlier.

Wiliam Height  A misconception of the surgery is that you go into surgery and under anesthesia fully alert and awake, then come out and return to that alert and awake state. You don't. After surgery for the remainder of the day your body and mind wean from the pain management medication and anesthesia "fog". From my experience none of the tubes are an issue, they are noticeable. The second day you will be asked to sit up and move around if you can, then the tubes can get a little tangled. Where I had an issue was the 2nd night trying to sleep, now fully alert, sleeping in one position on my back the tubes felt heavy, my gown was tangled and I felt trapped. But this could have been due to me being a buck-naked side-sleeper. Also, not much is disconcerting post-op. You will be fine.

Pat Bluemel  Greg I felt the same way. I was like nahhhh just leave that alone for awhile but my nurse wasn't having it. They know if it's out you'll start trying to get up more.

Jennifer Bramlett  me too -- so funny! All this however helped me with my own worries about all those tubes and what it is like right afterwards. Thanks Pat, Greg, and Wiliam -- I am comforted and won't worry about that part anymore!