Hard to be on the other side...

Hello all, I promised to come out of lurk mode.....I just wanted to say how difficult it was to be a patient in PAIN and have to rely on nurses to make me comfortable when it is usually me doin the comfortin...A couple of times during my stay I know I bit my tongue purple when a night shift nurse dosed me with pain med without asking my level of pain and when I complained that the 5ml wasnt working (after 1 hour) and I would like another 5 ml--She stated that I would have to wait the whole 3 hours before getting another dose.. My order read 5-10ml q 3h for pain. She said she would bring me the 10ml at 3 am but didnt show up until 3:45!!!! Uggh.....

That would have made me CRAZY! I always hated nurses who arent' pro-pain control. I hate pain! I must say that is one of my biggest worries about surgery. I understand from the seminar I went to that my surgeon uses PCA's. I have never used one after surgery, but the patients I've cared for seem pleased with them. It puts the pain control issue in the patients hands, not ours as nurses.

Wow, my surgery is the 27th of this month. I am so scared and SUCH a baby! I think it is harder to have a little more insight into what can happen then other people! We just think too much sometimes. I am worried because after reading BMI's of other people, I am having a lap and I am with a BMI of 50. This is the cut off for lap at St. Vincent, and I worry I am too big, and worry about complications. The surgeon is experienced and confident, but I still worry! Wish me luck! They BETTER give me pain control! Hey, remember pain is what the patient said it is? Or better the less pain experienced, the less of a pain the patient will be?

Pam, my surgery date is 4/27 too. Mine is a revision and by BMI is closer to 60 than 50. You are so right about knowing too much and not being able to shut the brain down to stop the "what ifs"......!!

Good luck on your surgery! Why is there a revision? Was it a staple line problem? Let me know how you do! I think I have to have blood gases drawn at my PAT tomorrow. I am dreading it more than ANY of it! I used to work in CCU and held many a person down for it, and saw them cry. Now it is my turn and I wish I DIDN'T know! Take care, Pam

I had a modified RNY in '86 (no separation of the stomach, but do have a short limb). The staples are all undone & who knows how long ago that happened. As to the ABG's--get the best 'sticker' and should be a piece of cake. I have had them and it does sting, but should not really hurt. Good luck tomorrow and with your surgery!

I had my PAT's today. NO blood gas needed!!! Big smiles! Thanks for the reply about the redo. I had heard of something like that. Good luck for the surgery! The PAT's helped me overcome some of the apprehension, along with the large amount of info they gave us. A lot of my questions were answered, but I am still nervous, because it seems that if it has to happen, it seems to happen to nurses!! The Respiratory Therapist made a point to say that nurses and doctors are the worst patients. Oh well, we probably are! Take care! Pam