my preop appointment sucked
The time spent with the doctor was great, only had to wait about 1 hour 15 minutes. Then had to wait an hour to get the preop lab. They stuck me 3 times and 2 of the times hurt. I have a huge hematoma that covers the top of my left hand. By then my blood pressure was sky high so they checked it 4 times but honestly they weren't using the right size cuff.
They screwed up the first EKG so had to do another one and by then my heart rate was up to 129. Then the CXR department took the xrays in one room and said the machine malfunctioned so I needed to go to a different room so had 2 sets of xrays.
Rhonda insisted on going with me and I was very glad she did.
When we got there, no parking at KU medical center, not even with the valet so at least Rhonda could park the car for me. Also my blood sugar bottomed out so she had to drive me home. I woke up today with a really sore throat and am thinking I had better start taking something, I don't want to be sick when I go in for the surgery. I took an Allegra to see if it helps, if it doesn't then I am going to start a round of zithromax just to be on the safe side. I was very disappointed with the preop staff except the doctor, he was great. Being a nurse, it was making me wonder if the OR staff was that incompetent also. They did tell me most of the regulars were off yesterday and that they had a record day of seeing patients. Anyhow preop is done and no more white carbs. Today I am wondering if he meant cokes. I asked him and he said rice, pototos and bread. I asked about V-8 juice and Atkins shake and he said it was okay to eat them.We were there yesterday from 11am until 4:30 pm. Anyhow I am back at work but feeling very droopy. Hopefully I will perk up. Janice
Sounds like a frustrating day! At least it is overwith! My pre-op is on Friday. They told me to expect being their (in addition to meeting with the surgeon) from 7:30 am to 1:00 pm. So I guess this is the norm, huh? My mom is going with me so mayeb we can bring some cards if we are bored. It sucks that they had so many problems with the various tests - I mean, one screw up is tolerable, but everything being screwed up would be highly annoying!
I am a nurse too - it is VERY scary when you tell people you are a nurse and they STILL act incompetently. My mom had a colectomy a few years ago and almost died due to poor care (became dehydrated). I was working and taking care of my (then) 3 year old daughter, so I visited her in the evenings. The day before she was to be discharged, she was talking and feeling weak. I noticed that no one was helping her walk in the halls, no one helped her go the the bathroom, no one had bathed her. I raised hell about it. The next morning before I could come to pick her up, I got a call that she wasn't doing well. Her B/P was 70/30, she had sunken everything, was mildly confused, and could barely hold up her head, much less speak. She was moved to a step-down unit, dopamine was started in a peripheral vein (yes, that is what I said) which after 24 hours became infiltrated and had to have the antidote. I stayed with her constantly. Because of the diarrhea from the colectomy (no colostomy, a re-anastamosis), she had gotten behind on her fluids, and NO ONE was keeping an I&O on her. She was in acute renal failure as well. She did recover fully from that, but they all knew I am a nurse, and she still got crappy care. Unbelievable.
Well, I went on and on - make sure you take plenty of vitamin C - that always helps me when I am starting to get a sore throat or sniffles. I had that right before my hysterectomy, and didn't tell anyone. I did fine for the surgery and all, but when I started with a cough after surgery, boy did that hurt! 
Good luck with everything!
Cris
Good luck with everything!
Cris 
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