So today was pre op - a nice long 6 hour pre assessment at the hospital to get you medically and physically prepared for the big day.
So here's how my day went down.
lung function test - started with a nice needle into my artery to check oxygen levels in the blood. Felt a bit odd and took a while to do.
The lung function test consisted of blowing into a machine which measured oxygen and lung capacity. I struggled with this test, in tears at one point as it really put strain on your chest. I got some good results though and then was sent up to the ward I'll be on.
I was met by a lovely nurse who took us into a meeting room with 4 others who are also having heart surgery this or next week.
The nurse explained a lot about what to expect after, how they manage the pain and a break down of each day in hospital, I'll be in ICU for two days and in hospital for 6-10 days after.
I then had a chest x ray and a second set of blood tests.
Meeting the pharmacist he explained to keep taking my medication as per normal and discussed using warfarin after the operation
The ward Dr was also lovely, she checked all my veins in my wrists, ankles, under the knees and in the neck. Apparently I have good veins !
Afterwards I met the anaesthetist. He explained that I will have a drip into my arm and one in the artery in the wrist, I'll then be put to sleep. They will drain blood from the heart and deflate my lungs, connected to the heart bypass machine through veins in my leg. A breathing tube is placed down my throat as well as a camera which assists the surgeon.
I'll be expected to have a blood transfusion during the operation.
Another drip is placed into the neck to administer the pain relief, a catheter and three drainage tubes.
They explained how long all the tubes stay in for, I'll awake 1 day after and should be on the ward day 3 and walking day 4.
There was a lot of information to take in about post op care, what activities I can and cannot do. It's very restricted for the first 6-8 weeks as the breastbone heals.
So much information to take in and I have 100 leaflets about everything, but overall feel calmer before the storm.
So here's how my day went down.
- Lung function test
- Ward orientation
- Chest x ray
- Blood tests
- Meet with Pharmacist
- Nose swab
- Meet ward Doctor
- Meet anaesthetist
- Need to fast for four hours tomorrow (Wednesday) and return for CT Scan, this scan is only because I've had surgery before and is a riskier operation.
THE BIG DAY
To prepare for the surgery I need to start taking antibacterial showers everyday from Sunday and put antibacterial ointment in my nose also, finishing with the last shower the morning of the operation.
I will arrive bright and early at 6.45am, drip inserted and morphine and oxygen will be giving straight away, this will calm me down so they can get ready. Another line will be placed into my artery in the wrist, I'll be put to sleep pretty quickly and should be in thearte by 7.30am
The operation will take between 5-7 hours. As I've had surgery before it becomes more complicated and the surgeon has to take longer to cut into the heart.
I'll be in intensive care for two days after and in a medically induced coma for the first 24 hours. I won't wake up until the day after.
I'm the first and only patient on the surgery list for that day.
What happened in the pre op tests ?
lung function test - started with a nice needle into my artery to check oxygen levels in the blood. Felt a bit odd and took a while to do.
The lung function test consisted of blowing into a machine which measured oxygen and lung capacity. I struggled with this test, in tears at one point as it really put strain on your chest. I got some good results though and then was sent up to the ward I'll be on.
I was met by a lovely nurse who took us into a meeting room with 4 others who are also having heart surgery this or next week.
The nurse explained a lot about what to expect after, how they manage the pain and a break down of each day in hospital, I'll be in ICU for two days and in hospital for 6-10 days after.
I then had a chest x ray and a second set of blood tests.
Meeting the pharmacist he explained to keep taking my medication as per normal and discussed using warfarin after the operation
The ward Dr was also lovely, she checked all my veins in my wrists, ankles, under the knees and in the neck. Apparently I have good veins !
Afterwards I met the anaesthetist. He explained that I will have a drip into my arm and one in the artery in the wrist, I'll then be put to sleep. They will drain blood from the heart and deflate my lungs, connected to the heart bypass machine through veins in my leg. A breathing tube is placed down my throat as well as a camera which assists the surgeon.
I'll be expected to have a blood transfusion during the operation.
Another drip is placed into the neck to administer the pain relief, a catheter and three drainage tubes.
They explained how long all the tubes stay in for, I'll awake 1 day after and should be on the ward day 3 and walking day 4.
There was a lot of information to take in about post op care, what activities I can and cannot do. It's very restricted for the first 6-8 weeks as the breastbone heals.
So much information to take in and I have 100 leaflets about everything, but overall feel calmer before the storm.
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