Luka wrote:So happy your surgery went well! Yes, I've heard the drugs are awesome. :) I just want to be drugged out so much that I don't remember a thing during my LIS. I'm glad everything went so smoothly for you. Did they give you any pre-med anxiety meds in your IV before going to the OR?
So you had no prep before surgery? My CRS said I didn't need an enema since I'm in pain and he didn't want to do that to me, but I have to take magnesium citrate the night before, I think. I'm guessing you didn't have to do this.
You will be in my prayers for a smooth recovery. I really hope all goes well and keep us updated when you're up to it. :) Best wishes and rest up!
Hey, Luka! So when I got there, I was super anxious, and when I began walking back to the prep room, my nurse was asking me why I was so anxious, and she took the time to talk to me about everything that was going to happen in a kind, compassionate way, and then told me that any of the stuff I was anxious about was going to happen when I wouldn't remember a bit of it. She didn't rush me into the gown and spent time complimenting things like "my veins" for the IV and being a bit humorous with my hubby which put me at ease. Then I saw my doctor who is also incredibly kind, and she playfully said she was going on a hunt for the anesthesiologist and was going to beat him until he came to talk to me before surgery. I have had bad anesthesiologists before, so I was really prepared for another bad one, but he was WONDERFFUL! He came in and explained what he was going to do very in detail with lots of attention to my privacy and comfort. After that, we got the party started on our trip down the hall to the OR. Since everyone was so patient, compassionate, and gentle, I never felt that panicked feeling I normally feel, and I was able to manage my anxiety until I was out without meds, although I'm positive they would have given them to me if I had asked.
My anesthesiologist did the most prep with me, and basically said all of this: "I'm going to give you a shot in your IV in this room before we go that is related to Valium but way more powerful. You can't get this stuff on the streets! I like to call it, a trip to the 60s. And then you will be groggy, and we will take you into the OR. There I will ask you to roll onto your belly onto the table under a nice sheet tent we will hold up for your privacy and we will have you put your hip bones elevated on a pillow a bit. You will have your hands under your head like you are sleeping, and then once you are comfortably situated, I will give you some oxygen through your nose to help you breathe deeply while you sleep. And then I'm going to give you another drug that movie stars pay lots of money for and that will help you go right out, and then you will wake up with a recovery nurse!"
And it went exactly like that! No memory of anything awful. I did not have bowel prep which is pretty common according to my nurse for this procedure, but my doctor had me taking Miralax and colace already. My body was scared of the pain I was in though when I went to the bathroom, so I was not able to make myself go the night before the surgery, but I don't think it mattered as I had barely been eating.
Yesterday after the surgery, I took one of the pain meds they sent me home with and I got pretty dizzy from it, and then conked out. I was uncomfortable, and in a bit of pain, but NOTHING like why fissure pain feels like. I managed to sleep most of that first day, waking enough to joke around with my husband, mother in law, and friend who dropped off a meal. And the distractions helped while I sat/layed on my side on the couch (comfier than the bed!) until the pain mostly began to dull about five hours post surgery. We turned on the tv and ate some dinner and I drank miralax and tried unsuccessfully not to worry about the first BM.
I just had my first BM and was so so scared. It is day 2 (4 days after my last one) and the pain level is NIGHT AND DAY! It was kind of painful during the movement, especially since they had not moved for several days prior, but then I was done and there was no spasming! I dabbed a tiny bit with a wet wipe and then showered off as per the nurse's instructions because it is pretty tender back there. Then I got in the bath where I am now typing this and have been in for thirty minutes. I only feel slightly uncomfortable, back there and I think I might be able to get by with no pain meds when I get out (trying to avoid constipation). Now I'm just trying to get on a good groove with miralax so my stools will be nice and soft (a very difficult thing to do lately) and stay regular, possibly daily (which I have never been before) so as to keep things small.
I had to drink some warm water to help stimulate some movement in my bowels, and it worked like a charm. Fear of it didn't help at all, but what are we all going to do about that? Working our way towards loving the toilet again, I guess.