Laparoscopy pre-op?

[Adele-84]

Hi Ladies, after quite a battle I have a lap booked for 12th October. I was just wondering what happens at the pre-op assessment and how long before your operation you have it ? I fly back from Rhodes only 11 days before my op, so just a bit anxious about it all.

[Hidden]

I had my pre op just less than 2 weeks before my lap.

I was weighed, had blood taken and was asked questions about my general health. I was also told about what I would need to bring to the hospital and given a number to call on the evening before the operation to ask what time I should arrive at the hospital and when I should stop eating and drinking before the op.

Good luck! X

[Adele-84 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you, it's been 10 years since I last had a general anesthesia so feeling aprahensive to say the least!

[phoenixoncemore]

I actually had my pre-op over the phone and at my doctor's surgery, about a week before, which may be an option for you if it's difficult to fit in with your travel plans? The assessment is just a 10 minute conversation about you, your contra - indications and what you can expect. I then saw a nurse at my local surgery who took my blood pressure, weight, height, swabbed my nose for MRSA and gave me the bottles of delightful (sarcasm) drink they tell you to have on the day of the op. Nothing too horrible in my experience, so try not to worry.

Good luck and have a great holiday!

[Adele-84 in reply to phoenixoncemore]

Thank you, what's the horrible drink for?

[phoenixoncemore in reply to Adele-84]

I have no idea! I think it's like an energy drink because you aren't allowed to eat or drink on the day of the surgery - and mine was late afternoon. It was vile though.

[Meekos]

Are you sure it wasn't bowel prep?

[phoenixoncemore in reply to Meekos]

No, definitely not a bowel prep. I think it was a glucose and electrolyte thing like you get for dehydration as i wasn't even allowed water from 6am until i went in at about 4pm. It was supposedly lemon flavoured. Nobody else got to enjoy that? Different areas and their wonderful ideas I guess...

[Adele-84 in reply to phoenixoncemore]

Sounds lovely!! 😣 on the subject of bowel prep, did you have an enema on the day?

[phoenixoncemore in reply to Adele-84]

No, again I think some do and some don't. They do catheterise you while you are under though. I warn you just because I needed the loo when I came round and didn't know this as nobody mentioned it - it really stings!

[Adele-84 in reply to phoenixoncemore]

Ew that sounds lovely as well, got lots to look forward too !! Luckily us endo warriors are made of tough stuff !!

[phoenixoncemore in reply to Adele-84]

You'll be fine, it's nothing really, especially compared to what we all get to put up with from the endo itself, just a bit of a shock if you aren't expecting it!

[believe1251 in reply to phoenixoncemore]

if they catheterised you while you were under how. Do they remove it after you wake up? or right before you're going to wake up? I'm more scared about this than anything else

[phoenixoncemore in reply to believe1251]

They take it out before you come round from the anaesthetic. Just had my second laparoscopy, same deal, nobody mentioned it. It's not awful just a little, ahem, slow and steady, at first!

[Meekos]

My last surgery I had my pre-op the day before! But, however I had discussed with the anaesthetist over the phone and we were confident that I didn't have any major health issues that would prevent me from having surgery/anaesthesia. Take it as an opportunity to ask questions. The most invasive thing they will generally do at this apointment (where I'm from) is take your blood. Good luck.

[Mabes]

I had mine 2 weeks before my op date. Mine lasted at least an hour partly because I have other medical problems that impact me having surgery/anaesthesia, plus I had heart issues that got flagged up and needing attending to before I could be operated on.

I think at some hospitals, whether you have to go in or have a telephone based one depends on whether you have any other medical conditions that might complicate anaesthesia etc. I would definitely let the hospital know about your holiday so they can plan your assessment around it.

[Hidden]

I also had to stop taking warfarin for five days prior to my op and also was only allowed to take my diltiazem (tildiem) for my AF I have and no other medication was allowed until after my operation... I think I was more nervous getting pre op preparation x