Pre-Assessment day from Hell!

Hello Ladies I had the day from hell yesterday, had a 2.30 appointment for my surgery pre-assessment. We finally left at 5.30. The actual tests a blood test, blood pressure, height, weight, ECG took less than 45mins, the rest of the time we just sat around waiting, at 5 I went into see a Anesthetist who scared the S**T out of me with talk of blood clots, tubes, spinal anesthetic, paralysis and sudden death!! I cut the appointment short and told him I could not listen to any more as I was already terrified. I am now worried that my op will be postponed because I didn't complete the assessment? What do you think? Did your assessment go well? Lyn xx

[Juleswhee]

Hi , I remember the anaesthetist “chat” being far scarier than the surgeons chat and my husband had gone home by that point ( done the day before surgery) , I think he might have passed out had he heard it all . I don’t think I had to sign another disclaimer with him though .so you should be Ok . Julia xx

[Hidden in reply to Juleswhee]

Hello Julia - Thank you, fingers crossed I am good to go on Wednesday! dreading it but realize I need it done. Lyn xx

[Maus123]

That chat is downright terrifying. You'll get through this, Lyn. xx. Maus

[Hidden in reply to Maus123]

Thank you Maus, hope you are improving daily. Lyn xx

[Manchesterlady]

Hi Lyn, good luck with the operation. The hanging around is the worst xxx

[Hidden in reply to Manchesterlady]

Thank you Lyn xx

[Yoshbosh]

Oh my anesthetist chat was ace! She was brilliant. So much nicer than my surgeon who I disliked immediately.

I’m so sorry you were frightened by what they told you. They just have to make sure you know all the risks. Hope you have been able to calm down today. Just think of all of us who have been through this surgery without having all that bad stuff happen to us!

Vicki x

[Hidden in reply to Yoshbosh]

Hello Vicky Thank you, don't know why I was so emotional on the day of the assessment, I had only found out two days before that I was having the op so all a bit of a whirlwind and too much to take in all at once. I am feeling calmer today, just want it over and done with. Have a great day. Lyn xx

[Neona]

I didn't see an anaethetist before my op - don't think anyone was available so I don't see why it should affect your op. I don't remember anything about the epidural other than sitting on the bed.

[Hidden in reply to Neona]

Thank you Lyn xx

[Nstober]

My sister had an epidural which really helped her and once it came out, all her systems were working. She had a catheter for a few days but when that came out everything moved along so much better for her too. They have to tell you the worst case scenarios. She was under for 8 hours and here we are 3 months later she has hardly any restrictions. Wishing you a successful surgery with a positive outcome. Xoxo nancy

[Hidden in reply to Nstober]

Thank you Lyn xx

[Lily-Anne]

It should still go ahead. One of my operations went ahead even though I missed the assessment appointment. They ended up sending someone to me for bloods and had ecg at GP practice.

The anaesthetist will come and see you on the day too so be prepared for their blunt talking

Good luck

LA

[Hidden in reply to Lily-Anne]

Thank you Lyn xx

[Howick01]

My anaesthetist was lovely!

It was the surgeon who told me about the blood clots but not too worry as they will put my legs into these boots while under!!!!!I think they give you a spinal now as well as it is better for pain control .

I was absolutely petrified before my op but it feels like you were only away for ten minutes and the pain control is so good now there is nothing really to be scared of.

I had never had an op before so had no idea what to expect.

All the best for your op .💐

PS I had never met my surgeon until the night before as I had to travel in order to get my op.

It was all done by videoconference!!!!!!

[Hidden in reply to Howick01]

Thank you Lyn xx

[Howick01 in reply to Hidden]

Forgot to say I had 2 pre assessments -one at my local hospital and then again at the one where I had my op!!!!!!!

[Hidden]

I dread these appointments. They’re so badly planned and take forever and I’m not sure it’s for our benefit always (more the bladder end of things for me, but same principle).

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Lyn xx

[bluepeterella]

The best anaesthetist advice I had was not to worry because I’d be asleep anyway. I was terrified but somehow this reassured me. If you are given the choice I would recommend the epidural as it really helps in the first few days following the op.

[BellmoreBelle]

I didn't get the anaesthetist chat during my pre-op assessment but they did come round to scare me afterwards by declaring that for future surgery I was a risk because of something or other - I was lying in ITU at the time, post-op, so it was just a jumble of frightening terminology for my addled brain. My ITU nurse frowned at them and said, "All they're saying is your head needs to be tilted back a bit further than most because you have a small windpipe." Bless her. They seemed most disappointed.

[SCWI]

My preoperative assessment was horrible too but for different reasons. I remember a disinterested bored nurse filling in the form as if it was a supermarket shopping list and ticking me off already for things she thought I might do and hadn’t done. The bossiest thing was telling me that when I got home I must be out of bed, washed and dressed every day first thing in the morning or else I wouldn’t recover properly. I got all the worst case scenarios too. I then had bloods attempted by the most inept male nurse ever who gave up by attempt six too get a vein. I feel sorry for him when I think back. I was so traumatised by this point I burst into tears to my shame and someone else came to do the bloods. Not a happy memory, and I suspect made worse by fear, but it all went fine on the day thankfully. I only saw the anaesthetist just before the op and he was lovely. We are all in a vulnerable place approaching these big operations but the surgeons are doing them all the time and you will be in good hands. I am sure it will go well for you. 🤗. Sophia x

[Hidden in reply to SCWI]

At my assessment one of the nurses was leaving so there was much signing of cards wrapping of presents and a little tea party with sandwiches and cake going on in one of the rooms, I was one of only 4 patients and they couldn't be less interested in any of us, I asked one of the nurses why seeing the anaesthetist was taking so long, oh she said this one talks a lot! I think the whole department needs a good kick up the A**E - Pronto!!

[Cropcrop]

You’ll be fine, they really do understand our fears, the anaesthetist talk is far more scary than the surgeons, he has to cover so many aspects of our care while we’re ‘under the knife’. He has to have this chat so you’re fully aware and it makes the time in the anaesthetic room easier as you know what’s happening and why. Don’t worry, your surgery will still happen.

Good luck lovely, you’ll be fine I’m sure ❤️Xx Jane

[bamboo89]

Well I'm gobsmacked - the only person I saw prior to my surgery was the surgeon, who was the one who told me it was definitely cancer, and he'd have me in 10 days later for the surgery, and then a brief pre assessment 2 days later with a nurse. I do remember asking what happened if I didn't have the surgery, and he said 'you'll die', then me saying well I might die from the surgery, with my co morbidities, and him agreeing that was true, but they'd manage me properly. But I figured dying while having surgery was okay anyway, marginally preferable to dying from ovarian cancer. I was concerned about the possibility of a stoma, and we did discuss that at relative length. I had to see the Macmillan nurse immediately afterwards, and then I had the surgery done 10 days later - briefly met the anaesthetist on surgery day as he inserted the cannula in my arm and I was out and under...

Frankly, from what you describe, I'm jolly glad I didn't have a pre assessment appointment with the anaesthetist... you're terrified enough, never mind getting a graphic description of all the ghastly possibilities. Plus all that interminable hanging about waiting - even on the day I first saw the surgeon. I have no patience with all that, I can cope for maybe an hour, then I'm straining at the leash to get the hell out of dodge... Looking back, I seem to have spent hours and hours since January waiting in various hospital corridors and rooms... I'm guessing we all have. I guess that's why we're called 'patients', although there's nothing patient about me if I have to wait too long...

[CJR99]

Hi Lyn,

I’m so sorry you’ve had to go through this experience, it’s a real shame.

All the waiting around must have been awful.I had my pre-op 10th August and the nurse was confused as she had me down for a total hysterectomy, which would have been interesting seeing as I’ve barely lady part left!She also had my height out by 3cm and when you’re little like me those measurements matter!Apart from that it was very thorough indeed.The RVI in Newcastle is amazing!

I had an op on Monday and waited from 07.30 until 4pm to go down but,nurses were fab and hopefully the results will be positive.

Wishing you a much better experience for the op,I bet they take good care of you,as you deserve.

Best wishes,Clare xx

[Seasun36-uk]

Hi Lyn,

I sympathise. My appointment was long, saw too many people, at least 5, some good, some not so. We are very vulnerable at those appointments. My ‘worst’ person was the stoma nurse, telling me I might have to eat a ‘white’ diet! I never had a stoma. Not sure all these bits of info are necessary or helpful....but I think it is a tick box exercise to some extent, as if to say, “Well she was told....” but really....are we going to retain it?!

I only met the anaesthetist on the morning of the Op - so what you were told was TMI! (How would they like it?!).

Just take each small step at a time. You will be in good hands - even if the ‘bedside manners’ could be improved!

Rooting for you,

Linda xoxo 🌻🌻