Anaesthetics and Pred

[maria40]

Consultant was unable to complete a hysteroscopy this morning as he and I agreed it was causing too much pain. I'm now to have it done under general anaesthetic and wonder about taking pred. on that day. I've read back over some posts but am not clear whether one takes one's own medication into hospital or quite what happens in discussion with the anaesthetist. Advice would be appreciated as I'm feeling a bit nervous.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Depends on the hospital - and they can be very hit or miss with timing if you are an in-patient. Usually you can take medication in the morning with a minimum of water and that is fine if the procedure is later in the day but the easy answer for a morning procedure is to take it before bed.

[maria40 in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks so much. I'll be prepared

[piglette]

I have always take my medicine into hospital and they lock it up in a little cupboard in the ward.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to piglette]

I get to keep mine in my bedside cabinet - the pharmacy doesn't stock my sort of pred!!!

[piglette in reply to PMRpro]

I have always been told I must hand mine in and they keep it in my personal locked cupboard.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to piglette]

I was amazed here - but quite grateful!

[Constance13 in reply to PMRpro]

Our hospitals don't allow patients to take their own medicines in (they say they would have no control of what you took) - as if you couldn't hide them somewhere!?! Often get different tablets, chuck them and use my own. Such a waste!

[HeronNS in reply to Constance13]

That's absurd. What about the continuity of your meds??? It only makes sense if your precedure requires there be some adjustment.

[Constance13 in reply to HeronNS]

Tell me about it! They also don't have half the tablets. For Cocodamol they give me Paracetamol (which doesn't touch the pain) and they don't have Lodotra so they give me normal Prednisolone.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Constance13]

Which is why I'm told to take mine with me. Sometimes they take the pack but not always. Probably depends how well they know me I suppose

[HeronNS in reply to Constance13]

I suddenly have a picture in my mind (must watch too many doctor shows) of a bunch of patients in a hospital organizing their own undercover medicine supply, and all the shenanigans which result.

[SheffieldJane]

What an ordeal! I’d rather be asleep. See if you can contact the doctor/ anaesthetist doing the procedure, ahead of time and get their preference.

[maria40]

Just to add the consultant was lovely and said he wasn't trained to be a torturer.

[Helipad]

I had to have a hysteroscopy recently and unfortunately the doctor performing mine really didn’t care about the excruciating pain he caused. It was one of the worst experiences ever. I’m so pleased to hear that your consultant acknowledged the pain it was causing.

[maria40 in reply to Helipad]

I'm so sorry you had to endure the dreadful pain: I'm grateful that I experienced sympathy and kindness from the whole team.

[S4ndy]

I've always kept my drugs with me. Hospitals are hit and miss with their timings. I just take my own and keep the ones they give me for later. Nothing worse than being in agony and wanting your meds only to find everyone on handover/break/busy with all the routines. Depending on the nurse in charge I may tell them or not. Some are ok with it others are not. Clearly if there's new or replacement drugs I take them eg. Antibiotics etc. I am stubborn moo and not afraid to argue my case

[Karenjaninaz]

The standard when I was giving anesthetics was to give a steroid IV to cover the stress of a surgery. This was usually done in the prep room. Its a good idea to remind the staff though.

[hurryupharry]

I had an op with general 3 weeks ago. I declared that I take pred and amlodipine during pre op assessment. They advised to take before 6am on day of admission/op. The anaesthetist knew about pmr and pred he advised to double the pred dose on the day after as he said that the op would be a shock to my system. I took my own medicine with me, however the hospital supplied it from their pharmacy. If you have a pre op assessment, it is a good time to ask. If not take yours with you.

[maria40 in reply to hurryupharry]

Thank you that's very helpful. Hope you're recovering well.