Op date looming for pituitary tumour

[Loo44]

18th October at Kings, and I'm petrified. Never had an op before, scared of hospitals (dumb, I know) and absolutely dreading my brain op. I so want it to be over and done with and me back home! Will be having transsphenoidal surgery - through the nose to reach the brain - and am told 7 day stay in hospital!!!! Starting to get really anxious now - I'm scared!

[susymac]

Its not dumb to be sacred of hospitals. The press have been scaring people for the last few years with horror stories, stand to reason people are getting scared.

Firstly, remember far more people have positive outcomes from hospitals than negative ones!

Secondly, try not to dwell on how they are going to do the procedure, you wont be aware of what they are doing, it will be over and done with in no time at all, and a week in hospital really isnt that long and you'll be home again before you know it.

Wishing you a speedy recovery and hugs xx

[Loo44 in reply to susymac]

Thanks hon xx

[tegz]

I think you have to be very brave to face this and many people here will share your progress and wish you well.

I'm sure you're in capable hands and we're all rooting for you on your new journey.

[Loo44 in reply to tegz]

Thank you xx

[shaws Administrator]

Your experience, I am sure, will help others who have to have the same procedure. It is always reassuring to know someone has been in the same position as yourself.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

[Loo44 in reply to shaws]

Thank you xx

[Hidden]

I understand how you feel. I've had many ops and am no longer worried about anaethetics. Before your op the anaesthetist (who all seem lovely people) will come and visit you before your op to reassue you and maybe discuss pain relief too. Pain relief is the biggest part of any op. There are so many cocktails you can have when you're put to sleep. Obviously you don't have any experience to refer to, but if you tend to be one of those people who get nauseous easily tell the amaesthetist. He can give you something that can prevent that. The putting to sleep bit is easy. No mask, you'll have a canula in and its just an injection, you will immediately feel warm and woosy and i don't think i have ever got to number 4 before i'm out for.the count. When you're in recovery you will usually have a couple of nurses talking to you to wake you up properly. It's important to tell them if you feel sick or in pain. You can get immediate injections for either of these. Keep on top of any pain, don't be brave and try and tough it out. Keep your fluids up. You often can't eat after a general anaesthetic but this will pass. Get your frienfs and family to bring in fruit and healthy snacks. Hospital food seems to be devoid of any fibre! When you get discharged you should get some aftercare advice on a sheet of paper. You will also get a letter for your GP explaining what you have had done, this needs to be delivered asap. You normally get some pain meds too. Don't try to be superperson it's a big mistake. Take it easy, eat healthily to promote healing.

While you're waiting for your op get some resue remedy from tbe chemist, it's that Bachs flower stuff and chill!

[Loo44 in reply to Hidden]

Wow thanks for that really helpful detailed reply. I'm a little easier knowing once I'm asleep, and that will happen quickly, I won't know anything about it. Will see how far I can count down lol. Will certainly ask for pain relief if needed and will tell the anesthetist that I'm a sicky person so they can deal with that immediately. Will keep you posted and thanks for your great advice, Laura xx

[Hidden in reply to Loo44]

That's not a problem Laura! I've had 11 ops now and going to theatre doesn't bother me. I joke to the staff that it's the only time i relax and sleep lol!

The anaesthetist can give you an anti sickness drug during putting you to sleep so you must shout up when he/she comes to see you on the ward. If you still feel yukky after you can have an injection into your leg in recovery.

I had a benign lump removed from my naso pharynx and the ent doc had to go up my nose to get it out. I did find this op, because of the position your head probably has to be in did give me more neck ache and a sore throat for a few days. Again if you have any neck problems shout up beforehand.

Please let me know how it goes. Hugs. Xxx

[PinkNinja]

I'm not surprised you are scared Listen to Helcaster who clearly has more experience than most of us with operations. Hopefully the op will help to resolve your health problems.

Huge hugs to you. Wishing you all the very best for your op.

Carolyn xxx

[Loo44 in reply to PinkNinja]

Xx

[Hidden]

I am not trying to terrify, just redress the balance against the "No problem, ever" reports on here, as it hasn't been my experience!

I have to say, this is NOT a usual situation, I don't know ANYONE else personally who has had the sort of problems I have, including family members, so it most probably won't happen to any of you.

I am i this sort of situation now too - I have got a pre-anaesthetic assessment next Friday (18th) although don't actually know the date for my Urology op (the week after I am told, it's urgent) and with my multiple medications I am much more than MORTIFIED at the potential problems with them.... Cytochrome P450 interactions with drugs are one of the biggest fears, as I have had plenty of problems (mild to severe) before - most Doctors know almost ZILCH about them, and anaesthetics in particular have MANY interactions. To reduce this potential, some drugs I can stop in plenty of time, but some I just can't. Not looking forward to the discussions, as I won't get taken very seriously, no-one else takes this type of thing seriously either unless it's one of the well-known dramatic and common interactions!

This page anaesthetist.com/physiol/ba... has some interesting information on these interactions... well worth checking out with the drugs you take - but it's only basic with more common ones... so not all your drugs might get a mention, and of course it's hard to know what anaesthetic they will ACTUALLY use on the day as opposed to those intended -

Been anaesthetised 3 times before, that was over a period of a few weeks. For me: total nightmare is putting it mildly, Myoclonus (jerking) and nightmares began immediately and went on for YEARS after, initially several times a day (worst at night) gradually reducing, by 7 years later it was reduced to just once or twice every few months (also had some similar problem from other less potent drugs more recently) so if not for the fact it is a "take it or die of kidney failure" option, I wouldn't be taking it! Whether this problem was due to the anaesthetic, the muscle relaxant, or a result of low oxygen at some point remains guesswork, as these all can cause this. Never taken seriously about this either.

As I say, it probably won't happen, but what is more a possibility,especially with day-surgery and which disturbed me was a different aspect of the process when a close friend of mine had laparoscopic gall bladder removal just about 18 months ago... he was 27 and otherwise very fit and well at the time and his recovery from anaesthesia took well over 8 hours to when he was discharged (day surgery) all other patients (including those who had later surgery) had long gone, but he was just not recovering and still as "drunk" as would have had him arrested for "drunk and incapable" if he had been in town on a Saturday night! I had quite a job getting him in the car. At no point did his care and discharge involve ANY Doctor - all done by nurses. Doesn't inspire me, this "cattle-truck" NHS

[colour]

hello, I am new to this site and I am from the Netherlands. 36 years ago they found me also a pituitary tumor. The operation is peanuts, the time after that is more difficult, where new balances have to be found in all your different hormones housekeeping. But in the end it is no problem to work and/or live, as soon as you found your balance again with all the medicines, it took me around 2 to 3 years. But after 1 year I felt much better already. good luck!

[Hidden]

Lou44, just to reassure you. I am a nurse, I am great looking after patients who have had operations, I am or was a total coward when it came to ME having an operation and it is like Helcaster says, when you have had an op then it will hopefully reassure you because you will know what is happening if you ever have to have one again. Mine started with having both hips replaced and I had this done under an Epidural as I was so scared of Anaesthetics having a heart problem and lung problems I was imagining all sorts of things that could go wrong. The Surgeon didn't want me to have an Epidural because I came across as such a nervous wreck that they thought that I was going to jump off the table while it was being done! I had it done and it was so painless that I didn't know that they had done it. The next operation I had was on my Larynx (voice box). No getting out of it this time I had to have the dreaded Anaesthetic. I had a wonderful Anaesthetist, I told him "no pre meds" I don't like to feel "out of it". An op on my Larynx was so scary I can tell you that I was a lump of jelly when I went into the Pre Op room but I needn't have worried, nor should you do. They put a little Venflon (butterfly needle) in your arm and then will inject a little salt water (saline) and then perhaps a little sedative and then the Anaesthetic. That's it, you won't remember anything else. I remember talking to the anaesthetist and then waking up..... no side effects or pain or anything. Try not to worry, Kings is one of the best Hospitals you can be in, they will take great care of you. You will be fine. xxx

[Granitecitygirl]

Good luck when the op comes! You will be fine, positive mental attitude My dad had his removed in the 1970's and they didn't go up through the nose back in those days, so they have really come on leaps and bounds! It is afterwards when you will have to make sure your Endo monitors your hormone levels and ensures if they need topped up, to top them up. This will need lifelong monitoring and was where my dad was let down by the doctors.

[Gsp177]

Does anyone know how Loo44 op went?

[Loo44 in reply to Gsp177]

Have posted an update xx