The Old Folks Home

[ronott1]

I was told today that I will not get stitches or staples after surgery.
I told her I was worried, since I have COPD and I am a smoker.
She told me they would give me a pillow.
That's what they did to me when I had my appendix out. And I got a hernia
that I could not get fixed for nearly 15 years!

Hopefully they will use staples. They are stronger

 

[getaclue]

I was told today that I will not get stitches or staples after surgery.
I told her I was worried, since I have COPD and I am a smoker.
She told me they would give me a pillow.
That's what they did to me when I had my appendix out. And I got a hernia
that I could not get fixed for nearly 15 years!

chicka, ask them about using steri-strips. They're expensive, so some doctors hesitate to use them, especially if insurance doesn't cover them.

 

[chickadoodles]

Hopefully they will use staples. They are stronger

The woman told me they are not going to use staples or stitches! Only a bandage for a few days. What the heck are they thinking?

 

[chickadoodles]

chicka, ask them about using steri-strips. They're expensive, so some doctors hesitate to use them, especially if insurance doesn't cover them.

I will thanks. She said I will have some kind of bandage with suction on it for a few days. Then I am to take that off. I asked her what I was supposed to do when I cough. She said they will give me a pillow! Geeze

 

[getaclue]

Ron, she already said they won't use staples, or stitches. If she coughs hard, they will rip the skin, and tear out. Steri-strips are a very strong adhesive, have a little more give to them, and will help prevent herniation.

 

[getaclue]

I know what they're using. They use more of a dry packing, and a tube with low suction to remove any drainage fluid.

 

[CapricornFarm]

I was told today that I will not get stitches or staples after surgery.
I told her I was worried, since I have COPD and I am a smoker.
She told me they would give me a pillow.
That's what they did to me when I had my appendix out. And I got a hernia
that I could not get fixed for nearly 15 years!

My husband had three hernia surgeries!

 

[microchick]

I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around that, Chicka. Of course thoracic surgery is changing by leaps and bounds so I'd have to do some reading up on it.

Are they doing an invasive procedure? Meaning are they going to be cutting through your sternum? Or are they accessing through an artery through your groin?

You will be talking to your anesthesiologist before the procedures also. Make a list of questions for them and for the surgeon when you talk to him again. Do you have access to the surgeons nurse? If you do, call her. Trust me, she won't mind talking to you and answering your questions. It's part of her job and no, there are no silly questions.

I had my gall bladder and appendix out in 1986. I know all about the pillow stuff. Yeah, right. They talked it up in nurses training. Ain't worth carp. It hurts when you cough and the pillow just gives you something to hang onto until the burning agony eases up enough that you can breathe and stop crying.

Plus they will have pain meds on board. Possibly an IV with a trigger morphine drip for you to use?

Make a list of anything and everything that you can think of to ask them and keep it with you. This is your body, and your right to know.

 

[CapricornFarm]

I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around that, Chicka. Of course thoracic surgery is changing by leaps and bounds so I'd have to do some reading up on it.

Are they doing an invasive procedure? Meaning are they going to be cutting through your sternum? Or are they accessing through an artery through your groin?

You will be talking to your anesthesiologist before the procedures also. Make a list of questions for them and for the surgeon when you talk to him again. Do you have access to the surgeons nurse? If you do, call her. Trust me, she won't mind talking to you and answering your questions. It's part of her job and no, there are no silly questions.

I had my gall bladder and appendix out in 1986. I know all about the pillow stuff. Yeah, right. They talked it up in nurses training. Ain't worth carp. It hurts when you cough and the pillow just gives you something to hang onto until the burning agony eases up enough that you can breathe and stop crying.

Plus they will have pain meds on board. Possibly an IV with a trigger morphine drip for you to use?

Make a list of anything and everything that you can think of to ask them and keep it with you. This is your body, and your right to know.

I found the pillow better than not using it.

 

[pennyJo1960]

This is Moose and best friend my cat Rocky a siamese mountain lion mix