Pre-Op Experiences
"Do you live with anyone that hits you?"
"Where do you go for emotional support?"
Am I alone in this, or do you think these are odd questions to be asked during pre-op testing???? I mean, what the heck do they have to do with a toe operation????
The surgery is expected to last ONE hour. Pre-op took THREE! This doesn't seem right to me.
First I did the paper work thing. Why I ask you, do they require a picture I.D.? Are there actually people out there sneaking in to have surgery????
Next I was directed to another wing of the hospital where two ladies took medical information. One lady did most of the questioning. (This is no joke) . . . She asked me THREE times how tall I was. Each time I replied 5'3. Finally the third time she asked me, her co-worker asked her, "Do you think she has grown since she got here?" These are the same ladies that asked me the first two questions in this blog. They also asked me if I had any religious requests????? I said no, but now I'm thinking I should have told them I'd like to live.
From there I went to ANOTHER wing in the hospital for Physical Therapy. I was confused when they told me to go there and I was surprised when I found out why. They gave me crutch training! I do not intend to need crutches. However they may come in handy for getting Jeff's attention. After the lesson on walking on a flat surface she asked if I would need to be taught how to use crutches up and down steps. I told her that wouldn't be necessary, because I was not going to take a chance on being taken back to the hospital with a broken neck.
The next place to go was the "Pee in a cup" room. Well, I knew this was coming, so I'd been "holding it" for a LONG time. I wanted to make sure I could perform when the time came, so I didn't want to waste any. A man marched into the waiting room and asked, "Mrs. Dicken are you ready to give me a specimen?" I replied, "I've been DYING to".
From there I went to the lab for blood work. The technician asked if I had a preference as to which arm he used. I told him he could pick. He picked the left. After several attempts to find a vein, then giving up and going to the right arm, he told me that if I'm ever given a choice again, I should insist on the right arm because, "I don't know what's up with your left arm. I couldn't find anything".
From there I was sent to the basement - at least it looked like a basement - for x-rays. The technician there looked at my paper work and asked, "Are you pregnant?" My response, "I HOPE NOT!" He said, "Well, your paperwork says you have an order for a pregnancy test." I told him that I thought they automatically do those when you're a woman and you're getting ready to have surgery." His reply? "Oh". Now let me ask you this. Shouldn't the guy doing the x-rays KNOW this?
FINALLY I was dismissed.
TODAY I had a message on our machine from the hospital. They wanted me to call so they could pre-register me. (I thought we went through all that on Monday). Well, I called. I answered all the same questions I had on Monday. She reminded me to bring my insurance card and photo i.d., so they could make copies. What, I want to know, did they do with the copies they made on Monday?
I've also read the book they sent home with me. One part seemed a little unsettling. It said that at one point, probably after I've already been knocked out, that the doctors and nurses will take a "time out" and discuss the procedure they are about to perform. They will check my name and make sure they have all the proper info. Okay - I think I'd feel more secure if they discussed this while I'm still awake. Jeff says we are going to put post-its on each of my feet that say, "Hi. My name is Tammy. Today you are to operate on my little toes".
I TRULY am not overly concerned with this upcoming procedure. I've had much more complicated surgeries before. I'm a pretty brave person, but sometimes I do get a bit unnerved by OTHER people's actions. Last night Jeff asked me, "Now I just want to be clear. Do you or do you not want to be unplugged?" Well, that kind of creeped me out. Then today, my principal told me that he and the assistant principal want to take me to lunch tomorrow.
Having come from a non-demonstrative family, I'm telling you this. If my mom hugs me before surgery - I'm cancelling it!
"Where do you go for emotional support?"
Am I alone in this, or do you think these are odd questions to be asked during pre-op testing???? I mean, what the heck do they have to do with a toe operation????
The surgery is expected to last ONE hour. Pre-op took THREE! This doesn't seem right to me.
First I did the paper work thing. Why I ask you, do they require a picture I.D.? Are there actually people out there sneaking in to have surgery????
Next I was directed to another wing of the hospital where two ladies took medical information. One lady did most of the questioning. (This is no joke) . . . She asked me THREE times how tall I was. Each time I replied 5'3. Finally the third time she asked me, her co-worker asked her, "Do you think she has grown since she got here?" These are the same ladies that asked me the first two questions in this blog. They also asked me if I had any religious requests????? I said no, but now I'm thinking I should have told them I'd like to live.
From there I went to ANOTHER wing in the hospital for Physical Therapy. I was confused when they told me to go there and I was surprised when I found out why. They gave me crutch training! I do not intend to need crutches. However they may come in handy for getting Jeff's attention. After the lesson on walking on a flat surface she asked if I would need to be taught how to use crutches up and down steps. I told her that wouldn't be necessary, because I was not going to take a chance on being taken back to the hospital with a broken neck.
The next place to go was the "Pee in a cup" room. Well, I knew this was coming, so I'd been "holding it" for a LONG time. I wanted to make sure I could perform when the time came, so I didn't want to waste any. A man marched into the waiting room and asked, "Mrs. Dicken are you ready to give me a specimen?" I replied, "I've been DYING to".
From there I went to the lab for blood work. The technician asked if I had a preference as to which arm he used. I told him he could pick. He picked the left. After several attempts to find a vein, then giving up and going to the right arm, he told me that if I'm ever given a choice again, I should insist on the right arm because, "I don't know what's up with your left arm. I couldn't find anything".
From there I was sent to the basement - at least it looked like a basement - for x-rays. The technician there looked at my paper work and asked, "Are you pregnant?" My response, "I HOPE NOT!" He said, "Well, your paperwork says you have an order for a pregnancy test." I told him that I thought they automatically do those when you're a woman and you're getting ready to have surgery." His reply? "Oh". Now let me ask you this. Shouldn't the guy doing the x-rays KNOW this?
FINALLY I was dismissed.
TODAY I had a message on our machine from the hospital. They wanted me to call so they could pre-register me. (I thought we went through all that on Monday). Well, I called. I answered all the same questions I had on Monday. She reminded me to bring my insurance card and photo i.d., so they could make copies. What, I want to know, did they do with the copies they made on Monday?
I've also read the book they sent home with me. One part seemed a little unsettling. It said that at one point, probably after I've already been knocked out, that the doctors and nurses will take a "time out" and discuss the procedure they are about to perform. They will check my name and make sure they have all the proper info. Okay - I think I'd feel more secure if they discussed this while I'm still awake. Jeff says we are going to put post-its on each of my feet that say, "Hi. My name is Tammy. Today you are to operate on my little toes".
I TRULY am not overly concerned with this upcoming procedure. I've had much more complicated surgeries before. I'm a pretty brave person, but sometimes I do get a bit unnerved by OTHER people's actions. Last night Jeff asked me, "Now I just want to be clear. Do you or do you not want to be unplugged?" Well, that kind of creeped me out. Then today, my principal told me that he and the assistant principal want to take me to lunch tomorrow.
Having come from a non-demonstrative family, I'm telling you this. If my mom hugs me before surgery - I'm cancelling it!
posted by SMSSecretary at 9:14 PM
1 Comments:
Holy cow!! Sounds like a nightmare! The post it notes might be a good idea though...it could save your gall bladder from being removed by mistake! :) Good luck with the surgery!
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