Pre Op visit

[loris]

I just got a call today to schedule my pre op visit. Okay now I am really getting nervous. I have been waiting for this surgery for almost three months now,and now I am realizing that this is really going to happen in just three weeks. What should I expect at this visit?

[kt2009]

I had quite a few preop visits...my internist, my orthopedic doctor, the general surgeon who did the approach and my cardiologist. I found that I really needed to write down any questions I had because I would get very overwhelmed and forget what to say.
After all that, I really only needed preop bloodwork. Good luck with everything! You will do great!

[debbei]

I just got a call today to schedule my pre op visit. Okay now I am really getting nervous. I have been waiting for this surgery for almost three months now,and now I am realizing that this is really going to happen in just three weeks. What should I expect at this visit?

From what I recall, it was like a regular physical--bloodwork, EKG, and a general 'once-over' to make sure you're healthy for surgery. I already had my xrays 4 months earlier, so they didn't repeat those. Prior to the preop visit, I had a MRI done that the Dr. looked at as well. It's not that it was a bad visit, it just REALLY drives it home that this is for real.

You'll be fine and it will be all over before you know it.

Good luck,

[Doodles]

It does make it all seem real now doesn't it? I remember feeling the same. Mine was about a month and a half before in Feb. and I had been waiting since Sept. appt. I had new x-rays--it had changed more--and I can't even remember what tests were left. A lot of it was with his nurse who also followed progress every day in the hospital. We were often in communication with her before and since surgery. She was wonderful. I tried to keep myself really busy with ALL the stuff I had to do because I couldn't do it after surgery. I managed to do that pretty well--mostly continuing lots of exercise which really did pay off. Most p.t. people, doctors, etc. were all pretty amazed at my progress for having so much done.
It will happen and you will be glad to be on the other side. It's just getting there, I know! Good luck! Janet

[Shari]

Hi Loris,

I also had several pro-op visits, MRI, EKG, blood work, Xrays, etc.

On my final pro-op when the Doc told me I was going to have ant. and post., that's the last thing I remember. Take someone with you to listen for you, and I had written down questions for that person to ask, just in case I suddenly became speechless.

Once I got home and got over the shock and awe of it all, shed some tears, then got down to reading the information. They also gave me pamphlets about the surgeries that I was about to have. Then I called his nurse asked about a half hour of questions. Once it sank in, I had a strange calm.

Good Luck to you, all my best,
Shari

[JenniferG]

Strangely enough, I didn't have a pre-op visit. I was booked into the hospital the afternoon before surgery so I expected it to happen then. But all that happened was the surgeon's assistant came to talk to me. I still think it was odd that they didn't even do a blood test. My x-rays from my one and only surgeon's appt were 9 months old. They re-did them on the table.

[Vali]

Hi Loris,
I had my pre-op with a General Physician, just to make sure i was o.k. to undergo 6 hours of surgery ( i was worried about long anaesthesia and the fact that i only gave up smoking three month before surgery). At this appt,
he checked me physically, checked my recent x-rays, asked me about past surgeries, then had some bloods done. All this information was then passed on to my GP, my surgeon, my anaesthetist and my admitting hospital.
On the week before surgery, i had pre-op done at the hospital. The hospital where i went, does this for all spinal fusion patients, however, due to the extent of the pre-op assessment done, there was not much to do except for another ECG. The nurse also explained how i would be card for by the nursing staff after the surgery and the role of the physiotherapist. Hope this helps.