Worry about husband's operation

[cakemaker]

My husband (T2) and 64yrs. has to have an operation at the end of this month. He sees the anaethetist next week to discuss meds etc. This will be a 4th op for a hernia; 2 umbilical in the past and this will be a 2nd groin hernia.
As well as T2 he has slightly high blood pressure and cholesterol which is controlled by medication and diet. He is also quite a bit overweight.
In the past he has reacted badly to the anaethetic so we are both a bit concerned but the surgeon is aware and doesn't seem concerned so we feel we are worrying about nothing.
My husband said to me the other day; "other Diabetics must have had ops and were probably fine so I should be ok." I told him to come on this site and discuss his worries but as usual he told me to do it.
He really annoys me, he takes his meds regularly but in all other matters to do with Diabetes he seems to ignore them and doesn't discuss them. The only time he mentions it is when we argue and he 'deals the Diabetes card'; that is; he holds his head in his hand and whines that I mustn't upset him as he has Diabetes.
Anyway, what I'm asking is, what are any of your experiences of operations and anaesthetic? My husband talked about asking for an epidural. Has ayone else had this and is it any better?

 

[Northerner]

Sorry to hear your husband needs an op I haven't had a general but when I broke my femur they gave me an epidural. It was a bit uncomfortable when they gave it to me as I had to sit up and lean forward and this put extra pressure on my broken leg. However, as I was laid back down and wondering when it might take effect I looked up and realised they were holding my leg aloft and examining it! So it too effect pretty quickly and was very effective. Once I realised it was OK I wanted to just lie back and watch what I could of the operation, but I fell asleep after about 10 minutes and slept through the whole thing (about 4 hours). I was extremely tired though, having run 23 miles of a marathon the previous afternoon (before the leg broke!), hardly slept, and the op was at 11pm.

I imagine lots of pregnant ladies have had epidurals also, without problems.

Hope all goes well 🙂

 

[Caroline]

It is quite normal to worry about these things. The fact the surgeon is not worried is a good sign and has all the medicl records.

Other people with the same medical problems have operations all the time and a lot of imprivements have happened in modern medicine.

I'm sure it will all go well but good luck anyway.

 

[AJLang]

Hi Cakemaker

Sorry to hear about this. I've had several operations and apart from shivering after one of them they were fine. That's with Type 1 diabetes and the added complication of gastroparesis which means that my tummy may not be fully empty even after 12 plus hours of fasting so they have to put a special tube down me. Does your husband's medication cause hypos?

 

[Northerner]

I should add that my op was before I was diagnosed.

 

[Caroline]

I imagine lots of pregnant ladies have had epidurals also, with no problems

I had an epidural, it was quite a weird sensation, but with quite a large baby bump I was laid on my side for it.

 

[LeeLee]

The epidural sounds like a good idea, with far fewer potential complications. They often also give a mild sedative such as midazolam, which causes complete amnesia from the moment the injection goes in until after the op. I can vouch for that effect - I have no memory of swallowing the gastroscope when I had my indigestion investigated!

 

[cakemaker]

Hi Cakemaker

Does your husband's medication cause hypos?

I'm not sure if the meds cause hypos but his Metformin was incresed a month ago and I've noticed he doesn't get so many 'night sweats'. He used to wake up some nights two or three times dripping wet. He has only had a couple of night sweats in the last month so don't know if it is the Meds.
He felt unwell for the first couple of weeks but now seems to have settled down. In fact, he seems a lot better and much nicer. He doesn't seem to be having so many headaches either.

Thanks for all the replies.
Just spoken to hubby and he says that he will definitely talk to the anaethetist about an epidural. He is only in for the day so it may be better.

 

[Caroline]

Thanks for all the replies.
Just spoken to hubby and he says that he will definitely talk to the anaethetist about an epidural. He is only in for the day so it may be better.

In that case it wont be as that big an operation, although serious enough. Many procedures these days are done with key hole surgery, although not sure how this would relate to a hernia. Key hole surgery is less invasive and heals more quickly.

 

[cakemaker]

In that case it wont be as that big an operation, although serious enough. Many procedures these days are done with key hole surgery, although not sure how this would relate to a hernia. Key hole surgery is less invasive and heals more quickly.

Years ago he had key hole surgery for an umbilical hernia. About 5 yrs later he had to have it done again but this time with mesh and he was in hospital for 10 days and has a 10inch scar. The 3rd time was a groin hernia so the surgeon also did that with mesh and my husband was in for 3 days and has a 6inch scar. The surgeon said he would be doing this other groin hernia with mesh so I don't see how he can do it with key hole but if he has to cut again I don't see how he'll be out the same day. My husband was only in his consultancy room for 2 minutes, they came out talking more about football than the op!
I didn't go in to see the surgeon with my husband so didn't get to ask any questions; anyway you never remember all what you want to ask until after.
We're quite confident in the surgeon's ability; he has performed two of the ops so far but I don't like the idea of him coming home the same day. I am assuming though that if the hospital is concerened they will keep him in overnight. Although if they do so now I'll be even more worried.

 

[Caroline]

As you have confidence in the surgeon that is a good sign. I think a lot of it depends how much work needs to be done.

 

[trophywench]

When you say he reacts badly, how do you mean?

I for instance, throw up unremittingly for at least several days thereafter, longest was a week after an op (straightforward hysterectomy) that should have taken about 90 mins and was nearer 3 hours (well, nobody knew I had endometriosis until she got in there - so it wasn't anyone's fault)

When I was sterilised by keyhole, threw up for 3 days. When I had a D&C, I was 100% fine from immediately after the op, because they agreed not to give me the stuff that dries all your bodily juices up, it being such a small op.

Personally I'd rather make sure asap that I trust the anaesthetist - whatever sort of anaesthetic it is. Not only do they put you to sleep, they are also responsible for making sure you wake up again after!

Always be nice to your anaesthetist !

 

[cakemaker]

When you say he reacts badly, how do you mean?




I for instance, throw up unremittingly for at least several days thereafter, longest was a week after an op (straightforward hysterectomy) that should have taken about 90 mins and was nearer 3 hours (well, nobody knew I had endometriosis until she got in there - so it wasn't anyone's fault)

When I was sterilised by keyhole, threw up for 3 days. When I had a D&C, I was 100% fine from immediately after the op, because they agreed not to give me the stuff that dries all your bodily juices up, it being such a small op.

Personally I'd rather make sure asap that I trust the anaesthetist - whatever sort of anaesthetic it is. Not only do they put you to sleep, they are also responsible for making sure you wake up again after!

Always be nice to your anaesthetist !

When he had his last op about 8yrs ago he was first down and last back. He went down at 8am and wasn't back until after 5pm. I thought that he'd be back by lunchtime. Everyone else was being wheeled back and I was beginning to get a bit worried. They said he wasn't coming round properly and they were concerned so they kept him in recovery a bit longer. He was wired up to heart monitors, he looked terrible and this was long before he was diagnosed with Diabetes.They kept him monitored all night and checked him frequently. He also felt very sick after.

As for the Aneathetist.... I hope he doesn't get the one I had. He was a PIG.
The Consultant Anaethetist is lovely and last time my husband had him but I was unfortunate enough to get his colleague when I had my hip replacement.
The nurses were unable to find a vein in my arm so they tried the other arm and found one but it was really hurting and felt like it was ripping out of my arm. I bent my arm slightly to relieve the pain but the Aneathetist pulled my arm and held it down straight on a table next to the trolley. This by the way was all happening in a French hospital where nurses are not particularly caring. I told him (in French) that he was hurting me but he just put his hairy face near mine and said that it wasn't. By then I was getting angry and told him it was 'fu..ing' hurting which the nurses then started to laugh and repeated this.
Thankfully I was put out soon after but when I was back in recovery I felt the worst pain I've ever had. My hip was on fire and was being stabbed by thousands of evil beings. I was crying and in agony. The aneathetist came over and again put his big hairy face next to mine and asked in a right irritated manner why was I crying. I told him in that I was in pain but again he told me I wasn't. After what seemed ages he finally gave me something. Having your leg sliced opened, bone sawn off, an 8 inch spike hammered down the femur and a socket rivetted onto your pelvis is not much fun so to have some hairy little sh-t take the mickey made my blood boil.
I don't normally make much fuss, I'm quite tough and don't allow pain to stop me doing things. I have to have my other hip replaced in the forseeable future but if it's the same Anaethetist I'll walk out.
At least in France you can choose which hospital, clinic, surgeon etc. you go to.

 

[trophywench]

Oh ! - round here they do hip replacements with an epidural !

Daughter's MIL just had one done said it was weird - but very OK !

 

[cakemaker]

Oh ! - round here they do hip replacements with an epidural !

Daughter's MIL just had one done said it was weird - but very OK !

Next time I'll have an epidural.

 

[cakemaker]

Next time I'll have an epidural.

My husband had his hernia op yesterday and was out the same day. He had an epidural after discussion with the anaethetist. He said it was strange but said if he had to have another op then he'd have an epidural again. He didn't like it but much preferred it to the general anaesthetic. He certainly looked a lot better than previous times.

We didn't get much sleep last night, he was in a lot of pain. Lots of pain again today, swelling and a slightly high temperature 38deg. He's just settled for the night so hopefully he'll sleep. The nurse is coming for the next 10days to give him an anti-coagulant injection.

I think he should have been kept in for at least 1 night. To come home the same day seems a bit uncaring. After the op he wasn't even helped from the trolley to the bed. The porter told him to slide across which was painful and difficult. I was ready to take him back tonight as he was in so much pain and was only given paracetamol. I think that he needed something stronger.

Anyway, he's settled now so hopefully he'll be a lot better tomorrow.

 

[Copepod]

If paracetamol doesn't stop his pain, then he does need something stronger. Paracetamol also reduces body temperature when you have a fever / infection, so I'm concerned to hear that his temperature is 38oC (which site - ear / mouth / armpit etc? what type of thermometer - digital / mercury etc?), as that could indicate an infection. So, tell the nurse today about raised temperature, and if nurse is not with you by midday, then phone surgical team.

 

[cakemaker]

If paracetamol doesn't stop his pain, then he does need something stronger. Paracetamol also reduces body temperature when you have a fever / infection, so I'm concerned to hear that his temperature is 38oC (which site - ear / mouth / armpit etc? what type of thermometer - digital / mercury etc?), as that could indicate an infection. So, tell the nurse today about raised temperature, and if nurse is not with you by midday, then phone surgical team.

He was even worse last night. I was ready to take him back to the hospital at 4am but he was too weak. His temperature remained at 38 for most of the night but dropped to 37.5 by morning. He had 3 bad sweats in the night; think it more to do with fever breaking than Diabetes symptoms.

I took his temperature with an old fashioned mercury mouth thermometer. It has been quite acurate in the past. I was a lab technician so can read a thermometer.

I phoned GP this morning but it was his day off and his partner wasn't there. The receptionist advised that I phone the hospital, his surgeon wasn't there either but they said come down and another would see him but my husband was too weak so we made an appointment for tomorrow morning.
The nurse came but only repeated that we should get back to the surgeon.

My husband has been slighly better today. We both managed to get a couple of hours sleep this afternoon. He is still quite swollen and red so I do suspect that he has an infection. Anyway, we'll know tomorrow.

 

[Northerner]

I hope that he is feeling much better by the morning 🙂

 

[LeeLee]

Hi Cakemaker, I do hope your hubby is better today. If you do get a repeat of yesterday, it would be entirely appropriate to call an ambulance because he really does need to be treated for an infection if that's what it is.