Tomorrow is the big day...

So tomorrow is my PM implant. I am excited to finally have all of this sorted out and feel better again but I am also very nervous about the surgery. I have faith in the docotor and the hospital and I know God will be in there with me but Im still a bit nervous. What should I expect tomorrow? Part of me wants to be asked to be completely under and not just local anesthetics. Can I ask for that?

6 Comments

Hi BriBoy

by bini - 2008-05-15 09:05:01

First good luck and try not to stress to much.

I had my surgery last June and was so terrified!!!!! I hated the thought of being awake during the procedure.

The procedure was a piece of cake and I really don't remember much from it at all. I stayed one night at the hospital for monitoring and then discharged the next day. The day after discharge I was walking around all day at zoo and felt no pain. I was given a pescription pain killer but didn't need to take it, tylonol was all I needed. My surgery was in Ohio and I flew back home to RI 4 days later.

I hope this helps.... I'll be think of you!

Christine

Tomorrow is the big day.

by MHCHAMPION - 2008-05-15 10:05:32

Hi,
I was told I wouldn't be completely under, but I was.
I was very nervous when I first went into the OR but in a few minutes I was given something and the next thing I knew I was awake in recovery. I have had many surgeries and this was by far the easiest. I too stayed overnight at the hospital for observation. The only problem I had was that I was allergic to the self-adhering bandage used over the site; didn't know I was going in, and had small sores every where the bandage touched that lasted longer than I wanted it to.
God bless you.
Take care.
Margaret

you will be fine

by petemanning - 2008-05-16 01:05:39

Hi ,
I don't take any illegal drugs whatsoever but I thoroughly recomend the stuff the give you for sedation when they put in your PM.As i said on this site one other time,if they had have told me "we are about to remove your brain" I would of said"yeah !, no problem" I was that relaxed!.It really is fine,please tell me what you finished up doing and how it was for you when you get back.

I was really frightened after the op but I did not know this site existed till 6 months in.Pretty much all of insecurities could have been solved by all the knowledgable and helpful people on ths site,if i had only known.You already found it.Lucky you.

keep us posted, the drugs really are good.
Pete


LIKE THE DENTIST

by peter - 2008-05-16 03:05:02

I compare it with going to the dentist and having a couple of teeth extracted. You dont exactly look forward to it, but its not half as bad as you imagine. You will pobably become relaxed and more fascinated with what is going on during the implantation.Keep us informed as to how it all went. Cheers Peter

good luck!

by cqmccann - 2008-05-16 08:05:44

I have had my PM for almost 5 weeks now. I was nervous too but it went fine. I was sedated with Versed and Fentanyl. This is an amnesiac and a pain killer. This way you are semi-awake for the surgeon to ask you questions but you have little or no recollection of the procedure. I do remember feeling some pushing and pulling a little bit but it wasn't scarey at the time. I woke up a little sore and never took anything other than tylenol after the procedure. Best of luck to you and look forward to hearing jow it all went. I went home the same day. Only a 7 hour stay.
Carolyn

Good luck tomorrow!

by Swedeheart - 2008-05-16 12:05:25

I am on day 81 since implant... so I am rather a newbie as well! I was horribly nervous and anxious (in a not so good way...) about the whole thing! I told them I didn't want to see anything, I didn't want to feel anything, and didn't want to remember anything! They generally don't do general anesthetic on a PM implant, but they gave me what they called "heavy sedation"... I didn't remember falling asleep... but did momentarily "wake up" a couple of times...it was okay.

I was kept overnight and checked in the morning and then sent home. You will have a list of "do nots" for awhile, but it wasn't too bad. Mostly you need to keep your arm from raising too high (not above shoulder level) for a number of weeks, and can't lift anything very heavy with the arm that is on the side of the PM.

I didn't have too much pain with the PM, but they gave me pills... it took me awhile to really feel better, but I think a lot of folks seem to feel better quite soon. Many people use ice to help the discomfort and swear by it!

Sleeping on my back was tiresome as I couldn't lay on my side for several weeks, mostly because it was just uncomfortable. I used pillows and such to prop myself up and that helped.

My incision healed quickly and my PM barely shows, just a tiny bump.

Lots of good information here and helpful people, so ask all the questions you have when you get home and folks will respond!

Hope you feel better soon!

Swedeheart

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