Pre-op Prep

I'm the same way I always tell them to put me to sleep so I can't see whats going on.

I've had a few surgeries and I've always been wide awake as their getting things together in the OR. As soon as everything is in place is when they've knocked me out. I'm not sure if that's pre-op or not.

As a pharm. sales rep., it was considered good for my general knowledge to ask to be allowed to be present to watch an anesthesiologist work during a surgery. (I just started selling Zofran for post-op nausea-vomiting). The surgical I was watching was a surgeon putting in a sub-clavian central line into a patient. They had the patient heavily sedated and used a local at the surgical site. On the glass door into this O.R. room there was a large sign that said, "Patient Awake". A warning to all medical personnel that even though sedated the patient could probably hear everything that was said.

@jimmyt44 Well even when you are sedated or lightly sedated , hearing is consider the last sense to go and the first to return as sedation takes hold or you wake up . So as a medical personnel you are never quite sure what the patient can hear or remember. I was taught as a junior nurse to be careful about what we say around such a patient as they may only just register parts of what is being said or parts of a conversation.

Speaking to a few patients about this seems to confirm that the are aware of some of the conversation and that it's a bit garbled and hazy. Also we were taught to inform patient what you are about to do to them before you do it. This is particularly important when turning or repositioning them , as anyone who has worked in an ICU, ITU or critical care . There hands become a bit "grabby" and they stiffen and resist , the closest analogy I can thick offis when you are falling asleep and suddenly you feel like you are falling, so you suddenly become awake in sort of a sharp, short, jolt before drifting off again.

When I worked on surgery , many many years ago , it was very common to do the pre-opt care like shaving,marking,toileting, ensure allergy and Id bracelets are present, consent form signed, before administering a premed to help them relax. However we never catheterized our patient pre-opt.

I don't wanna see nuthin' or know nuthin' when I need a surgery. Especially when it was my eye surgeries that I had to have the past few years. The first was for a detached retina with 8 tears in it, the second was for cataract surgery with a lens replacement. I am a big chicken. I will admit it. Fortunately, I am asthmatic and that was a good enough excuse for the doctor to knock me out. They gave me something prior to the surgery, when they started the i.v. I don't know what it was, but I called it "Don't Give A Damn". I didn't give a damn about anything once it kicked in. I am slightly germaphobic, and I walked barefoot across the pre-op floor, with a nurse following behind me holding my gown shut and pushing the i.v. pole to the bathroom. I am also rather modest, and didn't feel the need to have help to the restroom. At first I was kind of annoyed, but decided in that walk, HEY!!! I don't give a damn!!! I didn't give a damn when after all was said and done and I was back downstairs where they let you get dressed again and the nurse had to help me to get dressed. I don't wake up well from anesthesia at all. I couldn't really function, nor could I really see because my eye was bandaged. But, I didn't give a damn! It took me four days to fully wake up from the anesthesia! The second surgery was better. They either gave me less or something different of the knock out drug. I just found out a few weeks ago that I have Carpel Tunnel Syndrome in both wrists and I am going to have to have surgery on them. I hope this hospital (a local one) has some "Don't Give A Damn" on hand for this big sissy!

I was submitted to a surgical procedure in my genital organ and I was very embarrassed to see that in the operating room there were two nurses assisting the doctor.

I was submitted to a surgical procedure in my genital organ and I was very embarrassed to see that in the operating room there were two nurses assisting the doctor.

And you stay awake during the procedure ?

I like how @Breaze put it; "Don't Give a Damn." That's the truth. I was on the way to the OR for some, ahem, "elective surgery" and the anesthesiologist shot what he described as a "martini going up my arm" and sure enough he was right! A cold rush of liquid up the arm and then welcome to DON'T GIVE A DAMN SPACE baby! I started singing what little I knew of Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb" much to the non-entertainment of the OR staff but I thought it was appropos to how good I felt, and how I just, well, didn't give a damn...

I had my left knee replaced 10 months ago...... Some of the prep was done before leaving for the hospital -- a special diet; a Fleet's oil enema to clean out the lower bowel; and an antiseptic pad after the shower before leaving for the hospital. . Most of the remaining prep was performed in a pre-op area -- vitals; IV start; shaving and marking the leg several inches above and below the knee. After being transported to the OR, i was sedated before draping and what ever else needed to have been done.

I have hernia surgery when I was 16-The night before surgery I was taken to a room(down the hall)an told to disrobe completely and hope up on the flat exam table as she closed the door.Then she started filling a large red,enema bottle and then hooked a long tube to it and said for me to get on my back and pull my legs back.She quickly spread k-y lube into my exposed anus, I got an instant erection,she just said relax,that erections are normal during an enama.I was givin 4 more after that.(each one larger an deeper than the others)Then she had me get back on the table and had a straight razor & shaved my whole pubic area.I again got a strong,throbbing erection.I even had pre-cum leaking from my penis.I almost came.I was glad when she said to get dressed an led me to a shower and I masterbated while cleaning all the hairs from myself.

@joshs26

I have hernia surgery when I was 16-The night before surgery I was taken to a room(down the hall)an told to disrobe completely and hope up on the flat exam table as she closed the door.Then she started filling a large red,enema bottle and then hooked a long tube to it and said for me to get on my back and pull my legs back.She quickly spread k-y lube into my exposed anus, I got an instant erection,she just said relax,that erections are normal during an enama.I was givin 4 more after that.(each one larger an deeper than the others)Then she had me get back on the table and had a straight razor & shaved my whole pubic area.I again got a strong,throbbing erection.I even had pre-cum leaking from my penis.I almost came.I was glad when she said to get dressed an led me to a shower and I masterbated while cleaning all the hairs from myself.

What !! . .Only 5 LARGE Enemas !!. .geez. .whats the world coming too. .

Unnamed news sources report young patient attacked by rogue nurse dressed in 1960's uniform brandishing large red vintage enema bag, holding what appeared to be an antique flashing cut-throat razor. Last seen escaping in her time machine. .Resident mushroom farmers ecstatic - ample supplies of BS. . .Hospital spokesperson calls for calm after siege by senior citizens with all manner of abdominal complaints. Water authorities worried - drain on resources . . . . *sniff*. .*sniff*

Joshs26 said

I have hernia surgery when I was 16-. . . . blah blah blah . . . .

So if you're 26 now, that means ten years ago when you were 16 (around 2006-2007) you were given all those enemas for a hernia repair? ? ? ?

That's VERY strange to say the least.

Shaved your pubic area with a STRAIGHT razor ? ? ? ? not likely.

Try NOT mixing your fantasies with the relating of actual experiences.

Maybe there were long red nails, snowpants and a speedo involved?

Maybe there were long red nails, snowpants and a speedo involved?

And it was a Gentlemen doctor.

I have always been awake when entering the operating room. We talked a bit and the next moment I knew nothing further.

I had to have a procedure done on my ears when I was age 4 and it was considered outpatient surgery. I never had any kind of surgery where I had to stay in the hospital for long periods of time.

I was on the way to the OR and the anesthesiologist shot what he described as a "martini going up my arm" and sure enough he was right! A cold rush of liquid up the arm and then welcome to DON'T GIVE A DAMN SPACE baby!

This happened to me as well.Once on the OR table I was stripped and left only in the adult diaper I was wearing at the time. Then ECG leads were attached to my chest and a catheter was inserted into my penis... Ouch!! Then he strapped my mid-section and head to the table. Finally a mask was lowered on to my face then all went black and silent

Back in the late 1960s, when I was a teenager, I had my tonsils removed very late. I was in a ward with many younger children, all of who were given an oral pre-med. I was expecting the same, but a very atractive young nurse came and told me I had to have an injection in my bottom. I had never had an injection there, and had no idea what to expect, so I laid on the bed with my operating gown open exposing my bottom completely and waited for her to return. when she came back, she laughed at my position, I told her I did not know how she wanted me and she said "certainly not like that" (oddly, I remember her exact words). The nurse had me lay on my side and bend my knee up a bit, then she gave me the injection. I was so frightened of how much it would hurt, but it was not all that bad in the event. That is when my fascination with needles in the bottom first started.

I had to have bladder and prostate surgery at same time . Dr said while they had me opened up for the bladder she would out my prostate . I asked to have a spinal and be awake during procedure . I walked into the OR . Had the spinal talked and listened throughout , the shaving and everything else . Catheter put in then proceeded to surgery. Awake through all

I have had a few surgeries where I asked for spinal anesthesia rather than general anesthesia. 2 of the 3 I was awake for the entire procedure from pre op to post op but one the surgeon thought it might be too traumatic to hear what he was doing since he had to break my foot to correct the problem and I said ok.

I think it depends on what part of the prep...most often vitals and possibly even prepping the area are done before you’re asleep.

I’ve been awake for most of the prep for the surgeries I’ve had.

All my Pre-ops I have been fully awake for. Never have I been put to sleep for pre.

I have always been fully awake and aware during pre-op prep. The only time I knew of someone not being awake was when the peripheral iv line was exchanged for a central line prior to surgery.... but even that took place in the OR

I've done a laparoscopy, the day before they give me 2 sachets of picoprep! The morning of the surgery 2 fleet enemas... 😜

Back in 2010 I had hernia surgery. Needless to say I got ripped off. Pre-op prep was nothing but shaving and only on one side. I got to the hospital they asked a bunch of questions got me undressed and into a gown. Soon the anesthesiologist came in introduced her self and then started an IV. Then after several other questions said, "here goes". I was there for some time, as she kept asking question. After about 20 minutes I was wheeled into the OR. Now I never have seen the inside of an OR. IT was filled with all kinds of interesting things. I propped my head up to look around, as I did this, the Anesthesiologist look very concerned. Another staff started to shave me. Another one strapped me down to the table with arms spread. I didn't like this. The anesthesiologist kept making small talk. After another approx. 15 minutes, I noticed that nothing else was being done and everyone was just standing there looking at me. THe anesthesiologist said a few things that I could not hear, to the surgery, left the room, shortly to return. For what ever reason the first dose of meds. they gave me didn't work. She injected another dose into the IV, and after lots of conversation and another 15 minutes or so, I was out. SO, I got to see everything, but its wasn't much to see.

I've never thought to ask to be awake. I'm already nervous. I wouldn't have wanted to be awake during a vaginal prep for my hysterectomy just to see how exposed I was. I found a video of one being done on a dummy and realized exactly how embarrassing that was.

I was actually looking for videos on a live patient. I'm sure you have to be part of the medical community to find those. I also wonder how many were in the room while I was being prepped and then operated on. Besides the specific details of my actual surgery, the report only said my doctor had an assistant and I had a pelvic exam done under anesthesia.

Remember my gastroenterologist doctor coming into my pre-op room explaining out my soon surgery for removal of a stone wedged in around a bile duct and that it would involve a suppository prior to procedure I suppose for possibly a infection issue. Didn't remember it being inserted because anesthesiologist was last thing I recalled once he did his thing but the charge for the medicinal suppository appeared on my billing statement later , so I suppose I was given it by one of the assisting nurses or doc. himself. Fretter

When I worked at the hospital, except for the affected area, shaving was discouraged due to the risk of infection (small breaks in skin, ingrown hairs, etc…. our surgeons did not like giving their patients hospital-acquired infections for some reason 😁). Catheters would have been inserted, depending on the circumstance, when the patient may not be aware (and, as someone who has had one before, they’re not necessarily horrible as much as potentially embarrassing).

However, bowel prep? Patients were awake for that… and they never enjoyed that, as it almost always involved large or double-large volumes of GoLytely (which is anything but).

Of course, this all presupposed the surgery was planned. Emergency surgery is a different animal altogether.

When I was 16 I had an operation on my R eye. The op was to shorten a muscle in order to straighten a lazy eye ( I am still blind on that eye but it now can move whereas it used to stay in the outside corner of the eye socket)

I went in to the operation suite awake. And was talked through what was going to happen. Than I was asked to count backwards from 10. I think I got to 7 or 6 lol. Next thing I remember is waking up.

I had been warned there was a small risk that , if the surgeon touched one of the nerves I could lose my sight completely in both eyes.

What they hadn't said is that due to the trauma of the operation. Both my eyes would be swolen and I would not be able to open my eyes for around 36 hours.

Imagine my shock when I woke up but did not see anything. 😱