worried about operation

lilickle1 · 20-12-2007, 01:40 AM

hey.
ive got an operation coming up and im pretty scared about it. but im also worried because of si. im in the UK and just wonderin if anyone knows if you have to take all jewlrey off? if so does that include wrist bands if they dont have any metal in them? im just worried that i'll have to take it off and people will see my wrist. especially since my mum is taking me and she doesnt know about it so if i have to take it off then she'll be there and will also be there wen i come out of the operation.
anyone know? any advice would be really appriciated.
thanks

behindblueyes · 20-12-2007, 04:19 AM

I think everwhere they are going to make you take off everything just in case... at least they did for me. Im not sure what you are having surgery on but i think you can tell them which arm you want the IV in and things..

*..life in pain..* · 20-12-2007, 07:50 AM

i had a surgery to remove my thyroid last week and i wasn't allowed to wear anything but my underwear.they told me they are afraid of infections.

i don't know about your case though.what kind of operation?i think that everywhere they ask you to take everything off but i don't know for sure.

Animad · 20-12-2007, 02:36 PM

Hi,
I'm from England and yes you do have to take off ALL jewellery, clothes and make-up for an op. This is for both infection wrists and so they can monitor you better under anaesthetic so its for your safety. Will your mum actually be coming with you all the way to the op theatre ad is there no way you could place your arms so she wouldn't be able to see them? If not then I think it may be worth telling her beforehand because it will already be a stressful situation for her to go through without finding out about your SI at that time. If she's no going with you all the way you can maybe take them off after she's gone and put them back on again before you see her.

Hope that helps, sorry its not what you wanted to hear. I had an op earlier on in the year and though my parents didn't find out it was obvious to the surgeon (I'd actually told him before hand (and I don't like telling anyone) as they are pretty close to the op site) and they were ok about it so if you wanna talk you can always PM me.

Kim

lilickle1 · 20-12-2007, 05:00 PM

sorry i didnt mention. its an op in my mouth but hav to be under general for it. ive already decided i'll have a word with the surgeon before hand.
trouble is my mum knew i cut years and years ago. but she doesnt know i still do and esp at the moment with her divorce its just not a good time for her to find out no matter how.
i will try n position my arms right. ive kind of come to terms that the docs will see in the operation but its when im going in or waking up that im worried my mum will notice. she will be upset if i ask her not to come.
if im not allowed to wear it do you think if i speak to the doc/ surgeon before hand n ask that could the take it off once in the room and back on before come out that they will be able or willing to do it? im so scared. its different if they were just scars like they were for a while but not now i been SI ing again. wot do you think?
thanks
becks

Katey-lou · 20-12-2007, 05:48 PM

i had a similiar problem in oct this year my opertaion was on my mouth and i was so scared about my mum seeing my wrists n stuff she knew i used to but has only eveer once seen my arms. i tedn to wear long sleeves all the time. when i went in i had a word with them and they were fine about it. you could try asking them about the bracelets and see what they say they may do it in the recoevery room before your mum coems in. or if they wont do that ask them to make sure your arms are coverd with a blanket or something.
how old are you because that may be an issue with them if you are under 16?

lilickle1 · 20-12-2007, 06:14 PM

ok cool. no shouldnt be a problem with them telling my mum. im 19. how old were you with it? they ley you keep your barceletes on? ye i'll just have a word with them and ask to have a word in private and say something.

Katey-lou · 20-12-2007, 06:18 PM

i was 19 as well and they didnt bring it up. i mentioned it because its not something they could have exactly missed, they were ok with it. they wanted 2 see them first thouhg but that was because there were a couple that were healing and i was just for infection purposes. i wore them till i went in the aneasthetic room. my mum came with me but didnt coem that far with me they sed it wasnt allowed. and then i think they put them bk on for me aswell.
wehn i went i saw the ppl on my own first and i mentioned it at that point

lilickle1 · 20-12-2007, 06:53 PM

ok cool. ye mine are well better to say still healing aswell. would they not do the op if they r atall incected? i saw the person today but it wasnt the actuall surgeon or doc i'll have and she didnt know much atall. so just left it.
im sure i'll work out fine. but no chance at this rate that cuts will b healed. do you think that'll matter?

pixie*lyssie · 20-12-2007, 07:22 PM

I have an op coming up too and I'm pretty scared, my surgeon knows I si, but I did it like a week after I saw her and she was like "you've got to be 100% stable for the surgery" so I'm hoping they fade as much as possible. I know what you're going through. *huggles* try not to worry too much.

I'm not sure about the whole non metal jewelery as I had a belly bar and nose stud in but had to take them out because they were metal.

They'll probably ask you to take them of but you can refuse and ask them for a valid reson why you can't keep them on an they probably won't have one.

pixie*lyssie · 20-12-2007, 07:33 PM

Also, don't be too worried, I'm sure they'll help you out and just say that your mum knows you do it but you dont want to upset her at the moment.

I'm more scared that the surgeon won't operate bcause she'll tink I'm not stable, I am, I just had a minor hiccup really.

lilickle1 · 21-12-2007, 05:25 PM

ye thanks for your advice. i hope they do go ahead with you op. what is it for?
and thanks to everyone who has helped with ideas/ suggestions etc. much appriciated! hope every one is doing ok.
x

Jayde · 21-12-2007, 05:56 PM

When I had an operation at 18, I was worried about my parents finding out that I SH. I didn’t think to mention it to the doctors but I assume that they had some idea from when I had blood tests (plus it’s on file)
I had to take off every bit of jewellery and was given a short sleeved hospital gown, paper pants and bed socks. I asked if they had and long sleeved gowns and the nurse said no. Because of this, I asked my mum not to be there in the morning when I went to surgery. I knew for a fact that she would see my arms if she were there. I wasn’t allowed to wear a dressing gown or anything either. I had a green hospital blanket that I wrapped myself in. I took it to surgery because it was off the gurney that I would be using.
I asked for my IV to be put in to my right arm, they said it was fine but they would need my left for the blood transfusion. (They used the vanes at the back of my hand and wrist)
When I came around in intensive care the nurse had put a blanket over my chest area and arms so that only my fingers were on show. I remember her telling my parents that it was to catch any blood I vomited up. :) I was scared that my parents would see but I was pretty much covered up for the next week and a half. Hospital blankets work miracles!

My advice would be to ask if you can have a hospital blanket to wrap yourself in (or one you can take to surgery)..or if you’re still having doubts, ask your mother not to be there when you go down to surgery, but to be there when you wake up. xxx

pixie*lyssie · 21-12-2007, 06:29 PM

I'm having surgery on my ribs, they take away cartalage and break my diaphragm and shiz like that.

But yeah don't worry, I'm pretty sure you'll be able to keep non-metal jewels on. I'm not sure but with my spinal op they put me into bed then I got wheeled off to the anathetic room so I was covered with my blanket.??

I'm sure my suregon will go ahead with the op, I think I'm just being over anxious about it all. heh.

But yea, remember to let them know that you want to keep bracelets on and maybe have a word with them. Youre 19 right so they can't do anything? See if they'll give you a blanket to cover up with maybe? Just say, "Oh I'm a bit too cold can I have a blanket please"

lilickle1 · 21-12-2007, 08:51 PM

oh why am i still so scared about this. everyone has helped so much with tips on hiding it erc but im still so scared. im sure the docs will be respectfull of it if the see the cuts. my friend is in her nurse training and said that if she notices any cuts or marks she just pulls blanket up over them so i hope they do for me but im still so scared. but if i hav cuts at the time do you think i should put dressings on them myself before i go so they see im taking care of it myself so dont worry? or just leave them like i usually do?