Pre Op Call Today - Little Worried

Dogsneverlie

Hi everyone,

Just had pre-op call and was told actual surgery is four hours......thought I would be four hours with check in and post op so looking at six-seven hours - - don't recall seeing length of surgeries out here, was wondering if that was the norm for reconstruction with implants or if they are padding time........

THEN......they called back and said my EKG had an ST abnormality and before surgery I have to meet with a cardiologist and have another EKG to get cleared for surgery - scheduled for February 18.

Felt like sharing and looking for words of wisdom and what your thoughts are.  You know, they always say "oh don't worry this is normal procedure" but I've had a hysterectomy and this didn't happen and it didn't happen with the two lumpectomies......

Feel a little shaken up.

Maureen1

So sorry to hear your EKG was abnormal...one more thing to create stress before surgery but good that they are investigating it and making sure you are good to go before your surgery on the 18th...I'm a nurse so perhaps I can reassure you that it's pretty normal in our surgery department for anesthesia to order an EKG and ask for cardiac clearance before major surgeries. Being under anesthesia and having surgery is physically demanding so before they get you on the table they want to be sure they are prepared for any medical issues that might be lurking. My BMX with immediate implant reconstruction was scheduled for about 6 1/2 hours...thankfully it went much quicker than expected and I was out of surgery in about 3 1/2 hours!! Hoping things go smoothly for you...hang in there (((Hugs))) Maureen

Straitlover

I had bmx w/ expanders. My surgery was scheduled for 5 hrs I think. I was in my room after recovery in a little over 5 hrs, so I guess that estimate included the recovery room time?

Can't help you w/ the EKG stuff as I didn't have to have that done. Hope it turns out to be nothing.

Juliecc

I hope your EKG comes back ok. My BMX with tissue expaners was scheduled 4 hours and it ended up taking 6! Nothing interesting happened during the surgery so I don't know why it lasted 2 hours longer.

DiveCat

I had BMX with immediate implants. They set aside 5 hours in the OR for surgery, but it took closer to 3.5/4 hours. They just don't always know for sure until they get in there and get a look at the tissue (mine was purely prophylactic no SNB, ALND, etc). They usually want to make sure they set aside more time than needed for OR, surgeons, nurses, anaesthesiologistk than not enough!

There was about an hour of prep before that, about an hour in the recovery room after, and then they moved me to a room on their day surgery unit. I was discharged the next day.

Dogsneverlie

Thank you so much for responding.  Feeling a little better today.  You all know how the emotional roller coaster goes, we stay strong through so much and then every now and then WHAM, something throws us for a loop.

My appointment with the cardiologist is next Wednesday, surgery is Tuesday Feb 24 so better to find out now if I have an issue versus during surgery.  I am going into this like this is just a standard precaution and all will be well because that's the type of women we are!

Thanks again - I truly appreciate your comments.

Melanie-C

What date was your surgery? How have you been managing the expanders? My surgery is scheduled for the 17th (in 3 days!!!!) I am having BMX with immediate expanders recon.

Dogsneverlie

Hi Melanie,

My surgery is scheduled for Tuesday February 24 if I get the OK this Wednesday from the Cardiologist!  Good luck tomorrow, I will be thinking of you!  Please post and let us know how you are doing.