Getting ready for surgery, meds question

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Jnnmn7
Jnnmn7 Member Posts: 66
edited September 2017 in Surgery - Before, During, and After

Hello, my surgery is 10-5. Should I have prescriptions already or do they order them the day of surgery? Also, my Drs office has a surgery "prep" class, goes over care, what to expect, etc. Do you think that would be helpful?

Thanks! It so nice to be able ask a quick question rather than calling into the office every time something comes up.

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  • NotVeryBrave
    NotVeryBrave Member Posts: 1,287
    edited September 2017

    I think the class would be very helpful because you will probably get specific information about how your doctor does things. My PS gave me the prescriptions at a pre-op appt so that I could have them already filled and waiting at home.


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  • PerkyPeach
    PerkyPeach Member Posts: 2
    edited September 2017

    Hi Jnnmn7,

    My doctor's office didn't offer a class, but they did give me the book, Breast Cancer Treatment Handbook. I found it to be very helpful. You can get it on Amazon. Either way, it might be encouraging for you to know that my recovery has been much smoother than I imagined. Good luck and hugs!

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  • AngelaJL
    AngelaJL Member Posts: 94
    edited September 2017

    I would have loved a class like that! As it was, I felt like I had very little information about the after-care and had to figure most of it out through Google. I like my surgeon and his team, but I feel like theydropped the ball there.

    As for prescriptions, my surgeon prescribed them day of surgery and I picked them up at the in-hospital pharmacy before heading home. Very convenient!

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited September 2017

    Get a note pad and write down all your questions to be sure that you remember to ask all of them. Write down the answers. If allowed, use your smart phone to record what you are told so that you can review the exact words used if needed to be sure you understood what was actually said.

    Definately always go to any class/education you can. Be 'armed' with as much info as possible.

    I was given a script for Oxy when I was discharged the day after UMX. Didn't think to ask for one before as I still had a bunch from port implant and had Vicodan for my back anyway so wasn't concerned. No other scripts were given.

    If you will be having drains, will probably be told/shown how to care for them. If there will be dressings that need to be changed - info given. Not everyone has dressing changes to be done - I didn't. My Surgeon used surgical glue to secure the incision so it was 'sealed' and there were no external sutures.

    You might be given exercises to work on for getting ROM back.

    You might want to ask about getting a pre-surgery appointment with an LET (LymphEdema Therapist) to get a baseline evaluation and education in case you do develope LE at some time,in the futur IF it does. Unfortunately, MANY Drs are woefully ignorant when,it comes to LE.

    Lots of useful 'stuff' to learn.

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  • beach2beach
    beach2beach Member Posts: 996
    edited September 2017

    A class would be great I think. I only had what the PS gave me on the care of drains and the rest I winged from off this site. My surgeons did not offer pain meds. The only thing they sent me home with was a rx for Ketorolac. Which is a heavy anti-inflammatory. That is also what they gave in the hospital. If you know they will give you pain meds, would be helpful to have the script filled before. Otherwise the hospital pharmacy should be able to fill it for you and have it ready when you leave.

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