Operation to correct first operation!

happyhopper

Hello everyone
Could anyone tell me if a relative would be allowed into the operating theatre to sit at the back?
I am so petrified at the thought of another operation after what happened during my first ever operation, I feel I need someone there with me.
My husband has said he would come in if allowed, but said he couldn't promise not to faint!!
Any ideas anyone?
Happyhopper

Wonkylegs

HI Happyhopper,

wow! I can understand your concerns ..... but I can understand that the hospital might not be keen to have a relative in the theatre for the very reason that they might keel over :shock:

Have you thought of discussing this with your GP and seeing if they can suggest something that might reassure you, considering what you have obviously encountered before.

Have you someone with medical training who you trust to be your 'observer' perhaps? they might be more welcome in the theatre.

Or how about asking the local PALS service for their help in ensuring that you don't have a bad experience again.

Perhaps you could give the helplines people a ring on Monday and talk things through with them ..... they might have other suggestions on how you could feel more confident about the procedure you face.

hope that is some help

hugs
WOnky

elnafinn

Hi Happyhopper

I am so sorry to read that your first op was not a success due to the surgeon not performing the op properly.I can well understand how you are feeling about this operation. I have never heard of anyone being able to be in attendance at an operation, other than the patient. If you had a GA then you would not know anything about the forthcoming operation until you awoke in recovery. You would be taken back to the ward/room and your husband could be waiting for you on your arrival back. My mum had to have a second op within a week because of things going very wrong and I could only go as far as outside the operating theatre. I kept in touch with the nursing station and got back to her ward as they wheeled her back.

As Wonky has suggested ask around to see if there is any way round this.

I wish you well,

Luv
Elna x

frogmorton

Hiya

I do understand :shock: I know I would feel totally the same.

You need to find out - it's not something I have ever heard of. When you have a general for a ceasarian then they dont let them in do they but and planned epidural one they do??? Maybe you could check esp if your op is an epidural one??? Spinal block.

lOve

Toni xx

julie47

Morning HH

I really feel for you as you must be scared,
I recently had an op on my stump (i am an amputee) with a local anasthetic (i know its not the same) but I too was very scared, near to tears as I hate opps.
I can tell you though there was a nurse holding my hand all through the op and asking me about my background. She now knows my life story.
Hope you get the answers you want
love juliepf x

dreamdaisy

They allow film crews in, so why not one relative? I can understand your fears, but a) you will be under general anaesthetic so will not be alert and b) whoever you have there for support won't be trained to recognise what is a good op and what isn't, so they will be put thro a mill for nothing.

My take on this is that the hospital know they have badly messed things up first time around, so I am sure they will be extra vigilant themselves this time. They have to be. Mention words like 'sue', 'lawyers', 'damage to one's person', 'litigation', 'I'm sure you don;t want this to go to court', 'litigation', 'investigation', etc etc etc: that will grab their attention far more than a white-faced husband passed out on the theatre floor, which will distract their attention from you which is just what you don't want. DD

caravancollie

Hi,
i'm sorry you have had a bad experience and you have lost confidence but I don't think that a relative in theatre would be practical. Firstly your husband may not cope with the stress physically or emotionally. There is usually no room for a seat, often not room for any non essential person to be present. The medical staff will need to devote all their attention to you, not a relative who may faint and injure himself, diverting attention from you could increase the risk of poor outcomes for you. Secondly unless the relative is an orthopaedic surgeon he will not be able to assess what he is watching.

It's more important to have confidence in your current surgeon and the whole team so discuss whatever happened before, exactly what is going to happen this time and how you can be supported. They will
understand your anxiety. X elaine

speedalong

Hi Happyhopper,

I can understand your fear and reluctance, my first THR on the left - although not a disaster, was not a brilliant result ... and hence I put off as long as possible having an op on the right hip. Happily it was a much better result (and a different op... but at the time I had to sign permission for either op.) However, unless the person was medically trained I don't see how they would be able to influence the op or know if the consultant was doing a good job or not.

You have said elsewhere that you are seeing a different surgeon this time round - I think you should discuss your fears honestly with him, you also said you were more confident with this surgeon - so let him reassure you and if you are not convinced - then request someone else! However the very fact that you have had a bad experience will be hot on their minds .. and the new surgeon is very experienced unlike the original one.

Speedy