Posted on 10/31/2014 3:14:25 PM PDT by lee martell
I was supposed to have surgery on one of my ankles to reduce chronic pain. Eventually, I will need flatfoot corrective surgery on the right foot too. I've been ready for quite some time, and miss being able to walk without limping like an old man. The procedure would be a Sub-Talar Fusion. I have Veterans' Health Insurance only. I was less than 3 days away from the surgery date when I got a call from one of the Resident Surgeons. Apparently, he had been told that I use e-cigs and sometime actual cigarettes. My actual cig use is very low, from one to three a day, if at all. The concern was that the level of nicotine in my system would make healing more difficult. Therefore, the surgery I had waited over a year for was off. However, I was offered a chance to take a blood test, and if nicotine levels were significantly lower, I could still have the procedure in the first half of November. Was I interested? Of course I said yes, put me down for that date. The thing is, not once was I told verbatim that if my nicotine levels were to exceed a certain threshold, the doctors would cancel the procedure. I was given advisories, but never a clear directive, a definition of a 'dealbreaker' from my end of it.
Not much later, I realized that by having my surgery then in the middle of November, I would screw up the work schedule for all my coworkers. I work at a Care Facility for mentally ill adults. I had hoped to be ready by mid December to take some of those shifts open because of other's taking their Christmas Breaks. I;m probably the oldest person on staff, and I don't want to take too many chances with my position, i.e., absences due to recovery times. I realized I would be better off just dealing with the discomfort until after the holidays. I'm now waiting to get a new surgery date that is hopefully in January or February. I dealt with the change of plans logically and I think stoically. However, I felt a crushing disappointment inside, knowing that I would not be starting on the road to repair after all. I was still stuck on 'Pain Island'. I requested to meet with one of the Attending Surgeons next week, just to give them an update view on my general health and demeanor. I wonder how common it is for hospitals to cancel surgery within the last three days prior to the procedure. I've somewhat recovered now, a week since that phone call. However, I don't think that I have felt quite so down in years. The last time I felt that bad was when my mother died. Now, I have less trust in the doctors, but, I'm stuck for now. Have others had this kind of experience?
Have them measure the blood flow in that foot with Dopler. If there is not enough flow, you might be fighting infection if you have the surgery.
The concern was that the level of nicotine in my system would make healing more difficult.
...
Nicotine is known to slow bone healing. The military has done research on it.
“Most surgery patients who are smokers usually die after surgery.”
We’ll need a link or two on that one.
I think the sarcasm tag is taken for granted
“I’ve had 15 feet surgeries and never had any problems. Doctors are full of shit.”
The doctors who successfully performed your 15 feet surgeries are full of shit?
I needed a surgery during the summer, for a hematoma that had formed from a recent surgery.
I was given the usual instructions: e.g. no food or liquids after midnight, etc.
When questioned in the surgery center right before the procedure, I told the nurse I had sucked on a couple of mints. I thought I was clever.
Next thing is my surgeon confronts me about the two mints, and very sternly informed me he is inclined to postpone the procedure, because of risks. I was embarrassed.
He said he would go ahead and operate, because it was needed, sooner not later.
But I learned my lessons. 1. Follow instructions, and 2. Keep my mouth shut.
Thanks for the advice. Good luck in your recovery. Your abdominal surgery may be of greater consequence than my upcoming flatfoot surgeries. I can always give my feet a break by sitting down or lying down, whereas, we use our torso muscles during every waking hour, even if it’s just to sit up on the edge of a bed. There may be certain foods you can get to promote inner healing.
I have read some interesting work about Natural Honey and it’s power to heal skin and mucous membrane. The Spartans and the Roman Warriors were both said to make use of honey on arrow wounds. This modality would only be considered by someone who does not have diabetes or a pre-diabetic condition though.
I've only had one surgery. Last year I had a Trigger finger fixed. It was weird I was awake for the entire procedure then they put me under. I'm not sure what the purpose was but I remember the pulling, tugging, sewing me up, talking to the doctor, moving hand and fingers etc then being wheeled out of OR and lights out LOL.
Yay, for gutsy Grandmas, Boo for Barry’s Barri-Cades!
Sounds like the Docs think you should just be shot.
And despite the obvious problems with the VA, they still provide some of the best care around if you can get it.
Based on my personal experience. When I was scheduled for my second knee surgery, the hospital said that my cholesterol was “high” (total cholesterol of 235), that they would have to delay my knee surgery until I brought down my cholesterol level.
I had a friend who went to the same church as I did and worked at that hospital. She told me that the autoclave used to sterilized surgical waste on site was broken and would take them a couple of days to get a replacement (They did not have an incinerator). That just happened to be the time period that covered my surgery date.
Again, just my personal experience.
Lol. You probably felt like the second grade schoolboy caught sticking bubblegum underneath a desk in front of you, then being tattled on by another student you thought was your friend! “I’m telling the Teacher!” They get full-on serious in that Operating Room, and have no doubts, the Surgeon in King or Queen!
Just had a friend who couldn’t get surgery ‘cause his Potassium was too high. And yes doctors get backed up and looking for an excuse can reject you on a hang nail...
But that’s unlikely what happened here. From the article:
“Surgeons who request that patients stop smoking before surgery sometimes conduct pre-operative tests to look for nicotine in the patient’s system. If nicotine is present, surgery is delayed.”
Bull !!!!
I’ve had surgery as a smoker,I know others who have,and lord knows how many people who were exposed to 2nd hand smoke.
NONE of them died. Not one.
.
I've about had it with ALL this s***.
Did I really need a sarc tag for that?
Here’s my tag /s
I thought it was obvious.
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