THIS is outpatient surgery???

mamacat · Apr 15, 2005

I can't believe this, but now they are letting people go home the same day they have surgery that requires general anesthesia???? My future m-i-l had surgery today, for a hernia. Not a super complex operation, but it required her to be totally under, and it's scalpel, not laser. I couldn't believe they would do something like that and not keep her overnight for observation--especially given that she is 76 years old! She was home a few hours after the surgery, and the hospital didn't even prescribe her any painkillers! My fiance is staying over at her house tonight, because her surgeon insisted she not be alone--yeah, no kidding! I spoke to her before and she sounded like she was still half doped-up from the anesthesia, except she was in quite a lot of pain. This is completely ridiculous!

wellingtoncats · Apr 15, 2005

Omg, that is unreal!

Lotsa thoughts coming your MIL's way!

katl8e · Apr 15, 2005

About 15 years ago, my dad had an outpatient hernia repair. He was in his early 60s, at the time and came through just fine.

I've had three o/p surgeries, under general anesthesia: D & C, tubal ligation and an incision and drainage. As long as the patient is in relatively good shape and has someone to drive her/him home, they are usually OK.

Hospitals are notorious for high post-op infection rates. As long as I don't need skilled aftercare, I'd rather take my chances at home. Besides, the food is better and I can smoke.

mamacat · Apr 15, 2005

Thanks Sam, you're sweet.

I feel terrible for her--she is in so much pain and I'm no doctor but I really think they should have kept her, or AT LEAST given her something for the pain.

mamacat · Apr 15, 2005

Originally Posted by katl8e

About 15 years ago, my dad had an outpatient hernia repair. He was in his early 60s, at the time and came through just fine.

I've had three o/p surgeries, under general anesthesia: D & C, tubal ligation and an incision and drainage. As long as the patient is in relatively good shape and has someone to drive her/him home, they are usually OK.

Hospitals are notorious for high post-op infection rates. As long as I don't need skilled aftercare, I'd rather take my chances at home. Besides, the food is better and I can smoke.

You're totally right about the infections--but to not even give her anything for the pain? That doesn't seem right to me.

beckiboo · Apr 15, 2005

Definitely call the doc for some painkillers. And have your fiance read over the discharge note-did they recommend even tylenol or motrin for her pain?

katl8e · Apr 15, 2005

She SHOULD have post-op pain meds. I always had a botle of codeine or Vicodin, to take home. She needs to call the doc and have him call in a scrip for her.

mom of franz · Apr 15, 2005

mamacat said:
I can't believe this, but now they are letting people go home the same day they have surgery that requires general anesthesia???? My future m-i-l had surgery today, for a hernia. Not a super complex operation, but it required her to be totally under, and it's scalpel, not laser. I couldn't believe they would do something like that and not keep her overnight for observation--especially given that she is 76 years old! She was home a few hours after the surgery, and the hospital didn't even prescribe her any painkillers! My fiance is staying over at her house tonight, because her surgeon insisted she not be alone--yeah, no kidding! I spoke to her before and she sounded like she was still half doped-up from the anesthesia, except she was in quite a lot of pain. This is completely ridiculous![/QUOT

Yep, I'm afraid it is standard, forgive the pun, operating procedure and has been for about 10 years. Chalk it up to the power of insurance companies and their lobbyists. I recall about ten years back in NJ it was normal to give birth and go home in 24 hrs, unless there were complications or a C-section. They called them "drive thru deliveries" The law was changed after much organized protest..now it's 48 hrs (wow!) I always noticed when I worked in the hospital that men with prostate surgery stayed longer than the women giving birth, sometimes 4/5 days. Made me wonder about sexism, and how men (mostly) make the law. To this day, some insurance companies will cover the cost of Viagra, but NOT birth control pills..I smell a rat.

Even people undergoing open heart surgery are released in about 3 days if there are no complications. You have to be near dead now a days to stay in a hospital for any length of time. Bad medicine in my nurse's book. The patients lose and the Insurance Co. wins.

mamacat · Apr 15, 2005

Originally Posted by katl8e

She SHOULD have post-op pain meds. I always had a botle of codeine or Vicodin, to take home. She needs to call the doc and have him call in a scrip for her.

They told her "Take Advil," but that's not strong enough for the pain she's having. When I spoke to her at 9:15 tonight she said they'd been trying to get the doctor all afternoon to call in a prescription for her, as well as get in touch with the doctor she works for to get him to do it, but they were having no luck reaching either.

george'smom · Apr 15, 2005

Blame the insurance companies. Patients are sent home because insurance companies dictate how much they will pay for procedures/hospitalizations. Factor in the fact that more than 1/2 of patients have medicare/medicaid - which our lovely government only pays .50 on the dollar to hospitals/doctors and you see why care is getting so shoddy. When I had abdominal surgery 20 years ago, I was in the hospital for 10 days each time. When I gave birth to my daughter (22 years ago) I was in for 7 days. These days they make you go home the next day!

mamacat · Apr 15, 2005

Originally Posted by Mom of Franz

Even people undergoing open heart surgery are released in about 3 days if there are no complications.

Now THAT is nuts.

george'smom · Apr 15, 2005

Originally Posted by mamacat

They told her "Take Advil," but that's not strong enough for the pain she's having. When I spoke to her at 9:15 tonight she said they'd been trying to get the doctor all afternoon to call in a prescription for her, as well as get in touch with the doctor she works to get him to do it, but they were having no luck reaching either.

I would call the hospital where the surgeon works or has admitting privileges. Ask to page/speak to the doctor on call. At this hour it may be difficult to find an open pharmacy (at least in my neck of the woods it is). Perhaps they can see her at the ED to assess her pain and give her meds? Or perhaps they can give her a regimen (take a higher dose of Advil, maybe take Tylenol with it).

I would write a letter complaining about this surgeon (for sending her home without pain meds). Send it to someone in administration - such as a section chief.

mom of franz · Apr 15, 2005

[ At this hour it may be difficult to find an open pharmacy (at least in my neck of the woods it is).

I know nothing about Queens Mamakat, but in Brooklyn there are no 24 hr pharmacies that I know of. However there is a Walgreen's in Manhattan on 14th Street and 4th Ave that is 24/7.
It's in Union Square.

mamacat · Apr 15, 2005

Originally Posted by George'smom

I would call the hospital where the surgeon works or has admitting privileges. Ask to page/speak to the doctor on call. At this hour it may be difficult to find an open pharmacy (at least in my neck of the woods it is). Perhaps they can see her at the ED to assess her pain and give her meds? Or perhaps they can give her a regimen (take a higher dose of Advil, maybe take Tylenol with it).

I would write a letter complaining about this surgeon (for sending her home without pain meds). Send it to someone in administration - such as a section chief.

My fiance just called--she is sleeping now, finally. I think she was just wiped out. Hopefully tomorrow she can get a prescription--there's really no open pharmacies in her area right now anyway.

pat · Apr 15, 2005

Originally Posted by mamacat

and the hospital didn't even prescribe her any painkillers! My fiance is staying over at her house tonight, because her surgeon insisted she not be alone--yeah, no kidding! I spoke to her before and she sounded like she was still half doped-up from the anesthesia, except she was in quite a lot of pain. This is completely ridiculous!

That does sound weird...not that one can go home the same day as having general (I have with two procedures that were considered same day) but the no pain med

pjk5900 · Apr 15, 2005

I would raise hell with the Dr. that would expect tylenol or advil to be enough for pain after surgery.
They even give you Lortab or something similar after dental surgery.
That is ridiculous for her to suffer when the drugs are so easily available.
It's not like she is abusing the drug. Geesh!

fwan · Apr 16, 2005

My bf's mum got to go home after 4 hours of giving birth, here they dont let you stay longer than a day.
Infact the longest time she stayed in a hospital was 28 hours! and she has had 5 kids.
My mother stayed in hospital for 3 - 4 days. In england

stormy · Apr 16, 2005

That's just not right!

Blame the HMO's for the short hospital stays that are getting to be the norm

They should have given her pain killers, I don't understand why they didn't.

Get well vibes going to your future MIL.

blondiecat · Apr 16, 2005

This is a very touchy subject for me. Call the ER and talk to a doctor there. That should have never happened. I went through a full hystermoctomy(?) and was sent home with nothing for pain. I was cut from one side of my body to the other side. My Mom called the ER and the ER doctor called in a script for me. The next time I saw the surgeon who did my surgery wasn't nice either, cause I let him have it with both barrels.....the B@$&*%d

elizwithcat · Apr 16, 2005

I often think my cats get better medical care than I do. It's because vets are getting paid by me, so I presume as long as I am willing to pay, the cats will be treated. Obviously, since insurance companies don't want to pay for anybody to stay in the hospital for a long time after surgery, patients are getting kicked out.

THIS is outpatient surgery???

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