I had to walk into surgery and lie on the slab, did anyone else?

Yes I had to walk down to theater for my recent WLE and also had to when I had broken wrist pinned 6 years ago. Same hospital

This time they were having improvement works done so I had to walk out of day surgery unit go down a floor in the lift walk across a lobby and go back uo a floor again! The usual straight line access to theater was blocked off. The nurse was very chatty though so distracted me 

Morning kate_4 I think if your able this is what they do these days  I had my gallbladder removed 4 1/2 years ag and I was walked from the pre op ward to surgery and then when I had my port put in in February I was again walked right into the operating room I wonder if it's a slight hygiene precaution as if you are walked in a nurse does it so no hand over to be done whereas if you go bed to bed then a porter needs to be called so they might have to wait longer plus porters will have been in more than 1place whereas the nurse has probably only been on the ward

Hi Kate_4 

When I had my mastectomy in Nov2021 I was dropped at a different entrance due to building work, at 7a.m., alone ,due to Covid. Found my way and was shut in a room by myself from 7.-11 I had surgeon and anesthesist pop in and nurse to tell me I could use the loo and when to get into gown. 

I then walked across the corridor to theatre. In small room had nerve block injection which they had to have two attempts at , ouch! then had to get onto theatre table and wriggle around to correct position.

I came out of hospital 9 p.m. that night with drain attached. Walked down stairs and out to carpark met my husband in outer waiting room as not allowed on the ward!

I was glad to be home and most of this was down to Covid restrictions. 

It was my first ever surgery so all a very daunting experience. 

Hope you are doing ok. I have just finished 6/6 chemos and start Radiotherapy on 16th for 15 sessions so really hoping the worst is behind mex 

Yes, I had to do the same both times for my mastectomy and lymph node clearance.  And for the port, although that was done in a smaller radiology theatre which didn’t feel quite so intimidating.  It is apparently for Covid, although I’m not quite sure how it makes such a difference.  

I've had two surgeries in the last year and walked into theatre on both occasions however I was rather shocked at the difference I experienced despite both ops carried out in same day surgery unit. In the first surgery, the operating bed was heated and I thought "This is nice and warm!", anaesthetist asked for my hand, didn't even feel the cannula going in at all, other pre-op procedures were carried out very quickly, next thing I knew I was in recovery. Second surgery, had to wait in the corner of theatre while the team was preparing, getting nervous as it gave me time to see all the equipment, op bed was cold, waited around 5 mins on bed then anaesthetist began pulling on my arm several times before inserting the cannula, I'm thinking "That hurts!", then more fiddling and untangling tubes by them after which I'm out. My opinion at the difference I experienced...first time was an all female team, second time was an all male team and I definitely know who had the lighter touch! xx  

1. Oh gosh these experiences sound awful! I have just been diagnosed so am waiting for op date. I am petrified of being put to sleep though, I had an operation on my shoulder in 2010 and was crying as they wheeled me into theatre. Dreading it even more now.....

Hi Kate, sorry to hear that you feel traumatised after surgery, I hope your recovery goes well.

They are right due to covid we had to start anaesthetising in theatre as that has an airflow system and the anaesthetic rooms don’t and with them using aerosol generating gases there is less airflow to dispose of them in the small room. Our hospital are back to using the anaesthetic rooms but it is the anaesthetists choice as some still want to take precautions even though patients are screened for covid prior to surgery. It would have been better if this had been explained to you on the ward then it would not of been as distressing for you. Xx

Hi kate_4

I have had 2 operations in 2 different hospitals in 2 different areas of the country 5 years apart, including last Friday, and on both occasions walked to theatre from the pre-theatre area in my slippers and dressing gown.

I didn't find the experience "traumatic" in the least. On the most recent visit, it was the anaesthetist's assistant who collected me from the waiting area and walked me to the theatre. She was very friendly and reassuring and helped me onto the operating table, which certainly wasn't cold. Once on the table she made sure I was comfortable and continued chatting to me while the canula was inserted. 

I'm sorry that the experience of walking into theatre has left you "traumatised" but from both mine and my friends experiences walking in to theatre seems to be the normal thing to do unless you are too ill to be able to do that.

Perhaps you could speak to the hospital concerned and let them know that the surgery experience would be better if they informed people that they would be walking to the theatre. Both times I've had an operation I was given a leaflet in advance telling me to bring a dressing gown and slippers as I'd be walking to the operating theatre.

x

My surgery was in 2015.  They came to ward to collect us, told us to grab our pillow and walked to theatre, hugging pillow like teddy bear.  I went in office with theatre nurse who checked my details etc then walked into theatre to meet the team,  The theatre nurse and anaesthetist were so good at their job. Totally distracted me as  I sat on operating table, which was propped up into seating position,  while they chatted, attached monitors and even inserted the IV without me really noticing.  Next I'm coming around after surgery.

In 1995 when I had my daughter I needed emergency C section under general.  They ran with me on trolley to theatre then once in room with a sea of green gowned medics I was asked to climb off trolley onto operating table which was so narrow .  I suppose they afraid I'd fall off if they tried to slide me across !

Yes I walked from the ward and then to a side room off the operating theatre where I got myself up into the bed. I think it’s a bit strange they took you down on the bed tbh if you can walk fine. I’ve had several surgeries over the years and walked to the theatre/side room on all occasions x