Dd's pre-op appointment next week and I can't go. Help me write a list of questions to give xp to ask them please

[TheOriginalNutcracker]

Talk about timing. She's been waiting for over 12mths, during which I was only working very part time and could have gone when ever. The moment I accept a job, she gets the call to go for pre-op.

Xp is going to go with her, and they have said there will be a lot of form filling,and some tests and they will be there for 2-3 hours.
I want to make up a list of questions for xp to take with him, but as non of my dc have ever had any surgery, I have no idea what to ask.

If it makes any difference, it is Posterior spinal fusion surgery.

Any hints and tips would be really appreciated. TIA

Bump

Based on my mums fusion surgery (and she had her pre op appt for another fusion last week), the main thing that wasn't in the leaflet was the restrictions on sitting/standing afterwards - she was really limited in that.

I guess depending on your dds age, whether one of you can stay overnight with her, how long she'll need off school/sport, how long physio may go on for afterward

Must be very different from when my dd had her pre-op last year. But that was facial surgery.

Was in and out in under 10mins. The nurse just read out the leaflets we were send out.

I would ask about pain relief and recovery times.

How old is dd?

Does she need to stop any meds prior to surgery? Painkillers after?
How long will she be restricted regarding different activities? Walking, showering, school, sport etc?
How long a stay in hospital?
Visiting arrangements? Can you stay in?
Who arranges physio after? How soon after?
Do you know exactly what they do etc?
She may want to know what she can take from home and what entertainment there is. TV? Can she have a mobile?(Sorry don't know her age.)
Will she have a named nurse?
Dressing care? What happens with wound care when she gets home?

She is 15

Some brilliant questions on here, thank you. I feel so terribly guilty that I can;t go to the appointment, but it is my first day in my new job.

CMOT - Can you tell me a little more about the standing/sitting limitations please ? This is one of the (many) things that i'm worrying about.

Bumping
May be worth checking facilities for parents at hospital. Depending on how far away you live you may want to eat, get a coffee or even shower.

Yeh, we live about 30/40 min away by car depending on traffic.

I want to stay with her if I am allowed, which I think I am once she is on the ward, but not while she is in ITU.

My plan atm is to temporarily insure xp on my car so that he can do all of the ferrying around, bringing my mum and siblings to visit etc.

Do check if you can stay and visiting rules. Be aware wards sometimes close due to infection risk. Would this include you?
Does she have any special dietary requirements they need to know about?
When will consultant see her after surgery? How often?
How long on ITU?
Hoping she makes a speedy recovery.

Thank you wolfie

From what I know at the moment, parents can stay, but I will check about infection etc. I think she will be in ITU for 24hrs, then moved to the ward.
We've been told that she will be off school for roughly 7 weeks, and school are aware of this, and we are keeping them updated as we learn more.

Movement afterwards is something I want to know about because I want to know if she will need a wheelchair at all.
I know they get them up and moving as soon as possible, and don't let them home until they can walk upstairs, but I know she won't want to be stuck in the house all the time, so i'm wondering if hiring a wheelchair is a good idea or not ?

You can only ask. I'm not sure how happy she would be sitting in one. Be aware of the wheelchair being knocked into or jolted. Infection risk may mean she has to stay at home for a while.

I guess the limits depend on where the fusion is, and how it is done, but after the last fusion (7 years ago) I think initially mum was only allowed to sit for 10 minutes or stand for 10 mins, but iiirc walking was OK. She was given a frame to help stand up from the loo and chair raisers, and has been fitted for all those again. I don't think a wheelchair would be good - she'll need to keep changing position.
Mums fusions are lumbar, so obv a neck fusion would be different. Her preop appt last week was 5 hours, and she saw 7 diff people during that - physio, OT, nurses, spinal consultant etc, plus blood test, urine test and more x rays.
The incision last time was 4 cm long, and no trouble at all, so not an infection risk issue.

HUGE UPDATE : We went to see the consultant today just for a check up, and to have an x-ray. He said we were looking at 6 weeks until surgery.

However, on our way out, a nurse asked us to wait for a moment and then offered dd surgery next week !!!!

We stayed or the next few hours to do her pre-op, and so long as all of the results of that are ok, and the surgeon agrees, dd will go in on Monday and have her surgery on Tuesday.

Good luck to your Dd. hope all goes well.

Thank you

Feeling a bit shell shocked and panicked this morning, and upset by a couple of peoples reactions, but sod them.

Tonnes to sort out, so I better get off here lol.