UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Hi All

This coming Tuesday (10th) ive got my pre-op and i was just wondering what to expect

Thanks

luv

Emma xxx

Emma

If you are over 40 you should expect to go for an ECG before you go through the rest of the pre-op. The technician will give you a printout for the ward.

Once you are at the ward, and after you have waited a decent amount of time, a nurse will call you. She will talk to you about the procedure. She may have a model of an eye so that she can show you esactly what the ophthalmologist is going to do.

She will take your pulse and your blood pressure.

She will ask you questions about your general health. She will also ask you about any allergies. This is important.

You may also speak to a member of the ophthalmological team. You will be asked to sign a consent form.



If you have any questions for the team, this is an important opportunity to ask them.

All the best

Andrew

Andrew summed it up perfectly.

I recall having....

ECG,
Blood pressure
Weight and BMI
Blood test
Form detailing medical history, allergies and any medication you may be on.

I was given a couple of booklets about the operation and one on KC in general.

Emma,

This is all what I had and what nurses need to do before any surgery. As Andrew said if you are over 40 or have a cardiac history they will need an ECG. This is to make sure that your heart is fit and able to take an anaesthetic. They will also make sure that you haven't had any problems with anaesthetic before or any allergies.

Your past medical history is very important, a history of asthma especially if you have been to ICU, any lung or breathing problems, smoking or an ex smoker etc. This is all to make sure that you will be ok to have an anaesthetic.

They will also need your contact details and who they could contact in case of an emergency. This is not to worry you, but a standard procedure which all inpatients need to provide.

There is a lot of time for you to ask questions and sign the consent form. Please don't feel pressurised into doing anything or rushing through it as you will have time. You need to understand what it is that you are going to have done and be able to give informed consent.

Best of luck with it!! Hehe just a note ... but most people find that their blood pressure and heart rate goes a lot higher when in hospital!! Even health professionals have the same problem so please don't panic!!!!

Take care!!

When they took my blood pressure the first time - they decided it would be a bright idea if one nurse took my pressure and the other took blood from the other arm.

Needless to say, they had to do it again

Good luck when it comes, not that you'll need it!

Sarah

Sarah gee that is a rather silly thing to say the least!! LOL!!! Sounds like they were very rushed for time! Mind would be high if you were attacking me to take my blood pressure as well!! LOL!!!

Hi All

Thankyou very much for answering my Q.

Well they will have a field day with me just to give you an idea of how worried i am due to other health probs...
1. Severe allergies/sjogren's syndrome
2. 2005 ICU due to Necrotizing Fasciitis
3. Epilepsy
4. I have Lupus

My middle name's Lucky

Thats why im so worried and the hospital have put off doing my grafts over the yrs because im very high risk of infection.
The hospital are filling me with antibiotics before and after my op because of the Lupus/NF.

Its just down to me and am i BRAVE enough??

Thanks again

luv

Emma xxx

Emma

The poor nurse will have writer's cramp!

How do you cope with sjogren's? Is it a cse of addling endless hydration through sips of water andthe instillation of eye drops?

Andrew

Hi Andrew

Im always drinking water and applying lypsyl as my lips get so dry/sore and as for my eyes i forever taking my lenses out and filling them up with saline and i have the saline minims to take out with me (pain in the butt, but im used to it)

It bad during the night my eyes get so dry (like sandpaper) they start to crack then that triggers of the tears but it then stings and it takes ages for them to stop watering (from one extreme to another).

luv

Emma xxx