[karilcole]

#1059127

Hello everyone!

I am having Bilateral Ureterscopy w/ Laser Lithotripsy on Monday & now I am wondering if there was anything important I need to inform them of before surgery regarding my Graves. 😮
The only surgerys I have had were 3 c-sections & w/ all 3 I could not swallow. (This will be a 1st that I am being ‘knocked out’). I have already mentioned that to them but as far as the Graves, RAI in ’99 so no thyroid & my family Dr just changed my Armour dose & said “see you in a year”, so I am not sure where my levels are at the moment, I dont know what is a must to tell them before hand.

Is any of this something that I need to bring up? Graves since ’99, but unaware it was even an autoimmune disease until 1 1/2 yers ago. I was not told much back then & I have a lot to learn & understand, so please forgive me if this post sounds stupid. LoL

I just want to be sure I tell them what they need to know It will be 1 less thing to worry about.

Thanks so much!
Kari

[snelsen]

#1172386

Hi Kari,
Other than providing this information in your history, and I presume you may have received a phone call pre op asking what meds you are taking, I don’t believe that it makes a difference in your care, or that they would do anything different. With that surgery, I am assuming you are going home the same day. If you weren’t, then your thyroid med, dose, and time and method you take it, would need to be in the admission orders, so you would receive it in the hospital. I am not sure what you have been told, but I would take your thyroid with a little water before you go to the hospital. If you are not comfortable doing that, wait until you get home to take it.

It is a puzzle to me that you had swallowing issues with your C-sections, because it seems that you did not have a general anesthesia with your sections
(tube down your throat) so I cannot imagine why you had swallowing issues. But it doesn’t matter.

Since you are being “put out”have a general this time, some people do complain of a mild sore throat after the surgery Others don’t.

In summary, if they know the information you have written in your post, and the summary I covered in this post, they have what they need to know. They probably won’t do your thyroid labs, they won’t be interested, and they would not come back before your surgery, anyway.

The best to you with your surgery, you should do very well with that.
Shirley

[NLBatten]

#1172387

Hi Kari! My sympathies go out to you for kidney stones. I had this same procedure (3 times) last year and also had ureter stents put in and left for 4 weeks. You don’t mention that part, so I am really hoping you do not have to go through that. Without the stents, the surgery is pretty easy. Passing the stone fragments afterwards can be uncomfortable. If you have any questions about this procedure specifically or just need to vent, feel freem to message me directly.

All that said, I have to have another one this year. (One stubborn stone that refuses to break down and pass) and my urologist just said I need to be under 4.5 TSH and be in “normal” range. Given you recently had TSH tests and you are being treated, you should be fine. You do need to be sure the anesthesiologist knows about it though it is likely they know very little about GD. As an aside, this procedure with the stents is the physical stress that I suspect kicked my Graves into gear. Before my first procedure in July, TSH was totally normal. By my last one in November, I was very hyper – I just didn’t find out until December. Since you have had RAI and your Graves is controlled, I should think stress won’t affect you too much one way or another, but it might be worth calling your dr that monitors your GD in a few weeks and let him know you had surgery and see if you should have your levels checked. Just keep an eye on your symptoms and call dr if you need to. It won’t hurt them to run another test just to put your mind at ease.

Best of luck! Anesthesia can be a little scary to think about – especially the first time, but be sure anesthesiologist knows its your first time to have general anesthesia and they should walk you thru it.

Nancy

[NLBatten]

#1172388

Hi Kari! My sympathies go out to you for kidney stones. I had this same procedure (3 times) last year and also had ureter stents put in and left for 4 weeks. You don’t mention that part, so I am really hoping you do not have to go through that. Without the stents, the surgery is pretty easy. Passing the stone fragments afterwards can be uncomfortable. If you have any questions about this procedure specifically or just need to vent, feel freem to message me directly.

All that said, I have to have another one this year. (One stubborn stone that refuses to break down and pass) and my urologist just said I need to be under 4.5 TSH and be in “normal” range. Given you recently had TSH tests and you are being treated, you should be fine. You do need to be sure the anesthesiologist knows about it though it is likely they know very little about GD. As an aside, this procedure with the stents is the physical stress that I suspect kicked my Graves into gear. Before my first procedure in July, TSH was totally normal. By my last one in November, I was very hyper – I just didn’t find out until December. Since you have had RAI and your Graves is controlled, I should think stress won’t affect you too much one way or another, but it might be worth calling your dr that monitors your GD in a few weeks and let him know you had surgery and see if you should have your levels checked. Just keep an eye on your symptoms and call dr if you need to. It won’t hurt them to run another test just to put your mind at ease.

Best of luck! Anesthesia can be a little scary to think about – especially the first time, but be sure anesthesiologist knows its your first time to have general anesthesia and they should walk you thru it.

Nancy

[karilcole]

#1172389

Thank you for your response!

Snelsen, I have informed them of all the med history at the time of my only appt. They did call for a refresh on med history. I know I didnt mention the Graves but I will let them know before surgery.
As for the swallowing thing…I have no idea either. One nurse said maybe I recieved too much & with me being short (LoL) that could have done it. They just gave me a sucker thing like the dentist uses & unstrapped my arm so I could use it. :o) 2 Different hospitals & 3 c-sections…the same everytime. I thought it was srtange. Thanks for your response!

[karilcole]

#1172390

NLBatten,

Ugh, glad I am not the only 1 w/ these wonderful things! (Sorry you have them though..LoL) He didnt say anything about stents, but I know I have scar tissue on the right side & maybe this will cause a problem & need 1. I guess I will find out when I come to! haha
He is not doing my left side bc of that lovely stone that is stuck. I believe I will go back for that. It all happened so fast that I had to call the next day to find out all the details.

I actually do have some questions regarding your stones & graves. After this week, if you dont mind, I will take ya up on your offer & message you directly. Not sure how to do that, never have. LoL

Thanks so much for all of your info! UGH…Dooms Day has arrived! 4 hour ride, here I come! haha

Thanks again!!

[NLBatten]

#1172391

Hope it all went well. Ask away. I will try to be as helpful as I can. To send a private message, I think you just click on the PM under my name in my post or click on my profile and from there is a link for sending a private message.

DRINK LOTS OF WATER!!!!!

[Author]

Posts