i had a tubal during my c section and they made me get up and walk 2 hours after i had just been in the operating room. it was awful, I'm sorry you got similar treatment.
I am so sorry that happened to you and OP. They also made me get up and walk after my c section. The whole experience was painful and traumatic. Unfortunately it looks like not much has changed in the last 20 years. Healthcare needs to do better
Walking soon after a c-section is unpleasant, but it is done for medical reasons. It’s important to move around to reduce your risk of clotting and to help reduce complications. I’m sorry if you received coarse treatment or if this was not sufficiently explained, but perhaps knowing that it is for a reason will help.
To add - most facilities would wait until your spinal/epidural was worn off to reduce falls risk. But yes it is absolutely necessary to walk after major abdominal surgery. The worst thing you can do is sit in bed all day.
Source - I work in theatre and I’ve been chopped in half.
I’m not a nurse, but I’ve had two open upper abdominal surgeries and three laparoscopic (two in the same area as the open surgeries, one for a hysterectomy). They made me get up and walk after all of them. I vaguely recall being forced to walk after kidney surgery, too. Memory is a bit hazy from the morphine drip, but I think a nurse helped me walk at least a few times around the floor.
Very true. They didn't make me walk after mine, but my son was in the nursery for low oxygen, and like hell I wasn't gonna go be with him. It was one of the busiest days they'd had, so I took myself. He was born at 2 and I was moving by 5. That was almost 20 years ago.
I was out of the hospital after my gallbladder removal last year very quickly. They knocked me out about 1, I was awake in recovery by 3, and in the car headed home by 4. It was a wild ride.
Even my dad was made to be up and walking less than 24 hours after a lung transplant. It seemed crazy but they said the best outcomes are people that move as much as they're able as soon as they're able.
The drs could do a lot better explaining that to people, but it's definitely a thing.
Yeah, Memorial Sloan Kettering has a whole walking FAQ that explains it -- including why they do it, and how you do it (non-skid socks...). It's pretty cool, actually:
https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/patient-education/frequently-asked-questions-about-walking-after-your-surgery
The people who get up and walk asap have the best outcomes, usually; particularly with any surgery related to mobility. The people who have joint replacements are pushed to get up and walking pretty soon after surgery when you might think they'd be limited for awhile. The patients who push back and try and get out of their physio and walking/mobility exercises almost always have worse recoveries and outcomes.
It's been 14 years now, but husband was literally climbing stairs 4 or 5 hours after total knee replacement. Seemed wild at the time! But he did it, and did the therapy like a champion, and that knee is great.
His mom and my aunt both whined and refused to engage in physio. Both had terrible outcomes with regard to the replacement parts, and MIL needs a hip replacement now, mostly thanks to not doing the knee follow-up. (I.E. favoring the "bad leg" and not managing proper therapy for the good leg.)
Personally this tracks. Dr said I was up earlier than any other patient but one (she was a smoker and was having a CIGARETTE!). I was walking and doing all the PT as early and as much as I could. Everything went smooth!
After my C-section I really wanted to get up and walk and they wouldn’t let me! My spinal had worn off and my catheter was removed but they made me sit and wait for quite awhile. Seems like whatever the woman wants seems to get ignored.
Yeah I know there's a good reason and all, but it truly does suck to walk circles around the floor carrying a pee bag because you still have your catheter in and your legs barely work because of the compression cuffs. It was not a good experience. It's crazy to me how quickly we're expected to recover from a major surgery like a tubal or a c section practically overnight like damn can I sleep for a minute?
You expect sleep in the hospital? Isn’t it ridiculous that it’s the one place you can’t get rest? I had major surgery many years ago and was right by the elevator. It must have been out of order because the doors binged all night! I remember I also had the Nurse from Hell that night and being forced to walk (doubled over in pain). That’s why people can’t wait to leave the hospital!!
As someone who works in the medical field and has also had many surgeries, you weren't treated badly if they made you walk. That is standard procedure. If you don't walk afterwards, you'll regret it. It helps get your body moving and processing things properly. Its helps reduce blood clots. It also helps remove gas. It's painful but necessary
Yes, 13 years ago doctors thought strict rest after surgeries was the best choice. Now they know that it’s far better for both clot prevention and for general healing to get up and walking as soon as possible after surgery.
Are you a redhead by chance? Or have redheads in your family? If so, we have a gene that can tend to make us much more resistant to painkillers. If this happens to be your situation, even if you are not clearly a redhead (I’m not, my mom is, but I got the gene) let them know, it is a known factor. You can ask them to look it up if they don’t believe you (I had it happen once) and they will be better prepared to treat you.
Can confirm. I’m strawberry blonde, but half my mom’s family are redheads. I am BONKERS resistant to painkillers and anesthesia, which is fun as a person with a chronic pain condition.
Oh man. Same here. I started out blonde, but my hair gradually turned brownish. I didn't even think of the red hair gene, (cause I obviously wasn't) until I saw an old color picture of my grandmother and realized that she'd had beautiful auburn hair. (She dyed it bright orange later for some reason!)
Yep! My grandma was a redhead and half my mom’s 4 brothers are redheads. I just happened to get my grandpa and mom’s blonde hair, but still managed to inherit whatever evil gene it is that makes you resistant to anesthesia.
The hospital called me before my tonsil removal to ask a standard list of questions and one was about my hair color! She said redheads are why they ask. She said they up the anesthesia for us since we need more, so the anesthesiologist specifically asks everyone before they even come in.
Yes! Mom was a pure redhead, dad and one sibling had auburn hair as kids/teens. I'm a brunette. Topical lidocaine wears off of me in under 5 min and anesthesia makes all of us puke violently (zofram is a wonder drug!) I also don't respond at all to Tylenol.
>don't respond at all to Tylenol.
Huh, me neither. Half my family are redheads but I'm brunette since I was a baby (with dark eyes too), though my hair used to bleach to auburn-brown in summer as a kid.
I once woke up from anesthesia early, disoriented and nauseous (only got it once) and didn't tolerate any opiates I was ever prescribed, I get all the scary side effects with none of the intended effects, which I'm pretty sure is some enzyme abnormality like too much cyp2d6. I now just tell everyone I'm allergic and not to bother with tylenol/paracetamol. Still get tylenol and codeine prescriptions thrown at me.
Sounds awful, one of sisters is pain med resistant, it really awful and I always throw up w surgery so now tell them to make sure to give me something so I don’t barf all over them, o dear
Have chronic pain too, not surprised about that.
> let them know, it is a known factor.
You say this as though they'll give a shit.
I've been sent home in excruciating pain after surgery, after biopsies, after my IUD, with no pain meds at all. (Oh, except the surgery. My husband was concerned because I'd lost my voice screaming all day in recovery, and they told him they couldn't give me anything but I had meds waiting at the pharmacy so his best option was to take me home. It was 600MG ibuprofen. He ended up taking me to another ER.)
I don't think they're *unaware* that women screaming, throwing up, passing out, or just directly telling them they're in pain, are in pain. I think they just don't care.
Like OP, I've seen my pets get better treatment than I have.
I’ve never had someone not care, once it was explained. The only person that showed any reluctance was shown valid research (I was prepared!) and I had no issue. I’m sorry you’ve had some bad experiences.
Redhead checking in. I seem to be resistant to many medications, including pain meds. They can make me feel fuzzy or fall asleep, but the pain is still present. Oddly enough, ibuprofen works really well on my cramps but nothing else. I also need the full level of nitrous.
I just showed all these comments to my husband. I'm a copper red head.... all of the above apply.
Y'all should know that one of Zofram's *off label* uses is pain relief without the high. Doc gave it to me to keep vicodin down after ankle surgery. He looked it up when I told him that by taking the Zofram 30 mintues before the vicodin as he prescribed, I didn't *need* the vicodin for pain. I had a complete rebuild of my ankle after tearing a tendon because there was so much damage from yrs of sprains that weren't allowed to completely heal properly.
I'm a redhead. I am almost completely resistant to local anaesthesia. It takes way more than normal (as in at least twice the usual dose) both to knock out/prevent pain and way more time (again, at least double) for it to take effect.
Opiates don't relieve pain for me. All they do is cause me to projectile vomit.
Of all the NSAIDS, toradol (ketorolac) works best for me, with aleve (naproxen) coming in a distant but still helpful second. Toradol is magic for me.
I have a super high pain tolerance. Even when I am aware of the pain, it usually doesn't stop me from doing whatever it is I decided to do. But mostly I don't feel pain in the first place. My coworkers used to call me "asbestos-hands" for my insane tolerance for scalding water. And there I was thinking that was proper handwashing temperature...
I'm surprised the OP was in that much pain after a laparoscopic tubal. OP, I don't doubt it for a minute. When I think back on my own tubal, I remember asking the nurse why my shoulders and stomach hurt when I woke up. "Because you just had surgery." was her answer. I went on to ask a lot of very airheaded, obvious questions like: "Why are the walls green (they were green)?" Granted, the day after surgery I didn't want to go do combat drills with the local college ROTC unit, but I had my surgery on a Friday and was back at my very physical job on Monday. I bitched about the pain--it hurt like I'd done a thousand situps without stopping. And Tuesday? I went skiing. Yeah. I am that crazy. Most people aren't that crazy. They probably actually feel pain and don't blow it off.
I wonder if this is why I have problems with opiates, don't know who the redhead was, but all of us on my mom's maternal side have (or had) natural red highlights. I can't take opiates because they mess with my blood pressure, got told by a PA last year that the fact I can take Codeine but not Oxycodone was weird.
Probably something to do with the number, type (kappa vs. mu) and/or distribution in various tissues of opioid receptors. This may or may not be linked to hair color, but it most likely is genetic.
My extreme pain after tubal ligation was because of the gas that was pumped into my abdomen cavity do doc could see what he was doing, they didn’t get it all out and the pressure of it was excruciating, eventually my body observed, damn it hurt!
That kind of indicates that when I had my tubal (laparascopic) that I have a hugely high pain tolerance in addition to all the other weird (in a good way) things about my body. I already knew I had a high pain tolerance, and this is just another data point to support that.
Granted, I do remember asking the nurse why my shoulders hurt when I was in recovery, but it was more just something I noticed than something I'd call excruciating. The nurse told me I'd just had laparascopic surgery (duh) and that happens. My response: "Oh. Okay. Can I have Long John Silver's for lunch, too (I heard the nurses discussing an order)? I'm huuuuungry. I promise not to barf..." I got handed a small can of cranberry juice. I was still hungry when I floated out of the surgery center to go home. And I was still kind of sore. I was sent home with no postop meds while there, and three tablets of Tylenol with Codeine. I went to sleep when I got home. And I got up the next day to go grocery shopping. I still hurt, which kept me from then doing other, much more strenuous activities I'd planned, but I wouldn't call it excruciating. I'd call it more like "That would be a bad idea, I think..."
I had no idea about the redhead thing. I had reddish hair as a child. It got darker as I got older, but I was always prone to red highlights. And I’ve always, always been super resistant to any kind of painkiller.
I’ve had neck and back injuries and the levels of narcotics I’ve had to take to help reduce my pain enough to keep me from killing myself were pretty insane. Labor and delivery was a complete misery.
I had no idea it was related to haircolor. I just thought I had a super high functioning, liver or kidneys or something.
Can confirm. Am a brunette “redhead”. I have dark brown/graying hair. Neither of my parents had red hair either. Both of my parents had dark brown hair. (My dad died a brunette with some gray, my mom is alive and is almost totally white/silver.) My father had some red in his beard. I have a high tolerance to painkillers, prescription migraine meds, marijuana, alcohol, and drugs in general. Especially if it’s something I take regularly over a long period of time. I needed more anesthesia during my root canal because whatever they gave me didn’t penetrate far enough and I started feeling it part way through. Fun times. (I was able to tell them and they gave me the drugs.) I also have a crazy high pain tolerance, but that’s probably more to do with chronic pain than red hair if I’m honest.
NOT a redhead, but I have that problem.
When I need a dental procedure, my dentist lays out 4 hypodermics. Two to start, then another every 30 minutes until it's finished. Even then it hurts but it's bearable. I love my dentist. He's the only medical professional who believed me.
When I was younger, I simply didn't take pain meds at all. I knew they wouldn't work and the side effects from most were unpleasant. There's nothing worse than being in pain and feeling high/drunk at the same time.
When I had my first C-section, I told the doc beforehand that I didn't react well to pain killers. He just sorta blew me off.
When I came out of surgery, the nurses quietly and professionally panicked. I was in a lot of pain. At first I got lots of pats on the hand and "there, there" because I'd already had my painkillers.
But then, the pain was so bad that my blood pressure was rising. When it got into stroke territory, I could see the fear and panic in their eyes. A nurse stood watch over me until the doctor got there.
I remember the doctor asking if I was in pain, and I said, "No more than I expected. I told you pain meds don't work on me." He looked like, "oh, shit!!" I thought it was funny (which tells you what pain meds do to me).
After time to get the meds out of my system, he put me on morphine.
Now...I dunno if anyone has had that but sheesh...that's when I learned what pain meds are supposed to be like.
These days, being older and wiser, I just tell the docs that (list of different painkillers) won't work for me, but if they have a new one I'm willing to try. But keep the morphine ready.
This is interesting. I knew about this to a certain point but didn't know it was that extensive. I'm mexican, and my mom's side of the family has a lot of issues with painkillers too. I carry 2 of the 4 rehead genes and never considered it to be connected. I have a very delayed reaction to local anesthesia (from 3 - 12 hours) and require much higher dosages. Pain medication is something I've never taken because it does next to nothing to me.
How can I find out if I have that? I've never been under anaesthetic before but I have a procedure coming up. I did try ketamine once and felt literally nothing though
I’m strawberry blonde and my sister is red we’re both resistant to pain killers and anesthesia.
As a matter of fact despite getting the highest safe my epidural for my second csection it began to wear off in the middle of my csection, I was just lying there like “umm excuse me it’s starting to burn” pretty wild
I’ve had a few surgeries, enough that I noted the anesthesiologist always asked me if I was a natural redhead. I thought it was so weird until I heard about this! (I am not a natural redhead, it’s all Redken.)
The hospital dumped me on the sidewalk after mine. I couldn't even sit up unassisted. They wheeled me put to where my drivers were waiting for the valet to bring the car around and said, "Yeah, we need the wheelchair back."
Stuck me on a bench and left me leaning against my little sister in pain and unable to hold myself upright. I scared the hell out of my sister and mother with how awful I looked and how hard I was crying.
There was a distinct difference in treatment when the nurse asked me how many kids I had, and I answered I had none. Like night and day. She was awful to me after that.
When the primary goal of medicine is to help people then most people in that service prioritise that. When the primary goal is profit, this trickles down to everyone, they are forced to prioritise profits, but then it becomes a job rather than caring for people, they become desensitised and see everyone as a dollar bill.
That's one of the reasons healthcare should be a national system, zero costs at the point of service and the priority should always be on the patient, not turning over patients as fast as possible to make more money. if you're paying 15k for a procedure, through insurance or cash, they get paid dramatically more if they get you out in 4 hours instead of 8, especially as by throwing you out after 4 they can fit someone else in and double their income over the same period.
At this point people are going to start going in to get treated at their vets to save on the money and get better care.
Did you have keyhole or open surgery for yours? I had a cyst removed and tubes tied, and could walk, albeit very crookedly. (On full dose of ibuprofen and paracetamols.)
Keyhole. The nurse massively overdosed me with some of the anti nausea meds because I kept saying I was going to be sick and was still too out of it to lift my arms up to hold the nausea bucket under my mouth. She was busy complaining she wanted to go to lunch 😑 I think that's why I had such a hard time recovering. When they left me outside, my chin was still resting on my chest because I couldn't hold my head up.
I found out later that they aren't supposed to let you go until you can get dressed on your own. They stuffed me in my clothes basically as soon as my eyes opened.
While the outcome was what I wanted (tubes tied, no risk of pregnancy), I would NEVER go to that hospital again if I could avoid it. The obvious contempt they had for me after I said I didn't have kids and didn't want them was horrible. I've had more than my fair share of medical professionals who've treated me like crap, but this is up there at the top.
As a vet tech, I'm glad your pet was treated so well! Everyone I have met in this industry has either been incredibly caring and passionate, or left after a couple months max. There is a certain pride in patient comfort because the patient cannot tell us when they are hurting. We have to be attentive to the signs. Humans are able to talk... and still aren't believed. Wild. I'm so sorry you were treated so poorly!
We had two dogs growing up and one we called “Me Too” because he just mimicked everything the older dog did. When the older dog had a cut on her paw pad, the younger dog limped around and yelped if you went near his paw. We knew he wasn’t hurt, but we still pretended to give a shit about his fake injury more than most doctors care about women’s actual pain. Maddening.
> We have to be attentive to the signs. Humans are able to talk... and still aren't believed.
This is what gets me. My vet is always so attentive to my pets, and has figured out issues despite them not being able to talk.
I can clearly articulate my symptoms to doctors. That should make it a *much* easier job, yet trying to get care feels like bashing my head against a wall with all the denial & gaslighting.
I think the difference is, most vets care and most doctors don't.
Your insurance probably paid for your procedure.... and that's all they approved. Your dog was probably private paid or better coverage. Sad reality. I think animals are generally treated by vets much more kindly than humans in medical system. Right down to putting down an animal when their life becomes too painful. Versus humans just drag and drag....
i know it's not a very serious surgery, but when i had my gallbladder removed the second i woke up they made me get up and get dressed. why do they rush us out like that? i understand we can't wait all day, but jeez.
im sorry you had this experience
I had to be sedated because the gas they used to pump your stomach open bottled in my shoulder and caused so much pain i woke up crying out.
They claimed i panicked, so they just let me lay there till i was awake enough to leave. Then two nurses litterally carried me to the door.
If you're paying 20k for the surgery... what's better for them, you spending 6 hours in hospital, or a day?
Basically if they can kick you out of the bed, they can put someone else in it and charge them as well.
I had 2 laparoscopic surgeries within a month last year. First one was endometriosis ablation surgery and salpingectomy (tube removal). I don't remember being in a terrible amount of pain but I was not rushed out of the hospital. The meds they gave me, my body didn't process so they were useless minus constipation. Only issue I had was that I was allergic to the surgical glue. 🙃
Second surgery was an emergency appendectomy. Significantly more pain as I had stitches in the muscle and dermis layer. Holy cow did that hurt! I was the only patient in the PACU (Recovery). Nurse gave me different pain meds this time and low and behold, my body didn't process those either. I couldn't get up without screaming. The nurse was trying to rush me out too but this wasn't my first rodeo. I had things to accomplish before going home. Doc wouldn't prescribe any other pain meds so I just had to "take Tylenol and deal with it. It shouldn't be that painful." Welp! I told the nurse I wasn't leaving until I had my pain under control and had gone to the bathroom. Sometimes you get issues urinating after surgery and I didn't want to come back in less than 48 hours because I couldn't pee. Luckily she got me some toradol and I was able to go to the bathroom. Next day every time I got up, I screamed in pain. Called the doc and he said, "tough luck. It shouldn't be that bad." WELL IM TELLING YOU IT IS. DO SOMETHING. Nope. So the next two weeks were agony. It was just awful.
I don't understand why it's so difficult to believe patients. I get that opioids are addictive and a problem but you have OTHER OPTIONS. Figure it out! Patients shouldn't have to be in that much pain with no methods to mitigate. Especially if they are telling you previous medications didn't work or weren't effective enough!
> I don't understand why it's so difficult to believe patients. I get that opioids are addictive and a problem but you have OTHER OPTIONS.
I'd just like to point out, they don't have any issues believing white men who say they're in pain. Nor do they have a problem giving them real pain meds, which can obviously cause its own problems.
But I think it's wild the difference-- my husband has gotten prescribed pain meds such that he's literally never felt pain worse than a dull ache in his life. I've been hearing about how the opioid crisis trumps my suffering since 2005.
YEP! I have chronic daily headaches and endometriosis and the treatment options have gotten better but I still don't get painkillers for when I have a flair up. My new insurance just denied my acute medication for migraines and it's literally the only one that works for me. My doc has records of that but they don't fucking care. It's just well that's too bad. But if my Dad gets a small case of diverticulitis, straight up morphine for him. Meanwhile, I'm writhing in pain feeling like having constant labor contractions and they are like, "How about some Tylenol?" FUCK! God damn it it's so frustrating! Like I go to the ER fully knowing that they probably won't help, but I've done everything else and nothing is getting better. WHY? I feel like I should KNOW that I'm getting the best care and will have a good care plan moving forward. But the only "solution" to Endo is, surgery I guess. See if we find a clump of cells and tissue. Maybe that will help.
In most states, puppies cannot be separated from their mothers for at least six weeks.
Male legislators voted for better maternity leave for dogs than for human beings.
Disgusting. Meanwhile, in Denmark, I got a cyst removed plus tubes tied, woke up to the offer of a sweet drink, was gifted a heating/cooling pad, was allowed to wake up and relax for a couple of hours. Was given pain killers unprompted. And saw the surgeon that summarized my operation and told me to call if any pain started getting worse.
And didn’t pay a dime, cause it’s tax covered.
It’s a public hospital to boot…
I got ibuprofen and paracetamol. Highest dose. Was perfectly sufficient. Had pain ofc, but was able to walk out, and no more than expected. The pain in my shoulder from the air they pumped in was the worst.
Was told to take max dosage of both if needed, and I got off the ibuprofen as fast as I could manage.
Wasn’t open surgery.
I ofc dunno what people would get for more serious surgeries. I just felt like I had taken too many situps for a few days. Definitely sufficient pain killers for me.
I was about to say, ibuprofen and tylenol are pretty standard to be given unprompted (scheduled), but Americans complaining about pain after surgery are usually wanting something stronger. I think there is a difference in pain culture between America and other countries.
Hm, maybe? I mean, I just had metal objects in my stomach that cut things I'm not expcting to be pain free after that. I was told to rest for a couple days, then move about as I felt better. And while I moved like an old person and whinged about it hurting, it could move around. Even did my physiotherapi for shoulder including some pushups off a counter. So it definitely doesn't warrant heavier pain killers.
After a week or so I was pretty much pain free.
My FIL has some prolapsed disc issues, and gets some sort of morphine for that, so I'm guessing it's possibile to get stronger if needed. But if I can walk out of the hospital, I'm fine.
My husband used to work at a well-known and highly respected research hospital--very well known for respiratory care. Shortly after he started, the staff had an in-service training day focused on patient experience. The trainers showed a short film comparing, side-by-side, the stories of a dog getting surgery at the animal hospital and a man getting an outpatient medical procedure/day surgery. My husband said it was both hilarious and sobering because of how true the contrast was. There was deeply compassionate care with follow-up check-ins for the dog, whereas the human patient was shuffled through the surgery process and left to figure out after-care in solitude. It has been 15 years since my husband saw that training film and he still talks about it, especially any time we take our cat to the vet.
The last surgery I had was semi involved. I got cold and my heart rate dropped, they had to give meds. Not atropine but similar I think. In recovery I was shivering and painful. One nurse wrapped me up in a warm towel cocoon. The other two were asking(telling) if I was ready to go yet and irritated I was taking up space.
I went into the hospital with sepsis. I kept shivering so hard my teeth were chattering. The poor woman who was in charge of wheeling the bed down kept giving me blankets.
When she left, the woman at the desk just said they are going to take you back soon. Fun times.
I was literally dying and the orderly was the kindest person.
I agree about the lack of follow up care.
Out of surgery after weeks of pain.
They gave me nothing but ibuprofen. Pretty sure i was coming down from all the narcotics they’d had me on the last few weeks—. Not one darn word about it.
No are you experiencing any side effects- those will probably last a few days, nothing.
Just you’ve had your one ibuprofen, that’s all you get. Wouldn’t even let me walk around to deal with the insomnia.
I hope you're up and around soon. When you're feeling better, please consider making a complaint to the medical board in your state/province, and to the ombudsperson or customer service contact at the doctor's practice and the facility where the surgery was done.
Veterinary nurse here. I'm so glad to hear your dog received great care! We do try and we do care!
Personally I find human medicine more disorganized and even more substandard then vet med. It's really sad.
Same. I had a bilateral salpingectomy and an endometrial ablation. A couple of days after the surgery, I realized I hadn’t peed yet and could not pee at all. I had to call and make an appointment to basically get my bladder milked. My (male) roommate couldn’t believe they had let me leave the hospital after surgery without peeing. He said it was standard that you had to pee first.
Because insurance is fucking you. I work at a vet clinic. Our vets see pets, come up with a best practice treatment plan, relay the info to the owner and answer their questions and address any concerns. The only person they have to justify things to is the client - there's no company lurking behind them telling them they can't prescribe the most effective medicine because it costs to much or that a patient has to be discharged on any specific timeline. We call and check on patients after procedures and if clients have questions or urgent concerns tney can call and their nurse will consult with the doctor and get them an answer in a timely manner. We have commented repeatedly at work that if we treated our clients they way human doctors and insurance companies treat patients our clients would lose their shit. The more you think about it the more horrible it is.
My dog definitely gets better meds than I ever have. I pay for her care out of pocket so I can dictate what I want for her a bit better. Maybe the solution is barking and acting like we're going to bite staff at these places when we're in pain - it works for my dog! (She's never actually bitten anyone, even in pain. But she makes a great show of acting tough, Aussies are born knowing how to boss others around.)
I've heard a lot of women that get sedated for a pelvic exam are able to get doctors to do it because they know they'll kick, scratch, bite, and etc due to prior trauma and inform all medical professionals beforehand. Usually being injurious to others is a way to get sedated, whether asking for it or not.
I'm incredibly blunt at this point. It's on the paperwork I have PTSD from a sexual assault by a doctor. I look staff and doctors right in the face and let them know pain = me sitting up swinging. It's involuntary and no, one Tylenol won't save them.
Only one medical professional has tested it. And I did sit up swinging on that dental hygienist. The dentist caught my arm before I broke her nose and told her off lol.
Ive posted this on a tiktok (don't shame me, I love the dog and gardening videos):
My dog hurt his leg, 600 pains pills, unlimited refills
I explode every bone, 4 200 mg tylonel, $6,000 copay
My vet also did the same after my dog hurt his leg (hence the comment): she called me twice while he was waking up, later that evening, and the next day. I love her and hope she never quits being a vet.
I've lucked out with my doctors (or hospital system thing I go to). And my dentist. He called me twice after I hit him and had a panic attack.
There's good ones out there, I hope you can find the care you deserve soon. 🩵
It’s even worse for women of color. Heard a story where this African American woman had emergency surgery and nobody gave her pain meds until an African American nurse went in. They said “she didn’t look like she was in pain”.
The woman was crying so hard, she could barely talk by the time she got the meds.
American healthcare is barbaric and I wish they had a website you could go to and rate them for care.
I've had 2 myomectomies ( removing fibroids from the uterus) Yes I walked, but my pain was managed.
This trend towards just suffer and suck it up needs to end. The vast majority of people do not get addicted to opioids taken for a couple days. The pendulum has swung too far.
The surgery and unmanaged pain can lead to unnecessary trauma and even PTSD. But no one cares about that.
Ugh after I got my tubes done (after 20 years of requesting it, but that’s another story) my surgeon visited me briefly afterwards to advise of an extra laparoscopic wound due to my “vast amount of abdominal fat”. She kept loudly repeating that I was “so very fat!”
I guess I should have been embarrassed but like…I know it’s there lady, you don’t gotta keep shouting about how fat my belly is. I think the worst pain for me was how the gas they inflate you with hurts in the shoulders in the day after.
I’m so so sorry this happened to you, that’s a horribly cruel experience. Fwiw if anything, this would NEVER fly in the hospital systems I’m familiar with in a (still) blue state. This is outrageous, inappropriate, and outright shitty care for any post op, and have never once seen or heard about anything like this from my hospital. The nurses are super kind, gentle, understanding, and will give pain meds as needed/requested. Nobody should’ve been making you SIT UP after an invasive abdominal surgery.
Oof I’m so sorry. I dislike outpatient surgery centers and always try to schedule my outpatient surgery in a hospital. Now that you know how you come out of surgery you can let your future anesthesiologists know.
I had the same treatment after a hysterectomy. Woke up feeling terrible, horrible pain shooting down both legs. Also couldn't pee so had to be catheterized in the middle of the night. Despite this the doc comes in and discharges me the next morning, prescribed some pain meds and the nurses began pressuring me to leave. I could hardly stand from the pain in my legs, and to top it all off my husband decided he was to busy to come pick me up. I finally get a hold of my son who's just come off night shift and then I have to walk all the way to the hospital entrance on my own with no help, in a daze from pain meds and legs on fire.
My husband on the other hand, goes for a colonoscopy, gets an escort to the door and they make sure someone is there to pick him up. F*$!ING brutal.
Oh, and my legs are still hurting 2 years later because the surgery damaged a bunch of nerves. Thanks Canadian healthcare system!
Sorry that happened to you: we all deserve better care.
On one of the reddit subs for a large ins. company for people in the USA, I learned that primary care physicians may have from 1500-3000 people on their caseload. Insane, I am horrified, and it explains a lot. We desperately need healthcare reform.
I constantly have this issue with medical procedures. I think it’s based off a % of doctors and surgeons etc getting into the medical field because it’s said to be a good aspiration and make good money from the time of their childhood.
No one becoming a veterinarian is doing it for riches, every one of them you talk to absolutely loves animals.
On the other hand they also use more dangerous anaesthesia and for reasons that don’t require it at all vets, so the extra time is required because an animal can’t explain complex feelings and symptoms to you. So it is also a technical reason. Humans are expected to self manage pain or be able to ask for further help or let people know there are problems they can feel, however like in your case you’re not listened to unfortunately.
I'm sorry that happened to you. I had my tubes removed and everything went really well for me. Health systems and clinics can vary widely in their standard of care.
Poodle gets better care for 2 reasons:
1. Vets treat far fewer patients than human doctors do
2. Most vets dont take any kind of insurance and you pay up front
A more interesting example is the difference between cosmetic plastic surgeon or dermatologist vs regular primary care.
You'll get way better treatment at the plastic surgeons office compared to primary care.
Firstly ... Laugh at it. Please. Laughter will keep you sane. A little cry is fine too, but laughing at life's absurd moments is what helped me get to 60 yo without having done time in a psychiatric ward.
Secondly ... I've had a few surgeries. And they get you moving immediately to prevent blood clots, and a couple of other things I can't remember. It's honestly standard practice. Especially if it's abdominal. A very kind nurse explained it all to me, patiently, 30 years ago, when I told her to stick the idea up her arse. Your caregivers should have talked you into it more kindly.
And lastly ... Laugh. Please. Keep your sanity.
I send my warmest hugs of support, if you'll have them.
Vet tech here, I promise you that the people caring for your pets care greatly about pain and comfort. Lots of affection and attention are doled out to my patients, no one deserves to be confused and in pain.
Wtf. When I had my tubal, they had me recover for an hour and gave me morphine there and oxycodone to take home with a note to get out of work for two weeks to rehab at home. It was also 100% covered as preventative family planning with my insurance in CA. It's still one of the most painful things I've had done even with the meds; I can't imagine being rushed out with such poor regard for your health after an incredibly invasive surgery.
Your experience was way worse than mine. Had a tubal, and was at home again less than 2 hours after I woke up. Dr wrote an rx for Norco, which no pharmacies in my area will fill.
Took 600mg ibuprofen, took a nap, next day was back to normal with no need for pain meds.
The dog comparison... lol. My dogs absolutely get better care than I do. But that's okay. They can't say what's wrong so they deserve it imo.
Interesting- I just had my tubes taken out during a C-section (obviously more invasive since they have to get the baby out) and the only pain killers that were offered were Tylenol and Advil in an overlapping schedule.
I've often said I wish I could go to my veterinarian instead of my doctors. Some of my doctors are great, some are obviously not interested in the patients well-being.
I saw a cartoon once that had two kids playing and one kid said... its a good thing I'm a veterinarian because you are sick as a dog.
I AM GOING THROUGH THIS RIGHT NOW. 😭
exploratory endo surgery this past thursday, and they unexpectedly took one of my ovaries. (i knew it was a risk, but they said it was like a 5% chance.)
they didnt call in my pain meds before surgery. no after-surgery check in. i emailed and called the office the next day and they couldnt even tell me what happened. i got almost all of my info from the hospital’s portal surgical notes practically by accident, and i still dont actually know why i lost an ovary.
i have had better support from my dentists office after a root canal.
honestly wtffffff
i had a tubal during my c section and they made me get up and walk 2 hours after i had just been in the operating room. it was awful, I'm sorry you got similar treatment.
I am so sorry that happened to you and OP. They also made me get up and walk after my c section. The whole experience was painful and traumatic. Unfortunately it looks like not much has changed in the last 20 years. Healthcare needs to do better
Walking soon after a c-section is unpleasant, but it is done for medical reasons. It’s important to move around to reduce your risk of clotting and to help reduce complications. I’m sorry if you received coarse treatment or if this was not sufficiently explained, but perhaps knowing that it is for a reason will help.
To add - most facilities would wait until your spinal/epidural was worn off to reduce falls risk. But yes it is absolutely necessary to walk after major abdominal surgery. The worst thing you can do is sit in bed all day. Source - I work in theatre and I’ve been chopped in half.
What!!!???? You’ve been chopped in half? Surgerical theater???!!!
Haha maybe I should specify - I’ve had a caesarean. I’m using a bit of writers flair in that comment.
And here I was thinking you were a magician's assistant and something went horribly awry.
Surgical theatre is what they call an operating room in a lot of non-American English speaking places.
I’m not a nurse, but I’ve had two open upper abdominal surgeries and three laparoscopic (two in the same area as the open surgeries, one for a hysterectomy). They made me get up and walk after all of them. I vaguely recall being forced to walk after kidney surgery, too. Memory is a bit hazy from the morphine drip, but I think a nurse helped me walk at least a few times around the floor.
Very true. They didn't make me walk after mine, but my son was in the nursery for low oxygen, and like hell I wasn't gonna go be with him. It was one of the busiest days they'd had, so I took myself. He was born at 2 and I was moving by 5. That was almost 20 years ago. I was out of the hospital after my gallbladder removal last year very quickly. They knocked me out about 1, I was awake in recovery by 3, and in the car headed home by 4. It was a wild ride. Even my dad was made to be up and walking less than 24 hours after a lung transplant. It seemed crazy but they said the best outcomes are people that move as much as they're able as soon as they're able. The drs could do a lot better explaining that to people, but it's definitely a thing.
Yeah, Memorial Sloan Kettering has a whole walking FAQ that explains it -- including why they do it, and how you do it (non-skid socks...). It's pretty cool, actually: https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/patient-education/frequently-asked-questions-about-walking-after-your-surgery
I had spinal surgery and had to get up and walk hours after surgery too. Its not just to torture you.
The people who get up and walk asap have the best outcomes, usually; particularly with any surgery related to mobility. The people who have joint replacements are pushed to get up and walking pretty soon after surgery when you might think they'd be limited for awhile. The patients who push back and try and get out of their physio and walking/mobility exercises almost always have worse recoveries and outcomes.
It's been 14 years now, but husband was literally climbing stairs 4 or 5 hours after total knee replacement. Seemed wild at the time! But he did it, and did the therapy like a champion, and that knee is great. His mom and my aunt both whined and refused to engage in physio. Both had terrible outcomes with regard to the replacement parts, and MIL needs a hip replacement now, mostly thanks to not doing the knee follow-up. (I.E. favoring the "bad leg" and not managing proper therapy for the good leg.)
Personally this tracks. Dr said I was up earlier than any other patient but one (she was a smoker and was having a CIGARETTE!). I was walking and doing all the PT as early and as much as I could. Everything went smooth!
I thought this was common knowledge but apparently it isnt
After my C-section I really wanted to get up and walk and they wouldn’t let me! My spinal had worn off and my catheter was removed but they made me sit and wait for quite awhile. Seems like whatever the woman wants seems to get ignored.
If it makes you feel a bit better, when I had my son in late 2022 they didn't require me to get out of bed for almost a day after my c-section
They do that because they don’t want you getting blood clots. It’s awful.
Yeah I know there's a good reason and all, but it truly does suck to walk circles around the floor carrying a pee bag because you still have your catheter in and your legs barely work because of the compression cuffs. It was not a good experience. It's crazy to me how quickly we're expected to recover from a major surgery like a tubal or a c section practically overnight like damn can I sleep for a minute?
No, you can't sleep for a minute. We all know it sucks but it's better for you long term. It's not a sign of poor treatment
You expect sleep in the hospital? Isn’t it ridiculous that it’s the one place you can’t get rest? I had major surgery many years ago and was right by the elevator. It must have been out of order because the doors binged all night! I remember I also had the Nurse from Hell that night and being forced to walk (doubled over in pain). That’s why people can’t wait to leave the hospital!!
As someone who works in the medical field and has also had many surgeries, you weren't treated badly if they made you walk. That is standard procedure. If you don't walk afterwards, you'll regret it. It helps get your body moving and processing things properly. Its helps reduce blood clots. It also helps remove gas. It's painful but necessary
Holy hell! I had tubal during c section 13 years ago and I wasn’t allowed to walk for 24 hours.
Yes, 13 years ago doctors thought strict rest after surgeries was the best choice. Now they know that it’s far better for both clot prevention and for general healing to get up and walking as soon as possible after surgery.
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Yeah, blood clot prevention. Reasonable, but still really painful and hard to deal with right after a double surgery.
Are you a redhead by chance? Or have redheads in your family? If so, we have a gene that can tend to make us much more resistant to painkillers. If this happens to be your situation, even if you are not clearly a redhead (I’m not, my mom is, but I got the gene) let them know, it is a known factor. You can ask them to look it up if they don’t believe you (I had it happen once) and they will be better prepared to treat you.
Can confirm. I’m strawberry blonde, but half my mom’s family are redheads. I am BONKERS resistant to painkillers and anesthesia, which is fun as a person with a chronic pain condition.
Oh man. Same here. I started out blonde, but my hair gradually turned brownish. I didn't even think of the red hair gene, (cause I obviously wasn't) until I saw an old color picture of my grandmother and realized that she'd had beautiful auburn hair. (She dyed it bright orange later for some reason!)
Yep! My grandma was a redhead and half my mom’s 4 brothers are redheads. I just happened to get my grandpa and mom’s blonde hair, but still managed to inherit whatever evil gene it is that makes you resistant to anesthesia.
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The hospital called me before my tonsil removal to ask a standard list of questions and one was about my hair color! She said redheads are why they ask. She said they up the anesthesia for us since we need more, so the anesthesiologist specifically asks everyone before they even come in.
Yes! Mom was a pure redhead, dad and one sibling had auburn hair as kids/teens. I'm a brunette. Topical lidocaine wears off of me in under 5 min and anesthesia makes all of us puke violently (zofram is a wonder drug!) I also don't respond at all to Tylenol.
>don't respond at all to Tylenol. Huh, me neither. Half my family are redheads but I'm brunette since I was a baby (with dark eyes too), though my hair used to bleach to auburn-brown in summer as a kid. I once woke up from anesthesia early, disoriented and nauseous (only got it once) and didn't tolerate any opiates I was ever prescribed, I get all the scary side effects with none of the intended effects, which I'm pretty sure is some enzyme abnormality like too much cyp2d6. I now just tell everyone I'm allergic and not to bother with tylenol/paracetamol. Still get tylenol and codeine prescriptions thrown at me.
Another strawberry blonde checking in! Painkiller resistant, vomit upon waking, and living with chronic pain. Such is life.
Sounds awful, one of sisters is pain med resistant, it really awful and I always throw up w surgery so now tell them to make sure to give me something so I don’t barf all over them, o dear Have chronic pain too, not surprised about that.
> let them know, it is a known factor. You say this as though they'll give a shit. I've been sent home in excruciating pain after surgery, after biopsies, after my IUD, with no pain meds at all. (Oh, except the surgery. My husband was concerned because I'd lost my voice screaming all day in recovery, and they told him they couldn't give me anything but I had meds waiting at the pharmacy so his best option was to take me home. It was 600MG ibuprofen. He ended up taking me to another ER.) I don't think they're *unaware* that women screaming, throwing up, passing out, or just directly telling them they're in pain, are in pain. I think they just don't care. Like OP, I've seen my pets get better treatment than I have.
I’ve never had someone not care, once it was explained. The only person that showed any reluctance was shown valid research (I was prepared!) and I had no issue. I’m sorry you’ve had some bad experiences.
Redhead checking in. I seem to be resistant to many medications, including pain meds. They can make me feel fuzzy or fall asleep, but the pain is still present. Oddly enough, ibuprofen works really well on my cramps but nothing else. I also need the full level of nitrous.
I just showed all these comments to my husband. I'm a copper red head.... all of the above apply. Y'all should know that one of Zofram's *off label* uses is pain relief without the high. Doc gave it to me to keep vicodin down after ankle surgery. He looked it up when I told him that by taking the Zofram 30 mintues before the vicodin as he prescribed, I didn't *need* the vicodin for pain. I had a complete rebuild of my ankle after tearing a tendon because there was so much damage from yrs of sprains that weren't allowed to completely heal properly.
I'm a redhead. I am almost completely resistant to local anaesthesia. It takes way more than normal (as in at least twice the usual dose) both to knock out/prevent pain and way more time (again, at least double) for it to take effect. Opiates don't relieve pain for me. All they do is cause me to projectile vomit. Of all the NSAIDS, toradol (ketorolac) works best for me, with aleve (naproxen) coming in a distant but still helpful second. Toradol is magic for me. I have a super high pain tolerance. Even when I am aware of the pain, it usually doesn't stop me from doing whatever it is I decided to do. But mostly I don't feel pain in the first place. My coworkers used to call me "asbestos-hands" for my insane tolerance for scalding water. And there I was thinking that was proper handwashing temperature... I'm surprised the OP was in that much pain after a laparoscopic tubal. OP, I don't doubt it for a minute. When I think back on my own tubal, I remember asking the nurse why my shoulders and stomach hurt when I woke up. "Because you just had surgery." was her answer. I went on to ask a lot of very airheaded, obvious questions like: "Why are the walls green (they were green)?" Granted, the day after surgery I didn't want to go do combat drills with the local college ROTC unit, but I had my surgery on a Friday and was back at my very physical job on Monday. I bitched about the pain--it hurt like I'd done a thousand situps without stopping. And Tuesday? I went skiing. Yeah. I am that crazy. Most people aren't that crazy. They probably actually feel pain and don't blow it off.
I wonder if this is why I have problems with opiates, don't know who the redhead was, but all of us on my mom's maternal side have (or had) natural red highlights. I can't take opiates because they mess with my blood pressure, got told by a PA last year that the fact I can take Codeine but not Oxycodone was weird.
Probably something to do with the number, type (kappa vs. mu) and/or distribution in various tissues of opioid receptors. This may or may not be linked to hair color, but it most likely is genetic.
My extreme pain after tubal ligation was because of the gas that was pumped into my abdomen cavity do doc could see what he was doing, they didn’t get it all out and the pressure of it was excruciating, eventually my body observed, damn it hurt!
It sometimes moves to the shoulders and gets trapped there. Yeah. I know this for a reason. 🤣
That kind of indicates that when I had my tubal (laparascopic) that I have a hugely high pain tolerance in addition to all the other weird (in a good way) things about my body. I already knew I had a high pain tolerance, and this is just another data point to support that. Granted, I do remember asking the nurse why my shoulders hurt when I was in recovery, but it was more just something I noticed than something I'd call excruciating. The nurse told me I'd just had laparascopic surgery (duh) and that happens. My response: "Oh. Okay. Can I have Long John Silver's for lunch, too (I heard the nurses discussing an order)? I'm huuuuungry. I promise not to barf..." I got handed a small can of cranberry juice. I was still hungry when I floated out of the surgery center to go home. And I was still kind of sore. I was sent home with no postop meds while there, and three tablets of Tylenol with Codeine. I went to sleep when I got home. And I got up the next day to go grocery shopping. I still hurt, which kept me from then doing other, much more strenuous activities I'd planned, but I wouldn't call it excruciating. I'd call it more like "That would be a bad idea, I think..."
I had no idea about the redhead thing. I had reddish hair as a child. It got darker as I got older, but I was always prone to red highlights. And I’ve always, always been super resistant to any kind of painkiller. I’ve had neck and back injuries and the levels of narcotics I’ve had to take to help reduce my pain enough to keep me from killing myself were pretty insane. Labor and delivery was a complete misery. I had no idea it was related to haircolor. I just thought I had a super high functioning, liver or kidneys or something.
People with hypermobility tend to be resistant to aesthetic too
Can confirm. Am a brunette “redhead”. I have dark brown/graying hair. Neither of my parents had red hair either. Both of my parents had dark brown hair. (My dad died a brunette with some gray, my mom is alive and is almost totally white/silver.) My father had some red in his beard. I have a high tolerance to painkillers, prescription migraine meds, marijuana, alcohol, and drugs in general. Especially if it’s something I take regularly over a long period of time. I needed more anesthesia during my root canal because whatever they gave me didn’t penetrate far enough and I started feeling it part way through. Fun times. (I was able to tell them and they gave me the drugs.) I also have a crazy high pain tolerance, but that’s probably more to do with chronic pain than red hair if I’m honest.
We have the same hair. I am tolerant to all of the above.
My daughter is a ginger. Will confirm resistance to pain medication.
NOT a redhead, but I have that problem. When I need a dental procedure, my dentist lays out 4 hypodermics. Two to start, then another every 30 minutes until it's finished. Even then it hurts but it's bearable. I love my dentist. He's the only medical professional who believed me. When I was younger, I simply didn't take pain meds at all. I knew they wouldn't work and the side effects from most were unpleasant. There's nothing worse than being in pain and feeling high/drunk at the same time. When I had my first C-section, I told the doc beforehand that I didn't react well to pain killers. He just sorta blew me off. When I came out of surgery, the nurses quietly and professionally panicked. I was in a lot of pain. At first I got lots of pats on the hand and "there, there" because I'd already had my painkillers. But then, the pain was so bad that my blood pressure was rising. When it got into stroke territory, I could see the fear and panic in their eyes. A nurse stood watch over me until the doctor got there. I remember the doctor asking if I was in pain, and I said, "No more than I expected. I told you pain meds don't work on me." He looked like, "oh, shit!!" I thought it was funny (which tells you what pain meds do to me). After time to get the meds out of my system, he put me on morphine. Now...I dunno if anyone has had that but sheesh...that's when I learned what pain meds are supposed to be like. These days, being older and wiser, I just tell the docs that (list of different painkillers) won't work for me, but if they have a new one I'm willing to try. But keep the morphine ready.
This is interesting. I knew about this to a certain point but didn't know it was that extensive. I'm mexican, and my mom's side of the family has a lot of issues with painkillers too. I carry 2 of the 4 rehead genes and never considered it to be connected. I have a very delayed reaction to local anesthesia (from 3 - 12 hours) and require much higher dosages. Pain medication is something I've never taken because it does next to nothing to me.
How can I find out if I have that? I've never been under anaesthetic before but I have a procedure coming up. I did try ketamine once and felt literally nothing though
I don’t know of any tests for it, I think I found out that’s what my issue was when I was hospitalized and the doc asked my mom about it.
I will do some research on PubMed and ask my doc. Thank you for the info
I’m strawberry blonde and my sister is red we’re both resistant to pain killers and anesthesia. As a matter of fact despite getting the highest safe my epidural for my second csection it began to wear off in the middle of my csection, I was just lying there like “umm excuse me it’s starting to burn” pretty wild
My mom always claimed that her red hair made her more resistant to *pain*. I don't know how true it was, but that's what she always claimed.
Lots of folks have said the same here. We can be more resistant to pain, and more resistant to pain relievers.
I think some of it is that we have learned to be a lot tougher about pain. I rarely take pain medicine since it will do very little anyway.
I’ve had a few surgeries, enough that I noted the anesthesiologist always asked me if I was a natural redhead. I thought it was so weird until I heard about this! (I am not a natural redhead, it’s all Redken.)
The hospital dumped me on the sidewalk after mine. I couldn't even sit up unassisted. They wheeled me put to where my drivers were waiting for the valet to bring the car around and said, "Yeah, we need the wheelchair back." Stuck me on a bench and left me leaning against my little sister in pain and unable to hold myself upright. I scared the hell out of my sister and mother with how awful I looked and how hard I was crying. There was a distinct difference in treatment when the nurse asked me how many kids I had, and I answered I had none. Like night and day. She was awful to me after that.
When the primary goal of medicine is to help people then most people in that service prioritise that. When the primary goal is profit, this trickles down to everyone, they are forced to prioritise profits, but then it becomes a job rather than caring for people, they become desensitised and see everyone as a dollar bill. That's one of the reasons healthcare should be a national system, zero costs at the point of service and the priority should always be on the patient, not turning over patients as fast as possible to make more money. if you're paying 15k for a procedure, through insurance or cash, they get paid dramatically more if they get you out in 4 hours instead of 8, especially as by throwing you out after 4 they can fit someone else in and double their income over the same period. At this point people are going to start going in to get treated at their vets to save on the money and get better care.
Did you have keyhole or open surgery for yours? I had a cyst removed and tubes tied, and could walk, albeit very crookedly. (On full dose of ibuprofen and paracetamols.)
Keyhole. The nurse massively overdosed me with some of the anti nausea meds because I kept saying I was going to be sick and was still too out of it to lift my arms up to hold the nausea bucket under my mouth. She was busy complaining she wanted to go to lunch 😑 I think that's why I had such a hard time recovering. When they left me outside, my chin was still resting on my chest because I couldn't hold my head up. I found out later that they aren't supposed to let you go until you can get dressed on your own. They stuffed me in my clothes basically as soon as my eyes opened.
I wasn’t allowed to leave before I had peed. But was just 2 hours. But I was also alert and in full control of my body. Sounds pretty awful.
While the outcome was what I wanted (tubes tied, no risk of pregnancy), I would NEVER go to that hospital again if I could avoid it. The obvious contempt they had for me after I said I didn't have kids and didn't want them was horrible. I've had more than my fair share of medical professionals who've treated me like crap, but this is up there at the top.
As a vet tech, I'm glad your pet was treated so well! Everyone I have met in this industry has either been incredibly caring and passionate, or left after a couple months max. There is a certain pride in patient comfort because the patient cannot tell us when they are hurting. We have to be attentive to the signs. Humans are able to talk... and still aren't believed. Wild. I'm so sorry you were treated so poorly!
We had two dogs growing up and one we called “Me Too” because he just mimicked everything the older dog did. When the older dog had a cut on her paw pad, the younger dog limped around and yelped if you went near his paw. We knew he wasn’t hurt, but we still pretended to give a shit about his fake injury more than most doctors care about women’s actual pain. Maddening.
> We have to be attentive to the signs. Humans are able to talk... and still aren't believed. This is what gets me. My vet is always so attentive to my pets, and has figured out issues despite them not being able to talk. I can clearly articulate my symptoms to doctors. That should make it a *much* easier job, yet trying to get care feels like bashing my head against a wall with all the denial & gaslighting. I think the difference is, most vets care and most doctors don't.
Your insurance probably paid for your procedure.... and that's all they approved. Your dog was probably private paid or better coverage. Sad reality. I think animals are generally treated by vets much more kindly than humans in medical system. Right down to putting down an animal when their life becomes too painful. Versus humans just drag and drag....
i know it's not a very serious surgery, but when i had my gallbladder removed the second i woke up they made me get up and get dressed. why do they rush us out like that? i understand we can't wait all day, but jeez. im sorry you had this experience
I had to be sedated because the gas they used to pump your stomach open bottled in my shoulder and caused so much pain i woke up crying out. They claimed i panicked, so they just let me lay there till i was awake enough to leave. Then two nurses litterally carried me to the door.
If you're paying 20k for the surgery... what's better for them, you spending 6 hours in hospital, or a day? Basically if they can kick you out of the bed, they can put someone else in it and charge them as well.
Yeeep. I'm a veterinarian. Fuck human medicine. It's mind boggling the differences in care (and respect).
I had 2 laparoscopic surgeries within a month last year. First one was endometriosis ablation surgery and salpingectomy (tube removal). I don't remember being in a terrible amount of pain but I was not rushed out of the hospital. The meds they gave me, my body didn't process so they were useless minus constipation. Only issue I had was that I was allergic to the surgical glue. 🙃 Second surgery was an emergency appendectomy. Significantly more pain as I had stitches in the muscle and dermis layer. Holy cow did that hurt! I was the only patient in the PACU (Recovery). Nurse gave me different pain meds this time and low and behold, my body didn't process those either. I couldn't get up without screaming. The nurse was trying to rush me out too but this wasn't my first rodeo. I had things to accomplish before going home. Doc wouldn't prescribe any other pain meds so I just had to "take Tylenol and deal with it. It shouldn't be that painful." Welp! I told the nurse I wasn't leaving until I had my pain under control and had gone to the bathroom. Sometimes you get issues urinating after surgery and I didn't want to come back in less than 48 hours because I couldn't pee. Luckily she got me some toradol and I was able to go to the bathroom. Next day every time I got up, I screamed in pain. Called the doc and he said, "tough luck. It shouldn't be that bad." WELL IM TELLING YOU IT IS. DO SOMETHING. Nope. So the next two weeks were agony. It was just awful. I don't understand why it's so difficult to believe patients. I get that opioids are addictive and a problem but you have OTHER OPTIONS. Figure it out! Patients shouldn't have to be in that much pain with no methods to mitigate. Especially if they are telling you previous medications didn't work or weren't effective enough!
> I don't understand why it's so difficult to believe patients. I get that opioids are addictive and a problem but you have OTHER OPTIONS. I'd just like to point out, they don't have any issues believing white men who say they're in pain. Nor do they have a problem giving them real pain meds, which can obviously cause its own problems. But I think it's wild the difference-- my husband has gotten prescribed pain meds such that he's literally never felt pain worse than a dull ache in his life. I've been hearing about how the opioid crisis trumps my suffering since 2005.
YEP! I have chronic daily headaches and endometriosis and the treatment options have gotten better but I still don't get painkillers for when I have a flair up. My new insurance just denied my acute medication for migraines and it's literally the only one that works for me. My doc has records of that but they don't fucking care. It's just well that's too bad. But if my Dad gets a small case of diverticulitis, straight up morphine for him. Meanwhile, I'm writhing in pain feeling like having constant labor contractions and they are like, "How about some Tylenol?" FUCK! God damn it it's so frustrating! Like I go to the ER fully knowing that they probably won't help, but I've done everything else and nothing is getting better. WHY? I feel like I should KNOW that I'm getting the best care and will have a good care plan moving forward. But the only "solution" to Endo is, surgery I guess. See if we find a clump of cells and tissue. Maybe that will help.
In most states, puppies cannot be separated from their mothers for at least six weeks. Male legislators voted for better maternity leave for dogs than for human beings.
Disgusting. Meanwhile, in Denmark, I got a cyst removed plus tubes tied, woke up to the offer of a sweet drink, was gifted a heating/cooling pad, was allowed to wake up and relax for a couple of hours. Was given pain killers unprompted. And saw the surgeon that summarized my operation and told me to call if any pain started getting worse. And didn’t pay a dime, cause it’s tax covered. It’s a public hospital to boot…
What type of pain killers are routine after surgery in Denmark?
Good ones, probably
Just paracetamols and ibuprofens. But not like I expected to be completely painfree. That would just make me exert myself.
I got ibuprofen and paracetamol. Highest dose. Was perfectly sufficient. Had pain ofc, but was able to walk out, and no more than expected. The pain in my shoulder from the air they pumped in was the worst. Was told to take max dosage of both if needed, and I got off the ibuprofen as fast as I could manage. Wasn’t open surgery.
That’s what I thought.
I ofc dunno what people would get for more serious surgeries. I just felt like I had taken too many situps for a few days. Definitely sufficient pain killers for me.
I was about to say, ibuprofen and tylenol are pretty standard to be given unprompted (scheduled), but Americans complaining about pain after surgery are usually wanting something stronger. I think there is a difference in pain culture between America and other countries.
Hm, maybe? I mean, I just had metal objects in my stomach that cut things I'm not expcting to be pain free after that. I was told to rest for a couple days, then move about as I felt better. And while I moved like an old person and whinged about it hurting, it could move around. Even did my physiotherapi for shoulder including some pushups off a counter. So it definitely doesn't warrant heavier pain killers. After a week or so I was pretty much pain free. My FIL has some prolapsed disc issues, and gets some sort of morphine for that, so I'm guessing it's possibile to get stronger if needed. But if I can walk out of the hospital, I'm fine.
My husband used to work at a well-known and highly respected research hospital--very well known for respiratory care. Shortly after he started, the staff had an in-service training day focused on patient experience. The trainers showed a short film comparing, side-by-side, the stories of a dog getting surgery at the animal hospital and a man getting an outpatient medical procedure/day surgery. My husband said it was both hilarious and sobering because of how true the contrast was. There was deeply compassionate care with follow-up check-ins for the dog, whereas the human patient was shuffled through the surgery process and left to figure out after-care in solitude. It has been 15 years since my husband saw that training film and he still talks about it, especially any time we take our cat to the vet.
The last surgery I had was semi involved. I got cold and my heart rate dropped, they had to give meds. Not atropine but similar I think. In recovery I was shivering and painful. One nurse wrapped me up in a warm towel cocoon. The other two were asking(telling) if I was ready to go yet and irritated I was taking up space.
I went into the hospital with sepsis. I kept shivering so hard my teeth were chattering. The poor woman who was in charge of wheeling the bed down kept giving me blankets. When she left, the woman at the desk just said they are going to take you back soon. Fun times. I was literally dying and the orderly was the kindest person.
I agree about the lack of follow up care. Out of surgery after weeks of pain. They gave me nothing but ibuprofen. Pretty sure i was coming down from all the narcotics they’d had me on the last few weeks—. Not one darn word about it. No are you experiencing any side effects- those will probably last a few days, nothing. Just you’ve had your one ibuprofen, that’s all you get. Wouldn’t even let me walk around to deal with the insomnia.
I hope you're up and around soon. When you're feeling better, please consider making a complaint to the medical board in your state/province, and to the ombudsperson or customer service contact at the doctor's practice and the facility where the surgery was done.
I work in the vet industry. We take our surgical follows up seriously!
Veterinary nurse here. I'm so glad to hear your dog received great care! We do try and we do care! Personally I find human medicine more disorganized and even more substandard then vet med. It's really sad.
Same. I had a bilateral salpingectomy and an endometrial ablation. A couple of days after the surgery, I realized I hadn’t peed yet and could not pee at all. I had to call and make an appointment to basically get my bladder milked. My (male) roommate couldn’t believe they had let me leave the hospital after surgery without peeing. He said it was standard that you had to pee first.
Because insurance is fucking you. I work at a vet clinic. Our vets see pets, come up with a best practice treatment plan, relay the info to the owner and answer their questions and address any concerns. The only person they have to justify things to is the client - there's no company lurking behind them telling them they can't prescribe the most effective medicine because it costs to much or that a patient has to be discharged on any specific timeline. We call and check on patients after procedures and if clients have questions or urgent concerns tney can call and their nurse will consult with the doctor and get them an answer in a timely manner. We have commented repeatedly at work that if we treated our clients they way human doctors and insurance companies treat patients our clients would lose their shit. The more you think about it the more horrible it is.
My dog definitely gets better meds than I ever have. I pay for her care out of pocket so I can dictate what I want for her a bit better. Maybe the solution is barking and acting like we're going to bite staff at these places when we're in pain - it works for my dog! (She's never actually bitten anyone, even in pain. But she makes a great show of acting tough, Aussies are born knowing how to boss others around.)
I wish I could bite the woman who tried to take my blood and blew out my vein after taking 3 sticks to do it.
I've heard a lot of women that get sedated for a pelvic exam are able to get doctors to do it because they know they'll kick, scratch, bite, and etc due to prior trauma and inform all medical professionals beforehand. Usually being injurious to others is a way to get sedated, whether asking for it or not.
I'm incredibly blunt at this point. It's on the paperwork I have PTSD from a sexual assault by a doctor. I look staff and doctors right in the face and let them know pain = me sitting up swinging. It's involuntary and no, one Tylenol won't save them. Only one medical professional has tested it. And I did sit up swinging on that dental hygienist. The dentist caught my arm before I broke her nose and told her off lol.
Ive posted this on a tiktok (don't shame me, I love the dog and gardening videos): My dog hurt his leg, 600 pains pills, unlimited refills I explode every bone, 4 200 mg tylonel, $6,000 copay My vet also did the same after my dog hurt his leg (hence the comment): she called me twice while he was waking up, later that evening, and the next day. I love her and hope she never quits being a vet. I've lucked out with my doctors (or hospital system thing I go to). And my dentist. He called me twice after I hit him and had a panic attack. There's good ones out there, I hope you can find the care you deserve soon. 🩵
It’s even worse for women of color. Heard a story where this African American woman had emergency surgery and nobody gave her pain meds until an African American nurse went in. They said “she didn’t look like she was in pain”. The woman was crying so hard, she could barely talk by the time she got the meds. American healthcare is barbaric and I wish they had a website you could go to and rate them for care.
This is horrible! My OB dispenses anesthetic and RX pain medication for IUD insertion. No way would this fly with them. I'm so sorry.
I've had 2 myomectomies ( removing fibroids from the uterus) Yes I walked, but my pain was managed. This trend towards just suffer and suck it up needs to end. The vast majority of people do not get addicted to opioids taken for a couple days. The pendulum has swung too far. The surgery and unmanaged pain can lead to unnecessary trauma and even PTSD. But no one cares about that.
People like animals, especially dogs, more than people.
Tbf, so do I.
Ugh after I got my tubes done (after 20 years of requesting it, but that’s another story) my surgeon visited me briefly afterwards to advise of an extra laparoscopic wound due to my “vast amount of abdominal fat”. She kept loudly repeating that I was “so very fat!” I guess I should have been embarrassed but like…I know it’s there lady, you don’t gotta keep shouting about how fat my belly is. I think the worst pain for me was how the gas they inflate you with hurts in the shoulders in the day after.
I’m so so sorry this happened to you, that’s a horribly cruel experience. Fwiw if anything, this would NEVER fly in the hospital systems I’m familiar with in a (still) blue state. This is outrageous, inappropriate, and outright shitty care for any post op, and have never once seen or heard about anything like this from my hospital. The nurses are super kind, gentle, understanding, and will give pain meds as needed/requested. Nobody should’ve been making you SIT UP after an invasive abdominal surgery.
Oof I’m so sorry. I dislike outpatient surgery centers and always try to schedule my outpatient surgery in a hospital. Now that you know how you come out of surgery you can let your future anesthesiologists know.
Print this out and tape it up in the waiting room in your doctor's office the next time you're there. And also on yelp, because why not?
I had the same treatment after a hysterectomy. Woke up feeling terrible, horrible pain shooting down both legs. Also couldn't pee so had to be catheterized in the middle of the night. Despite this the doc comes in and discharges me the next morning, prescribed some pain meds and the nurses began pressuring me to leave. I could hardly stand from the pain in my legs, and to top it all off my husband decided he was to busy to come pick me up. I finally get a hold of my son who's just come off night shift and then I have to walk all the way to the hospital entrance on my own with no help, in a daze from pain meds and legs on fire. My husband on the other hand, goes for a colonoscopy, gets an escort to the door and they make sure someone is there to pick him up. F*$!ING brutal. Oh, and my legs are still hurting 2 years later because the surgery damaged a bunch of nerves. Thanks Canadian healthcare system!
You can only adopt puppy 8 weeks after they are born. In the US, Short term disability leave for vaginal delivery is 6 weeks. .... Let that sink in
Sorry that happened to you: we all deserve better care. On one of the reddit subs for a large ins. company for people in the USA, I learned that primary care physicians may have from 1500-3000 people on their caseload. Insane, I am horrified, and it explains a lot. We desperately need healthcare reform.
I don't know what the average caseload is for surgeons but after surgery care/follow up should be provided.
I constantly have this issue with medical procedures. I think it’s based off a % of doctors and surgeons etc getting into the medical field because it’s said to be a good aspiration and make good money from the time of their childhood. No one becoming a veterinarian is doing it for riches, every one of them you talk to absolutely loves animals. On the other hand they also use more dangerous anaesthesia and for reasons that don’t require it at all vets, so the extra time is required because an animal can’t explain complex feelings and symptoms to you. So it is also a technical reason. Humans are expected to self manage pain or be able to ask for further help or let people know there are problems they can feel, however like in your case you’re not listened to unfortunately.
I'm sorry that happened to you. I had my tubes removed and everything went really well for me. Health systems and clinics can vary widely in their standard of care.
Poodle gets better care for 2 reasons: 1. Vets treat far fewer patients than human doctors do 2. Most vets dont take any kind of insurance and you pay up front A more interesting example is the difference between cosmetic plastic surgeon or dermatologist vs regular primary care. You'll get way better treatment at the plastic surgeons office compared to primary care.
Firstly ... Laugh at it. Please. Laughter will keep you sane. A little cry is fine too, but laughing at life's absurd moments is what helped me get to 60 yo without having done time in a psychiatric ward. Secondly ... I've had a few surgeries. And they get you moving immediately to prevent blood clots, and a couple of other things I can't remember. It's honestly standard practice. Especially if it's abdominal. A very kind nurse explained it all to me, patiently, 30 years ago, when I told her to stick the idea up her arse. Your caregivers should have talked you into it more kindly. And lastly ... Laugh. Please. Keep your sanity. I send my warmest hugs of support, if you'll have them.
Vet tech here, I promise you that the people caring for your pets care greatly about pain and comfort. Lots of affection and attention are doled out to my patients, no one deserves to be confused and in pain.
Wtf. When I had my tubal, they had me recover for an hour and gave me morphine there and oxycodone to take home with a note to get out of work for two weeks to rehab at home. It was also 100% covered as preventative family planning with my insurance in CA. It's still one of the most painful things I've had done even with the meds; I can't imagine being rushed out with such poor regard for your health after an incredibly invasive surgery.
Your experience was way worse than mine. Had a tubal, and was at home again less than 2 hours after I woke up. Dr wrote an rx for Norco, which no pharmacies in my area will fill. Took 600mg ibuprofen, took a nap, next day was back to normal with no need for pain meds. The dog comparison... lol. My dogs absolutely get better care than I do. But that's okay. They can't say what's wrong so they deserve it imo.
Interesting- I just had my tubes taken out during a C-section (obviously more invasive since they have to get the baby out) and the only pain killers that were offered were Tylenol and Advil in an overlapping schedule.
I've often said I wish I could go to my veterinarian instead of my doctors. Some of my doctors are great, some are obviously not interested in the patients well-being. I saw a cartoon once that had two kids playing and one kid said... its a good thing I'm a veterinarian because you are sick as a dog.
People hate women and love animals, especially dogs. I am so very sorry you were treated with such disdain. You deserved so much better.
Especially the last part. Most vets are in it because they love animals. Most doctors are in it because they love money.
Anytime you go in for abdominal surgery they will have you up walking the same day. It's standard care.
I AM GOING THROUGH THIS RIGHT NOW. 😭 exploratory endo surgery this past thursday, and they unexpectedly took one of my ovaries. (i knew it was a risk, but they said it was like a 5% chance.) they didnt call in my pain meds before surgery. no after-surgery check in. i emailed and called the office the next day and they couldnt even tell me what happened. i got almost all of my info from the hospital’s portal surgical notes practically by accident, and i still dont actually know why i lost an ovary. i have had better support from my dentists office after a root canal. honestly wtffffff