I had thyroid surgery six months ago and ended up with minor nerve damage after. I never really cared for how the surgeon handled it, just poor bedside manner and the whole ordeal was upsetting for me. I ended up having to have a second surgery recently to "fix" the problem and this time it was performed under local anesthesia and by a plastic surgeon. All along I have questioned whether or not the original surgeon "screwed up" or if the nerve just couldn't be avoided. The surgeon really wouldn't elaborate and was just very hasty with me. I never questioned it further and figured there was no point to it because there is a solution, and that maybe I should just be happy.
So at the beginning of my 2nd surgery...once the local anesthesia effects set in, I started talking a lot and asking everyone in the room what they thought of the situation. I'm pretty sure I said some pretty insulting rude things about the original surgeon and my whole hospital experience. He has a lot of "good reviews" on vitals.com and I said," I'm pretty sure he writes all his own reviews." I think I might have even said something rude to my doctor as well!- I know I told him that his reviews were awful too but that I'd give him a good one if he didn't mess up! I know he vacations in the town I live in and I remember saying something about how he better not run into me! It was like my mouth was out of control. I didn't remember any of it at first but on the drive home it was all coming back to me.
Maybe I just dreamt it and didn't really say it? It was really out of character for me. I didn't see any of the doctors after, just a nurse. I'm having major anxiety over this...reminds me of the way I've felt after having one too many drinks on a night out! I have to go back down for my post-op appt. in a few weeks. I really am appreciative of my second surgeon but think I came off as a crazy mean person.
Has anyone experienced this?
If you had twilight anesthesia you probably didn't say any of it outloud. With this anesthesia you are aware of what is happening but not able to participate. I had this anesthetic and wondered why no one was answering me. I though they were so rude. It was because I didn't say anything outloud.
You could ask the doctor either whether or not you said anything or to describe the affects of the anesthesia.
My best friend always has the best stories about his dad. Hi dad is from Tennessee and a bit um, old fashioned in his beliefs, trying to be politically correct is not something he seems able to do.
When his father had surgery my friend went up to be with him. The doctors name was Dr, Jose Garcia. My friend knew this was going to be hard to keep his father from saying crazy things. (racist)
Anyway once his father was coming out of the anesthesia,in a very loud Tennessean accent and voice he told Dr Garcia, "Dr. Garcia, I want you to know, my people, MY people had nothing to do with the Alamo!".
My friend said he almost died, everyone turned to look and the worst part was Dr. Garcia was from Colombia! My friend said a weak, apology and wanted to melt.
People say all sorts of things. The doctors and nurses have heard it all.
Eh, don't worry about it. I'm sure they've heard worse.
I have my issues with doctors and I've been known to say blunt things to their faces when I was stone sober.
I think they'll get over it.
Haven't you seen all of those videos of what kids say when they're coming out of anesthesia at the dentist office? People say some of the dumbest and most hilarious things. And no one assumes that these things are all true. Nurses just love to listen to their patients ramble. I remember when I was waking up from surgery, I could not stop talking about my basement!
I think you're fine. No one can put any stock into what people say when they're in this kind of altered state.
It's the anesthesia, and it's very common. My dad had knee surgery and went nutty for 2 - 3 days. He became violent in the recovery room and bit the orderly, the man had to have 5 stitches and couldn't work in the OR area for 5 days, due to infection. I later found out he was my upstairs neighbor's new boyfriend. When I met him I said 'I understand you met my dad', he looked confused and my neighbor said 'that's the guy that bit you' and he replied 'it wasn't his fault he was under the influence of the anesthesia and had no idea what he was doing'.
Then my dad hallucinated for 2 days and said the craziest things. He honestly believed his dog was lying on the floor in his hospital room but then again he didn't know he was in a hospital. He told the nurses he was at the "Florida Motel". We never did find out where or what the "Florida Motel" was.
My daughter was the same. She hallucinated she saw a man taking a shower next to her bed in recovery. Everyone was at the exalted position of A$$H*LE. And she didn't know her 6 month old neice. Her boyfriend called her to see how she was and she kept telling him I don't know who this kid is but everyone keeps calling her a nut (nickname Peanut) but she's not a nut she's a kid, I don't know who these people are but they are crazy. This went on for about a day. The next day she was coming down from the anethesia and told me she just wanted to punch everyone out. Again normal reaction.
So you were mild you only ranted about a botched medical procedure.
At least you weren't talking about penises and cucumbers. A friend of mine did that...
I work for anesthesiologists and I assure you they have heard it all. They know the effects of the anesthesia and no one takes it seriously. If you ask them they will lie and say you feel right to sleep hoping they sound authoritative enough that you believe them and feel better.
Some people say what they think but would never say unless under the anesthesia, most say crazy stuff they would never come up with unless dreaming. The docs don't care to figure out the difference.
I promise you, you are giving this way more thought than your doctor and nurses are. Let it go!
they've heard it all before. your rant was probably pretty tame.
:) khairete
S.
For one, I find that a lot of surgeons are good at what they do but don't have good bedside manners.
If you said some things that were not subtle, then I'm sure they've heard worse. People have lots of reactions to drugs and can come out of anesthesia crying, vomiting, yelling or being combative.
What I would focus on is if you are doing better now. I would not bring up anything with the doc post op unless it comes up. I would focus on things that pertain to your healing.
Write a very good review before you go for the post op.
Meh, we call it truth serum because folks will tell it all! Don't be too hard on yourself. It's all been said before. Chances are, if he is a bad dr, they already know anyways. They probably had a snicker or two at your expense, but it's not like you will see those people again. As far as the doctor, I think it just depends on his personality. Some are cool, some are uptight twits. Nothing you said or didn't say would change that. Even the ones who fight, punch, throw racial slurs get forgotten about...eventually. ;)
I think I was pretty obnoxious when I was having pain management for my back. At that time, there was a big shut down where several people contracted Hep from a clinic who was reusing needles. I am quite sure the run of the mouth is from being anxious and then falling asleep.
I think I may have asked the anesthesiologist if he was using new needles.
They should know not to take these things personal.
My husband is a chiropractor. Several years ago he had carpal tunnel surgery, we put it off as long as possible knowing if anything at all went wrong, there went his career. His surgeon was one of the best in the country and also a friend of ours. During surgery, they had my husband on the twilight meds and the surgeon even suggested hubby watch the procedure since it dealt with the nerves in the wrist and that is what chiros specialize in treating. At one point, hubby starts asking very detailed questions about a condition that occurs when a mistake happens during the release procedure, mentions he knows where the surgeon lives and jokes about malpractice. The surgeon looked at the nurse and said "can you shut him up please!" Needless to say, that's the last thing hubby remembers saying! End result, hubby's surgery went picture perfect and we are all still friends!
You are not the first and won't be the last to run your mouth lol. You could not imagine what they hear. Don't lose sleep over it.
