No visitors, nobody can go with me to the hospital for surgery!

MyLungCancer
MyLungCancer Member Posts: 72
edited March 2020 in General Cancer
My hospital just told me that when I have surgery in 10 days that nobody can go with me. They can drop me off at the front door and pick me up. Only those who are in the hospital already can stay. I believe I'm canceling my surgery I was getting a port put in but it can wait. I'm not going without any of my family there to help. anyone else getting this from their hospital?

Comments

  • 2943
    2943 Member Posts: 94
    edited March 2020
    Yes, uCSF has that in place. There are another 4 area hospitals also.
  • JaneA
    JaneA Member Posts: 335
    edited March 2020
    Getting your port put it is quick and uncomplicated. You NEED your port to get chemo so that the chemo doesn't ruin your veins. I, personally, would recommend that you get your port implanted so that you can get your chemo and it will be pain free.
  • GregP_WN
    GregP_WN Member Posts: 742
    edited March 2020
    Vanderbilt started that yesterday. I am canceling my elective surgery scheduled for April 1st. I don't have to have it right now and I don't want to go without Sweetie being able to go in with me.
  • cllinda
    cllinda Member Posts: 153
    edited March 2020
    I agree with JaneA. It really is a quick procedure and I'm sure you can get through it. Yes, each step of the cancer journey is scary and so we look for family and friends to lean on. With this virus, everyone is taking steps to cut down on the transmission. Hospitals are so vulnerable that they really have to tighten the rules. And with this disease, you can be a carrier and not even feel sick yet.
    They have to protect their workers as well as their patients.
    As for getting a port, I was under a twilight anesthesia and a local. My daughter had just gotten engaged and so I talked with the nurse the entire time. It wasn't a big deal at all. Then they put the dressings on it, helped me get dressed and fed me lunch before we left. It's not bad at all.
    And a port is so important. They can use it for chemo, blood draws, dye imports, and other things. It was so easy to use, too. The nurses were really good with using a spray to numb the area and it made chemo so much easier to do. Hugs as you go through this journey.
  • Bug
    Bug Member Posts: 394
    edited March 2020
    I have a friend whose 82-year-old father got a heart valve at Stanford today. They had to drop him off at the registration desk and leave. So sad for them.
  • 2943
    2943 Member Posts: 94
    edited March 2020
    I cannot imagine but we do what we have to do in this journey. We meet others who’s journey is longer, tougher, more life altering. I learned I can do more, be more than I ever expected. May you all be safe and know the journey is worth it. Hugs!
  • BoiseB
    BoiseB Member Posts: 225
    edited March 2020
    My friends in my Cancer Support are having some surgeries like reconstructive surgeries canceled because the hospitals are running short on equipment like masks. Even speciality hospitals are transferring this to regular hospitals.
  • KB2013
    KB2013 Member Posts: 62
    edited March 2020
    If you are getting chemo and need that port, I’d get the port. You wouldn’t normally have anyone in the room with you during the procedure anyway.
  • LiveWithCancer
    LiveWithCancer Member Posts: 470
    edited March 2020
    Getting a port is such a simple surgery. You really will do fine without anyone there with you. However, I am surprised they are willing to even do that surgery while the coronavirus rages. I would think it is considered "non-essential." (Trust me, though. You will be very glad you have a port during treatment and blood draws, etc. It makes life much easier and saves your veins.)

    I was scheduled to have my port flushed today and they called the other day to cancel. Suddenly it is not as necessary to flush every 6 weeks as it always has been before.
  • Paperpusher
    Paperpusher Member Posts: 78
    edited March 2020
    All of the hospitals around me in NJ are not allowing anyone but the patient into the hospital. All elective procedures have been canceled/postponed. My son is scheduled for lithotripsy and my husband, who is immune compromised, volunteered to take him. I'm hoping it gets postponed.
  • KB2013
    KB2013 Member Posts: 62
    edited March 2020
    Lithotripsy is ordered when a ureter is blocked/partially blocked by a stone too large to pass so, this isn’t elective but, necessary, unless the stones are still in a kidney and not blocking ureter. I’ve had/have this problem.
  • Paperpusher
    Paperpusher Member Posts: 78
    edited March 2020
    KB2013 My son told me they were dead center in his kidneys-yes both so not blocking the ureter. But he did have blood in his urine for a week. The dr was going to play wait and see until he heard that then sent him for an X-ray. He scheduled the lithotripsy based on the X-ray. My daughter had already had it once.Seems my kids make kidney stones even though hubby and I tend to gall stones which so far haven't been a problem.

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