Notes to myself (and others) for our next surgery

Tell the nurse as soon as we get in the room that all medications are to be scheduled and not given as needed. The past two times I have held off on the valium waiting to see spasms... don't wait to see spams! The valium was quite affective at managing her pain in between doses of other medications.

If she doesn't seem comfortable with the given narcotic/"big medicine" dose - ask if the dose can be increased and/or the frequency it is given. Dilaudid was more affective than the morphine, so we can ask for that the next time.

I think the next time I would try the epidural again, but if we find it is finicky or not affective get it pulled and start Toridol and up the other medications. I wouldn't wait more than a few hours of a finicky epidural. I have heard when they work they really work, but ours did not this time and we should have realized that sooner.

She tends to get itchy between the narcotics and the incisions, so start benedryl right off the bat.

When they first start the medications ask for them to give the frequency and also the dosage and write it down in a notebook or on the whiteboard. Stay on top of the dosing and be sure that they are given on time.

Be sure to start miralax as soon as you get in the room - that's when she will suck down 1-2 big cups of water without any coaxing.

Don't let the nurses make you feel bad for asking for more or different medicine for her. I was a bit intimidated to ask for benedryl yesterday for the itching she was having under her casts, but now feel confident it was perfectly appropriate. Remember you know her best.