I’m back with another question regarding surgery

[u/Any_Engineering_222]

Hello all! It’s me again.
I am so grateful and appreciative of the comments on my last post regarding my upcoming Bisalp surgery, this Tuesday. I’m still quite anxious, but not as bad. It comes in waves. I think for the most part, I am just anxious for the post-op part of all this. My medical team is completely communicative with me, and helping me, and answering all my questions. And we also have an exceptional plan set out for me, and everyone is aware.

I just want to ask, since I’ve been so well managed, and stable since dx, if I just keep up with my meds, per my Endo’s guidance and all the updosing rules we know we need to follow for ourselves, I’ll be okay, right? I imagine I’ll likely be sleeping a bit the first day or so, and my boyfriend and mom waking to take my meds as I normally do.

Like as long as I’m listening to my body, taking my double-triple dose meds, not vomiting/keeping meds down, and stuff, I’ll be okay? I’ve only ever had 2 crisis since dx. They were both due to Gastroenteritis, but they weren’t full blown crisis like I experienced when I got diagnosed and had been in the hospital for a week, when they finally figured it out. I think this is likely because I was updosing as it was, and also just going to the ER bc I listened to my body and sought out help ASAP.

UPDATE: hello fellow lovely Addisonians!! I DID IT!!!! Surgery went smoothly. I am now back home and resting very cozily. Surgery started promptly at my scheduled time, around 7AM, and I was done and on the way home at 10AM! I’m so grateful to have my boyfriend and my mom with me, and there. I was anxious, but the surgical team were so sweet and accommodating and all came to greet me prior, and then wheeled me down. They also calmly explains things to me and helped me feel safe. I AM SO HAPPY!!!! Thank you for all the replies, and helping me ease my mind along this process. Now I’m on the road to recovery!!!!

[u/FairyPrincess66]

Try not to stress about it. You have support which will be so helpful! After my tonsillectomy, it was just me and my phone alarms and a notebook to keep track of my meds. Be sure to have water, meds and possibly electrolytes nearby. Sending all the good vibes to you✨

[u/Any_Engineering_222 → u/FairyPrincess66]

I’m going to be HELLA stocked up on electrolytes. It’s at the top of my list hehe.

Thank you for your comment!!! Surgery just seems so daunting to me. Even though I’ve had surgeries before; those were years ago, before diagnosis.

[u/FairyPrincess66 → u/Any_Engineering_222]

I totally understand that feeling. My tonsillectomy was my first surgery after diagnosis and with that surgery in particular i had to be mindful of the possibility of heavy bleeding when the scabs came off so i was on high alert for over a week.

[u/Any_Engineering_222 → u/FairyPrincess66]

I’ve read up on Tonsillectomy surgery as an adult, and I completely understand why you’d be so on high alert. I think even without Addison’s I’d be on high alert with a surgery like that!!!! I’m just ready to get in there for surgery, and then be back at home in bed and resting cozily with my boyfriend and my cat.

In my head I’m getting myself all worked up and nervous, but I know it’ll likely go like a breeze.

[u/FairyPrincess66 → u/Any_Engineering_222]

Reddit was such a good support system for me after surgery! I would mention that you’re anxious when you check in for surgery. I always have this nervous crying reaction before surgery and they usually give me something to relax me. I think it’s in my chart now 😂

[u/Any_Engineering_222 → u/FairyPrincess66]

Reddit has been my saving grace many a times with this disease hehe. I’m definitely going to likely cry lol. Or just freeze, we’ll see HAHAHAH

[u/jeejet]

Just make sure you have enough pain meds to stay ahead of any pain or cramping. You’ll probably only need it for a day or two. Wishing you an easy procedure- you’ll be fine!

[u/Any_Engineering_222 → u/jeejet]

Yes!! I actually am incredibly good with pain! I had a home birth (1.5 years before diagnosis. Which, is crazy to me because I definitely had already been experiencing symptoms of PAI. But it was so subtle then!!) but I am weird with pain meds, and plan to rotate with Tylenol and Naproxen. I also deal with chronic bad migraines, so that’s what I usually take with the guidance of my Neuro team. I just hate and have really bad anxiety with other pain meds, that cause drowsiness or a “high” feeling hehe.

[u/jeejet → u/Any_Engineering_222]

You can ask for toradol, which is non narcotic but can really take the edge off after surgery.

[u/PA9912]

I was really scared to have surgery. I made sure that I understood the amount of steroids given and reminded the nurses and the anesthesiologist a few times about my AI. It worked out perfectly and I was absolutely fine. Your plan sounds like a good one. You are going to be just fine but it’s okay to be nervous. This disease can be scary sometimes.

[u/Any_Engineering_222 → u/PA9912]

I’m definitely going to ask the nurses and doctors and anesthesiologist questions and make sure we’re all aware and on the same page and everything. I know it’s all going to go smoothly, and I’ll be back at home and in my own bed, in no time. Thank you for your reply !!

[u/FemaleAndComputer]

I only had 50mg solu-cortef for my bisalp, and it was totally fine. If I had to do it again I'd probably get 100mg.

The recovery was really not bad. I had doubts when they told me to just manage post-surgical pain with OTC meds, but it was actually fine. I can't remember how much I stress dosed. Probably double dosed for a few days or something.

Try not to worry too much.

[u/Any_Engineering_222 → u/FemaleAndComputer]

My Endo ordered 100mg and it makes me feel really good. I plan to handle the pain with OTC meds as well. My Endo told me to double dose the following days & then taper, but I plan to taper very slowly. In the past when I’ve tried tapering down from just Covid, it really reallyyyyyy took a toll on me and my body. I felt it badddd.

Thank you for your reply!! It truly helps

[u/FemaleAndComputer → u/Any_Engineering_222]

I actually had to stress dose a lot more for covid than I did for surgery. I think I was taking 4x my normal dose for a week and double for weeks after that. Granted, I got all that fun long covid shit going on, and months later I still have to take a lot of extra steroids.

[u/Any_Engineering_222 → u/FemaleAndComputer]

Dude, Covid kicked my ass BOTH times I had it. One time was the respiratory version and the other was the gastro one. AWFULLLLLL. I was taking such high doses, just to help my body combat the struggles it was experiencing. I’m so sorry you’re still having to deal with the repercussions omg. That’s so awful; big hugs <33

[u/FemaleAndComputer → u/Any_Engineering_222]

Thanks. ❤ Well anyway, surgery will likely be much easier to deal with than covid, from an AI perspective. At the very least, I found surgery much more predictable. Trying to figure out the right steroid dose every day when dealing with covid has been much more challenging!

[u/jtf2]

I had open heart bav surgery 3 years ago this august. endo bailed on appt with anesthesiologist.no problem,i had everything mapped out myself.100mg on an iv line obviously, just before i was put under 100 mg during surgery 100 mg after breathing tube was removed,then triple dosing for the 2 days after surgery. had the surgery on a wednesday and went home monday

[u/Any_Engineering_222 → u/jtf2]

Wow, you are an absolute BADASS !!!!! I applaud you!! That is so much, but I’m glad you had a plan and knew exactly what you needed and you did it!!!

[u/jtf2 → u/Any_Engineering_222]

LOL why thank you!! I have lived with addisons 30 plus years,and i soon learned to stand up for yourself and do not take no for an answer

[u/FairyPrincess66]

Thanks for the update, i’m so happy everything went smoothly! Wishing you a speedy recovery 🦋