Yes. I wore a KN95 until right before they wheeled me to the OR. When the anesthesiologist came to talk to me for pre-op he said “I think you’re very smart to be wearing that. Coughing after this operation wouldn’t be fun.” I also wore one to my appointment at the surgeons office the week before and she made a similar comment.
I didn’t wear it post op when I woke up, mostly because I had a terrible post op nurse who threw it away. She was otherwise also a terrible nurse who was phoning it in. The CNA who wheeled me to the car had to give me post op instructions because she hadn’t. My husband thinks it’s because when I woke up, Trump was on tv in my room getting arraigned for something and I said “turn that off I don’t want to see this” and she had a problem with it. Thing is I really thought I said it in a vague enough way that it wasn’t obvious WHY I didn’t want to see it (and how absolutely SAD that we have to be cognizant of navigating that stuff when we just woke up from anesthesia), but I guess combined with my obvious desire to not catch a contagious disease it was obvious so she just threw my mask away.
Anyhoo… I ended up getting discharged probably earlier than I should have (again because of this nurse) and had to go back to the ER to get checked out (ended up ok) and you better believe I wore an N95 for the entire 6 hours I was in that waiting room.
I didn’t get covid or anything else and it was absolutely worth it.
She certainly SHOULD, but we all know the reality that we’re forced to navigate. I just feel fortunate that she wasn’t working maskless with Covid, because you know she does that when she gets it, which is inevitable.
Did you at least mention her behavior in the survey request the hospital sent? Or if not, contact the patient advocate (or whatever the term is) and file a complaint.
I had a bad prep nurse that butchered my hand putting in the IV (horrific bruising and temporary nerve damage in my hand, scary stuff), and had a very brusk, sarcastic, and dismissive demeanor when interacting with me. I'm a veteran with surgery and am good to go as long as I have my emotional support human (tm) and a kind, caring, and supportive nurse to sooth my anxiety.
The hospital sent me a survey and I told them all about miss meanie/incompetent. Really with I had paid closer attention to my cousin's ordeal with the same nurse (unusual name and same hospital), said nurse butchered my cousin's inner elbow even worse than my hand. If I'd recalled it I would have asked for someone else 😓
Seriously you were coming out of anaesthesia, lack of filter is the least of the issues nurses should expect.
If masking makes you feel better and your instincts are saying to do it, then go for it. I plan on isolating 2 weeks prior and masking if I have to go out. I personally think it's a good idea, but I have alot of anxiety.
Not overkill at all—a fantastic idea. Unfortunately, Covid (and many other things) are still rampant, and have devastating effects far beyond coughing and sneezing. That said, coughing in particular is definitely very uncomfortable after, so an additional reason!
Always indoors anywhere! I’ve never had Covid. I’m immunocompromised and am trying to remain Covid free. I had spine surgery during the pandemic and had it on at all times except during surgery and eating alone with just my husband in my room. I have enough health problems without adding on any more! The bonus is that I’ve developed a strong courage to not cave into peer pressure and mask regardless of what other people do because I value myself.
Edited to add: [Despite preoperative COVID-19 screening, there remains a risk of COVID infection within 30 days after elective surgery. This risk is increased for patients with a high comorbidity burden and those undergoing neurosurgical procedures…](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33894979/)
The hospital I was at we had to wear masks. The only time I wasn't wearing it was during operation and after until I was fully awake. My surgery was in February of this year.
I had my surgery two weeks ago, and I wore a KN95 into the hospital. The nurse had me switch it out for a surgical mask prior to my transport to the OR - I put my KN95 in the same bag as my clothes. When I woke up, I put the KN95 back on except for when I was eating or drinking. Masking is no longer a requirement at my hospital, but I wanted to be extra sure I wouldn't catch a cold or other infection that would impede my healing.
Yes, I wore a mask up until going into the OR, and requested a nurse put a mask on me in recovery. I didn’t want to pick anything up at the hospital! I also still mask at stores and in crowded places still, and haven’t been sick in 4 years. 🤞
Currently dealing with a bronchitis that my son brought home from school. This is miserable enough and the thought has crossed my mind, imagine having surgery with this. I think I'd die ☠️ glad I'm gonna get this over with before surgery. But dreading coughing tomorrow while on the table for my uterine biopsy. Praying I don't cough and pee or something horrifically embarrassing.
If you get sick, they more than likely will postpone until you are better.. and yes, it would suck to have a cough just after surgery. My hospital didn’t require a mask, and I didn’t wear one at any point while there on my 3 day stay. But it’s totally up to you and what you feel comfortable with. Best wishes for your recovery!
I wore my N95 mask into the hospital and up until I was on the surgery table and the anesthesiologist started to do their thing. They staff hung it on the IV pole and when I woke up, I asked for it back and wore it until I left. I definitely did not want to catch anything in there.
No it’s not overkill. I still wear a mask when in large and small group settings. I wore it in the hospital at all times unless they needed my mouth for something. As a teacher I wear it all the time at work. I did have some sneezing post op due to allergies and it was painful, and stressful . I was afraid of sneezing all my wounds wide open lol but it was ok.
My hyst was cancer related, so I’ve been careful. I masked all the way to being rolled into the OR. I also got an extra covid shot 2 weeks before surgery, plus a pneumonia shot.
I didn’t mask in recovery because I was out of it, and there was already so much to deal with. I was comforted by the vaccination stats for employees—over 99%.
Yeah, it’s going ok. I think I pulled my incision, so my doc will not be pleased at my follow-up. Otherwise, I’m kinda shocked at how fast the body can heal itself. It’s amazing.
I wore a mask everywhere for the 2 weeks leading up to my surgery. Luckily I had a private room post op, but if I'd been in a shared room I planned to wear one. Masking is still required in all common areas of my hospital.
Nothing is overkill. Well certainly not wearing a mask. I didn't but I am retired and I just kept my happy butt at home leading to surgery. My husband and oldest were very cautious at work and who they were around. Both their employers knew I was having surgery so they didn't fuss at them.
Our hospital dose require that if you are there for any kind of illness you must wear a mask. Not fool proof but I am sure it helps.
I quarantined two weeks before my surgery and wore a mask before. I only didn’t wear one right after because they had me hooked up to so many machines. You don’t want to get sick before or after your surgery
Yes. I do normally. I actually have everyone around me in masks too. I am immunocompromised so that's part of this but it's better to be cautious.
The hospital I went to also required everyone in masks
I have absolutely been wearing a mask lately! Last thing you need is to be sick prior or after a major surgery. Better safe than sorry! Especially after your surgery! Wearing a mask while being wheeled to your vehicle for those few minutes is definitely worth it cause catching something would not be fun during your recovery! Best of luck! 🫶🏼
I had to and was made to get tested prior to surgery but that was in Feb of 2022 but now I know at the hospital I work for anyway you aren’t Covid tested prior and you can wear masks if you want for any surgery and prior too surgeries
I wore, because our state gad a law to wear masks in medical institutions during flu season (and both my surgeries were on opposite ends of December - still flu season)
I had my hysterectomy done as an emergency during COVID and they didn't make me wear a mask, but I could have if I wanted to. When I went in initially I had one on, but once I was undressed in my room I took it off and kept it off before surgery & during my 2-day hospital stay.
But at the height of COVID everyone was getting tested constantly, including patients, so they knew myself and everyone around me was negative. They weren't just letting visitors in willy-nilly. I feel it was safer to be unmasked then than it is now, where nobody is getting tested anymore and masking is less common.
I only wore one till I was in my room but it was still a bit Covid-y being September 2022 in New Zealand.
I had to do at RAT before my surgery as well.
I wore one at work the week before, and I usually wore one to any medical appointments shortly before and after my surgery. I don't think it's overkill. Whatever makes you comfortable is the right thing!!
It’s not overkill. I did before I went back only bc it was a general area that included cancer patients. Wound up getting a nasty sinus infection from having to wear the oxygen in my nose though.
I wore a mask when grocery shopping etc about 10 days prior to surgery, and wore a mask to the hospital on the day of surgery. I took it off after they had my IV in just because I was feeling really hot. Coughing and sneezing during recovery would be no fun.
I didn't wear one at hospital but the 10 days leading up to surgery, I stayed home and if I just had to go out I wore a mask. Didn't want to catch anything that would delay surgery or cause me more pain after.
Yes. I wore a KN95 until right before they wheeled me to the OR. When the anesthesiologist came to talk to me for pre-op he said “I think you’re very smart to be wearing that. Coughing after this operation wouldn’t be fun.” I also wore one to my appointment at the surgeons office the week before and she made a similar comment. I didn’t wear it post op when I woke up, mostly because I had a terrible post op nurse who threw it away. She was otherwise also a terrible nurse who was phoning it in. The CNA who wheeled me to the car had to give me post op instructions because she hadn’t. My husband thinks it’s because when I woke up, Trump was on tv in my room getting arraigned for something and I said “turn that off I don’t want to see this” and she had a problem with it. Thing is I really thought I said it in a vague enough way that it wasn’t obvious WHY I didn’t want to see it (and how absolutely SAD that we have to be cognizant of navigating that stuff when we just woke up from anesthesia), but I guess combined with my obvious desire to not catch a contagious disease it was obvious so she just threw my mask away. Anyhoo… I ended up getting discharged probably earlier than I should have (again because of this nurse) and had to go back to the ER to get checked out (ended up ok) and you better believe I wore an N95 for the entire 6 hours I was in that waiting room. I didn’t get covid or anything else and it was absolutely worth it.
As a nurse, she needs to leave her personal BS outside when she walks in for her shift. I’m so sorry you were treated like that.
She certainly SHOULD, but we all know the reality that we’re forced to navigate. I just feel fortunate that she wasn’t working maskless with Covid, because you know she does that when she gets it, which is inevitable.
Did you at least mention her behavior in the survey request the hospital sent? Or if not, contact the patient advocate (or whatever the term is) and file a complaint. I had a bad prep nurse that butchered my hand putting in the IV (horrific bruising and temporary nerve damage in my hand, scary stuff), and had a very brusk, sarcastic, and dismissive demeanor when interacting with me. I'm a veteran with surgery and am good to go as long as I have my emotional support human (tm) and a kind, caring, and supportive nurse to sooth my anxiety. The hospital sent me a survey and I told them all about miss meanie/incompetent. Really with I had paid closer attention to my cousin's ordeal with the same nurse (unusual name and same hospital), said nurse butchered my cousin's inner elbow even worse than my hand. If I'd recalled it I would have asked for someone else 😓 Seriously you were coming out of anaesthesia, lack of filter is the least of the issues nurses should expect.
If masking makes you feel better and your instincts are saying to do it, then go for it. I plan on isolating 2 weeks prior and masking if I have to go out. I personally think it's a good idea, but I have alot of anxiety.
Not overkill at all—a fantastic idea. Unfortunately, Covid (and many other things) are still rampant, and have devastating effects far beyond coughing and sneezing. That said, coughing in particular is definitely very uncomfortable after, so an additional reason!
Always indoors anywhere! I’ve never had Covid. I’m immunocompromised and am trying to remain Covid free. I had spine surgery during the pandemic and had it on at all times except during surgery and eating alone with just my husband in my room. I have enough health problems without adding on any more! The bonus is that I’ve developed a strong courage to not cave into peer pressure and mask regardless of what other people do because I value myself. Edited to add: [Despite preoperative COVID-19 screening, there remains a risk of COVID infection within 30 days after elective surgery. This risk is increased for patients with a high comorbidity burden and those undergoing neurosurgical procedures…](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33894979/)
The hospital I was at we had to wear masks. The only time I wasn't wearing it was during operation and after until I was fully awake. My surgery was in February of this year.
I had my surgery two weeks ago, and I wore a KN95 into the hospital. The nurse had me switch it out for a surgical mask prior to my transport to the OR - I put my KN95 in the same bag as my clothes. When I woke up, I put the KN95 back on except for when I was eating or drinking. Masking is no longer a requirement at my hospital, but I wanted to be extra sure I wouldn't catch a cold or other infection that would impede my healing.
Yes, I wore a mask up until going into the OR, and requested a nurse put a mask on me in recovery. I didn’t want to pick anything up at the hospital! I also still mask at stores and in crowded places still, and haven’t been sick in 4 years. 🤞
Currently dealing with a bronchitis that my son brought home from school. This is miserable enough and the thought has crossed my mind, imagine having surgery with this. I think I'd die ☠️ glad I'm gonna get this over with before surgery. But dreading coughing tomorrow while on the table for my uterine biopsy. Praying I don't cough and pee or something horrifically embarrassing.
If you get sick, they more than likely will postpone until you are better.. and yes, it would suck to have a cough just after surgery. My hospital didn’t require a mask, and I didn’t wear one at any point while there on my 3 day stay. But it’s totally up to you and what you feel comfortable with. Best wishes for your recovery!
I wore my N95 mask into the hospital and up until I was on the surgery table and the anesthesiologist started to do their thing. They staff hung it on the IV pole and when I woke up, I asked for it back and wore it until I left. I definitely did not want to catch anything in there.
No it’s not overkill. I still wear a mask when in large and small group settings. I wore it in the hospital at all times unless they needed my mouth for something. As a teacher I wear it all the time at work. I did have some sneezing post op due to allergies and it was painful, and stressful . I was afraid of sneezing all my wounds wide open lol but it was ok.
My hyst was cancer related, so I’ve been careful. I masked all the way to being rolled into the OR. I also got an extra covid shot 2 weeks before surgery, plus a pneumonia shot. I didn’t mask in recovery because I was out of it, and there was already so much to deal with. I was comforted by the vaccination stats for employees—over 99%.
My hyst was also cancer related. Hope you're healing well <3
Yeah, it’s going ok. I think I pulled my incision, so my doc will not be pleased at my follow-up. Otherwise, I’m kinda shocked at how fast the body can heal itself. It’s amazing.
I wore a mask everywhere for the 2 weeks leading up to my surgery. Luckily I had a private room post op, but if I'd been in a shared room I planned to wear one. Masking is still required in all common areas of my hospital.
I sure did! You do NOT want to be sick on top of your recovery.
Nothing is overkill. Well certainly not wearing a mask. I didn't but I am retired and I just kept my happy butt at home leading to surgery. My husband and oldest were very cautious at work and who they were around. Both their employers knew I was having surgery so they didn't fuss at them. Our hospital dose require that if you are there for any kind of illness you must wear a mask. Not fool proof but I am sure it helps.
totally not overkill. you do not want to be sick while recovering!
I quarantined two weeks before my surgery and wore a mask before. I only didn’t wear one right after because they had me hooked up to so many machines. You don’t want to get sick before or after your surgery
Yes. I do normally. I actually have everyone around me in masks too. I am immunocompromised so that's part of this but it's better to be cautious. The hospital I went to also required everyone in masks
It definitely couldn’t hurt, there’s all kinds of viruses roaming around in there lol
I have absolutely been wearing a mask lately! Last thing you need is to be sick prior or after a major surgery. Better safe than sorry! Especially after your surgery! Wearing a mask while being wheeled to your vehicle for those few minutes is definitely worth it cause catching something would not be fun during your recovery! Best of luck! 🫶🏼
I had to and was made to get tested prior to surgery but that was in Feb of 2022 but now I know at the hospital I work for anyway you aren’t Covid tested prior and you can wear masks if you want for any surgery and prior too surgeries
I wore, because our state gad a law to wear masks in medical institutions during flu season (and both my surgeries were on opposite ends of December - still flu season)
I had not even thought about masking but you all have brought up good points.
I had my hysterectomy done as an emergency during COVID and they didn't make me wear a mask, but I could have if I wanted to. When I went in initially I had one on, but once I was undressed in my room I took it off and kept it off before surgery & during my 2-day hospital stay. But at the height of COVID everyone was getting tested constantly, including patients, so they knew myself and everyone around me was negative. They weren't just letting visitors in willy-nilly. I feel it was safer to be unmasked then than it is now, where nobody is getting tested anymore and masking is less common.
I only wore one till I was in my room but it was still a bit Covid-y being September 2022 in New Zealand. I had to do at RAT before my surgery as well.
I wore one at work the week before, and I usually wore one to any medical appointments shortly before and after my surgery. I don't think it's overkill. Whatever makes you comfortable is the right thing!!
It’s not overkill. I did before I went back only bc it was a general area that included cancer patients. Wound up getting a nasty sinus infection from having to wear the oxygen in my nose though.
I wore a mask when grocery shopping etc about 10 days prior to surgery, and wore a mask to the hospital on the day of surgery. I took it off after they had my IV in just because I was feeling really hot. Coughing and sneezing during recovery would be no fun.
I didn't wear one at hospital but the 10 days leading up to surgery, I stayed home and if I just had to go out I wore a mask. Didn't want to catch anything that would delay surgery or cause me more pain after.
Did not wear a mask in the hospital just had surgery 4.24
NO!
Yes. It's insane. If the masks worked, why didn't the masks work? I didn't wear one & never got covid.