Ottakee Posted October 19, 2017 Share Posted October 19, 2017 Tomorrow my daughter is having a 4 hour long surgery. With added time on either end I likely have 5 hours or so of waiting in the waiting room. I will be alone the entire time. I will bring my book, paperwork, etc but I was wondering if it is ok to listen to music or audio book quietly with headphones of I got a ways away from others.....or even possibly a Netflix show. I also hope to walk some if they allow me to go that far way from the surgical waiting area, and likely get something to eat. We have to be there at 5:30am and then they said we might be in post op recovery until late evening with a possibility of overnight admission . That is a lot of sitting for a mom who never sits still. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wonderchica Posted October 19, 2017 Share Posted October 19, 2017 Sure. People do that all the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted October 19, 2017 Share Posted October 19, 2017 Headphones are fine but I’ll bring a corded pair of headphones instead of a Bluetooth headset. That is because there is usually a cellphone free zone near the surgery area so devices may need to go to airplane mode and Bluetooth switch off. The hospital where my youngest was born had their waiting area quite far from the surgery floor with an intercom system and vending machines. People can use all their devices there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarlett Posted October 19, 2017 Share Posted October 19, 2017 Of course it is ok, and I am sorry you will be alone the entire day. :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbel Posted October 19, 2017 Share Posted October 19, 2017 Sure, why not? I think every waiting room I am ever in, people have headphones/earbuds on. And I'm pretty sure you can walk around, and get something to eat, during a surgery that long. You can give them your phone number so they can text you if you need to get back to the area right away. :grouphug: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbel Posted October 19, 2017 Share Posted October 19, 2017 (edited) DP, sorry! Edited October 19, 2017 by marbel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudoMom Posted October 19, 2017 Share Posted October 19, 2017 Headphones are great. It's the people who listen to the things without headphones that are the issue. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ottakee Posted October 19, 2017 Author Share Posted October 19, 2017 This will be our 4th surgery here so I do know cell phones are allowed :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bolt. Posted October 19, 2017 Share Posted October 19, 2017 (edited) Headphones (and Netflix) are totally normal in that situation! Edited October 19, 2017 by bolt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiewindmomma Posted October 19, 2017 Share Posted October 19, 2017 Absolutely! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happypamama Posted October 19, 2017 Share Posted October 19, 2017 Absolutely! I mean, assuming you aren’t blaring rock music so loud that the other people can hear. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachel Posted October 19, 2017 Share Posted October 19, 2017 Absolutely! I even brought mine to the dentist a couple weeks ago when I knew I'd be in the chair a long time. I discovered I still couldn't focus on a podcast but the music did help distract me. I hope the surgery and recovery goes well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawyer&Mom Posted October 19, 2017 Share Posted October 19, 2017 Bring a charger. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted October 19, 2017 Share Posted October 19, 2017 (edited) Absolutely fine to have headphones, like others have said, it is the people who don't use headphones that are the problem. Remember your power cord as well. Most waiting areas have plug-ins you can use so you don't drain your battery You may need to use hospital WIFi so log out of anything secure on your device. Sometimes you can't get a cell signal inside the inner parts of hospitals. If you don't want to use WIFI then download a few things to your phone or tablet before you go. And yes, please take a walk. It is completely fine. I always take a walk during procedures that take a while. It is so hard to spend an entire day sitting in one spot. Every hospital we have gone to, will call your phone when they want to get ahold of you. Edited October 19, 2017 by Tap 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kewb Posted October 19, 2017 Share Posted October 19, 2017 Absolutely fine. It is the people who blast what they are watching or listening to without headphones who are a problem. I usually keep one ear open so I can hear if anyone calls my name. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted October 19, 2017 Share Posted October 19, 2017 Yes! We do this often. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bethben Posted October 19, 2017 Share Posted October 19, 2017 Usually there is someone at a reception desk that you tell if you’re going to go get something to eat. They can call you if needed. A lot of places also have boards on a monitor that will tell you progress. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbecueMom Posted October 19, 2017 Share Posted October 19, 2017 (edited) When DH had a 5-hour long surgery, they gave me one of those little restaurant coaster beeper things that had a little screen with updates from the OR, so I could leave the waiting room or have headphones in without missing anything. I think they gave me about a 20-minute heads up via the pager at the end when the surgeon was on his way out to talk to me. Get an external battery charger if you can. That way you won't have to count on getting one of the coveted spots next to an outlet. Best wishes on her procedure! Edited October 19, 2017 by BarbecueMom 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFSinIL Posted October 20, 2017 Share Posted October 20, 2017 Sure, just let the desk know you have headphones on so if they need to get your attention they are aware they may need to walk over and tap you on the shoulder or whatever. Let them know wo you are for, and that you are going to get lunch when you need to, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slackermom Posted October 20, 2017 Share Posted October 20, 2017 Absolutely! When our kid had surgery this year, we even requested that the kid be able to listen to music in the recovery room, while coming off the anesthesia. The nurse who was monitoring our kid kindly popped the earbuds in over and over as needed when our kid had the shakes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anne Posted October 20, 2017 Share Posted October 20, 2017 I just want to second Tap's advice to take a walk - you will feel much better for it!!! Anne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ottakee Posted October 20, 2017 Author Share Posted October 20, 2017 I just want to second Tap's advice to take a walk - you will feel much better for it!!! Anne I decided to go with the comfortable even if they are ugly running shoes so that I can walk....like really walk. I have bad feet and my dressier, look nice shoes are ok but my feet would really be hurting me by the end of the day if I wanted to walk. Someone needs to tell Brooks that they need to make cute Dyads. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettyandbob Posted October 20, 2017 Share Posted October 20, 2017 That's a long day. Bring a charger too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ottakee Posted October 20, 2017 Author Share Posted October 20, 2017 Sitting here now almost ready to start my audio book. Got in 3000 steps walking around....finished up with a bagel and pop 😀 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachel Posted October 20, 2017 Share Posted October 20, 2017 Sitting here now almost ready to start my audio book. Got in 3000 steps walking around....finished up with a bagel and pop 😀 I love that you say pop! That's what I grew up calling it but got teased or funny looks when I moved to a different part of the country. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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