Epidural for Surgery? or Recovery?

Hi Ladies,
Well, tomorrow (Tuesday) is my coronation!! Finally. Really scared most about the anesthesia and dealing with its aftereffects. Just read a post about having an "epidural". My doctor never offered that option to me. Could I request an epidural for the surgery instead of the general anesthia? Or is the epidural used only after the surgery? I'm very confused here. (I have had epidurals with two births, and KNOW I would prefer it.) To me, the recovery from general anesthesia is MISERABLE!!

Hurry, my time is running out!!!

Carleen

I don't know if you can request spinal anesthesia for during surgery this late in the game or not. That is something that is usually determined during pre-op testing. Just speaking from very recent experience (Hyst on 4-4), the spinal during surgery was good. I didn't have the groggy feelling after and every one in my family commented on how well I sounded. The post op epidural for pain on the otherhand wasn't such a plesant experience. I figured that it would be best then I wouldn't have to worry about getting any type of pain med, but it must not have been in right or something. I started to feel pain on the one side a few hours after the surgery while the other remained totally numb, so I still had to take pain meds because it was not working on the other side. Then the day after surgery I got a very severe headache, which was relieved promply when the epidural was shut off. I could have had it in until yesterday, but decided to take it out because it wasn't worth it. Also my thigh stayed numb for hours after it was removed so they decided to keep the catheter in longer since I wasn't able to get up and use the bathroom (an added side effect?). Just remember though this was just my experience. I know that there are good ones out there. Only you can make the decision as to what is best for you. Hope this helped at all. Take care. I will be thinking of you!

Hi! Tomorrow is your big day! I just had my LAVH (kept Ovaries) on 3/28/03. (Feeling great!) I had the general. I don't remember a thing from when the anesthisiologist said "would you like something to help you relax?" until they tried to wake me up in the recovery room--which was hours later! They gave me plenty of meds to help my tummy, but I was very nauseaus. The nurse was great about holding the burp bag--several times. I had the morphine pump which I used a lot once I was in my room the first afternoon and evening...didn't use it too much at all over night! I slept really well!

Good luck tomorrow!

Mary W

Adenomyocis, fibroids

It's not to late to request an epidural. I had a TVH and requested it the morning of surgery because my dr. said the anesthesiologist who I met with the morning of surgery is the one who decides the type of anesthesia. Many sisters who have had general have also had an epidural put in at the same time for post op pain relief rather than a PCA pump. Make sure you tell the anesthesiologist that you want an epidural to stay in for post op pain relief. Some dr's give spinals (little different than an epidural) and then they just give a PCA pump after that.

In my case I was afraid of general because I had a previous experience of severe nausea and vommiting for three days after general and I wanted to be sure this time I wouldn't have as great as a chance with a belly full of stitches. I had planed to have an epidural but I ended up having both a spinal and epidural. (one stick only)

With general, they sedate you so you don't experience the sensations when they administer the drug that paralyzes you, which is why you need intubation (tube in throat). If that's not enough to make you sick, often times they need to administer other meds, post-op, to "re-start" the digestive track, antibiotics to combat infection or irritation from the intuabtion tube, and of course, the nausea, and vomiting.... Not what you want with an abdominal incision! Although if general anesthesia is the only choice allowed such as in laporoscopic procedures due to the gas or dr's choice, there are meds to control that such as zofran. Here's a link about nausea.http://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/sho...ghlight=nausea

The sedation (no tube in throat) used with a regional is different from the sedation used for general. And with a regional, the level of sedation can be varied (light--just relaxed, medium-groggy, heavy--sleep through it all).

I was awake, alert, and not sick when my family came to visit me in my room after I got out of recovery. I felt great and had absolutely NO pain. If I had had general or a pca pump I would have probably had a very foggy brain and maybe an emesis basin in front of me.

If you do opt for an epidural it can be left in for 24 hours post op pain. I wasn't sure if I could tolerate a PCA morophine pump. (nausea, fogginess, etc) I wasn't concerned about morphine in an epidural/spinal because it doesn't have the same circulation--effects are limited to nerve-endings in lower portion of body and drug does not cross brain/blood barrier. You can read my story at the www house link below.
Here are some additional links that can help.

epidural or pca pump for post op pain relief
http://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/sho...pidural+or+pca

http://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/sho...light=sedation

Difference between epidural and spinal
http://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/sho...ghlight=spinal

Also I noticed you said you are having a TVH and bladder sling. I think some urologist actually prefer that some patients have something like regional because they want to be able to test the effectiveness of the bladder work. Good luck.