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General vs Epi
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02-13-2002, 02:34 PM
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Guest
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Posts: 1,214
Hysterectomy: February 19th, 2002
Surgery Type: TVH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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General vs Epi
I am scheduled for surgery 2/19, tomorrow and Friday are my preops..I too have been going around and around as regards to what anesthesia I want to have...I am thinking tho that it'll be general BUT after reading your posts I am going to make sure that I get the cocktail to prevent sickness and something before they even take me out to make me NOT REMEMBER a thing...just being in my room..haha..You'd think after so many surgeries that I'd be okay with this huh? NOT!!! Hate the no control of anesthesia..THat is my main problem..Not worried about the pain afterwards cuz then this will be over..Not worried anymroe about losing my uterus...Had a hard time there for a bit even tho my hubby is fixed and we were not going to have any more children, but have gotten over that. I am so glad that we are all in teh same boat and i have someone that knows what I'm goign thru and what I am going to go thru so that I can share...Good luck to all who are waiting...I have five days and counting..grrr..my surgery is not until 12.30 and all of that time without eating or anything? I am dreading the fleets too And will find out tomorrow all of the other good stuff I have to do preop too..Has anyone else had their preop just a few days before their surgeries? I read that most have 'em about two weeks before and mine are only about a week...
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02-13-2002, 03:02 PM
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Guest
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Posts: 68
Hysterectomy: February 5th, 2002
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General vs Epi
HI THERE,
I WOULD ASSUMED YOU HAVE READ MY REPLY ON THE OTHER EPI VS. GEN.
GLAD TO HEAR YOU HAVE DECIDED ON SOMETHING, MAY IT BE GEN OR EPI. BUT I AM HAPPY WITH MY GEN AS I HAD MENTIONED AND THANKS TO DH ABOUT ASKING FOR THE COCKTAIL FOR I WOULD HAVE FORGOTTEN ABOUT IT.
I HAD WHAT I CALLED 2 SETS OF PRE-OP. FIRST ONE WAS SCHEDULED FOR JAN.31 WITH MY DR. AND THE OTHER WAS FEB 1 FOR ALL THE PAPER WORKS IN THE HOSP. AND MEETING THE DRUG DR. BY THE WAY, MY SURGERY WAS SCHEDULED FOR FEB.5.
I KEPT THE FEB 1 SCHEDULE FOR THE HOSP. PAPERS AND DRUG DR. BUT ENDED UP ASKING FOR THE JAN 31 PRE-OP MEETING WITH MY DR 2 WEEKS PRIOR DUE TO A SUDDEN PANIC ATTACK. I NEEDED MORE INFO ON WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AND ALL.
I WAS SCARED TO DEATH TOO AND ACTUALLY TRYING TO PREPARE FOR WHAT IF'S, BUT EVERYTHING WENT JUST PEACHY AND HAPPY WITH THE DECISIONS. HOPE THE BEST FOR YOU.
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02-13-2002, 05:18 PM
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Guest
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Posts: 4,577
Hysterectomy: March 22nd, 2000
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General vs Epi
I had general and liked it...didn't have any problems. My pre-op was only a few days before my surgery too.
Glad you found us. We'll be with you every step of the way.
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02-13-2002, 06:16 PM
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Guest
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Posts: 571
Hysterectomy: December 10th, 2001
Surgery Type: LAVH
Ovaries: Removed both
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General vs Epi
I had a general. I begged for an epi, but they couldn't do it for various reasons (good reasons). I was so scared of the anesthesia.
They gave me Versed beforehand and I do remember how much I loved it! I hopped onto the operating table and told the doctor I was having a great time (I actually remember that ).
Afterwards I remember being nauseaous, but I sipped on ice chips and did my breathing exercises (they gave me this breathing thing and told me to breathe into it to get the anesthesia out of my lungs).
About three hours after I had gotten out of recovery I was able to walk around the room (not nauseaous). They kept these circulating things around my legs to keep the blood flowing.
The next day I was up and walking everywhere and EATING.
The next day after that the doctor said I could leave, but I wanted to stay an extra day.
From then on I felt great.
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02-14-2002, 08:35 AM
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Guest
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Posts: 133
Hysterectomy: January 30th, 2002
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General vs Epi
Hi!
I am 2 weeks post-op and I had my Pre-Op visit 2 days before my surgery. I first went to my Dr.'s office to talk & sign papers and then to the hospital for tests.
I had made up my mind when I first realized I was going to have a hyster. that I DID NOT want a general. My feeling was I didn't want to have to get over all the side effects of a general plus the surgery. After doing some research and listening to different posts on this site, I chose to have a spinal with heavy sedation. Boy, I'm glad I did! The anestheoligist was trying to talk me out of it, but all the nurses were saying they thought it was the only way to go! My Dr. said she has done them both ways and would leave the final decision up to the anesth. Dr. After reviewing my chart, I was told there was no reason that I couldn't have a spinal! I was scared and almost caved, but stuck to my guns! They gave me something in my IV after going in the OR and had me sit up on the edge of the table and I remember nothing until I woke up in Recovery! My Dr. told my dh that I snored thru the entire 3 hr. surgery!
Good luck with whatever you decide. My feeling is that is YOUR body and you should have some say!
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02-14-2002, 09:04 AM
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Guest
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Posts: 571
Hysterectomy: December 10th, 2001
Surgery Type: LAVH
Ovaries: Removed both
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General vs Epi
AND, of course, it depends on what you are having done. In my case, they were doing such an extensive laparoscopy that they would have had to do the spinal WAYYYY up. She said I would feel as if I were suffocating. With my last epi, I did feel that way and even asked the doctor what would happen if I couldn't breathe. I didn't want to go through that for 2-3 hours.
If a person is not having a ton of gas pumped in her abdomen, and isn't particularly long waisted, epi/spinals can work (but I'm not sure if they work well with laparoscopies). I wasn't given an option and I am not disappointed at all. They gave me the least amount of anything they could, and it worked very well.
Obviously, if a woman CAN have a spinal or epi easily, and the doctor is comfortable with that, go for it. I also wanted to make my doctor at ease. If she (my doctor) was worrying about how I was reacting, she might not have been able to concentrate on my innards.
General anesthesia, at least up here in Northern MN, has changed dramatically from 8 years ago when I had it in Reno. The side effects were minimal for me as compared to back then when I felt HORRIBLE. I was able to discuss everything thoroughly with several nurse anesthetists as well as the anesthesiologist. Surgery is done so often here that nurse anesthetists are very current in everything. I was 100% pleased with my surgerical experience, which is about 100% different than I expected.
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02-14-2002, 02:20 PM
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Guest
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Posts: 22
Hysterectomy: February 22nd, 2002
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General vs Epi
Hi! My TAH is planned for 2/22 and my preop is on Monday the 18th. Not much time in between. Other than having to watch a video I have no idea what else is involved in my preop. Every doctor/hospital has it's own procedures.
My doctor is retiring and no longer doing surgery but he recommended me my new doc and I trust him. A friend also goes to him.
I am also someone who hates losing control over my body. My first c-section was with an epi and I was extremely pleased with it. The doc did it within a few minutes with no problems. I was thrilled.
With my second child I had general due to it being an emergency. Both of my experiences were pleasant (as pleasant as it can get). After both I was exhausted. I might not have been with the first if I hadn't of been in hard labor for 12 hours before. I never had nausea after either procedure or after my appendectomy (sp?). I got up and walked around after waking up in recovery with all of my surgeries. THe worst is the first bm afterwards. That's the pain I fear.
I am choosing general for my TAH. Basically because my husband can't be there to hold my hand like he was with my first c-section. I'm scared of not having someone in there to hold my hand. I'd rather be knocked out and see his smiling face afterwards.
I have the advantage that I've had both types of anesthesia and I have no qualms as to what to choose. Every one is different and has different experiences.
Good Luck!
Pamela
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02-14-2002, 02:43 PM
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Guest
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Posts: 571
Hysterectomy: December 10th, 2001
Surgery Type: LAVH
Ovaries: Removed both
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General vs Epi
Ask your doctor about stool softeners. Before surgery I got some and I never had the usual problems with BMs. I also drank SO MUCH WATER two days before surgery so my body would be well hydrated. I drank a lot the day before, but even more two days earlier. Being well hydrated also means it's easier to find veins for IVs. :-)
I also ate very lightly the day before surgery. No one told me to do it--it just made sense to me. I never threw up after surgery (in fact, I was hungry the next morning).
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