(wo)man walking!

So after failing to convince the DR to go with just a spinal rather than the full general I saw the anaesthetist yesterday and worked on him instead. Success! He figures I'm a good candidate, despite the anticipated 2-hour surgery, and will try to convince the Dr on my behalf. Just hope it doesn't tick off the man who'll be holding the scalpel.

But how perverse is this? I then learned from the surgical nurse that, regardless of which anaesthetic I end up with, I have to walk into the operating room and hop onto the slab under my own steam. (Hence the subject line.) When I gaped and asked what happened to being wheeled in she breezily told me there just isn't the staff for that any longer. Hardly reassuring but I had to chuckle! But why is it I'm okay with lying there awake during the op but can't bear the thought of having to walk in? Maybe I should see a psych Dr while I'm there!

My friend had to do the same thing. She said it was a little odd walking in and hopping onto the table. But she was ok with it and did fine afterward. At least they didn't make her walk out!!!

I can't imagine being awake through that.

You're a braver person than I am ...

Yes, you are braver than I am, also. Plus, I think I would get bored laying down for 2 hours. Listening to the nurses and dr.s talk about things, it would get to me. I liked being totally unconscious and waking up afterwards. Of course, that is what my mother-in-law said about child birth, so I guess we all have our preferences .
Good luck with everything and I hope you have no complications.

Tam

I was awake during my c-section. For 45 minutes I listened to my DH and the Doc talk about the truck my Doc wants to buy and that maybe they could make it to the restaraunt and have margauritas if he hurried. Hope they were joking!! LOL... But seriously, the bad part was all the shaking. High levels of epidural make you shake uncontrollably. I don't mean quiver a little, I mean room jarring shakes!! And I shook like that for several hours afterward. If you feel like you can handle that then go for it!

Hey seagall,
Ask them if they would be so kind to roll out a red carpet!! you will awaken a
Enter in style my friend, ....just be sure your gown is tied

Best of luck 's

I was wheeled to the doorway, then I sat in the doorway for about ten minutes before the nurse came out, introduced herself, and wheeled me into the room. I then had to hop up on the table myself, it really wasn't a big deal at all. You should be fine. The being awake for two hours while they operate is the part that would freak me out. LOL When I was 12 I had a kidney stone removed, and to this day I remember laying on the table waiting for the drugs to take effect and listening to them ripping open the sterile bags and dropping the "tools" on the tray. I can still hear the ripping and TING TING sounds in my head 21 years later. LOL I couldn't imagine listening to an operation, I love getting headphones in the dentist so I don't have to listen to the drill. LOL

Best of luck!!

Mary Ellen

Hi seagall

Well, I was lucky in that I was wheeled into the OR on a bed, and the nurse and my doctor assisted me onto the OR table. I was given Verced before going into OR, so there is no way I could have gone in on my own two legs. It's amazing to me to read here that some hospitals are so short staffed, that you have to walk into the OR on your own

That being said, I am concerned about the conflict you have with your doctor re: spinal vs. general anesthesia. I was really scared about going "under" with general anesthesia. But since I was having an LAVH, my doctor and anesthesiologist both told me that general was the only way to go, as my breathing had to be assisted. It turned out that my surgery took 4 hours,(instead of two) so in that regard, I'm glad I had a general. When I woke up I felt fine. The anesthesiologist made sure I had Zofran (anti-nausea med) on board.....and I woke up clear headed with no nausea. So, in my experience, general anesthesia worked out just fine.

I think, going into this surgery, you must have confidence in your surgeon and what he feels is best for you regarding anesthesia. He is the surgeon who will be in charge of your surgery....and it's a given that the anesthesiologist and surgeon should be on the same page regarding how your surgery is conducted.

I was scared to death when I went into surgery, but had a good repoire with both my doctor and anesthesiologist---that made all the difference for me.

Hey, where'd the rest of my subject line go? It should read Dead (Wo)man Wallking! Anyway, believe me, it's not that I'm really brave, just that my fear of being totally under outweighs the fear of being awake. I think I can handle it. I had major dental surgery in May lasting two hours with only local anaesthetic. Even refused sedation because I had to drive myself home afterwards. Don't think I'll try that this time!

The comment about the gown made me smile; I've already made a mental note to make sure I don't feel a breeze behind me as I'm tottering in. And the red carpet sounds reasonable!

Have you considered some type of therapy? Complications may arise during surgery and a general might be required. I would hate for you to caught and feel trapped. I can certainly understand your fears, though. I've always avoided any kind of drug/alcohol that would make me feel out of control. However, I've been lucky with my dr.s and I trusted them completely, so a general was no biggie for me.

Good luck with everything. I hope you have a no complication surgery and recovery.
Tam