Questions about epidural

anyone else have an eperderial with surgery? I have been told to have this? Why?

I asked dr if I could have an epidural rather than general anesthesia and she said no. In my surgery, my uterus was big and there was a lot of work to be done - she said it would be better if I weren't awake.

They are recomending me to have both the general and the epidural..i guess because of when you wake up you are in pain...did you have severe pain when you woke up

I had an epidural AND general anethesia. I am so glad I did this. It reduces the amount of narcotics that will be in your body as well as other meds. I woke up a bit after surgery and was very alert very quickly due to the lack of medications in my body as of then. The epidural started to wear off so then I started using the good ole' button I was given to push. But I didn't push it at all the first 12 hours. I had a slight fear of the epidural ... So the anethesiologist promised to sedate me before he gave me my epidural this time and I do not remember ANY part of getting the epidural. NOTHING. He came around the next day and asked how I faired...and he laughed when I said I didn't remember anything. I remember saying I felt dizzy and that I was going to fall off of the table..he responded "not going to happen" then..BAM, I woke up in recovery all finished! Gotta love the drugs they use.

That is so wonderful...they will sedate you before the epidural????????

hey what part of indiana you from??? tristew

Well all i have got to try and get some sleep...chat with everyone tomorrow...my last day....yikes

Yes, I was sedated before the epidural. My anethesiologist had no problems saying yes to the sedation. :-) It doesn't hurt to ask! BTW, I am about 45 mins west of Cincinnati OH...an hour south of Indy.

Fivegk, I too had both an epideral and general. I was awake when they did the epideral and it was not painful. I was very alert and pain free coming out of recovery. The only adverse affect I had was itching (primarily on my face) for about 24-36 hours after. They said this was not an alergic reaction but was common and happens when the foam runs along the spine and hits nerve endings. Guess I was just one of the lucky ones!

I, too, had general anesthesia & an epidural for pain managment. It was good for me. I was able to rest the first day of my surgery and let my body recover from the operation. They gave me some medicine in the OR to help me relax & not remember too much of the epidural. The only hitch I had was when I went from the epidural to oral pain meds. It was a rough few hours getting the pain under control again but once it was....It was off and walking the halls!