Best advise: Get the epidural!!!

Before my surgery they offered me an epidural and I took it. I don't even remember them inserting it.

I woke up in recovery totally pain free and also was totally awake and lucid to the point where I was emailing my coworkers at 11:30 and my surgery was at 8:30. I also ate my entire lunch tray of REAL food without problems.

The anesthesiologist told me later she hardly had to give me any narcotics and not as much other heavy sedation stuff, so that is why I felt so great after.

I left my epidural in until Thursday (surgery Wed)afternoon and at that point I began to push that little pain med button as needed. So yes my pain increased the second day but was gradual.

There is one drawback to the epidural. It numbs your legs so you are not able to walk until they turn it off. I thought being pain free was worth it. I could have had them stop the epidural sooner like Thursday morning if I had wanted.