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Anesthestic Worries
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03-07-2006, 08:06 AM
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Guest
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Posts: 541
Hysterectomy: April 3rd, 2006
Surgery Type: TAH/SAH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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Anesthestic Worries
If you are going to use the patch, make sure you ask about it, and have it administered as soon as you arrive in Castle. It takes 4 hours for it to work, and if you are like me, the nausea that comes after general is swift. I had the patch for my lap, but didn't get it till after I was in OR, and while the patch helped later in the day, it didn't help me immediately after surgery. I am going to ask Dr. to order the patch so they can administer as soon as I walk in to the Pre op room.
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03-07-2006, 05:02 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 2,239
Hysterectomy: October 22nd, 2001
Surgery Type: TVH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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I had both and the epidural stayed in for 24 hours post op.
Check out this post here https://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/sho...d.php?t=244446
It has a lot of information. I had an epidural that stayed in for 24 hours after my hysterectomy so I didn't have any pain whatsoever after the surgery. I was awake but there was a sheet in front of my face so I couldn't see anything. It was less bothersome than having a tooth worked on. When a tooth is worked on you can feel the tools inside your mouth and your lips get stretched but with a spinal epidural in you shouldn't feel a thing. It was my option to be awake. Good luck to you. I did post several links in that post about nausea, pain after surgery, how sisters felt right after waking up, and other good information. s
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03-07-2006, 05:26 PM
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Guest
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Posts: 455
Hysterectomy: April 25th, 2006
Surgery Type: SAH
Ovaries: Removed both
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Anesthestic Worries
After one of my more invasive laparoscopies I woke up from the GA in pain, and managed to say "hurts" to the nurse, who immediately gave me something wacky and the pain was gone...as was I, straight back to sleep. It wasn't an unbearable pain enough to cause you to scream. You are still so groggy from the anaesthetic when you first wake you aren't fully aware of it. Apparently that wasn't the first time I had woken up either...just the first time I remembered. Today they have some fantastic, quick acting pain meds - you really needn't worry about lying in pain Usually the nurses wake you, so they are ready and on-hand to administer immediate pain relief anyway HTH
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03-07-2006, 05:44 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 2,239
Hysterectomy: October 22nd, 2001
Surgery Type: TVH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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Anesthestic Worries
I just wanted to add one more thing. I have read one or two posts that said a sister had to wait till she got to her room before she could get her morphine pump! Now I don't know if her pain was managed in the recovery but I do remember something about her being in pain till she got the pump. Just another thing to think about asking before your surgery. You may want to ask what will be given to you after surgery and if immediate pain meds will be available when you wake up if you don't have an epidural. I loved my epidural because even if I had been asleep I wouldn't have felt a thing. Good luck in whatever happens and remember it's the anesthesiologist who decides what type of anesthesia you get but you can always request regional (spinal and or epidural) rather than general if you want. With me I for more than 72 hours after general from a laporoscopy and I surely didn't want to do this after my hysterectomy. I also didn't have any pain meds to go home with after my laporoscopy. I had a terrible gyn the first time and am glad that I had a better one about a year later after I was married. The good gyn told me certain things I didn't know that the other bad gyn I went to never told me. I finally got my questions answered as my new gyn spent enough time with me. I'm so happy that he was the one doing my surgery before my insurance changed over as he is not on it anymore. Fortunately I have found another gyn but I still want to go to my other gyn who did my surgery for my well woman checkups. It's nice to know that the reciept says "well woman" on them rather than something else.
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03-07-2006, 05:56 PM
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Guest
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Posts: 272
Hysterectomy: April 24th, 2006
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Removed both
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Anesthestic Worries
I do have some experience about the surgery and pain pump thing, although I'm still awaiting my trip to the castle.
When I had my surgery last fall, I did wake up as they were hooking up my pain pump. The pain was pretty bad, but they got me going on the pump pretty quickly. Once it was hooked up, I felt much, much better. I won't mind having it again this surgery. In fact, I'm pretty sure they're going to give that to me again.
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03-07-2006, 06:16 PM
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Guest
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Posts: 121
Hysterectomy: January 25th, 2006
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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Anesthestic Worries
I'm 6 weeks post-op, and wanted to add my 2 cents
Like the others, I would push to talk to either your doc or an anesthesiologist. You have every right to ask questions and voice your concerns prior to the surgery, and not when you meet your anesthesiologist right before being wheeled into surgery.
I had a general, and personally, I am very happy that is what I had. I had a spinal for my cervical cerclage and c-section, and while it was fine under those circumstances, I just didn't want to be awake for my hysterectomy. Again, a very personal decision. When I woke up from surgery, I will admit I was in pain, but not unbearable. I was pretty out of it. Immediately after getting back to the room, I had a morphine drip.
Here are my 2 biggest pieces of advice: first, if you start feeling even remotely nauseous, tell a nurse IMMEDIATELY. Don't think it will pass or wait it out - the last thing you want to do is vomit after surgery. They can give you phenegran or other anti-nausea meds in your IV, and they work well. I had the phenegran, and it worked like a charm. The second thing is if you start feeling that in any way, the pain meds aren't working, let the nurse know. For me, the morphine didn't work well. I didn't want to say anything, though, b/c I had never had a pump and really just thought it was supposed to take the edge off and I would just have to suck the rest up. WRONG!!! I was in so much pain the first night when my doc came in and checked on me that he ordered my meds to be changed immediately. For me, the demarol is what worked.
You just need to be honest with the nurses. They do a wonderful job, but for each person, pain management is different. There is no need for you to be in any pain, so be honest about how you are feeling.
You will do just fine, I just know it. I know the anticipation is hard, but it will all be over before you know it.
Take care, and hugs to you!
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03-07-2006, 07:18 PM
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Guest
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Posts: 207
Hysterectomy: March 3rd, 2006
Surgery Type: LAVH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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Anesthestic Worries
I fear anesthesia, because it makes me have panic attacks, BUT....my dear, there is nothing to fear. Talk to the anesthesiologist, he or she will ease your mind!. I have an awful fear of death, and....well, if I can do it, anyone can!!. We fear it because we are not in control, and because we fear the ultimate,....not waking up again, but that is RARE, very RARE!. As far as pain upon waking, you more than likely won't feel a whole lot for a while, but if you do they will be right on top of it, you won't suffer. I hope your mind eases, you'll do just fine!
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03-07-2006, 07:58 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 630
Hysterectomy: October 3rd, 2005
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Removed both
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Anesthestic Worries
I had a TAH-BSO.
I had gone to the castle for my pre-op visit and met with the anesthesiologist. I asked him for a spinal, because I had that with my c-section. He suggested that the epidural would probably be better for me. He explained that they can leave the epidural in place for a day or two after the surgery, so your pain needs are met on an immediate and constant basis. He gave me some anti-nausea tablets to take the morning of my surgery, as I don't have a good history of keeping down my "cookies" after surgery. During surgery, he also administered something else, to keep me very sedated (although I have to admit, I am not sure what he gave me).
When I woke up, a newly crowned princess, I was a little nauseus, but the pain was almost non-existant. They kept asking me to rate it, 1 - 10, 10 being the worst, I would usually tell them 0, 1 or 2. They took the epidural out the next day.
The only issues I had with the epidural were the itching and a slight numbness to my left leg. Both were gone shortly after they removed the epidural.
Please ask your doctor or anesthesiologist, what would be the best for your situation. Their knowledge and experience are invaluable.
And keep one thing in mind as hear the stories of others. That won't necessarily be your experience. You may just be the one that sails through with no difficulty what so ever. Try to remain calm as you finish your last weeks and days as a Lady in Waiting.
Hugs
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03-08-2006, 05:55 AM
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Guest
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Posts: 260
Hysterectomy: May 8th, 2006
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Removed both
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Anesthestic Worries
What is the ultimate fear? That is the first thing I ask myself when I feel extremely fearful about something. I had major gastrointestinal surgery last year, and I was so anxious about the central line that my blood pressure went off the charts. I later learned I got myself all worked up for nothing and my fears were due to a lack of information because I'd never had a central line. Heck, I was sedated when they put it in--a piece of cake! Later I learned the benefits of having that central line, as all blood tests performed, any medications, and all fluids went right into the central line--which meant I didn't have to be poked--except for the shots in my legs to keep me from getting blood clots.
You might want to consider seeing the anethisiologist when having your pre-op bloodwork done. Write down your list of concerns and questions. This seems to help me with the anxiety.
With regard to post-op pain when you come out of anethesia: During my two most recent operations (last year and last month) I woke up--in pain, yes--however, it wasn't long before they administered pain medication. I'm sure it seems like an eternity to the person waking. In reality, it wasn't even five minutes from the time I felt awake and when they gave me something for pain. It's important for you to wake up up, and most pain meds make people sleepy/sleep. By the time I was concious enough to know I was awake, the tubes had already been removed from my throat.
Hope that helps.
Maxine
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