Epidurals

Hi Ladies, Has any had an epidural for anytime of hysterectomy ?
New here and love the network we have available.
Thanks so much.

Hi
post op 1 week here , Had the epidural and would recomend it lol I found it so much easier than waking from being put out.
I woke alert and with in a few hours I had full control of my legs.
Im my case they also add a pain med into the epidural that last for 24 hours so that was nice lol

good luck and if you have any questions please email me
sky1mom@yahoo.com
Halle

Halle, Thanks so much for the quick reply. I am @ wk trying to be proactive and leave my desk all caught up. How are you doing ? Would you be open to talking on the phone this evening ? If not I understand.
How soon before you got up and walked ? Were you awake in the OR or did you have sedation too ? Also did your bowels move in the first few days ?
I am having (not sure with the lingo here) Hyst, keeping ovaries and cerv. Large friboids.

Sending good wishes.
Elinor

Is the epidural a widely-available option for hysterectomy? I am definitely planning to ask my doctor about it, but I just wondered if this is an option that is routinely offered.

I think I would much prefer an epidural with sedating medications over general anesthesia, although since I'm having LSH I'm not certain it will be offered.

I had an epidural and I recommend it greatly. You dont have to deal with all of the after effects from being put out. I had a TAH/BSO on Feb 5. For me it was the only choice because I was so scared about being put to sleep.
Bridget

Can they actually do a TAH with only an epidural?

I never heard of that but I don't think I could lay there awake knowing what they were doing. I think I better do the general I'd be panicked the whole time if I was awake but I never heard of just havin an epidural. My friend had one when she delivered her baby and she said the only thing that when numb was her feet.

I had an epidural plus something that made me really sleepy....not a general but i didn't know anything. The only thing about the epidural with me was everything had feeling a few hours later except one leg from my ankle up.....it was really scary....it was still numb the next day so i finally talked them into taking it out that afternoon and a couple hours later i had full feeling back. I was so afraid i was paralyzed there or something...lol i know, i get some strange thoughts but i didn't have any nausea or anything like that after i was awake

I think I've decided on the epidural. Between this website and a few of my friends who have had them, I haven't heard any bad reports. I had one when I had laproscopic knee surgery a few years ago and recall it wasn't that bad. I was concerned though because this is much more invasive (TAH). But am feeling reassured - and yes, I understand everyone is different. I want to be out completely (I was conscious for the knee surgery and watched it on a monitor - kind of like "Trauma, Life In The ER" (my DH's favorite TV show!)). However, I don't think I want to see, hear or know what's going on this time.

I'm having a TAH/BSO on Monday and have discussed having the epidural for my surgery with my DR. He said he saw no reason I could not have it, but it would be up to the anesthesiologist. I won't be able to talk to him until right before they take me into surgery so I won't know until then whether I'll get to. I am really counting on it because I DO NOT want the general. My DR did tell me that if I have the epidual he will leave instructions to remove it after 24 hours due to the leg swelling.

I really recommend the epidural when I had mine they left it in only for a few hours after surgery because I get sick to my stomach from whatever is in it. I also cant take pain killers because they make me sick to. I have to say I was in pain for 2 days but it got alot better from then out I have had 2 csections with no pain killer and the pain is very similar. I picked the epidural because it is one of the safest anesthesia's there is. Good luck to all of you waiting for surgery.