Epidural vs. General

I have read some posts about the pros and cons of epidurals. My doctor hasn't actually mentioned the choice to me. I know I'm having abdominal surgery with a vertical incision to remove either a fibroid or the fibroid along with my uterus (depends on what he finds). Does anyone know if it is possible to have an epidural for this type of surgery? And if so, could they give me something so I would sleep through the procedure (I don't want to remember anything). Thanks for your help.

You can have regional anesthesia with light sedation instead of general. But you must ask your doctor. Some prefer to do general.

I had a TAH/BSO with a horizontal incision. (A "bikini" incision, but it was still 6 inces long!) I had general anesthesia plus an epidural for control of post-op pain. It was really a great way to go. Just something in my IV to "make me sleepy", and I was out before they even did the epidural! Afterward, there was no pain, no wooziness, and no nausea. The worst part was the sore throat from the tube down the throat from the general. The next day again, very little pain and no nausea. The sore throat was gone by the afternoon.

Without going into details, I unfortunately was switched to morphine the night of my second day in the hospital because of numbness/paralysis in my right leg. Even with the anti-nausea meds I got really sick to my stomach. They tried other drugs, but they all made me sick and made me feel really out of it, so all I had was Tordol (sp?), an IV anti-inflammatory. Pain was a lot worse with that, but better than vomiting!

So, if there is any way you can have a general plus epidural, that is what I would recommend. Oh, I didn't remember a thing!