TAH/BSO with regional and sedation

Hi Sisters,

I am having a TAH/BSO on April 4th. I am ADAMANT about not wanting general anesthesia. I have read where many of my sisters have had a regional with sedation. My Dr. does not do regionals, but it seems she could be convinced to do the regional with sedation. I am going to meet with an anesthsiologist (sp?) at my preop next Monday. The way I feel right now, if a general is my only option, I will cancel or they will have to take me by force. I know that sounds childish. I know they do generals every day and many of my sisters have had them. But I don't want it! I just wanted feedback from those that have had a TAH/BSO or similar with regional and sedation, not general and no vent.

I am okay with everything else and looking forward to getting this behind me, but this burr is still under my saddle so to speak! Thanks in advance for your in put!

Sandra

I had TAH/BSO with a spinal plus some happy meds to make me sleepy - not sure if thats the same as regional? Anyways, I felt the same about not wanting general and I think it was a good decision for me but check with your Dr. because apparently (I didn't learn this until after surgery) you can't have morphine pump if you get a spinal. The pain was managed with percoset, vicodin & finally the right med for me was dialudin. Just make sure that you speak up & have them keep trying different pain meds if the first one doesn't work - don't let the pain get to an unmanageable level - that was the biggest mistake I made because I didn't speak up to the nurses/doctor.

Take care, Heidi

I had spinals with both C sections. It's a good choice but not without risk. There's a small risk of paralysis if they go too far and puncture the spinal nerves. You also have to stay in a reclined position (no pillow) for about 8 hours to reduce the chance of a horrible headache that can be caused by leakage of the spinal fluid into the epidural space. You have to sit bent over while they insert the needle-and you can not move-they even had me hold my breath and a nurse held me still. Once they give you the spinal you have to lie doewn very quickly as it takes affect in seconds. I was numb from the ribs down. It was upsetting at first because I felt like I couldn't catch my breath. I think they shot me a little higher than they wanted to and part of my diaphragm was affected. I was awake during the surgery and it was pretty cool. In recovery, your numb anywhere from 4-6 hours and can't move because you're numb for that long and as I said before you risk spinal fluid leakage and a headache. I didn't get a headache either time from that. The biggest reason I'm opting for the general and not the spinal is it about drove me crazy laying there not being able to move my lower body for that long. Of course the up side is you're numb so you don't feel the incision pain until it wears off. I'm a little anxious about the general but not enough to go the spinal route-although I do wish the doc would do a video so I could watch it. I'm just fascinated by surgery. Good luck to you in whatever decision you make

As for the video, go to Google videos and there are some you can buy for less than a dollar. My Dr. has one that is 20 minutes that I will watch on Monday.

I had 1 epidurhal and 2 spinals with my c-sections. The spinals were much easier and less painful. I had forgotten the risks with those. I remember how hard it was to bend over, the basically scrunch you in half. But I won't have an almost 10 baby inside me this time! LOL I didn't like laying flat either, I didn't like the sudden light headedness and I really hated feeling the meds run down the tube because it was attached to my back and where it wasn't numb, I could feel it, it was cold. But I got used to all of that and the way I feel now, I would rather have this than a general. Thanks for reminding me about all of that though, I had forgotten the laying flat and the headache. I do remember how weird it was as it started to wear off and it seemed like that legs asleep feeling would never go away. I never got the bad headache, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't this time.

Heidi, I think regional and spinal are the same thing. But the regional term could be used for your arm, like if you have shoulder or carpal surgery. Regional, I think, just means the region they numb. Right now I'd like a brain regional! LOL! I am so tired of this roller coaster! I laughed when I first read on here the waiting is the hardest part. It truly is. I want this over!

Thanks ladies!

Sandra

Sorry Heidi, I misunderstood, you want a video of YOUR surgery! That would be cool! I am going to ask for pictures of what they remove though. Hey, I get to see the parts my mechanic replaced! LOL

OMG, not Heidi, Jpgurl on the video! I think I have brain fog early! LOL

Dr. said the spinal they use for c-sections and/or childbirth are different than the one they use for hysts - the needle is much smaller. I just had to sit up & curve my back - the needle was so small I didn't even feel it at all - no pinch, nothing & then they gave me sleepy/happy meds & the next thing I knew I was waking up in recovery. I didn't have to lay in a reclining position or get a headache, unfortunately the spinal wore off very quickly - within an hour of waking up - not sure if I'd like to see a video or not - I'm just hoping the Dr. tells me I lost 15-20 lbs. due to the surgery - LOL!

I had a spinal catheter. There really isn't a needle. Its a small tube inserted to the area and it stayed in for 24 hours after the surgery for pain meds, etc. I didn't really have any discomfort when they put it in (I think I was asleep when it went in because they gave me some gas) on top of an IV drip of calming meds... and I came to in recovery pretty quickly. My right leg stayed numb until they removed that spinal catheter which worried me, but I made it clear I didn't want the epidural. I'd had one before and for whatever reason I got really nervous. The catheter resulted in me being able to sit up pretty much right away... no problem with migraines and no worry about morphine pumps. As for weight loss, they removed the uterus, cervix and related tubes plus 3 fibroids, one the size of a football and I"m happy to say I DID lose 4 pounds during surgery!!! I stayed awake during the ablation I had 4 years ago and watched the whole thing on video. It was VERY cool... but I felt a little different about watching THIS surgery. My doctor is usually pretty good about showing photos, video, etc. but he said it was a tough surgery (though only about an hour and a half in time) so I figure I probably do'nt WANT to see what all they pulled out! LOL

Can I ask why you are adamant about not having general anesthesia?

It's a control and fear thing. I am a little more open to it now after thinking about it all day, but I still would rather have the spinal with sleepy drugs. I don't want to be awake, but I don't want a tube in my throat either. I talked to my counselor today and we pretty much figured out it is a control issue. Losing control, not being able to choose, being told it is a certain way or no way, that kind of thing. She encouraged me to trust the Doctors and anesthesia people, they do this every day and they do not want anything to happen to me as much as I don't want anything to happen to me. My ds had brain surgery when he was 25 days old and having to hand him over to the nurse, then hearing he would have a tube in his throat, and then seeing him when he got back and hearing his little hoarse cry is still a vivid and hard memory for me. That was 9 years ago on Friday. This time of year always brings it back. My DH tells me to just get over it, but I can't seem to let it go. He does say that in a loving way though!

Maybe I am just a nut case, I don't know. Thanks for asking and I hope you aren't sorry you asked!

Sandra

Oh I totally see your point about control-LOL that's why I don't want the spinal. I remember laying there after my first Csection thinking what if the hospital catches on fire-there's nothing I can do to help myself. Once I recognized that my fears were actually about loss of control-I could let it go. My dh is a great guy and he told me last week when we were riding "Why stress? You probably have a better chance of falling or getting hit by a car while you're riding than having something go wrong in surgery." Yep he's right-I've had people tell me I'm insane for getting on that bike and riding in traffic 4-6 days a week. But see I choose to do that and accept the risk because I love riding. Yep I made the choice for this surgery-but really for all of us here it wasn't really a choice was it? So I do understand about the loss of control-good luck with surgery. You'll do fine and so will I-in 24 hours I'll be hanging in my room.

I totally understand the control issue too. I have some very bad hospital experiences in my past (from when I was 4 or 5 years old) So BELIEVE me I did'nt want to be put under.... it totally freaked me out. Deep inside I just have a little me who doesn't trust doctors AT ALL. I've worked through this with most of my health care providers now and they're VERY understanding. Also, having the tube put down my throat was another scary thought.... but even WITH the spinal they had to do that... and I have to say I never knew they did it, and if they had'nt asked me about it, asked me about TMJ and having caps/crowns... I would'nt have known at all. I did have a bit of a sore throat the first day... then developed thrush from the antibiotics and THOUGHT that was still the sore throat. It took me 3 days to figure out it wasn't. So if you DO have the tube, realize that your throat will be a little sore, but I wasn't hoarse at all... and if the soreness lasts longer than a day, let someone know.

It is odd that your doctor won't let you choose though. I had three choices, but they highly recommended the spinal that I had for many reasons, one being the ease of delivering pain meds without waking me during the night, and another being the quicker waking up in recovery. Those two reasons alone made me feel better about it.

If you're like me, talking about it and having the doctor explain it ALL might make you feel better (its that control thing). I always want to know step by step, about all the equipment, who will be in the room, how will my family know what's going on... ALL OF IT! The morning I went in for my surgery the nurse walked me through the entire process all over again, including EVERYTHING they'd do after I was under. Then when I came to in recovery she ran everything by me again as well as what would happen for the rest of the day, what to expect as far as my feelings, etc. The one thing they didn't tell me was that my leg was going to be numb but that was unusual I guess. Not that it never happens, but just not to many people... I"m sure you'll do fine.

Just remember that you have a right to know about everything they are doing. And you have a right to ask them to repeat it, draw pictures, explain explain explain. Because in reality they want YOU to feel comfortable too. Take control now and you won't feel like yo'ure losing control by making this choice!