anesthesia choice

My surgery is scheduled for 4/23. I am having a TAH and hoping to leave one ovary. I am hoping to avoid general anesthesia as I tend to become nauseous. My GYN said that I could request an epidural and that what they use to put me out should not make me sick. I called anesthesia but they wouldn't talk to me until they get my case (the day before the surgery). I'm ok with waiting till then, but was wondering if anyone would like to share their experience with me.

I'm grateful for this forum. I've gotten alot of great info and was able to ask my GYN lots of questions. She is a dear sweet lady that is willing to spend whatever time I need helping me to understand what will take place.

Hi dulcimerplayer! I did not want to have general anesthesia either. Not because it makes me sick it was because it can make you cough too! I have been down that road before and who needs any extra pain. I had a spinal and I would do it all over again! I felt great in recovery, not groggy or sick and was able to talk to nurses like I was just awakened from a nap. You have no feeling so no pain as well!
My niece had her gallbadder removed the day after my surgery. She was sick from from anesthesia she had to stay in my room with me till she was able to keep some water down. 10:30 that night she was finally able to leave.
Everyone is different. But I would definitely consider having the spinal.

I had an epidural with very light sedation and would recommend it to anyone. I did much better with the epidural than I did when I had a general (cold knife cone biopsy).

With a spinal, not being nauseous afterwards and not having that abdominal pain (Scatman Crothers in "The Shining" comes to mind) are tremendous advantages.

The only thing that drove me away from a spinal is that the ane- anesthe- ok, "knockout doc" said I could hear what was going on, and I *really* didn't want that personally.

good luck,
TJ

I met with the knockout doc as I was waiting to be wheeled into the operating room. I told him I was terrified of becoming nauseated and vomiting with a belly full of sutures. He giggled and ordered:

zofran, something I don't remember, reglan, and two valiums.

I had no nausea WHATSOEVER until more than 12 hours later after I was on the morphine pump. Even then, I didn't throw up but I wasn't able to get enough morphine to control the pain because it made me so nauseated. The only additional things the doc ordered were benadryl and more reglan. I got both of them and they helped, but this is *number one* on my list of things to berate my doc about--I think I needed phenergan, at least. I specifically asked for it by name and the nurse said it wasn't on the list.

You know, the nurses really did try to help me, though. They visited me and the distraction helped, it really did. They got fresh, cool pillows and coffee and coke.

Something a little unrelated--both my dad and I forgot to get the goodie basket out of the trunk. He brought it when it was time to leave. I've never seen women melt, absolutely melt, like those nurses did.

Made me so happy!

One more thing, I requested light sedation so I was awake, but only because I wanted to be. If you choose, you can still sleep through the entire procedure.

In case you decide to go the gen A route, do tell the A-man/woman that you get nauseous. They have a number of meds they cam add to the formula to help prevent this. I had no problems immediately post-op but did get sick once due to one of the pain meds. Good luck. peggiesue

I have a history of projectile vomiting after waking up from anesthesia.
I let the knockout doc know this prior to my last surgery, and he added somthing to my iv so I wouldn't be sick.

Well, it worked like a charm. I wasn't the least bit nauseous.

Tam