Upcoming hysterectomy 1/19: Epidural?

Did anyone have an epidural placed before surgery?
I know in some surgeries they’re used to help with pain.

I had abdominal and did not have an epidural. One thing I noticed was the differences in what I saw on this site and my own experience.

I'd talk to your doctor at your preop about what to expect before and after since hospitals can differ quite a bit.

Hello Abbie-Gail- I didn't have an epidural. I had a lovely 20mm plastic needle in my dominate right hand bc eventhough I have beautiful veins, she missed it. They helped me manage my pain to the point, I was able to get up out of thr recovery bed after 9 hrs and scoot myself on the bed for my overnight observation. They gave me fentanyl during surgery, in the recovery room, than changed over to oxy. I asked my overnight nurse to please change it all over to Tylenol 3 and ibuprofen. She did and was in all the time to check my pain. They gave me 30 oxy pills and 800 ml ibuprofen. I didn't take any oxy, just had my husband run to get Tylenol.
I had no idea the strength they were going to give me there or send me home with. Just discuss it all with your surgeon asap. This way, your not oveethinking and stressing about any part of the surgery or recovery.

Hi Abbie-Gail to HysterSisters!

I am so glad you found this site.

I had general anesthetic combined with an epidural. My anesthesiologist recommended this because she could use less anesthetic and I would wake up quicker. I liked the sound of that, and would do this again in a heartbeat. After I woke up, they used the epidural tubing to connect to a morphine pump. I was not allowed to get out of bed for about 18 hours post-op. I also had a catheter. This system worked well for me, and I did not have to worry about getting up and going to the bathroom right after surgery.

Talk to your doctor about what options you have. It can really depend on your specific situation and your surgery.

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Check with your Dr. Mine does not use an epidural, but they did give me a nerve pill about an hour prior which lessened the feeling of the lower extremities. Then it was general anesthesia and morphine (only pain med my adrenaline doesn’t burn off).

Hi, I'm home from surgery. They had an IV in my hand (a bit painful at first but not terrible) and the anesthesiologist explained that they would put a drug in through the IV to make me sleep through the surgery. It worked great, I woke up in recovery, very tired but with no pain. Took a lot of naps that afternoon. I was awake in the operating room while they had me scoot onto the operating table and covered with warm blankets, then I woke up later in recovery. I was given some pills before the surgery and after the surgery that were recommended as well.

Hope that helps. Talk to your doctor and your anesthesiologist if you have any questions or concerns.