Who had a spinal with sedation?

I talked to the anesthesiologist yesterday. She was asking if I wanted mild or heavy sedation. I said I wanted to go to sleep but not be completely unconsious. But, at the same time I really don't want to wake up in the middle of the surgery, that would be scary.

Here are my questions for the ladies who've had this done...

Did you have mild or heavy sedation? Were you totaly asleep or somewhat awake? What was that part like?

How was the spinal? Did you get a spinal headache afterwards? I am nervous about nerve damage, paralysis, etc. How common are those problems?

Anything I should know to get more prepared for this?

thanks!

Becky

[Mamasun]

I was fully sedated and wouldnt have done it differently. I didnt want there to be any chance of me waking up or feeling any pain. The cut was big for me so as I said this is the only way I would have gone. I did also have a spinal, and although this was good for the surgery and then for the post op I may opt next time not to have this??? I ended up having the spinal for 3 days and when they took it out I did end up with a spinal headache, this was worse then the operation. I dont do well though with narcodics and usually get headaches from all of them. If you tend to do ok with them and can ask them to wean you off the medicine then you probably would be ok with it. Good luck!

[LitDoc]

I'm absolutely in favor of the spinal anesthesia! Actually, it's not an epidural like the one given for childbirth or a C-section. Instead, your spinal anesthesia will keep your lower body pain free for up to 48 hours. At the same time the anesthesiologist ALSO will keep you sedated with IV meds, so you are completely unaware of anything going on in the OR. In other words, you are NOT awake!

When you are in the pre-op area, the nurse will start an IV in the back of your hand, and then the anesthesiologist will come in to talk to you. Something in the IV will make you very fuzzy and drowsy; when the anesthesiologist pricks you lightly in the back, you'll hardly be aware of it. Then you're rolled into the OR -- but you're already off in la-la land and don't know what's going on.

This is the type of anesthesia I had, and I would recommend it for several reasons:

-- As mentioned above, it avoids the need for pain meds for the first 48 hours after surgery. By the time the spinal wears off, you have already started to heal and the pain is less intense. In my case it was beautifully controlld with a few Darvocet over a period of three days. By the way, your lower body is NOT numb, and you can move about in your bed normally.

-- You do not have to be intubated with the anesthesia thinggy. This means no sore throat upon awakening.

-- The painful shoulders so many women speak about on this site are apparently associated with a certain type of general anesthesia. If you choose the spinal, you won't have thos post-op shoulder pains adding to your general misery.

-- Since you have not had what is commonly known as a general anesthesia, you won't be nauseated when you wake up, and can have juice, soda, whatever you want just about immediately. The first thing I did when I emerged from sedation was to ask for a Sprite, and they brought it to me directly. Another woman in the recovery area saw this and also asked for something to drink; they told her she had to wait because she'd had a different type of anesthesia.

My experience with the spinal was so overwhelmingly positive, that I hope everyone having a vertical incision will consider it. Again, the patients does NOT know what goes on in the operating room, and has no memory of it afterwards. The spinal does NOT hurt!

Best of luck!

[RavenLady]

Me too Becky, had it two days in a row and no ill effects, no need for details as Annette provided those above!  Have class tomorrow and have to go to bed but will never have general again givem the choice!!!  MV

[brthbbs]

I had an epidural and I highly recommend it especially for recovery since they can give a 24 hour dose in the spidural and you don't have to do the first day of awful incision pain.