can anyone tell me if you can be sedated as well. I am very nervous about being awake. Also is anyone near you to catch their attention or are you left alone during the op. i am terrified of laying there awake own with no one to talk to if need be. Thanks
I had epidural and also sedated for my left hip. Did not hear or even remember a thing. I woke up feeling good in my room when it was done. For my right hip, 10 months earlier, i only had an epidural. Did not feel a thing during surgery but could hear some noise, you are not awake, it is like a deep sleep where you dream but cannot do anything. It was not bad at all. Relax, there is nothing to worry about.
You will never be left alone!! There will always be an anaesthetist or nurse with you. If you are not having sedation then you will be offered music to listen to. I had sedation and woke up bright eyed and bushy tailed as they were getting ready to take me to recovery.
Hi Helen,
What date are you having it - we could compare notes afterwards, I'm 27th August.
I'm opting for spinal / epi (as long as they don't put me to sleep I don't care) and probably sedation I haven't decided. My mum was fully awake and chatted to the anethetist all of the way through.
Helen I was the same as you - terrified that I would wake up but no one would know I had woken up. I told the consultant and what he said put my mind at rest - you will not be left alone - the anesthetist will be monitoring our vital signs at all times so if you were to start to come round this would show and they would administer more anaesthetic . I also told the anesthetist how nervous I was when he came to see me just before the op.You will be absolutely fine. I had a general and an epidural.
You will not know a thing. The epidural was done once I was 'out' and it means that you can have a much lighter general anaesthetic and a quicker recovery. I, too was really frightened but told the anaesthetist who was very reassuring.
I'm pretty sure there are levels of sedation, I had a spinal but I made it really clear I wanted total sedation and was told they can give you light or heavy depending on your preference,they do prefer light but if you are really nervous they will sedate you well x
I had an epidural, no sedation - my choice. I heard it all. felt the hammering etc. a bit like being made into a dolls house! I had already seen it on youtube so was not surprised by the banging and noises.they keep you under a sheet and if you are awake, the anethetist popped under the sheet periodically to chat and made me some gloves as my hands were cold. I was more frightened of going to sleep than having it done.
Had mine done 3 weeks go I can't tell you how nervous I was for the same reasons as yourself , but I spoke to anesthetist who was fantastic and gave me a strongish sedative don't remember a thing !! Woke up after 2 hours feeling great , don't be scared to tell them how nervous you are they are usually very calming understanding doctors and will put you at ease. I even had a male nurse escort me to the anathsetic room am in arm and held my hands the whole time . You will be ok . Good luck and keep us posted .
When the anaesthetist comes to see you before the op you can tell them how you feel and what you think you would like to happen. They try very hard to make it as pleasant an experience as possible for you.I had the epidural and sedation. I was asleep through it all and woke on the way back to the ward.
I had my hip done in 2008when I was 31 I was totally sedated and had the epi, best decision I made as I felt good when I came out of surgery and recovered quickly 