Hi Hippies
Sorry yet another question. lf you elect to have a spinal are you aware of what is going on around you with sedation. I have been advised spinal is best but I don't want any awareness of the room or the op.
From what iv heard some people can choose to be completely sedated so they know nothing and others arent sedated and have even taken ipods in with them to keep them entertained
You can be aware if u want but sedation keeps u in blissful ignorance
Hi Toto...
My surgery was on 24 November. I had a spinal...and some meds to allow me to sleep through the procedure. I had no realization of the surgery and no memories afterward. I was awake when I entered the OR...remember that they were going to administer the spinal...but have no memory of receiving it. I highly recommend the spinal...it was a great way to go!
Im interested in the spinal. My thr will be my 12th op and iv never had a spinal before. But im not sure if ill get one this time eifher as my thr is more complex and will take longer than a normal one
I had spin with sedatioand saw nothing heard nothing and felt nothing.... when I have my next one done this is the way I will go again.. I was awake alert and pain free after 2.5 hours.... Go for it you won't regret it I promise. Love Gill xxx
spinal lol xx
I had spinal and have no idea what went on, one minute I was talking about my holiday and the next minute I was on the ward post op. Tony
Sarah a spinal can be topped up or even switched to an epidural if necessary. This Is what I opted for if necessary for my op, it ended up being a 4 HR procedure. As it happened I started to get sensation back in my feet as the spinal was wearing off just at the end of the op which was fine but meant I didn't have the pain relief of the spinal for very long afterwards.
Vicki
Yeah i get you. Just depends what the surgeon thinks is best really. Djd you choose the spinal or did they?
Hi, your anaesthetist will discuss your options prior to going to theatre, unless you have any certain medical conditions in which case you may be seen at your pre-op appointment. You can decide how much sedation you would like and it can be topped up at anytime, unless you ask for light sedation you won't remember anything and will more than likely sleep!
Vicki
Wow it all seems to have changed since my last op. I cant remember having and say in what i got last time
Really? Sometimes there isnt the option of a spinal, it depends on the op. It is standard procedure for elective hip/knee replacements.
Vicki
Well all my ops have been on my hips/knees. My last 2 ops were to remove the growth plates in my knee and that was under general
Maybe it was due to your age Sarah, I often work in theatre and spinal will always be offered unless unsafe to do so. If you were under 18 that would have made a difference
Vicki
Ahh i see. Yeah i was about 12 i think with my last op. I think
Thank you so much for your advice, really helpful as always. I am being given the choice but they prefer spinal if possible as they can get you up and moving a bit quicker. As long as I am asleep that will be fine.
I remember going into theatre and them preparing me and putting up the shield etc. The next thing I remember was as they were finishing, I believe they were doing some of the stitching and checking all their counts of swabs, instruments etc. I couldn't feel a thing and anything I was aware of was at a distance and not happening to me. If I needed anything further done I would definitely opt for spinal.
I had a general and was awake, alert, pain-free and back in the ward after 2.5 hours, too... could have done with more sleep, darn it!
Hi Toto,
I wholeheartedly recommend spinal anesthetic. You can ask for some sedation which I also recommend. You will be asked if you wish to have sedation also.
In my case I asked for mild sedation. The next thing I knew it was all over and I woke up feeling soooo relaxed and comfortable: I was not aware of a thing during the operation!
There are far less risks with a spinal, and no after effects. Go for it and good luck!
Best wishes,
Alison