Anesthesia

[CharlieFL]

Hello ALL.... I've read a lot about what to expect AFTER the I/O and also about treatment options etc... which have educated me a lot.... However, haven't found much about anesthesia options. My I/O is next Tueday and while it may be trivial for some, it's my first time under the knife (not even my tonsils have been taken out!) and I was told I'd be given a choice about how to knock me out (general, epidural etc...) and I was just wondering what you good people thought about it? Any comments would be helpful and graciously appreciated.

[Sercan]

i chose local anesthesia, and i didnt feel any pain.what's more, my doctor said i would not have to get stinky gas by local anesthesia.

[Fed]

Good thing you brought this up

It's a good thing you bring up this because this is seldom discussed, and I could have used some insight on this myself before my I/O.

You do have a couple of options, as you have stated. You can either have an epidural or go under general. I was informed for the first time of my options less than an hour before my surgery (I didn't know I would have a choice of anesthesia). Both have their pros and cons. With an epidural, you're awake through the procedure, but shouldn't feel anything. Once it's off your system, you will have no grogginess or after-effects from the anesthetics. With general, you're asleep throughout and wake up without a nut. There is also an increased likelihood of side effects like grogginess, delirium and nausea, and these could last for a day or two.

When I was speaking to the anesthesiologist, I was under the impression I was going to get general. In a sense, I didn't want to "rock the boat" and have to make a decision on the fly that, for all intents and purposes, I thought was already made. I told him that in a previous surgery, I had had general, and I was very groggy after I woke up. He said he would modulate the dosing very carefully so I would have minimal side effects, and he did it so masterfully that I had none. He was a star!

Hope this helps out.

[fuse929]

I've been put under twice now for 2 different procedures, both with general IV (no gas). I couldn't stand the though of being awake through a procedure like that, so I just take the nap. To be honest, I've never had nausea or dizziness upon waking up.........both times I just woke up stoned and giggly. I guess I'm one of the lucky ones.

Bobby

[Michael112]

i chose local anesthesia, and i didnt feel any pain.what's more, my doctor said i would not have to get stinky gas by local anesthesia.

Local isnt an option, epidural/spinal is classified as regional.

I chose spinal.

Oh and I still got stinky gas, I am suspecting it was the xanax.

[veryworriedmom]

Hi My son had I/O last week and was given the options within 30 minutes of surgery. The doc thought the best way to proceed was general with a block. He said that would get him out faster than the other. He had no problems with the general and was able to urinate and go home within hours. The block lasted until evening and he had pain meds incase. He needed very little pain med after day 2. Good Luck

[Russell's Mom]

Russell had general...nice and easy!! Sharon

[Sercan]

i meant to say spinal an. by saying local

[k.strehle]

hey charlie

in my experience i had an epidural for my i/o which was kinda cool because the urologist talked to me like it was a day in the park then she would whisper to the assistants and start talking again.the spinal giver also made sure i was taken care of and gave my what he called a cocktail during the procedure that helped also. i went in at 0700 and was out by noon. the one thing you didnt mention was if you were post chemo which i was, in particular with bleomycin. my urologist and the spinal giver both agreed it would be easier doing the epidural. just a thought .....i wear an alert for that reason as medics and hospitals tend to max out the O2 and that could be a no-no to your lungs after bleo/chemo. hope this helps and good luck. youll do fine..

kendall

[Fish]

I had general for my I/O's and did not have any problems.

Years ago, I had a pilonidal cyst (growth on the tailbone) removed, under an epidural. Along with the epi, I had a demerol + something, IV, so I was in a quasi dream state during the surgery, I remembered some things, but not everything. It wasn't too bad, and I think either method would be fine for an I/O.

I do think if someone tends to be easily nauseated, the epi might be preferable.

[Sans rt1]

I had general for my I/O. My urologist said I had a choice but recommended general because it was easier for him to just have me knocked out - and he said it would be less stressful for me in the long run. Because it the surgery he described sounded pretty major, and because I have had several smaller surgeries in the past with local only, I had to agree with him. If you are inclined to go with the epi, the question to ask is what kind of sedative you will be given along with the epi to relax you so you are not so aware and stressed by what is being done to you.

About 25 years ago, I had a lymph node in my arm removed with only local - it was awful, not pain, just being aware of everything being done to me (added to being afraid they would find cancer) was almost more than I could handle at the time emotionally. A few years later, I had two partially impacted wisdom teeth removed with only local. It was a small town oral surgeon in Alaska, so I guess I just accepted what they told me but they did not offer any sedation - and it was a terrible experience. About 10 years ago, I had a cyst removed from the inside of my eyelid with only a local - and that was the worst of all - but the doctor told me it would be a peice of cake - in and out, done in less than in 15 minutes - he lied.

Sometimes it takes me a while, but I usually figure things out. So about 5 years ago when I went in for a vasectomy, I demanded a sedative before the operation with only locals. A couple of valliums before the operation and I was very relaxed and actually slept through most of it.

So, I was an easy sell on the general. I was groggy afterwards, and had to have my wife pull over on the way home because I thought I was going to throw up, but overall the after effects were gone pretty quickly.

You will need to do what you feel is best for you. Good Luck to you and I hope you heal quickly and the pathology results are favorable.

[CharlieFL]

Pre-Op Clearance

Well, got my pre-op clearance yesterday and still don't know which way to go, but I'm confident I will make the right choice on Tuesday. A little red flag came up when I told them that I have 2 "dormant" herniated disks in my lower back which could eliminate the epi option altogether since the injection is through that area. At that point I assume the decision will be made for me to go general but that will happen when I see the anesthesiologist that day..... Thanks again for the input you have all provided!

[dadmo]

Good luck Tuesday.

[Karen]

I had general twice...the first time was a long procedure and when I was in the recovery room I was FREEZING and shaking like a leaf for about an hour.

The second time was a quick procedure (as the I'O is) and I felt like I blinked and it was all over...no affter effects at all. That was the same experience Ray had with his I/O under general. Neither of us had even a hint of nausea, and I do tend to be easily nauseated.

I had an epi for my C-section and while I had no discomfort I also was flat out for a while to get feeling back in my legs.

[mstlyn]

I have never had an epidural though it has been offered before. My daughter had one during labor, and they had a time getting it in, and it was painful for her.
After she had her baby she had a really bad headache that was only relieved by lying flat on her back, which she was upset about because we were all there with her and the baby, and she couldnt sit up with us. It didnt last too long though.

Then my cousin had an epidural when she went to have her baby too, but she ended up paralyzed for about 2 weeks from it.

When Anthony went to have his orchiectomy, he was offered epidural or general. He didn't know anything about either one so after it was explained, he chose general, which I wanted for him too.

He did fine and was released from the hospital within a few hours too.

Hopefully they did explain the possible side effects of an epidural, just as they explain possible side effects from general.