question about anethesia for surgery

Hey y'all! I just had a question about the anesthesia they use for surgery, I have seen where they will give you an epidural and knock you out, or sedate you heavily and I have seen where they completely knock you out. I hope they don't do the epidural thing on me, because I had one of those when my daughter was born and about mid way through labor (labor was 14hrs) I started to feel pain on one side I guess it wore off and right when I was pushing it really wore off! (ouch!) Do they control how much of that they give you or do they give it to you steadily? i would be really freaking out if I started to feel pain during surgery. I hope they completely knock me out, because I don't want to know anything about what they are doing! TTFN Crystal

Probably depends on your doctor. My doctor did not give me an epidural. My anestiseologist called me the day before surgery and asked me 5 million questions so I imagine that is how they determine how much you get. I definatly think it is regulated.. Im sure if you ask your doc he will tell you that none of his patients woke up during surgery. If they had I am sure that anestiseologist would have been without a job. They go to school for a long time to learn that stuff. I wouldnt worry about feeling any pain during surgery--Only after!

Crystal, there may be some misconception about the epidural. They put that as a means of pain control after surgery, for the surgery itself you will be completely knocked out cold. I got a happy shot, then they put me in the waiting area of the OR, where they put in the epidural, after that, I got another shot that put me in a state of barely conscious, I hardly remember being wheeled into the operating room and it was there when I completely lose all memory till after surgery when they brought me back out of the anesthesia. On the downside, the epidural that was SO effective on two of my three kids ( the middle one I didnt have the "pleasure" of choosing an epidural, darn quacks in europe LOL) had no real effect on me this time around, even though I had a little push button for the painkillers, it didn't help and I just asked for demerol every 4 hours the first day or so. Don't stress.. they are VERY nice about bringing you some happyshots when you're in pain. MUCH less pain than having a child natural LOL trust me ~Andie~

I know they didn't give me an epidural or just make me really loopey....I slept thro everything and then some!!!! I dunno what they did while I was alseep, but it seems to be working!!! Smoochies Arlies

I did not have an epidural at any time during my surgery. They did give me something in my IV to make me happy and sleepy as I was very nervous and scared. I had never been in the hospital except to have my two children. I had never been put to sleep so I was a little nervous. So if you are having anxiety just tell them, they can fix you right up. Thank goodness they have that happy juice to help us through. You will be fine. Any questions you think of come on here and ask. And if we can't answer them I am sure your doctor can. Good luck and take some deep breaths. Everything will work out. Melissa Taylor

I agree with you Crystal. Knock Me Out !!! Because I don't want to know a thing It would be alright with me if they kept me in a daze for 3-4 days !!! Just wake me up when it is time to go home Tammy

Also, if you've ever had trouble with nausea after being under be sure to tell the anesthesologist. I told mine and he said they would give me something for it. When I had my appendectomy several years ago I woke up sick as a dog, but this time I was fine.