can you have surgery without being put to sleep??

my husband is scared about being put under so he is refusing to even hear me out about the surgery. is there any alternatives?

I would not believe a major surgery such as RNY or the Lap could be done any other way.

I don't think so, it's too deep and complicated. Besides, it takes 2 hours, give or take a bit, I don't think I'd want to be awake that long knowing what was going on inside me. Ultimately, isn't it your body, your decision? He should at least give you the courtesy to hear you out. Take care and good luck ~Ellen

nope I would think this is a KNOCK out kind of surgery. He should at least talk to a doctor about his concerns maybe they can help with questions. I know anytime we are put to sleep there is that chance of not waking up BUT............ it is worth all the chance to live again

There is no way that can be done with out being put to sleep, but I have lung problems and I went to a lung doctor for a check up and he told me the worst that can happen was I might have to stay on a breathing machine longer than a normal person with good lungs. So if he is not sure then go and have his lungs checked out. But tell him to remember this he takes a chance everytime he steps outside!

I so agree! The way I look at it is; if it's my time to go, God is going to take me wherever I am. Whether I'm on an operating table, behind the wheel of a car, or sitting in my house watching TV and eating ding dongs. I cannot base my decisions on whether or not I might die. Of course, I'm not making an excuse for being stupid, but if this surgery is what you feel is right for you, then you owe it to yourself to look into it. And your husband owes it to you to listen and learn about it. Take care and good luck. ~Ellen

My surgeon left no stone unturned in checking me out. He ordered me to have a nuclear stress test because there was heart history problems in my family. I also had the upper GI to check for any obstructions or problems in the area he would do my surgery. I had the routine 2 sessions with a psychologist to make sure I could handle the mental life change. My endocrinologist who I had seen regularly anyway for several years prior to my surgery because I am/was a type II diabetic checked everything out thoroughly also. I had to have a clean PAP smear, and a clean Mammogram. Both of these had to be done again more extensively, including a biopsy for the PAP smear that came back abnormal, and a cone compression to follow up the mammogram that showed some questionable areas. Everything checked out OK and I was cleared to have the surgery. As Dr. Bauman, my bariatric surgeon, put it to me. There is no use in having such a serious operation unless you can handle it with no problems, also if you have any kind of cancer or major problems there is no reason to have it either. Sounds a little hard, I know, but it's true. The day of my surgery was originally scheduled in August of 2004, but 15 minutes before I was rolled into the operating room, Dr. Roc pulled the plug because I had some kind of unknown infection in my gastric area. Thank God for him being so thorough! I was rescheduled for 3 weeks later and after antibiotics and some Xanex for my nervous stomach, we went again. This time I was textbook, 1 hr and 10 minutes. At that time, he said I was the shortest and easiest Gastric Bypass RNY he had ever done. There is a reason for all the preop stuff, this is make sure our body can handle the anesthesia and the surgery itself. I never questioned anything because I totally trusted my surgeon. Of course I'm biased, I think he's the absolute best around! But if you have questions or concerns take them to the surgeon. make sure everything is checked thoroughly before the surgery. If the surgeon feels there will be potential problems, they will not do the surgery. Good luck with everything and hope it changes your life for the better as much as my WLS did! Lynne -130 lbs

This is a GENERAL surgery, if you had a spinal(epideral) well for 2 hours just laying there, it is not comfortable for you mind to be wondering the entire 2 hours. If you husband loves you and cares how 100% committed to this you are, you have to make him understand this is for YOU and you understand that he loves and cares for you, you can die walking across a road, or even die sitting on the couch. When it is your time it is your time. All the medical test are for your safety, trust me a doc or an anesthesiaologist does not want you to die either.