epidural?

hey everyone... i was wondering if all of dr. roye's patients had to get an epidural before surgery? i know someone who had surgery a little over a year ago and she said she had to get one...her surgery was open, i am wondering if that makes a difference? well if any of you dr. roye patients out there know can you please share all that good info. , cause as you all may know my surgery is on tuesday ... so excited...thanks.... t...

they gave me an epidural, and yes, it's because i was open. this was the 2nd one i'd ever had.. the first was great. this one.. well, not so great. it got blocked some time during my surgery, so i woke up with no pain killers. the anesth. who gave me the epidural had some difficulty getting it in.. but he managed. i wished that i had told him to stop, once he showed signs of having trouble.. but i didn't. what the major factor is - in ease of putting the epidural in - is how much back fat you have. apparently i had quite a bit that made finding the "right" spot, pretty difficult. if you aren't having open - then you won't get one. this will all be your choice. my first one was great. i never felt a lick of pain for days - but !! it does make it a little more difficult to be lucid. lol i've been told some of the convo's i'd had with people.. and i was definitely super drugged up. hunter s. thompson would have been proud. lol so - just see what the anesthiologist says.. if he thinks it might be difficult, i don't know if i'd chance it like i did.. otherwise - it'll be fine!!! i hope this doesn't scare you.. i dn't mean it to - i just want to be open/honest about my experiences.. kristen

Wow, I sure hope they give me the option of having one. As it is now, I can barely move, let alone walk in the morning from pain ( knees and major siatica nerve problems) I am 99% sure my surgery will be laparoscopic. My primary care doc was just asking me if I thought I could handle it because of the pain I am already in. I can't imagine putting it off after all the wait. If I could get an epidural that would help so much! I have already had all my appts with the anesthiologist and surgeons and never even knew it could be an option with this surgery, so didn't even ask about it. I think I'll put a call in and see if I can get an answer. The only other time I had an epidural was with childbirth and that was a great. Cross you fingers for me that I can get it. (o: take care all, Trish