Question:
HAVING AN EPIDURAL IS AN OPTION FOR WLS?

   — donnachestnut (posted on February 19, 2007)

February 19, 2007
Why would you want one? Epidurals are typically for blocking pain and nerves in the lower body. You are having your stomach operated on which is in your upper part of your body. I doubt highly any anesthesiologist would dare to do an epidural at the spinal height needed for this surgery. Too dangerous. Why are you against traditional anesthesia?
   — oceanrayne

February 19, 2007
Hi Donna, it was an option for me and I took it. Did not hurt at all. And after surgery I was glad I had it done. I would do it again!! Of course I had Open RNY. My incision was 14 inches long. If you have Lap surgery I doubt they will give it to you or offer it. I am a chicken when it comes to pain, so anything they offered I took. If you want to email me, [email protected], Mickey..............
   — MCraig3

February 19, 2007
HI, i too had an epidural for my surgery (open RNY) and thought it was a good thing too. I think it helped me to be more active faster after the surgery and have less pain at the hospital. The only drawback I had, was that it made me very itchy, so they gave me bendryl, plus I brought a back scratcher to the hospital and it helped.. good luck
   — April

February 19, 2007
If the surgeon you have is not doing the surgery laproscopically (for rny) I'd seek another surgeon who does, as for that no epidural is needed. Now if u have the lap band, I still wouldn't do the epidural. Regular anesthesia should be enough. Good Luck!
   — crystalsno

February 19, 2007
Hi..I had my surgery done in Michigan @ Harper hospital. I had Lapro RNY and was given an epideral. No problems...as far as I'm concerned..the more pain relief, the better. Slight itching and dry skin were my only side effects. The itching stopped within the first 10 hours after surgery. Dry skin was something I had to conquer with lots of body lotion once I went home. Best of luck to ya.
   — purnellj

February 20, 2007
hi there. I, too, had an epidural in addition to the anesthesia. Definitely was a good choice. It made it so there is less pain and you can be moving quicker. I had to have another operation (had a blockage in my intestine) in Oct. '06 and they went right back through the same big scar from the RNY and this time they used no epidural and the pain was horrendous. I would definitely recommend it. Best of luck to you.
   — theroses03

February 22, 2007
Hi there. My doctor does this routinly. He says that it only numbs your mid-section for the first 18-24 hours, when it is the most painful with all the deep breathing and coughing. When I got up the first three times I had the dry heeves from the anesetic (sp?) and without the epideral I am sure it would have been very painful.
   — Paula K.