Question:
When speaking with the anestesiologist what should I need to know?

What questions should I ask him/her? What is the preferred method of pain control and why?    — L B. (posted on September 24, 2000)

September 24, 2000
Hi, find out if you are a candidate for an epidural. If so check out with your surgeon how he/she feels about them and then get one. Besides that I think the morphine pump and pill form pain meds Lortran and Deluadid (sp) are the meds of choice. You should get some more responses to this. Oh and check out under Pain Control in the Question Library. there may be some info there. I was on the pump and my pain control was great. I hear the epidural is the way to go if your surgeon says its okay. Mine said no. Side effects. Now I had a hernia repair and I am just getting off night time meds for that. Good Luck..Trina
   — Courtrina Amur W.

September 24, 2000
i would suggest that u ask your anestheiologist about the use of epidural during and after surgery .. i had one and my hospital stay .. (friday - monday) was completely PAIN FREE .. i had nothing else .. no morphine, no nothing .. on the last day i was in the hospital, it was discontinued and i was given something called roxicet - so .. if i were u .. i was ask because u dont have to be uncomfortable at all after surgery .. but a side effect of the epidural is itching but it wasnt soo bad, i was given a medication to off set that .. but if i had to choose between pain and itching .. i would take pain anyday .. please ask him, it will make your stay very pleasant .. mine was!!
   — Vanessa B.

April 21, 2001
Aren't you smart to ask this. I think the anesthesia doctor is every bit as important as the surgeon you choose. I am two months post-op and if your doctor allows it, go for the epidural. When the pain is at its worst, they are on full tilt, and as your pain diminishes the epidural is decreased. You will be up and walking off the worst of the pain without even realizing it. Ask the doctor how many of these procedures he has done and if there were complications in any of these, what were they? Also ask your surgeon to help you select an anesthesiologist that he is comfortable working with.Make sure to tell the doctors all of your medical problems honestly and ask for their recommendations, but remember-the final decision is yours. I wish you the best of luck!
   — [Anonymous]