Question:
Tell me about it please

If you have had one please tell me about it I would like to know what to expect.thanks    — shirley A. (posted on March 13, 2000)

March 12, 2000
NOTHING TO IT, YOU WANT EVEN FEEL EM PUTTING IT IN. THE ONLY PROB I HAD WAS THAT THE NURSES FORGOT TO SHAVE MY BACK. OUCHHHHHHHH MAKE SURE THAT THEY DONT HAVE THE DOSAGE TO HIGH OR YOU WILL STAY IN LA LA LAND
   — KEITH T.

March 12, 2000
After my post I received several emails from members wanting to know more about the epidural.. So I will give you my account of my experience in as much detail as I can..and if there is a house doctor that wants to answer on more detail great ;-) It is a very tiny needle catheter like thing (sort of like IV) inserted in the spinal canal.. (on your back about mid back ) then a tiny tube runs to a machine that continuous pumps to the catheter site. (like an IV). it totally blocks all pain ..and I do mean "ALL" I had no incision pain, no internal pain "nada" nothing at all.. they inserted this in the holding room just outside the operating room.. the anesthesiologist does this.. no pain in that either..pin prick is all.. I had to sit up on the gurney lean forward a little and look into to the eyes of this simple gorgeous man (that I do recall) and that was it.. You have to be awake for this procedure when inserting it, however they had given me mild sedative at that point they could have done anything to me and I would not have cared ;-) don't worry it was fine. Then I was wheeled into surgery and the lights went out for me.. Next thing I knew I was in recovery room sitting somewhat upright wondering why no pain, I was amazed. I wanted to get up right then to walk, but they made me wait about 6 hours after I got in ICU. (ICU is normal in most hospitals usually only a day) The epidural stayed in for 4 days.. Each day they lowered the dosage just a tiny bit by the 4th day it's off completely and you really don't even notice the difference.. What I like so much about this is you're fully aware and in control I was wide awake at the appropriate times and ready for bed at the appropriate time.. However, most of my days was spent in the halls walking. My surgeon had to hunt me down in the halls for my daily visit.. You don't have that groggy in and out sleep and half awake feeling that morphine gives you.. This is same procedure they use with pregnant women during labor and delivery....if they administer this to normal healthy pregnant women everyday in the labor and delivery you so know this is relatively safe procedure. I have sciatica down both legs and low back problems and arthritis in my back & hips, this procedure never bothered it or flared up any occurrences of the sciatica.. Guess you can tell I'm sold on this procedure for pain control.. Hope this helps some members with the questions they had about what an epidural is.. ;-) ~~> Also type in (epidural) on the main page in the keyword search box for more members response...
   — Victoria B.

March 12, 2000
Wonderful, Wonderful, Wonderful. I had no pain with mine. It hurt going in before my operation but after it was worth it. Go for it, you will not regard it.
   — Janice K.

March 13, 2000
The epidural was wonderful. I was totally pain free as long as it was in -- I really liked not being "out of it". I was able to get off the gurney and into my bed unassisted after surgery. I walked the night of surgery. There was no pain. Honest! It was the best!
   — Toni B.

March 13, 2000
Epidurals are great, when they work. I was told by my surgeon that about one in ten are not successful, and may require an additional method of pain control. Well, I was that "one", dag nabbit! The epidural worked GREAT for the first 24 hours after surgery, and then it failed on the right side. It was excruciating! Fortunately, the DS team at USC University Hospital is top-notch, and they took care of me right away, switching me to a morphine pump. The only part I didn't like about the epidural was the actual insertion. For me, it was very uncomfortable, although I've talked to a lot of people who seemed to breeze through it. I absolutely HATED it! But that first 24 hours of pain relief was great, and I would try the epidural again in a flash.
   — Kim H.

November 7, 2002
I had a terrible time at OHSU in Portland Oregon! They made me lay on a steel table on my stomach(which I told them I couldn't do) my weight started pushing my stomach towards my heart and my blood pressure went up to 254/250!! They then acted as if it were my fault and they canceled my surgery for the day and scheduled it for over a month later. The head of pain management told me they do all them that way and all I needed was to be put on stronger meds for my blood pressure! So I'm not even sure whether to go back or not! They almost killed me before and it sounds like they want to attempt it again the same way, when I've read of others who have had their epidural inserted while they were sitting up I see no reason for them to put me through it again.
   — Mark L.