Question:
Can I have wls while under a spinal block? w/ no general anesthesia?

A Dr. told me that I would not survive a general surgery. He has instilled the fear in me since he said this 12 years ago during a D&C. He said because of my weight I died on the table and that he revived me... this was 12 years and 100 lbs ago. I know am 350+. Thanks for your help    — Carol G. (posted on May 18, 2000)

May 18, 2000
I have never heard of anyone having WLS under a spinal block. I think the spinal block can only numb you up so far on your abdomen, and it might not go high enough for this type of surgery. What I would suggest is to get the surgical records from you D&C and bring them to your WLS surgeon so he can go over them. It's odd that the surgeon said it was because of your weight that you almost died. WLS surgeons do surgery on people much larger than you all the time. Not to mention heart bypass surgery, etc. on very large people. I know you must be scared, but you really need to have all the information here before you make your decision. Get a second opinion, and a third, until you feel comfortable with your options.
   — Lynn K.

May 18, 2000
I think a spinal is not an option for this kind of surgery but I don't think you should rule out general based on your previous experience. I don't think you "died on the table because of your weight". Obese people have surgery all the time without problem. It sounds to me like you had a severe reaction probably to the anaesthesia they used. You absolutely will need to get copies of the operative report and review it with your surgeon and anaesthesiologist. They have lots of different drugs now and I am sure they can find something that will work for you. Good luck--
   — Cheryl W.

April 21, 2003
WELL, BECAUSE OF MY OWN CURIOSITY, I BOUGHT A BOOK CALLED "UNDER THE MASK". THIS BOOK WAS WRITTEN BY AN ANESTESIOLOGIST. IT WAS AWSOME. I LEARNED MORE THAN I REALLY NEEDED. FROM WHAT I LEARNED, THE DOCTOR PROBABLY DID NOT HAVE TO REVIVE YOU. IT WAS MOST LIKELY THE ANESTESIOLOGIST!! HE IS THE ONE THAT BREATHES FOR YOU. PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT HE IS. AS FAR AS HAVING SPINAL ANESTESIA, I DOUBT IT BECAUSE I KNOW THAT ANY TIME THEY DO LAPAROSCOPIC SURGERY, THEY USE A GAS, WHICH IS CARBONMONOXIDE. THIS GAS IS ABSORBED BY YOU INTO YOU BLOOD. YOU OXYGEN LEVELS ARE MONITORED BY THE ANESTESIOLOGIST AT ALL TIMES. AND WHEN THE LEVELS IN YOUR BLOOD CHANGE, THE ANESTESIOLOGIST BREATHS FOR YOU MORE OR LESS TO MAINTAIN PROPER LEVELS OF OXYGEN AND CARBONMONOXIDE. I WOULD DEFINETLY CONTACT AN ANESTESIOLOGIST TO DISCUSS THIS. PAY CASH IF YOU HAVE TO.
   — ELIZABETH K.