Worried about anaesthetic

Hi Gayle,

I can understand your concern. I am diagnosed with cfs/me and had to have an operation.

I would certainly suggest the following...

Ask for the least evasive surgery (key hole is best).

Ask for cfs/me be stated in your referral for op notes. It may be in your hospital notes a way back and not be read.

Speak to the aneathetist (can't spell that lol) before your op and ensure he is aware of your cfs/me and has some understanding of it.

My op went ok though I did take over an hour to come round inrecovery, not the expected 10/20 minutes. They kept me in overnight just as a precaution. With a hysterectomy they would do that anyway.

My Anaethestist was fab and pre read up on cfs/me. He could not find any proven medical evidence that cfs/me sufferers could not have ga or have a major effect on them, but was accutely aware and be very aware whilst under ga (he was in attendance throughout).

I believe it's the stress on our body from an op and ga that can affect us sufferers. Rest, rest and rest after....you will have to anyway with an hystorectomy.

Hope that helps a little.

xx

hi Gayle,

Well, all I can say is that I have had CFS (of unknown origin) since I was 12, and I had a full hysterectomy, with ovaries as well, when I was forty and I coped remarkably well. The benefit of getting rid of my mouldy ovaries outweighed the repercussions of anaesthetic. I have had several ops since then and haven't had any problems.  I always feel better post op as I'm doing nothing but resting!! Not trying to juggle parenthood, work, life etc etc.  But we are all so different and what was okay for me may not be for you, so that's not much help really!!  Hope it all works through okay. Best wishes.

I had an operation when I severed the tendon in my thumb. I was fine with the anasthetic but I said 'No antibiotics!! The surgeon was horrified and my hand and arm swelled up and were painful but as soon as I got home I took grapefruit seed extract and myrrh and after 2 or 3 doses through the day the swelling went down and I was fine.

I too was worried as I had to undergo a hip transplant and bone graft for a very bad arthritic hip. Luckily I has a surgeon who was sympathetic, organised a single occupancy room for me and helped in every respect with my recovery.

It was a very long operaton indeed, yet I came through it fine and without any real additional problems to the ME/CFS afterwards. In fact the operation was such a success it greatly helped my general health.

My advice is to talk to your surgeon and make him aware of your problems and enlist as much help as you can in the recovery period. I'm pretty badly affected by the ME/CFS, so much so that I can't work at all but I consider that hip operation one of the successes of the whole period of the ME/CFS that I've been through, and I too think it will almost certainly do you more good than harm...

Oh and best of luck....

Hi Gayle, have you spoken to a homeopath? They are much better with this condition than your GP. It is cognative as well as physical and they will guide you with the rest you require better than the NHS do.

Potentially your body is not using it's adrenal properly, as it will have shut down to protect itself afters years of over-use. From experience of the condition I know it will be potentially more traumatic for your body to go through other issues without the ability to reply on your adrenal.

You need to fully sort out your nutrition. Msg me if you would like more specific tips.

Cheers, Mark

I had my gall bladder removed this February but am only about now getting back to my pre operation ability level.  I am not able to work anyway so have been resting.  Be gentle with your self and give yourself lots of time.  I might just been unlucky but was at least going out 2-3 times a week before the operation but now rarely.

sally x