Awake for surgery?

So long as your anaesthetist is okay with it, then you can be awake enough to have earphones on and listen to music,..however most people don't want this level of consciousness and prefer to be asleep.

me I prefer a full general anaesthetic. 

Maybe they were talking about light as a spinal. That is what was suggested to me and it was great. No tube down your throat and no nausea upon waking up. I would do that again

Hi, I was told that I would have a spinal for my op and that it would be light sedation controlled by the anaesthetist as the op progressed. This was a shock to me as I assumed I would be put right out. I was worried that I would panic as I would be aware for the whole time. As it turned out, it was really fine. You are sedated but the anaesthetist can put you under any time and then bring you around so that you can talk. I think I must have been asleep a fair amount of the time as it didn't seem that long. They had music playing in the theatre. Also the after effects are minimal. The previous time when I had a general, I was actually sick but this time I didn't seem to have any after effects from the anaesthetic.

I had the epidural, which was supposed to knock me out completely ("the next time you wake up you will be in your room"), I remember waking up because I could feel a pressure in my leg. I can still see my leg at a weird angle with the surgeon and staff working on it. Was very strange; you have all your senses on full alert, but cannot feel a thing that they are doing to you.  Thankfully I was knocked out again and the next time I woke was in my room, being given oxygen as my blood pressure had dropped too much (which is normally the case for me after am op).  Was told me being awake should not have happened, was interesting though, to see what they were doing, but I guess the need to see what they were doing means you also move about to get a better position, which is not good if you are the medical team and have a patient moving.

I had spinal and light sedation I chatted through first half then I nodded off I think they must have got fed up with me chatting I woke up near the end of op went to recovery for 1 hour because body temp was low so I was wrapped in bubble wrap filled with warm air then back to ward for tea and biccies no after effects and was home 3 days later with good recovery now 15 week post op and went back to work Monday feeling good having other knee done next year and will definitely request spinal xx

I too had epidural with mild sedation, it was just fine, I was woozy kind of awake and chatting now and again to nurses, they put a screen In front of you so you can't see anything and you can take your iPod or mp3 player in. Sedation can be stepped up if you wish and anethasist will keep checking with you, l was great with the mild and epidural didn't feel a thing and went back to ward for tea,toast and visitors. Good luck you'll be fine

I had TKR 3 years ago. I just had epidural so was completely awake.

I felt sick during operation. Apart from that I was fine.

It is so much easier to be awake if you can just handle the actual idea of it.

Sarah

I too had the spinal and it worked out well.  You are sedated and to me it was pleasant.  The anaesthesiologist is there and can put you just under if you want sleep (and I did... my surgery went a little long).  I went into recovery and was just tired with none of the nausea GA usually gives me.  Much better (and safer I'm told) then general.  The sensation of not feeling your legs is one you won't forget. That was disconcerting and what a relief when after a few hours the feeling came back.  I just slept for a time and soon was back in my room. 

Wow they gave you options? I'm 7 weeks out from TKR and they gave me a spinal and a nerve block docs never asked me if I wanted to be alert..they tried that route but when surgery started I got combative as my doc stated and they immediately put me out..Im glad it worked that way ..after waking up and seeing the end result it was better I was out..guess it's just based on how much you can handle or your body..wishing you the best on your surgery and recovery..keep us posted

Hi I had a spinal epidural and was told I would be slightly sedated, however that seemed to go by the way once I was wheeled into theatre I was given headphones and listened to music for the duration of surgery fully awake.  At one point I did think what on earth was going on but time passed by quickly and I got over the surgery very quickly.   So don't worry ok. I'm four months down the line now and getting on fine . Still mending.   Jackie 

Hi, just thought I would add my thoughts on the subject. I can tell you from first hand experience being put to sleep makes the anesthesiologist administer anticholagenic medication. For men it affects his ability to urinate after surgery. If you haven't had the experience of having a plastic tube shoved down your penis I can assure you it is not fun. I'm a nurse and it's my biggest fear every time I have had to undergo surgery. Inability to urinate doesn't happen to all men though. Having the spinal block would make this problem less likely. 

hi saz i had bi lateral and i had a revision and yes i had epidural but i was out of it for most of it but yes during bi lateral i was aware of the hammering and what sounded like a dentist drill but i was still very relaxed it was like i felt like i was in in a dream so i was not upset by it    then for my revision i did wake up and could see around me but could only see the blue cloth in front of me glad about that as i didnt want to see anything i could also see two nurses with me i started to feel pain but could only moan to let them know i was awake i was asked if i wanted to get more sedation and i noded my head so they put me out  but before they did i felt all the pulling and draging ive never had an epidural for child birth so now i understand that you feel the pulling and pushing weird feeling also during this op my surgeon was giving out to his team saying "you mean to say im half way through this op and your telling me that im missing a component who is responsible "  that kinda freaked me but also your so relaxed you dont care its like its happening to someone else and that your looking in on it but nothing to be scared of hope tis gives you an idea of it

Hi Saz I had a park 8weeks ago. I opted for an epidural and light sedation. The most painful thing was having the epidural in my spine but after that I didn't feel a thing. I took in my ipod loaded with soothing music and listened to that. My anaesthetist was on hand asking if everything was ok, apparently I was happy singing along to my music! It was all over in about 1.30 hours and then I went to recovery felt fantastic. Non of the awful effects of a full sedation. Highly recommend.