1. Community
  2. Bones, joints and muscles
  3. Knee Problems

Awake for surgery?

Posted , 18 users are following.

saz2020
saz2020

hi, I was told at the pre-op assessment that my sedation during surgery could be light or deep, but wasn't quite certain what they mean by light. However I've since found this from the rcoa,  "Light sedation means you are relaxed but awake."

I know a few people here are dead against being awake, but I'd love to hear from anybody who went down the 'light' route. 

What was it like?

Were you able to take anything in with you for entertainment?

Did you get uncomfortable/bored during it?

Were you given the option of increasing the sedation if things got too much?

thanks

0 likes, 29 replies

29 Replies

Prev
  • joey55
    joey55 saz2020

    Posted

    Ps.... I didn't hear anything from the surgeon regards drilling, hammering etc. one thing I would suggest is that you ask for stitches instead of metal clips, the clips were really uncomfortable and very painful to remove, I felt all 15 being removed very painful!
  • martinarvelo
    martinarvelo saz2020

    Posted

    I only had the spinal.  It makes no difference at all to your level of alertness, but just numbs the bottom half of the body.  It was boring. . nearly three hours lying on a hard, cold bed, listening to the staff chatting about their weekend, hearing all the sawing, banging, chopping etc. . , watching the blood going down the drainage tube. . .I think I would have preferred not to be quite so awake, although it didn't really worry me unduly.  the cold was the worst thing . . In recovery they gave me a huge tube which spouted hot air. . it was wonderful and stopped me shivering after about five minutes.
    • sky1996
      sky1996 martinarvelo

      Posted

      Hi Ternerife.  Colorado here.  I kinda enjoyed being awake but was glad for the screen.  When I got tired the anesthesiologist kicked up the dose and I dozed to jazz.  With the spinal no nausea and warm blankets with nice nurses in recovery was great.  No problems with seizure either which has been a problem in the past.  (I'm epileptic so anyone reading this don't be alarmed) 
    • martinarvelo
      martinarvelo sky1996

      Posted

      I had no other sort of anaesthesia apart from the spinal. As far as I know, once he had injected  it, he disappeared .I certainly never saw him again!  Some surgeons seem a lot faster than others. Mine took nearly three hours, and towards the end I was getting a bit fed up with it.  Loved colorado . .flew into Denver, and toured around a lot . stayed in Evergreen with a friend by a beautiful babbling brook and watched the humming birds. . Wonderful!. .Not so sure about it in the winter though!!!
    • sky1996
      sky1996 martinarvelo

      Posted

      My sugery was nearly 4 and 1/2 hours as the knee was worse than expected.  My aneaesthesiest  checked in on me and a couple times I was just tired and he fooled with the IV and I would get a nap. A PA would check in too and they were cool.  Well I would like to make it to Tenerife someday. I am a CO native and although we've had too many transplants (please don't let this sound like Trump) and it is more crowded, it is still a great place.  My Aunt and Uncle used to have a cabin near Evergreen.  Big fun when we were kids!  I love hummingbirds! Never tire of them.  
    • martinarvelo
      martinarvelo sky1996

      Posted

      If you come to Tenerife getin touch and we'll show you the sights!  No humming birds I'm afriad. . . .but a nice escape from colorado's rather cold Winter. Our winter never goes below around 70 fahrenheit . . (well, just occasionally!)  
    • mary0606
      mary0606 martinarvelo

      Posted

      In Australia the anaesthetist isn't allowed to leave you, he is there for the duration. Sounds dangerous to me.
    • sky1996
      sky1996 martinarvelo

      Posted

      Thank you for the invite!  Let me know if you head out this way again! 
    • martinarvelo
      martinarvelo sky1996

      Posted

      Unfortuantely, we can no longer get travel insurance, so the States is ut of our reach now cry  Stuck with Europe, where we are covered by the European Health Card. . . I really miss travelling the world. . .we've been right round twice.......still, lots of Europe left to see!
    • martinarvelo
      martinarvelo mary0606

      Posted

      I suppose he could have been there behind that big green sheet!
    • mary0606
      mary0606 martinarvelo

      Posted

      Why can't you get travel insurance ? My mother aged 82 travelled to Vietnam this year with travel insurance.
    • saz2020
      saz2020 mary0606

      Posted

      I know my mother couldn't get it in her late 50s after a heart attack. I suppose it's not whether you can get it so much as whether the premiums are affordable, for her they weren't. 
    • martinarvelo
      martinarvelo mary0606

      Posted

      My husband has had Lymphoma, mini strokes, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, hypothyroid . . Most companies just refuse to insure him at all . . there was only one company would even touch it, and they wanted over 2000 euros for a week , which makes a holiday rather expensive!. . . 
Back to top
Prev

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.