So sorry me again!!!

The doctors are used to this vanessa. The equipment they use will monitor your breathing and if necessary they can put something in place to cope with that.

Your panic attacks are totally understandable. At least they show you are thinking ahead about the implications of what lies ahead. That is good - far better than being like an ostrich and burying your head in the sand.

Well done, feel free to panic as much as you need to.

Hi Vanessa

Please don't worry. When you go in you will be able to talk to your anethatist before your op. I know for sure he / she will put your mind at reast. If you are not happy having a spinal you can chose which method you would prefer. I promise your anethatist will be highly trained and you will be well looked after.

I know this because I have a really bad needle phobia and my anethatist went out of hbis way to put me at ease. Pleasae dont worry you will be able to talk all your worries through.

I had spinal block and sedation, it is a light ga you just feel uncomfortable when they do the spinal and after about 6 hours after the op and you have got the feeling back in your legs they will get you out of bed to use the commode, the doctors will understand how worried you are, but you definitely will not be heavily sedated. This is my 2nd hip op and I hope it all goes well for you, we are all here for you lyn xx

Vanessa,

​No problem, your brain still controls your breathing when you have a Spinal, it's only with a General Anaesthetic that you cannot breathe for yourself.   The sedation will keep you unaware of what is going on, and has no effect on your breathing.  That is why they like to use a Spinal now, it's safer.

The anethetist will keep an eye on you, and monitor your breathing, pulse, and make sure your sedation is topped up.  I know this, because I had no sedation, and I kept chatting to my anethetist about it during the operation !

Read the 'Anaesthetic Choices" in the Related Information section on the right - it explains it in there.

Good luck

​Graham

Oh wow Vanessa, I couldn't do that i had to do general, if there is one thing inhave learnt about this wondeful family is that nothing is stupid, good luck hun, sorry I cannot be of any help.

sue

Vanessa,  ​NO question is silly.

​None of us are medical experts, and I had no idea about these processes before my THR, but I am technically inclined, and a fast learner.

I'm just happy to be able to reassure you that you WILL be fine.

​Graham

I had a spinal and sedation and found it excellent. I don't think there is any danger at all of you forgetting to breath as the sedation would ensure that your brain will do things like this automatically.  In any case there will be at least one anaethetist (probably more than one) monitoring you throughout.  They have full equipment there to cope with absolutely anything.  If you did stop breathing they would have you intubated and be breathing for you within seconds. Believe me, they are experts.