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Spinal v general

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Gossip
Gossip

my surgeon & anaesthetist advises spinal & sedation for Friday. My daughter made a cd of my favourite music to use with headphones.2hours long.  DO YOU HEAR OR REMEMBER ANYTHING? With or without your head phones & muwic

0 likes, 27 replies

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  • Stephie52
    Stephie52 Gossip

    Posted

    my son is going to put some music on his IPod for me if I decide to go down the spinal route. can someone tell me how long is the operation approximately?

    steph

    • Guest
      Guest Stephie52

      Posted

      About an hour and a half for the operation. I had spinal and sedative, didn't need any music or head-phones as I was asleep and have no recollection of anything until I was in recovery, to be told I was going to my bed on the ward. xx
    • mark_s
      mark_s Stephie52

      Posted

      Hi, I was going down the GA route until I got advice from here, my daughter (trainee nurse) and anaesthetist. I went for spinal and light sedation, didn't feel, hear, see a thing until I woke in recovery. The Op last approx 90mins but mine was finished in approx 60mins I was told. The spinal in my opinion is by far the best option, you will fly through it and recover quicker straight after. I was back in my bed 1/2 hour after the op! Best of luck, Mark
    • sue1957Geo
      sue1957Geo mark_s

      Posted

      silly question from a frightened hippie to be, but where and when do they do the spinal, are you out first. shaking just writing this.Sue
    • angela61719
      angela61719 sue1957Geo

      Posted

      It seems that most people are out of it before they do the spinal (though I'm a pre-hippie, so might be wrong). I've had two obstetric epidurals, fully conscious and having contractions at the time, so the idea of a needle into the spine while sedated isn't freaking me out too much. From my recall, the epidural just felt weird, with a sensation of something cold running down the spine. I can't say it really hurt.  
    • rachel57914
      rachel57914 angela61719

      Posted

      I had spinal performed and then sedation following just before operation starts x
    • mark_s
      mark_s sue1957Geo

      Posted

      Hi Sue, please don't be frightened, I promise you will fly through it. They give you the spinal approx 20 mins before the op after having done all the necessary checks first, blood pressure etc. I don't  know if each anaesthetist is different but mine used some kind of very cold spray before inserting the needle as I bent forward. I honestly didn't feel a thing. Mine was located towards the bottom of my spine, I only felt a numbing sensation as it kicked in. They then checked if it had fully worked before giving me a light sedation. I then woke up in recovery an hour or so later with a new hip!

      Try not to worry because I was adamant I was going to have a general but I'm so glad I opted for the spinal, regards Mark

       

    • sassybees
      sassybees sue1957Geo

      Posted

      Sue i w a s so scared. He said we will give uou something to relax you. Thats the last thing i remember. Nothing to it
  • renee01952
    renee01952 Gossip

    Posted

    hi gossip ...

    my contribution : I chose GA  both times ...

    personal choice - no regrets - take a deep breath in and out and it is done -

    My roommate had spinal and she heard everything but said she absolutely didn't care ... 

    it is getting close, darling ....

    big warm hug

    renee

     

  • ali2301
    ali2301 Gossip

    Posted

    I had spinal and sedation for both of mine and heard/saw/felt nothing at all. 

    My anaesthetist sprayed my lower back with something cold and I could feel him prodding around my lower back but couldn't feel any pain. The next thing I felt was a really warm feeling up my legs and when I tried to move them, I couldn't! They were completely numb! 

    Then they wheeled me into theatre, I said hello to my surgeon and the nurses who were delightful, then my anaesthetist said checkouts see me soon and I was gone. I woke again right at the end with the big green curtain round me. Another big smile from my anaesthetist who told me it was all over and I dozed back off again. Next thing I was in recovery, totally pain free and could feel nothing at all until late that night when the feeling started to come back.

    I would go for the spinal and sedation every time.

    Hope that helps a bit. You will be fine, whichever way you go.

    Take care.

    Ali xx

  • linda72833
    linda72833 Gossip

    Posted

    I didn't remember hearing anything.  Many years ago, I had general anesthesia for a surgery.  I was terrified.  I was allowed to take a tape recorder that would reverse and replay itself into surgery with me.  Many surgeons recognize the benefits of music, relaxation, guided imagery and hypnosis cd's in helping the patient recover more quickly.  
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