Guest guest Posted April 19, 2004 Report Share Posted April 19, 2004 is my THR-R. I've picked a good surgeon (+ hospital) so I'm not inclined to question decisions that fall within his professional expertise (type of prostheses, method of surgery, etc.). I'm worried about becoming aware during the operation and not being able to signal my distress because of muscle " relaxers " . I fear traumatic experiences under anesthesia that I will not remember because of amnesic drugs that will haunt me on an unconscious level after the operation. I know intubation is difficult and agree that amnesia may be called for there, but what about the other 2 hours of the operation? I'm not talking about the small percentage of patients who become aware due to errors or equipment malfunctions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 19, 2004 Report Share Posted April 19, 2004 I had an epidural with some "happy" meds to help me relax. I awoke when the dr. was hammering the stem into my femur. I was literally jarred awake as my arm was shaken off the slat it was laid on. (I was on my left side slightly with both arms on the "slat" where they strap your arm down for blood pressure or iv or whatever.) I knew what was happening, but I didn't care. I had been very afraid before the surgery that I would be aware of the sawing and hammering, but in fact it didn't make much difference thanks to the drugs. I was not aware of intubation or catherization or any of the other stuff. Afterwards in the recovery I was sick and couldn't tell anyone, so I had to let my actions speak for me. All in all, worth it to get rid of the constant pain. Good luck to you. The other side is bright. Kathi A week from today is my THR-R. I've picked a good surgeon (+ hospital) so I'm not inclined to question decisions that fall within his professional expertise (type of prostheses, method of surgery, etc.). I'm worried about becoming aware during the operation and not being able to signal my distress because of muscle "relaxers". I fear traumatic experiences under anesthesia that I will not remember because of amnesic drugs that will haunt me on an unconscious level after the operation. I know intubation is difficult and agree that amnesia may be called for there, but what about the other 2 hours of the operation? I'm not talking about the small percentage of patients who become aware due to errors or equipment malfunctions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 20, 2004 Report Share Posted April 20, 2004 Sue, your story helped me a lot. the surgeon validated your experience, taking it from the world of nightmare to understandable behavior. i think this is a key point for me. the truth i can deal with, but anything else gives me a feeling of unease. i will definitely talk to the drs about this so they can help me, if need be. thanks. bonnie > I had an epidural with some " happy " meds to help me relax. I awoke when the dr. was hammering the stem into my femur. I was literally jarred awake as my arm was shaken off the slat it was laid on. (I was on my left side slightly with both arms on the " slat " where they strap your arm down for blood pressure or iv or whatever.) I knew what was happening, but I didn't care. I had been very afraid before the surgery that I would be aware of the sawing and hammering, but in fact it didn't make much difference thanks to the drugs. I was not aware of intubation or catherization or any of the other stuff. Afterwards in the recovery I was sick and couldn't tell anyone, so I had to let my actions speak for me. All in all, worth it to get rid of the constant pain. Good luck to you. The other side is bright. Kathi > A week from today > > > is my THR-R. I've picked a good surgeon (+ hospital) so I'm not > inclined to question decisions that fall within his professional > expertise (type of prostheses, method of surgery, etc.). I'm worried > about becoming aware during the operation and not being able to > signal my distress because of muscle " relaxers " . I fear traumatic > experiences under anesthesia that I will not remember because of > amnesic drugs that will haunt me on an unconscious level after the > operation. I know intubation is difficult and agree that amnesia may > be called for there, but what about the other 2 hours of the > operation? I'm not talking about the small percentage of patients who > become aware due to errors or equipment malfunctions. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 20, 2004 Report Share Posted April 20, 2004 oops. i mean Kathi! > > I had an epidural with some " happy " meds to help me relax. I awoke > when the dr. was hammering the stem into my femur. I was literally > jarred awake as my arm was shaken off the slat it was laid on. (I was > on my left side slightly with both arms on the " slat " where they > strap your arm down for blood pressure or iv or whatever.) I knew > what was happening, but I didn't care. I had been very afraid before > the surgery that I would be aware of the sawing and hammering, but in > fact it didn't make much difference thanks to the drugs. I was not > aware of intubation or catherization or any of the other stuff. > Afterwards in the recovery I was sick and couldn't tell anyone, so I > had to let my actions speak for me. All in all, worth it to get rid > of the constant pain. Good luck to you. The other side is bright. > Kathi > > A week from today > > > > > > is my THR-R. I've picked a good surgeon (+ hospital) so I'm not > > inclined to question decisions that fall within his professional > > expertise (type of prostheses, method of surgery, etc.). I'm > worried > > about becoming aware during the operation and not being able to > > signal my distress because of muscle " relaxers " . I fear traumatic > > experiences under anesthesia that I will not remember because of > > amnesic drugs that will haunt me on an unconscious level after > the > > operation. I know intubation is difficult and agree that amnesia > may > > be called for there, but what about the other 2 hours of the > > operation? I'm not talking about the small percentage of patients > who > > become aware due to errors or equipment malfunctions. > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 20, 2004 Report Share Posted April 20, 2004 Sue, your story helped me a lot. the surgeon validated your experience, taking it from the world of nightmare to understandable behavior. i think this is a key point for me. the truth i can deal with, but anything else gives me a feeling of unease. i will definitely talk to the drs about this so they can help me, if need be. thanks. bonnie > > is my THR-R. I've picked a good surgeon (+ hospital) so I'm not > > inclined to question decisions that fall within his professional > > expertise (type of prostheses, method of surgery, etc.). I'm > worried > > about becoming aware during the operation and not being able to > > signal my distress because of muscle " relaxers " . I fear traumatic > > experiences under anesthesia that I will not remember because of > > amnesic drugs that will haunt me on an unconscious level after the > > operation. I know intubation is difficult and agree that amnesia > may > > be called for there, but what about the other 2 hours of the > > operation? I'm not talking about the small percentage of patients > who > > become aware due to errors or equipment malfunctions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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