Re: Weirded out by idea of sedation

January 20, 2003

, and others,

In your post, you mentioned something about cocaine being put in your

nostrils to knock you out. What I am about to say will sound really

silly, but is this standard practice? See, I have a major thing

against narcotics. (I wouldn't even get morphine when the doctors

recommended it for the birth of my child) I know it is a silly

thing, but both of my parents were heavy cocaine users in the 80's,

my dad went to jail for it, and my mom lost two children at birth

(stillborn)and almost 3 (she gave it up when she was pg with my

sister) because of it. Since then, they have straightened their

lives out, thank God, and both have been off drugs for over 14 yrs.

Anyways, I am terrified of the stuff, so much so that if that is

required, I may not go through with the surgery. I know that it is

purely psychological, and a hospital setting is totally different,

but I can't make myself go through that. So, hopefully this is not

always done. Please don't see this as an attack on your surgery, but

as an irrational fear that I have. Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks,

> Hi Rhonda,

>

> I met my anaesthesiologist the morning of surgery, in the " holding

> tank " where you go just before they take you into the operating

room.

>

> I had an opportunity then to tell him anything I wanted. I asked

him

> if they give me anything to cause amnesia so I won't remember

> anything, and he said yes.

>

> They didn't give me anything to sedate me - I had special cassette

> tapes playing that were calming me down, even though I was still a

> bit nervous about it all!

>

> They wheeled me into the OR and started working so quickly on me

that

> I didn't have time to say or do much. The first thing I did was

tell

> the nurses in there to change the cassette tape from the intra-op

one

> to the recovery room one as soon as the operation was finished.

After

> that, they put the IV in my arm - it didn't hurt, and I'm a big

baby

> with needles. Then he put what I believe is cocaine into my

nostrils -

> tasted terrible, and I was out like a light.

>

> Don't worry about it, but be sure and communicate with your

> anaesthesiologist the day of, if you can't see him sooner than

that.

> I asked to see him the week before, at my pre-op admissions visit

at

> the hospital, but couldn't. I presume that, because it's a teaching

> hospital, they didn't know who he/she would be. As it was, I got a

> really nice, caring man.

>

> Hope that helps,

>

January 20, 2003

Hey I didn't get the demerol.

Got to love that stuff.

Come to think of it I may not have been sedated.

The only injection I got put me out?

Shiloh

> Hi Rhonda!

>

> I was given the " happy medicine " (demerol I believe) about a half

> hour or so before surgery. It really didn't make me happy or

groggy

> or anything really noticable. It just calmed what little

nervousness

> I had. I wasn't out-of-it at all. I still remember everything

about

> the trip into the OR and even everything that happened prior to

being

> given the knock-out juice.

>

> I talked to an anaesthesiologist during my pre-op visit, while I

was

> getting ready for surgery, and again just as I was wheeled into

the

> OR. They were not the type to do the " smile and nod " thing. I

felt

> that they really cared about what they were doing and that they

> really cared about me. I even had 2 of them come in the morning

> after surgery to make sure I was doing ok.

>

> Maybe my case was the exception to the rule, but my experience was

> that you don't have anything to worry about regarding the

sedation.

> Just kick back and enjoy the ride!!

>

> Jeff

January 20, 2003

> a local!) but I'm freaked out at the thought of being sedated

> beforehand. Someone (well-dressed Mike?) said something in a

> previous post about being given some sort of nice medicine that

well here's my two cents on this. i had the chance to meet my anesthesiologist

befoe my surgery, who came in and talked about what he would do, how i would

feel afterwards with regards to the anesthesia, etc. he told me that they would

give me a small dose of sedative (something along the lines of valium or xanax,

i belive) to relax me before i went into the OR. in a joking sort of way, he

said that it would make me feel as if i had 'had a couple of beers' -- i'm a

college guy, he knew how to drive the point home

leading up to the surgery, i was never nervous...and i didn't get nervous in the

hospital waiting to go in. i didn't really feel much of anything at *all* from

the sedative, if i had been nervous it might have calmed me down, but since i

was already very calm i didn't feel the effects at all. later, when i was

wheeled back to the OR, my surgeon came in, talking to me and joking around...i

was conversing with the nurses about various things, taking orders regarding

moving this way or that, breathing deeply, putting my arm here...point being

that the sedative was such a small dose that i was able to remain very aware and

lucid completely up to the time that the *real* IV anesthesia put me under.

if you get there and aren't nervous, i'm sure you could pass on the sedative. i

think the point is more to help you stay calm than for any medical reason. but,

in my case, i don't think that passing on it would have made a bit of difference

on how i felt mentally or the way i perceived or remembered the events leading

up to the surgery. but talk to your surgeon or anesthesiologist about it -- it

should be up to you.

ryan

January 20, 2003

I wouldn't be so concerned that the drug is 'cocaine'.

If its medical grade and used for medical purposes isn't going to

blurr any lines for you and if its what they are used to using. I

am not sure that cocaine is so routine for this as might they not

have you sign a waiver just in case you did have a drug problem?

I don't know if my nose was numbed using that if it was it wasn't a

large amount as I felt it go in and was probably a saline solution

with something to numb but only about 1/4 teaspoon. I guess if it

was then we are all coke sniffers now. There goes my street drug

free feeling.

I know what you mean about narcotics I went home on straight tylenol

no codiene nothing. Didn't need it. My family is big on

alchoholics, over eaters and smokers I never wanted to tempt what I

have been told is a genetic addictive potential I get ill on

narcotics, hallucinate, even on the demerol they gave me after

surgery I got sick to my stomach and had a hard time breathing.

However when you are out, you're out.

Shiloh

> > Hi Rhonda,

> >

> > I met my anaesthesiologist the morning of surgery, in

the " holding

> > tank " where you go just before they take you into the operating

> room.

> >

> > I had an opportunity then to tell him anything I wanted. I asked

> him

> > if they give me anything to cause amnesia so I won't remember

> > anything, and he said yes.

> >

> > They didn't give me anything to sedate me - I had special

cassette

> > tapes playing that were calming me down, even though I was still

a

> > bit nervous about it all!

> >

> > They wheeled me into the OR and started working so quickly on me

> that

> > I didn't have time to say or do much. The first thing I did was

> tell

> > the nurses in there to change the cassette tape from the intra-

op

> one

> > to the recovery room one as soon as the operation was finished.

> After

> > that, they put the IV in my arm - it didn't hurt, and I'm a big

> baby

> > with needles. Then he put what I believe is cocaine into my

> nostrils -

> > tasted terrible, and I was out like a light.

> >

> > Don't worry about it, but be sure and communicate with your

> > anaesthesiologist the day of, if you can't see him sooner than

> that.

> > I asked to see him the week before, at my pre-op admissions

visit

> at

> > the hospital, but couldn't. I presume that, because it's a

teaching

> > hospital, they didn't know who he/she would be. As it was, I got

a

> > really nice, caring man.

> >

> > Hope that helps,

> >

January 20, 2003

I would certainly agree with what Jeff says... I knew the

anesthesiologist because he had done epidurals on my husband, and

because we had him for other surgery. He's a super good, super nice

guy, and I am crazy about him. He's also the sort who, when other

docs ask who's working on you and you tell them, the other docs (even

those who have nothing to do with the surgery) say, to a one, " You

sure do have some good folks working on you! "

If you want to talk with your anesthesiologist, or someone in his

practice, ask your surgeon who they will be. Then call the anesthesia

office and ask for a phone conversation or an appointment. My man

doesn't go to his office much, apparently, but he called me back when

I asked to speak with him.

And this is just my approach, but I would never be the one to tell my

anesthesiologist what to do. If I were allergic to anything, I'd let

him know. But I'd trust his judgment about what to use. I inquired

about having anesthesia by iv, and my surgeon grinned and said, " We'd

wake you up. " I did have some by iv, the preliminary stuff, but they

have to do the tubes to get you under deep enough, I think.

Cammie

> Hi Rhonda!

>

> I was given the " happy medicine " (demerol I believe) about a half

> hour or so before surgery. It really didn't make me happy or

groggy

> or anything really noticable. It just calmed what little

nervousness

> I had. I wasn't out-of-it at all. I still remember everything

about

> the trip into the OR and even everything that happened prior to

being

> given the knock-out juice.

>

> I talked to an anaesthesiologist during my pre-op visit, while I

was

> getting ready for surgery, and again just as I was wheeled into the

> OR. They were not the type to do the " smile and nod " thing. I

felt

> that they really cared about what they were doing and that they

> really cared about me. I even had 2 of them come in the morning

> after surgery to make sure I was doing ok.

>

> Maybe my case was the exception to the rule, but my experience was

> that you don't have anything to worry about regarding the

sedation.

> Just kick back and enjoy the ride!!

>

> Jeff

January 20, 2003

If I had that, I do not remember it. Which is possible. I did have

either morphine or demerol in the clicker the first night after

surgery, and it was welcome... And I had lower only, surgery went

really, really well, and I had no complications.

But honey, I can't imagine that you wanna go through this with

limitations on what the docs can use for your anesthesia. I do not

remember what you're having done, but I think you probably are gonna

want something for the pain, at least in the first 24 hours.

I can understand your concerns, but why not tell your docs just what

you told us, explain how you feel, and ask for their help in dealing

with it.

It's not the morphine that is a bad thing; it's the abuse of it. I

don't blame you for being very, very careful. But do get this

straightened out with your surgeon and anesthesia folks.

Cammie

> , and others,

>

> In your post, you mentioned something about cocaine being put in

your

> nostrils to knock you out. What I am about to say will sound

really

> silly, but is this standard practice? See, I have a major thing

> against narcotics. (I wouldn't even get morphine when the doctors

> recommended it for the birth of my child) I know it is a silly

> thing, but both of my parents were heavy cocaine users in the 80's,

> my dad went to jail for it, and my mom lost two children at birth

> (stillborn)and almost 3 (she gave it up when she was pg with my

> sister) because of it. Since then, they have straightened their

> lives out, thank God, and both have been off drugs for over 14

yrs.

>

> Anyways, I am terrified of the stuff, so much so that if that is

> required, I may not go through with the surgery. I know that it is

> purely psychological, and a hospital setting is totally different,

> but I can't make myself go through that. So, hopefully this is not

> always done. Please don't see this as an attack on your surgery,

but

> as an irrational fear that I have. Any input would be appreciated.

>

> Thanks,

>

January 20, 2003

Cammie,

You are just a wonderful person:-). You always have the nicest

replies to everyone's concerns. I know my reasoning may be a little

irrational, but I will discuss that with my surgeon. I am sure he

will do everything possible to keep me happy:-). Thanks!

> > , and others,

> >

> > In your post, you mentioned something about cocaine being put in

> your

> > nostrils to knock you out. What I am about to say will sound

> really

> > silly, but is this standard practice? See, I have a major thing

> > against narcotics. (I wouldn't even get morphine when the

doctors

> > recommended it for the birth of my child) I know it is a silly

> > thing, but both of my parents were heavy cocaine users in the

80's,

> > my dad went to jail for it, and my mom lost two children at birth

> > (stillborn)and almost 3 (she gave it up when she was pg with my

> > sister) because of it. Since then, they have straightened their

> > lives out, thank God, and both have been off drugs for over 14

> yrs.

> >

> > Anyways, I am terrified of the stuff, so much so that if that is

> > required, I may not go through with the surgery. I know that it

is

> > purely psychological, and a hospital setting is totally

different,

> > but I can't make myself go through that. So, hopefully this is

not

> > always done. Please don't see this as an attack on your surgery,

> but

> > as an irrational fear that I have. Any input would be

appreciated.

> >

> > Thanks,

> >

January 20, 2003

Hi, ----

I'm having surgery on the 23rd - thought I'd tell you about what my

surgeon said regarding the cocaine. He said it was sprayed/put in

your nose in order to shrink the tissues so that the breathing tube

can be put in. It did sound like it was pretty much standard

procedure and that it more than likely wouldn't be something I'd

remember happening. I can certainly see why you'd want to avoid it -

maybe there's something else that can be used instead?

In orthognathicsurgerysupport , " mjlewis23

<mjlewis23@h...> " <mjlewis23@h...> wrote: