Having surgery next Thursday

[Avasparkyvin13]

Hey guys and girls, I'm having my second resection on Thursday of next week. The surgeon asked me if I wanted to have epidural or not. I checked yes with the option to refuse it on the day of surgery. I may not be able to have lap bc of scar tissue so waking up with open is going to suck. I had it before. I'm good with pain but who wants to be in pain if you don't have to be. I was just curious if they usually give my regular pain meds after. Usually 2-4 mgs of dilaudid. Ugh thank god for dilaudid. Lol. Say a prayer for me please . I have 3 kids. 2 boys 5,3 and my little girl is only 10 months. They can't be with out daddy. :ylol2:

 

[nogutsnoglory]

I can't handle epidural but know its really fantastic for a lot of people. As for pain meds they may keep you on dilaudid at a higher amount but may also give you a cocktail of pain meds.

 

[Avasparkyvin13]

Thanks yea I'm not sure what I'm going to do at this point. Haha I hate the thought of it going in my back and know that the pain sucks after open surgery but I also do well on pain meds. I really don't like the thought of having the epidural one bit other than you don't feel pain post surgery. Ugh hahaha I'm such a girl.

 

[nogutsnoglory]

I wanted it but my spine is "bamboo" shaped and I was in worse pain from that than the entire recovery. Most people say its great. I just had a horrible experience.

 

[Justanothercp]

Good luck, I'm sure the surgery will go well. Keep us posted.

 

[Chad K]

Best of luck! Try not to stress I'm sure it will go well and it will be over before you know it. As hard as it is, try to stay positive.

Take care and god bless!

 

[Crohn's gal since 1989]

I was hooked up with the epidural but it didn't work do it was the morphine pump for me.

 

[Avasparkyvin13]

I really don't want the epidural but I wanted advice from you guys. Ill do it if everyone is saying to do it. But I've been seeing mixed things. So I'm listening to my heart.

 

[nogutsnoglory]

It really shouldn't hurt and if you have pain just tell them
To stop and that you opt for pump pain mgt.

 

[Avasparkyvin13]

Sounds like a good idea

 

[Mimzim]

Hi! I had a right hemicolectomy three weeks ago and I had an epidural and the pain pump while recovering. When I still had the epidural, I didn't think the epidural was doing much for me, but when they took it out the 3rd day, I realized it had been working. The pain wasn't horrendous by that point, but I could sure tell the difference.

Prior to the surgery, I wasn't sure about the epidural so, I told the anesthesiologist before I had surgery that I was nervous about the surgery and nervous about getting the epidural, even though I had one with both of my children's births. He put it on my chart as an option, so I could say no if I wished. On the day of surgery, they gave me some medicine to calm my anxiety before they took me into the operating room to do the epidural. As well, a very nice nurse held my hands and talked to me about her animals and I talked about mine. I can honestly say, getting the epidural was the least painful experience of this entire surgical experience. I cannot imagine how painful recovery may have been had I not had the epidural.

I'll send good wishes your way on Thursday! Let us know how you are, when you can.