At Preop the other day, Anesthetist proposed doing an epidural for pain management. Any pro's and con's would be welcome. I'm not sure I'm in favour of it but she thinks it would be better for me post op. (71 and smoker's lungs)

Mudlark:
I had an epidural my first surgery... anes convinced me. We adjusted it about 5 times (3 in the PACU). Well, I got to my room and had unbelievable pain on the right side, but the left was numb. Or maybe the opposite?? In any event, they wanted to readjust again, wiggling the epidural. I DEMANDED that I be put on a PCA ( Patient controlled analgesia). I had MUCH better pain control. The nurse told me after that she didn't want to say, but most patients who have colorectal surgery do MUCH better on a PCA. That epidurals are great for pain relief during childbirth, but NOT for this type of surgery. As you know, I will be going in in August again, and I will be getting a PCA again.

Hope that helps.

Fondly,
CancerDad

thanks CancerDad I'm uneasy about it, and the anesthetitst is leaving it up to me. I'd rather have the pca than the epidural, although it too has a pac pump, but I just don't want anyone monkeying with my back - its been through three rear end collisions and has been well crunched. As usual - you come through with information I couldn't get anywhere else.

Thank you. good luck with your surgery.

I can't believe I am going to the hospital for surgery, feeling the best I have for years, and everyone telling me how good I look. Not a pain in my body. Yet I am going to surrender this wonderful physical state, for a painful repair job. Oh well.... my family thinks it a great thing.... to get fixed..... so I can be around for them to forget once I've healed. hahahahaha

thanks CancerDad I'm uneasy about it, and the anesthetitst is leaving it up to me. I'd rather have the pca than the epidural, although it too has a pac pump, but I just don't want anyone monkeying with my back - its been through three rear end collisions and has been well crunched. As usual - you come through with information I couldn't get anywhere else.

Thank you. good luck with your surgery.

I can't believe I am going to the hospital Tuesday for surgery, feeling the best I have for years, and everyone telling me how good I look. Not a pain in my body. Yet I am going to surrender this wonderful physical state, for a painful repair job. Oh well.... my family thinks it a great thing.... to get fixed.....(hmmm it's the cat that gets fixed - humans I guess get repaired) so I can be around for them to forget agaion once I've healed. hahahahaha :jester:

I had the PCA system for both my surgeries and found it worked perfectly. It's nice to feel you're in some sort of control and can regulate the doseage to what you require. Both times I had them disconnect me after 3 days.

thanks WC Girl. I think I'm leaning to the Demerol cocktail on my control. I don't mind if my head is fuzzy for a couple of days..... it will actually feel normal HaHa

Mudlark..
I had a epidrual too.. THe doctors convined me to have it!
Well the second day the epidural fell out.. MAN!! THE pain was excrutiating and I thought I was actaully going to die from the pain. They called the doctor from home to come in and replace it and I thought he must have lived 1000 miles away coz of the time he took to get to me....
My opinion.. if I need surgery again I WILL NOT have an epidural !!!!!!!
My 2c worth.
Goodluck
Maz

Thanks Maz = I'll discuss it briefly with my daughter, but I don't think I shall accept the epidural option. So sorry you had to experience so much pain, for so long. If that happened to me, I think I would hollar down the walls! To avoid that no epidural thank you!

Trying to stay relaxed and calm as the countdown to surgery approaches is harder than I thought it would be.... start prep stage 1 tomorrow.... maybe that will make it easier to wait...... take care all and thanks for sharing your uncomfortable epidurals.

Mudlark all the best for the prep and the surgery!
(hugs)
Maz

Thanks Maz With the nearly all the family away for nearly a month, this board has been a blessing. How wonderful to get a HUG! :jester:

Hugs back at ya!

Daughter gets home tomorrow night (Mon) - cutting it fine, but she will be here in time to escort me to hospital (dawn Tues) and wait out the surgery in the gloomiest waiting room I know. :yawn:

Hi mudlark.

Good luck for your forthcoming surgery.

Husband had morphine pump for bowel resection and felt v.sick from it so soon switched to paracetamol. For liver resection he has epidural but they put it in after he was unconscious ??? I would have thought it logical to do it prior to make sure the pain relief is in the correct position. As it happened it wasnt and he had pain on one side of his torso and they wiggled the needle in his back and then it worked. He had it in for 4 days i think and then gradually reduced it whilst he took tramadol and paracetamol. He preferred the epi cos is didnt make him feel sick or woozy.

Good luck
ktee

My mom had the epidural with her surgery and she loved it. She was so alert and felt very little pain. She did not want to be groggy at all, so it was a good choice for her. She looked great after surgery and we had regular conversations.