Question about Epidural after Bowel Resection - Bowel Disorders Message Board

Clover100 · 08-17-2007, 08:27 PM

Some of you have mentioned that the surgeon used an Epidural connection in your back to help with pain following surgery for a bowel resection. That sounds absolutely awful. I never wanted an Epidural when I had my babies because they said it could cause terrible headaches---and since I suffered from Migraines----I would NEVER do anything to bring on a headache. Never even had a "hangover" for fear of setting one off. Does this Epidural thing hurt---does it prevent you from laying on your back?? I think it sounds like something I don't want to deal with when I have my surgery on Oct. 25. Let me hear about some of your experiences. I don't mind having one of those machines that are attached to an IV that let you push the button for release of pain meds every so many minutes.

tru4u · 08-17-2007, 08:44 PM

Hey there. I just had bowel surgery last week. I did get an epidural and THANK GOD for it. I felt the same as you, after having one with the birth of my child. However, they have changed tremendously. You can move around, you can walk with it in and it really helps with the pain. It works in a way that the PCA pump (you referred to as pushing the button for med) can not.
The most pain was the lidocaine to deaden the area prior to insertion, and it was minimal. I kept my epidural in from Monday's placement until Thursday, 1 hour before I went home. I most deffinately will have another , God forbid should I need another surgery. Best of luck to you!

ps forgot to tell you, There is no risk of migraines with this procedure. It is a Spinal Block that can cause the terrible headaches and you can't move with them. I am a Post op Nurse and have to do blood patches for people who have spinals. the epidural is in a different area of the spinal column. good luck

maggiemoo · 08-18-2007, 03:31 PM

I had an epdiural and loved it. There is no problem being on your back with it--I didn't even notice it. I was out when they inserted mine. I had refused pre-op " relaxing" meds but when they started to put in the epidural he asked if I wanted to reconsider and I said yes--I was already in the operating room. Any of the "relaxing" meds put me out so I didn't remember a thing.

The thing that I liked about the epidural was that I didn't have that fuzzy/groggy/drugged feeling that I have with pain meds. I hate that feeling so the epidural was for me. In fact, I felt so good that some of my visitors stayed too long and wore me out. I had my kids during the natural childbirth era so anything like an epidural was frowned on. I said after my surgery, that the moms today are very lucky as most of them do have epidurals.

Maggie

gardenandcats · 08-18-2007, 07:24 PM

I have had 3 bowel resections the last one I had they had the option of having the epdiural this is not the same thing as the type used during child birth. And I would never have surgery again without it. It made all the difference in the world. It helped with the pain so much better. I also feel I recovered quicker and got home quicker. Have one for sure. Mine was also put in after I was asleep. I had no problems with it at all.Never even knew it was there.