do they put you out? - Foot Problems Message Board

marcine26 · 05-29-2007, 07:50 AM

I am a nervous wreck and my bunion surgery is a little less than 2 months away. Yes I know, its far away, but it consumes my thoughts. I am so scared!!!

I need to know, do they put you completely out? please say yes. my neighbor just told me she had 8 toes fixed from hammertoes about 12 years ago, and she was awake, just couldnt see anything. I just assumed I would be knocked out but now I dont know!!

Zardtoe · 05-29-2007, 08:09 AM

I was really concerned about my surgery, since I'm hard to knock out and the podiatrist had said I'd be in "twilight" - I wanted Darkness! The anesthesiologist came by to talk to me before the operation to tell me what he would be giving me, and he said, "you won't feel a thing; you might drift in and out and maybe hear voices, but you won't remember anything." I made it VERY clear to him that I did NOT want to drift in and out or hear voices--I wanted to be OUT! It was brilliant - I don't remember a thing from the time they put something into my iv until I was waking up in the recovery room - apparently they'd just wheeled me in. I would suggest making sure you have a chat w/the anesthesiologist and make it clear what you're hoping for. They're pretty good at adjusting. Good luck!

ursulac · 05-29-2007, 08:28 AM

My dd is going to be OUT..could be that she is 7??.I have heard of a few adults having a local but am sure you have a choice...hey if it was me i would not agree to a local.Crazy to stay awake for that!! good luck!

cosmic1 · 05-29-2007, 10:47 AM

I have had two bunion surgeries within the past two years which required a total of 5 IV sedations.
I have had general anesthesia in the past twice.
IV sedation is just the best way to go!
I always had problems with general anesthesia and none with IV sedation.
Even after a 4 hour surgery, I was driven to Starbucks for my iced mocha when I headed out of the outpatient surgical center.
That being said.........
When I was to recieve the first sedation for the first foot, I talked with the anesthesiologist. He said you will drift to different levels but I will adjust to keep you under. I SAID TO HIM " MISTER I WILL BE COMPLETELY OUT AT ALL TIMES AND YOU WILL MAKE SURE OF THAT."
I said it in a funny way and I was not aware of anything at all (a pleasant experience).
On the occasion of the second surgery. I had an anesthesiologist who barely said hi before hauling me off. It was an almost four hour foot surgery.
The foot is given a major local anesthesia so one awake or not will not feel the surgerized foot.
However, the foot that was not receiving surgery HURT. i DRIFTED IN AN OUT OF A BLUR. THINKING IF ONLY i COULD MOVE MY FOOT THEN THEY WOULD KNOW THAT IT HURT.
When I awoke, that foot had a large red area over the heel and it was blister painful for the rest of the day.
The podiatrist told me that they had been leaning over the foot while working on the other foot.
An odd story but I think that the anesthesiologist didn't have me under deep enough. Those levels can be varied.
Also, I called the surgical center before the surgery and requested a good anesthesiologist. My sister in law who was a surgical nurse suggested that I do this. I did it for the first foot but not the second.
One of the first things that the nurse said to me when I entered the hospital was "Oh you got the good anesthesiologist" I should have done it for the second foot too.

debbie g · 05-29-2007, 04:11 PM

twilight is good as long as you have enough sedation so you cant hear anything. remember anastesi9a is not the best thing in the world for you