Lupies and anaesthetics

[Scottie]

<span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%">Hi style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

I'm having an arthroscopy done next Thursday. (Not lupus related - osteoarthritis) However - because of lupus, sjogren's, hypothyroid, they won't take me in as a day case and they are going to give me a spinal block rather than a general anaesthetic.
I just wondered if any of you had had a similar experience and whether getting over it is any worse than for anyone else?

Thanks - Scottie </span> style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

[alobreto]

You don't say what meds you're on, but it's possible that you are on something that might interfere with healing such as corticosteroids or an immunomodulator. And it's also a good idea to be cautious any time there is a chronic illness involved even if it's tightly controlled.

I've had many surgeries, and from experience I can say that I've recovered much more rapidly with a spinal or local anesthetic than with a general. With general anesthesia your entire body goes to 'sleep' and it can take several days for your insides (including digestive tract) to wake up again. There are many fewer complications with a spinal, or nerve block, or local than with a general.

An option with the blocks is to have some kind of amnesic med like versed so that you don't remember any of the procedure. You might ask the anesthetist about something like that if you think that would be better in your case. You aren't knocked out, but you may as well be since you don't remember anything.

Given my druthers, I prefer a block to general anesthesia. There is no nausea or systemic side effect to be concerned about and I've always felt better sooner after surgery.
Angela style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/flowers.gif

[Scottie]

Thanks Angela style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

That's very reassuring. I'm on plaquenil, thyroxine, omeprazole and painkillers, so should be OK. I know people get over arthroscopies pretty quickly so evrything should be quite straightforward. When I get the partial or total joint replacement, recovery will take longer but that's another waiting list away.

Take care - Scottie style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

[helloos]

I can only say that when I was put under for my uterus removal, the whole day of coming out of it, everytime I fell asleep (cause you are tired from the anest.) my heart and lung would stop. It would scare me and I would up. It was every few minutes. I was in so much pain that no one listened to me and I couldn't get the words out. I told the nurse later on as it kept happening and they checked vitals and said don't worry about it. For one year and I am not lying at all, it continued, almost a few times a week for months, so I went to the doc and they did a sleep study, but I couldn't fall asleep long enough in REM so it came back inconclusive. I told that doc about ever since the anesth that happened, and he said he never ever heard of that being a reaction to the anesth. Well, we all know our bodies. I know that it never happened before that, happened repeatedly after that and continued. As time went on it was less and less. Now it happens maybe 1 x a month or every other month. I know it was from that. So when I went for knee surgery I said no way never again. I had a spinal. I didn't like afterwards because feeling came back gradual and the last to come back was my bladder and I had to urinate and couldn't. But, as said, as soon as the feeling comes back like pins and needles you are fine and good to go and no reaction to the anest. I will never again have it. So go with the spinal, better chances of being ok. Also, I have to say I have had aneths times before the last time, and never ever had that problem. Was it LUpus related? I don't know cause I wasn't diagnosed at that time. Maybe it was, maybe is wasn't.
Good luck and you will be fine !

[peonyprincess]

When I had my tuabl and then later my hysterectomy done, I had general anesthetic and I did fine. However, when I was taken back to surgery because of an absess from my hysterectomy, I had a block. I think it is a case by case decision made by the doc and your health history. I know from experience as a nurse, if the doc felt that it might be difficult to get the patient off the vent or had a history of lung issues, then they would use a block. I also know that some patients preferred to be awake for their surgeries. To find ut for sure, ask your physician why they might chose one over the other.

Nancy