Anyone have any advice?

[kickaha]

Alright, the anesthesia anxiety is getting tiresome.

I met with an anesthesiologist today, and they said that yes, the prolonged numbness in my fingers was unusual, and something to be aware of, and that it was something that should be brought to the attention of the anesthesiologist on duty.

They also said I could just skip the nerve block completely, and go for a slightly deeper general. I have to say, I find this more satisfying. (The idea of mucking directly with nerves terrifies me. They don't really heal all that well.)

The downside would be that I'd have essentially zero post-op pain medication upon waking, due to them being careful about administering such while I'm still shaking off the general. Okay, I can understand that. I can also deal with that - my pain tolerance is pretty high overall, and if I know that I'm going to have something painful happen, I tend to be able to just grit my teeth and get through it if I know it's temporary. In this case, it would be, since once I was awake, I'd be able to start on the oral meds such as Percoset. (Mmmmm... narcotics....)

Besides, I have to start physical therapy *the next day*, so how bad could it possibly be? (He says naively while the gods laugh at the foolish mortal...)

Anyone have any advice or anecdotes they'd like to share? It's minor surgery, so it's not like they're carving open my torso or anything that I'd be in agony over on waking.

Comments

A calming quote

[gwywnnydd.livejournal.com]

"Minor surgery is surgery happening to someone else."
Just a reminder that "minor" is relative ;).

As for the pain meds thing, if you're more comforted by being more asleep, go that route. You can certainly handle the pain upon waking (stubbornness has it's uses), and, as you said, they can start administering meds when you wake, so it will be temporary. If you're less stressed going into it, you'll respond better/faster to whatever meds they give you.

Personally, I think you'll be in more pain after your first PT appointment than after the surgery. But that's not a helpful thing to say, is it? ;)

Re: A calming quote

[kickaha.livejournal.com]

LOL, no I fully expect the first couple of PT sessions to Suck Mightily. But, that's what Percoset and Vicodin are for. :D

I don't remember a *thing* from the last one, and I anticipate the same from this - I had the opportunity to read the surgery notes today (THAT was really cool for a geek like me), so I got to see the whole timeline, when I was administered what, how I was reacting, the whole nine yards. *I* don't remember being responsive an hour after being given the anesthesia drip, that's for sure... but it says I was. Hence the block.

I'm definitely leaning towards waiving the block this time around. I mean jeez, it's only a little bit of pain, people... :}

Re: A calming quote

[gwywnnydd.livejournal.com]

As long as a little bit of pain doesn't have you wriggling in your chair, then go for it :).

Re: A calming quote

[ymasen.livejournal.com]

MMM... Vicodin...

Not unexpected coming from me

[madpiratebippy.livejournal.com]

But I remember reading about masturbation's fantastic pain blocking properties. Even if the Big O is elusive, it's supposed to help quite a bit.

Of course, the studies I read were mostly about women, so the non-orgasm thing probably isn't as well studied in men.

I'd say jerk the gherkin before you go on the table, just to be on the safe side. You'll probably feel better upon waking up than if you didn't, because of the lovely natural opiates your brain will pump out.



Because masturbation is good for you, that's why, now eat your peas.

Re: Not unexpected coming from me

[kickaha.livejournal.com]

ROTFLMAO

No, not unexpected at all from you. :D

I'd be surprised if I get either the chance or desire to pop off to the loo to pop off, but I'll keep it in mind. Heh.

Bleah!

[ginkgo.livejournal.com]

Hospital waiting rooms would strip the libido from a bonobo! Especially the one we were in during your first go-round.

While I understand the utility ( ;) ), I really really doubt that even *I* could...

Re: Bleah!

[ymasen.livejournal.com]

Unless you have a think for nurses in scrubs...

huh?!

[code-slave.livejournal.com]

Let me see if I understand this... oh, right... that common, everyday, occurrance of male masturbation *without* orgasm...

;-)

You gonna be at the rpg tonight?

(frozen) (no subject)

[kgibraldi12.livejournal.com]

Hey, its cool to see other people who think along the same lines that I do. If you want, come check out my homepage (I have a pic of me on there) http://kgibraldi.cjb.net/ -- ttyl, Kaitlyn.

(frozen) (no subject)

[coyotegirl.livejournal.com]

oo, lj spam! how exciting!

(i think not going for the nerve block is an excellent idea. i've never had surgery, however, so take my opinion as you will.)

Sorry, coyotegirl...

[kickaha.livejournal.com]

Froze the entry. Banning the user. Leaving it here for others to get the name from and ban the idiot.

Re: Sorry, coyotegirl...

[jason0x21.livejournal.com]

Actually, I can't see who the idiot is.

You can hack it.

[treebyleaf.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't say that to just anybody.
If you get the nerve block, the entire friggin' time you're healing, you'll be wondering-- could I have hacked it? Did I do the wrong thing by my body?
If you skip the nerve block, you'll wake up in pain, and you will deal because you can and because you have to. And you will be a stud for hacking it.
So, the trade-off here, is potential weeks of mental pain, versus a few hours of physical pain before the first orals kick in.

It's going to suck rocks and you're going to be just fine.
Let me know if I can read to you over the phone or anything.