1st general anesthetic since diagnosis and I'm freaked out

Okay, I did a search for anesthesia. I didn't find much that gave any specific details about OSA and surgery other than to bring XPAP with you. I hate general anethesia anyway, but none of my doctors seem to know what the anethesiologist will do about my OSA. I am having ankle surgery lasting at least 2 1/2 hours, so they will be intubating me. Will they try to wake me up before they pull the tube? I will handle whatever it is that they want to do, but I don't like not knowing. I think I have had OSA for many years and have had general anethesia many times, but I am more nervous this time. It is the first time since my oldest son (turning 6 the day after my surgery) was 4 months old and now I have a 2 1/2 year old as well. Okay, I guess I just want some reassurance from some of you that everything will be alright. I am having arthroscopic surgery to clean it out, then they will open the ankle to do a tendon graft to replace a ruptured ligament. It will be a very long summer in a cast with 2 little ones and then a tough rehab that I will begin around the time I start teaching in the fall. I'm not worried about any of that. But, I'm scared to death of the anesthetic.

Okay, sorry I got to be so long there. Thanks for all of the valuable things you have taught me in the last 6 months since I had my 1st sleep study. You all are great!

Sue

I just had a combo colonoscopy and endoscopy and they used it just fine, I told them before hand and they will moniter for it. Don't worry, they see it all the time. That's why they stand at you side.

Relax, Just let the doc know when he visits you before the surgery. Tell him your pressure and let him do his job. You will feel so good after getting 2 hrs of really deep sleep. I couldn't stop going for 3 days after my very short 45 min surgery. I 'd o it again just for the rest.

Perhaps they will do a local to your leg. A buddy had his done that way a few months ago. A few hrs.

I'd rather have the rest

:twis ted:

Plus, they will be extra vigilant because of the OSA. They monitor you every second, this is routine surgery (for them!), and YOU WILL BE FINE!!!

I'm facing surgery for a herniated disk in my lower back in a few weeks. I am a little worried, but I've worked in the medical field enough to know some of the things that will be happening. They will check you for signs that you are coming out of it and begin breathing on your own. They usually extubate you when you get your gag reflex and begin to breathe on your own. I would imagine that they will then put your mask on you with oxygen for however long you need it. That's what I would do if I were taking care of you, but I'm not a doctor (I just impersonate one on message boards) No, just kidding. I have been a registered medical assistant in a doctors office for several years and worked as a nursing assistant in hospitals for several years before I went back to school for the medical assistant training. I left medical assisting to pursue a 4 year degree in Nursing and take the registration test to become an RN. I had to quit short of that goal when I became "mom" to my 2 grandchildren. I still know a thing or three about medicine though.

Sue,
I had surgery 2 summers ago on my ankle and achilles tendon. I was intubated also. Someone from the hospital called me before my surgery and I spoke with the anesthesia doc before the surgery. He told me that he has had many OSA patients and that all I needed to do was to bring my machine and mask in with me. I showed the machine to my nurse before hand and showed her how to put the mask on me. They pulled the tube while I was still under.It was very easy and I hate anesthesia, too.

The surgery will be fine. I am concerned that you will have two little ones to care for while you are recuperating. I had to elevate my leg for approximately 3 days after my surgery.Could only get up to use the bathroom. There was pain, but not too bad. But I only had myself to take care of. In fact, I had people stopping in to help me.

Make sure you develop good upper body strength before the surgery. It will help you use the crutches or walker. I had not foreseen that and had a difficult time getting around. But I am significantly overweight.

I went back to school in a walking cast using a wheel chair with a leg elevator for a month. Any time you have a leg cast you need to keep it elevated or the swelling will be too much.

I would highly recommend that you have help at home lined up.

Good luck!

Hello I had T Spine surgery Wednesday June 1st every thing went fine told doctor and anethesiologist before surgery. They didnt put it on till I came to then had it from there. It was weird while I was waiting to go to surgery I was dozing off and their monitors would detect and sound apneas. They hooked my oxygen line right to my cpap for the first night. everything was ok. They are very much aware of OSA now Every thing will go just fine.



Mike

Thank you all. I know I am over-reacting, and I'm trying really hard not to. Once I wake up from surgery, I know I will handle the rest fine, because that's what I do. I just don't like that part where I am out of control.

Lucky Linda - I do have LOTS of help lined up for most of the summer if I need it. I have a high school girl coming to be with me in the mornings for as many weeks as I need her and my awesome mom (who just moved back to Chicago area from Denver, thank God!!) will be coming all afternoon and bringing us dinner every night. I also have awesome friends from church and a neighbor that is a stay-at-home mom. Thanks for the suggestions.

Thanks again to all of you. I feel so lucky to have this board.

Take care,
Sue

p.s. for those of you in the habit of doing so, please say a prayer for me Tuesday at 8:30am CST. Thanks!