Going into hospital

[missprim]

on Wednesday for an operation on my toes due to Rheumatoid Arthritis.
I will have to decide what type of anesthesia to have, either general or spinal and cannot make my mind up which is the lesser of the two evils.
Any suggestions?

[excelsior-1]

i would go for general myself - so i'm out cold for the op. but then i'm a coward.

spinal sounds very painful - and i have a low pain threshold

[tonyav]

I would have general if I were you.

[albaqwerty]

Firstly, wishing you all the best for Wednesday and a speedy recovery.

Have you had a general before? Did you suffer nausea/sickness afterwards?
Personally, I'd go with the general.

[andy-hughes]

I would have the general - you don't want to be feeling the surgery, even if it doesn't hurt.

[woofgang]

If your breathing and heart are fine (and they should be to offer a GA) and GA's don't make you sick as a dog then I too would go for the GA. Spinal is in the same ballpark as the epidural they give women delivering babies. Both sorts have their own risks and advantages. Why don't you ask the hospital for the pros and cons?

[excelsior-1]

i'm sorry missprim.

i should have also added .. that i hope it all goes well for you

[mike11111]

When I was in a similar position I found that a bottle of gin before admittance solved the problem.

[missprim]

Thanks for your good wishes Alba.
I'm always sick after a general even though they say they will give me something for it.
I had an epidural back in 1983 when I had one of my daughters and I'm sure I wouldn't be able to feel what they are doing.
Is there a risk with all anesthesia?

[furrypusscat]

I would always go for general even though I suffer from asthma. Bit of a coward, like to be completely out of it.

[missprim]

Thanks excelsior. The surgeon advised general but I hate that feeling when they are waking you up.

[tonyav]

Yep, whatever anesthetic you decide to have, all the best to you on Wednesday.

[furrypusscat]

Good luck with whatever choice you make. I have never had any problems with general although due to asthma have normally been kept overnight for monitoring breathing.

[missprim]

Thanks Tony.

[mike11111]

The feeling is worse when they don't wake you up.

[missprim]

Thanks furry. I will be staying in overnight as my op isn't 'til the afternoon and there is no-one here to keep an eye on me.

[Kiki-frog]

I hope all goes well, missprim. Rheumatoid arthritis in toes - ouch! Spinal would be my preference, but only because (a) general makes me feel ill for ages afterwards, and (b) I'm a nosy old bat and like to ask questions all the time. Whatever you choose, I hope you're back on your feet soon.

[mike11111]

When I asked the anaethsetist, "You won't forget to wake me up?" his reply was "No problem mate, I can't be arsed with the paperwork otherwise."

[sherrardk]

I had a spinal when I had a c section on thing 1 and thing 2 and I had to stop them half way to top it up as I could feel them doing whatever they were doing, made me feel really faint and queasy. Hope they fix your toe for you.

[Celtigra3]

Good luck for Wednesday - I have had my bunions removed - under general anaesthetic - that was fine. the hammer toe op under a local was terrible as the injection is a nightmare. I've had an epidural (spinal) for both my kids. That was OK but you can be left with a problem emptying your bladder, unless you ensure that it is emptied right before you get the spinal. All in all I would opt for the GA if I were you. Anything to do with bones will hurt.

[Celtigra3]

Oh, and when you get a spinal your blood pressure can drop dramatically and they might have to "cant" the bed