1008 posts shown.
Taylor Anderson182 said:Hey there! How's everything going with you?
Here we go again, just another one who's fresh out of surgery... :O
So, I've been hanging around here for a bit and seeing how much everyone knows, and honestly, I’m just dying to pick your brains because I am SO incredibly curious about something... 😁
So, here’s the deal... I just went through this three-hour wrist surgery to fix up some work from a couple of years back—this was actually my second time having them go in on it—and honestly, the anesthesia didn't give me any trouble at all. I am currently on a few different things for my anxiety, though, like 50 mg of Paxil, up to 2 mg of Xanax, and a little bit of Nebivolol just to keep my heart from racing when I get worked up. 😍 I actually had a pretty scary reaction to CAVE Etomidate once, where I ended up having full-on generalized seizures. 😲
Everything went smoothly after that, actually... but I can't help wondering how likely it is that there’s a real connection here with those specific meds and how they might be interacting with each other? For the most part, I've always been pretty healthy. 🙂I mean, I’m built a bit more on the slender side, but honestly... they were asking me about allergies during the intake, and I was just sitting there thinking, "Wait, am I allergic to crawfish?" Seriously, I've also had those annoying rashes and itching fits after eating canned tuna before. Do you think having those kinds of food allergies makes an adverse reaction to anesthesia any more likely?
So, the night before my surgery, I actually had a little chat with my anesthesiologist and we worked out a plan where I just took a 0.5 mg dose of Xanax along with my 2.5 mg Nebilet, and then I took another 0.5 mg of Xanax the next morning, but honestly, I didn't take anything else at all until around 1:00 or 2:00 in the afternoon when they finally started the procedure.
If anyone happens to have the scoop on this, I'd really appreciate the help! 🙂
It’s pretty wild to think that a specific combination could actually trigger an allergic reaction, though if we're really looking at hypersensitivity, it's technically possible. I mean, being allergic to certain anesthetics isn't exactly common, but it does happen more often than you'd think. Given everything that was shared here about existing allergies and how that whole situation went down, it honestly seems like getting some formal allergy testing done would be a smart move just to get some peace of mind regarding those meds. It’s definitely something to keep on the radar if there's ever a need for anesthesia down the road.
Brenda Clark10 said:Hey guys, I'm wondering about the aftermath of anesthesia—specifically, can a big surgery or even just general anesthesia mess with your sense of balance for a while? Because honestly, I feel like I've been walking around totally drunk all day today.
I really don't think that would be linked to the anesthesia at all, though I've noticed in medical circles how people love to blame everything on the anesthetic procedure, whether there's actually a reason for it or not.🙂
Ashley Jackson43 said:I’m seriously losing my mind here, please, I desperately need some help before I go crazy.🙂
So, I’m about six weeks out from having my baby via C-section, and they used a spinal block to get it done.
Everything went pretty smoothly in the OR, though I do remember the doctor mentioning that the anesthesia wasn't really kicking in quite like she expected at first, but after a little bit of waiting, it finally started to take hold and everything wrapped up just fine.
But honestly, the real nightmare doesn't even start until about the 36-hour mark, which is when my arms and legs just started swelling up like crazy—you know how it goes, though... I mean, I wasn't exactly panicking at first, I just figured it was one of those things that happens.
Then things started getting really weird—I began feeling these pins and needles shooting through my arms and legs, but the absolute worst part was when I’d try to do something simple like grab my phone or even just touch something. It felt like these sudden electric shocks were jolting right through my limbs; honestly, I'm not even sure how else to put it, but it was like these little bursts of electricity hitting me out of nowhere.
I was honestly spiraling a bit during my appointment today, just totally freaking out about everything. I laid it all out for Dr. House, and he basically told me that what I'm feeling is likely just a reaction to the spinal procedure. He thinks it should settle down on its own within about forty days, but if things don't start looking up by then, he wants me to go ahead and check in with a neurologist.
It’s been three days since I finally made it back home, and honestly, those electric shock sensations have finally chilled out, which is a relief, but man, this tingling in my legs is just relentless. It’s driving me absolutely up the wall because the second I try to sit down or lie back to relax, it starts up again without stopping. My hands are feeling a little better, though I’ve definitely noticed a weird change in how they feel—like, everything feels way more intense now, so even just touching something like a rough towel or some coarse fabric feels super overwhelming.
So, I finally made it to the neurologist for that EMG test, and turns out I’ve got chronic L5-S1 radiculopathy going on, which totally explains why my legs feel like they're being hit by lightning sometimes. But when I brought up the weird tingling sensations in my arms, he just looked at me and insisted it was all just anxiety—honestly, it's a bit frustrating when you're feeling physical symptoms and get told it's all in your head, you know? 🙄
So, I've got an appointment lined up with a new neurologist in just a few days, which feels like a bit of a fresh start, honestly.Hey, can someone who actually knows their stuff please help me out here... I'm trying to figure out what exactly went sideways.
I actually dug up this old post from Dr. House where he mentions something pretty similar, so I'm just gonna paste it here.
The main risks you'd probably run into with those specific blocks would mostly be...
So, I was thinking about that whole thing with allergic reactions to local anesthetics—have you guys ever actually had to deal with one of those before? If you've already been through it, then honestly, don't even sweat it because you know what to expect, but if you haven't, you'll pretty much just see how your body handles it when the time comes.
You know, there’s also that risk where an anesthetic accidentally gets injected straight into the vein, and since we’re talking about a pretty heavy dose, things can get messy fast. It can trigger some really scary stuff like heart arrhythmias, passing out, dizziness, or even tingling in your arms and seizures—it all just depends on what kind of anesthetic they're using. Most of those reactions can be managed or dialed back with medication, but man, it’s such a rough ride for the patient; you're already trying to get through surgery, and then you have to deal with all that chaos on top of it.
3) You know, there’s always that tiny risk of accidentally hitting a nerve with the needle, which can lead to some annoying paresthesia—you know, that weird tingling or numbness where you just lose feeling in a certain area for a while. Honestly, most doctors try to dodge that altogether by using ultrasound guidance and nerve stimulators during the block, but at the end of the day, it really comes down to your specific anatomy and how much experience the anesthesiologist actually has under their belt.
Man, I really feel for you, because I went through something similar last year after a nasty accident, and that constant nerve pain is just something else entirely. It’s definitely possible that you’ve got some nerve damage going on, but honestly, whether it ever settles down usually depends on how bad the initial hit was—sometimes it takes a while, but you shouldn't lose hope.
I reached out to Dr. House to see if he could weigh in on this, so fingers crossed he actually gets back to me.🙂
Hey there, sorry I’ve been a bit MIA lately—between being super busy and this forum acting up constantly, it’s been tough to jump on here...
Regarding that myocardial scintigraphy, they actually did a pretty solid job explaining the prep and how it's performed over here. So, you definitely made the right call deciding to touch base with his cardiologist a day or two before the test to go over his meds.
Honestly though... that isn't just a good idea, it's absolutely vital... because your husband is dealing with some really heavy cardiac issues. I don't mean to sound like I'm dropping a bombshell or telling you anything you haven't already realized, but I think it's important to stay grounded in that reality. Thank God the PCI and stent procedure went well... but even then, there's always that lingering risk of the stent re-occluding. Between the threatening VT (that dangerous ventricular tachycardia that can spiral into fibrillation), the mitral insufficiency, surviving cardiogenic shock, ARDS, and all those other medical nightmares that can take someone out in a heartbeat... all those diagnoses are just reminders that he's still in the thick of this fight, even if things feel a little more stable right now. His EF number looks pretty decent, so let's just pray it stays that way.
What I'm trying to get at with all that is, if there's any talk about cataract surgery or any of those other little procedures, try to push them to the back burner as much as possible. Any kind of anesthesia is incredibly risky for him... honestly, everything is risky, but even if someone thinks it can be done as an outpatient or just with local numbing, it's a gamble. If his vision is truly tanking his quality of life and he decides he has to do it, please, for heaven's sake, don't do it at some small clinic or walk-in center. It has to be at a major hospital where a cardiologist and an anesthesiologist are right there on standby.
The same goes for the dentist. For a patient in his condition, if dental work is actually necessary, I'd say it's totally justified to insist that any procedure happens at a hospital's oral surgery department, where that same "dream team" of specialists is close by. Using local anesthesia with epinephrine is extremely dangerous—stay far away from those Lidocaine vials with adrenaline, and even plain Lidocaine needs to be handled with extreme caution. As for fever reducers, that shouldn't be a huge issue, but definitely run it by his cardiologist first.
Wishing you guys the best of luck through all of this!
Ty and EL basically said everything I was going to say in my own statement. Look, man, you clearly know your stuff, but there’s really no need to just "lie in wait" on Reddit waiting for a chance to "get back at me" over something you think is the same thing... It's pretty obvious to you too that trying to force this situation or "manufacture" some kind of "scandal" isn't doing you any favors—it's actually doing the opposite. So, I’m honestly just inviting you to keep contributing to our side of the conversation with your insights instead.
@UKJYou definitely caught those two "f-bombs" I dropped in my last reply—I guess my style is a bit more unfiltered than the usual forum vibe you’re used to. Anyway, I noticed you decided to repost your little critique over on the "nose surgery" thread instead of keeping it in the actual discussion area where it belongs. So, consider this your official warning for trolling; if you're really that eager to keep doing a deep dive into my "literary" prose, feel free to take it back over to that other thread. I went ahead and scrubbed the post since it was in the wrong spot. Thanks for playing ball.🙂
Honestly, let me just jump in here because I really don't have the patience to wait for a reply...
If you’ve got nail polish on before a surgery, just get rid of it. It doesn't matter what kind it is—just wipe it off and stop overthinking whether it's okay or not. Seriously! In my facility, we won't even consider moving forward if you show up with painted nails. We’ll just send you right back to the ward or call the nurse over to tell them they need to scrub that crap off your hands before any anesthesia work even begins...
People always bring up the pulse oximeter and how it might give weird saturation readings, and while that’s one part of it, it’s more than enough reason to strip the polish off. If it happens once in a blue moon, sure, maybe it’s fine. But if it happens that 101st time? Then what? Why would you ever risk a wrong assessment or, even worse, the wrong medical intervention?
But here’s the part that actually blows my mind... you're in the OR, the patient is under, intubated, and on a ventilator. You’ve got the EKG readout, the pulse oximeter, everything. But honestly, sometimes you can barely even get near the patient because you're blocked by those bright surgical lights, green drapes all over the field, and a crowd of surgeons and techs hovering everywhere. Usually, the only thing you can actually see of the patient is one arm—the other is tucked away or fixed in place—with a blood pressure cuff and a pulse oximeter on a finger. And you’ve gone and put polish on those fingers! As I said, the dodgy readings are one issue, but the much bigger problem (and I can't believe I'm even saying this to someone with medical training) is that you’ve basically blinded yourself from checking nail bed color and reperfusion. Me and a whole bunch of anesthesiologists don't always rely solely on the SpO2 number on the screen—sometimes sensors fail, lose contact, or peripheral vasoconstriction kicks in. Instead, we judge the situation by looking at the nails! By their color, or how quickly the color returns after a little squeeze... that is fundamental monitoring. Monitoring isn't just machines; it's the person watching the patient!
Now, picture that exact scenario in the OR... 100% of the time, everything is perfect and you don't even need to look. But that 101st time, a "situation" arises. And trust me, they always arise. There are endless directions a crisis can take...
I won't drone on too long because there's no point... but I can say with absolute certainty: I swear, I wouldn't dream of performing a major procedure on a patient who has painted nails. ☕...
Nail polish? No way. Personally, I think explaining why is just common sense. Who says that (if I'm following correctly) is spreading stupidity? 🙄....🙂....
Sam Kim12 said:It looks like more nonsense is spreading again☕
Nail gel isn't actually an issue—the general advice is that if you have gel, try to go with something sheer so the nail bed shows through, but honestly, it’s not a dealbreaker and nobody is going to cancel your surgery over it😉 because the whole thing comes down to the pulse oximeter (which works on spectrometry) measuring blood oxygen levels, and nail polish can mess with those readings by giving false data. Actually, the worst part is that it could potentially give falsely high results, which puts the patient at risk during treatment..
Women with clear gel nails are totally fine to have them and they won't interfere, though you should definitely mention it to the anesthesiologist; the recommendation is usually to take off any neon gels that glow under UV or anything super glittery, since that's what throws off the oximeter. BUT even then, it’s still not stopping the surgery from happening. Believe it or not, I just had my third surgery this year, and every single time I had gel on, including this last one where my nails were covered in glitter! I couldn't get it off overnight since I only found out a day before, but my anesthesiologist told me not to stress at all because they can just put the oximeter on your nose or your ear if the fingers aren't working. 😉
I've gone through all these procedures with gel nails, so take it for what it's worth: 😬two births and three surgeries (tonsils, nose, and an inguinal hernia)🙂
BTW: I once saw a woman come into my room from emergency surgery after a collision, and she had bright red polish on every single nail, both hands and feet😁.
The direction this conversation is taking is totally off-topic, obviously, but since anesthesia stuff is pretty much my field, I'm curious why people think suggesting we strip off our gel nails is just spreading misinformation?
It's a safe bet that things like wearing heels or fake lashes during a procedure wouldn't matter either, but I don't see anyone suggesting people wear those to the hospital.....
Basically, I want to know why someone prepping for a routine, elective procedure—where there's "no fire to put out"—would suggest that painted nails are perfectly acceptable?
Hint: stop confusing an urgent emergency situation with prep for a scheduled, elective procedure. You'll realize pretty quickly they aren't even in the same universe....
wiredmarlin18 said:I was wondering if anyone knew if there's any way to get a colonoscopy done under anesthesia, because honestly, I've heard it's pretty brutal..
You can totally do it anywhere if you really push for it. It’s just that at some hospitals, they act like it's such a huge hassle or impossible to coordinate, so they give you all that "it's too much work" talk... but it's definitely an option if you insist.
Sophia Ross73 said:Hey everyone, I was wondering if anyone here has actually been in to see Dr. Miller or Dr. Thompson? I’ve heard some pretty glowing things about them from a few people lately, so I figured I'd check in and see if you guys had any firsthand experiences to share. Thanks!😉
I’d honestly suggest moving this over to the pinned thread where everyone goes to swap recommendations, because it probably doesn't belong here.
@Betty Edwards22/">@
@Betty Edwards22
Look, you really need to drop the attitude and all that constant snark you keep throwing at everyone on this Reddit thread. It’s one thing to give us a technical breakdown—nobody's arguing with your expertise—but in a community like this, especially with the standards the mod team is trying to set, there just isn't any room for your kind of sarcasm. Personally, if I've said too much on this topic, I can take it, but since the mods have been pointing out these exact little "bits" of yours for a while now, I don't have any doubt that you're being a bit much.
Bottom line: cut out the weird commentary and we won't have an issue. Once you stop playing games, your actual knowledge will finally be able to shine. But if you keep stirring the pot or just being stubborn for the sake of it, we're going to have to look at some more serious disciplinary actions.
Now, if you think I'm overreacting and you're feeling a bit defensive about it... please don't start venting about it here or blowing up the mods' private messages... there's a specific section on the site where you can leave feedback regarding how the mods handle things.
Elizabeth Davis said:I've got two quick questions:
1. (Just curious)
My dad has this crazy high tolerance for anesthesia; like, whenever he goes to get a tooth pulled, the dentist gives him the local stuff and it wears off in like 10 or 15 minutes flat. I've been trying to dig up some answers online but haven't found much that makes sense.
Also, just a small thing—even when they use those eye drops that dilate your pupils and usually make things blurry for a bit, his pupils blow wide open but his vision stays perfectly clear.
I know he isn't exaggerating, and he's only 48, so there's no reason for him to lie about the anesthesia wearing off too fast or seeing clearly.
2. I have to go get some moles removed soon since they've grown a bit, so it’s going to be a minor surgical procedure with maybe two or three stitches. I was wondering if they use local anesthesia for that, and if it's okay for me to take my Xanax (half a 0.5 mg pill) beforehand? I deal with anxiety, and if I don't take my morning dose, I start having panic attacks, which would definitely make the whole mole removal process way more stressful.
Thanks in advance!
1. It’s honestly tough to pin down why local dental numbing works instantly for one person and barely touches someone else... In most cases, it’s either because the injection wasn't placed quite right or the dosage was too low... though it's also possible some people just have a unique biological predisposition where their body processes it super fast...
Those eye drops that dilate the pupils are atropine-based. They aren't really related to general anesthesia, so I'm not sure what you're linking them to. Dilated pupils don't automatically mean blurry vision; it's not a guaranteed side effect for everyone.
2. Yeah, they'll use local anesthesia (which the surgeon handles themselves, so it's separate from the anesthesiologist's job), and you'll get a few stitches. You should be totally fine taking that Xanax, but just make sure you run it by your doctor first and let them know what you're taking.
Keith Garcia10 said:First off, I just want to say how much I love this thread and all the posts here; honestly, reading through everyone's experiences really helps calm my nerves before my upcoming surgery.
So, basically, I've been dealing with hernias since I was a little kid. They used to tuck themselves back in, but they've started popping out again this year. There were times when I could actually see three or four lumps sitting above my pubic bone right in the groin area. I went to see a surgeon, and he told me I definitely need to get this operated on. But then, about a month after that appointment, my left leg suddenly started hurting like crazy. It starts with this dull ache in my groin—almost like someone is stabbing me there, even though the lumps are tucked away right now—and then it just shoots pain down my entire left leg. And it’s not just that; for the last month, I haven't been able to use the bathroom normally unless I take a laxative, and it's like I can't even pass gas. My grandfather passed away from colon cancer, so I'm pretty spooked. I've been under massive stress lately because of the hernia and all this stomach pain, and I'm only 20 years old. Could all these symptoms, including the constipation and hard stools, be linked to the hernia? Also, what kind of anesthesia would you guys suggest, especially since I have multiple lumps that might pop out at once, meaning I probably need bilateral surgery?
Thanks so much in advance!
Hey, don't freak out. Just lay all those concerns out for your surgeon, but honestly, you almost certainly don't have anything to worry about in that regard.
Taylor Mendoza10 said:The local anesthesia didn't even kick in until about 2 or 3 hours after I had this minor procedure done to remove a lipoma. Everything was already finished, cleaned up, stitched up, and they'd driven me home, and I was just sitting there resting and sipping on some coffee to feel human again when—bam—suddenly it starts working!!!
It’s totally possible the site wasn't quite numbed right, or maybe they just used a low dose, whatever... but honestly, none of that really connects back to what you mentioned about your spinal surgery. Since that sounds like a much bigger deal than just removing a lipoma, they definitely won't be doing that under local anesthesia, and regardless of how they decide to knock you out, I'm pretty sure you won't run into these same weird timing issues.
Definitely let your anesthesiologist know about what happened during your last little procedure so they have the full picture if they think it'll help.
Good luck!
Taylor Mendoza10 said:THE EFFECTS OF ANESTHESIA WEARING OFF AFTER JUST A FEW HOURS
What’s the move if you’ve got spinal surgery lined up but this issue pops up? Has anyone actually dealt with this before?
mmm....it's probably just me since I just woke up and everything feels a bit sluggish... but I'm not totally following what you mean here....what kind of problem? what kind of anesthesia? give me a little more to work with so I can help out...
Rachel Ross66 said:I think I might be in the right spot here, but a family member had valve replacement surgery about ten days ago. Ever since they woke up from anesthesia, they've been dealing with some psychosis and can't move their right arm, though they have a few moments where they seem totally clear-headed. Does anyone know what might be going on? Could they have had a stroke during the procedure? We're asking here because they live overseas, so we can't just check in with the doctors directly. They're 59 and a pretty active athlete
Honestly, if there's still no movement after ten days, it's pretty likely that happened. It’s not unheard of, and things like this just happen sometimes. Since the right side is paralyzed, it points toward something happening in the left hemisphere of the brain. The outlook really depends on where exactly the damage is and how big it is, so there's still a chance everything turns out fine. One tricky part is balancing the anticoagulant meds needed for the new valve against the recovery from the stroke, but you really just have to put your trust in the medical team looking after them.
Good luck
Susan Ruiz76 said:I'm honestly terrified that by September my fingernails are going to be totally shot🙂🙂(thanks to this nasty psoriasis), so I'm really hoping they'll just put me under with general anesthesia. Am I thinking about this right? Like, will this happen over at the dermatology clinic in St. Louis where I'm staying, or am I looking at a surgical procedure over at the Mayo Clinic?🤷
Thanks so much for any help!
And yeah, I’d ask my own doctors if they weren't all out on vacation right now...
Actually, you might be mistaken there....🙂....it's way more likely they'll just go with some kind of peripheral block....but honestly, it really just comes down to what the anesthesiologist thinks is best and what you end up wanting. I'm not 100% sure on the exact location, but I doubt they're doing it at the St. Louis clinic.