Anesthesia, Resuscitation, and ICU: Q&A

Kate Taylor59 said:18

Well, if that's the case, you definitely aren't dealing with any atherosclerosis issues here.
I'd say—if the tingling sensation persists—you might want to go see a neurologist or perhaps a physical therapist to get a professional opinion.

As far as the anesthesia goes, you seem perfectly fine for it.

So... I'm having thyroid surgery soon (they're removing the right lobe). Since I won't actually meet my anesthesiologist until 6 days before the procedure, I guess I'm wondering if there are specific rules I should follow regarding smoking, alcohol, or supplements? I know about stopping anticoagulants and aspirin 10 days out, and obviously nothing to eat or smoke on the day of.
I'm 22 and generally healthy, aside from the hyperthyroidism issues that require medication.
Thanks in advance. 🙂

Mark Edwards13 said:So... I’m heading in for thyroid surgery soon (they’re removing the right lobe). Since—unfortunately—I won't be able to sit down with the anesthesiologist until just six days before the procedure, I was wondering if there are specific rules I should follow regarding smoking, alcohol, or supplements... I already know about stopping anticoagulants and salicylates ten days out (and obviously the whole "don't eat or smoke on the day of" thing).
I'm 22 and otherwise healthy—aside from the thyroid issues—hyperthyroidism, which is why I'm on medication.
Thanks in advance for any insight. 🙂

Anyway,

If you can manage it—even if it sounds impossible—try to go at least six weeks without cigarettes; it’ll significantly cut down on the mucus buildup in your airways.
If you absolutely cannot quit, then at the very least try to hold off for three days before the surgery to let those methemoglobin levels in your blood drop.

On the actual day of the surgery, you absolutely have to be perfectly fasting—nothing in your mouth for eight hours. You might be able to take certain medications with a tiny sip of water more than two hours beforehand, but for your specific thyroid case, skipping the meds that morning shouldn't be an issue—so just stick to being fasted.

Are you taking anything else besides the standard stuff?

Just Synthroid (thyroid, low daily dose) and oral contraceptives (Yasmin)

Thanks for the reply 🙂

Mark Edwards13 said:just Synthroid (thyroid, low daily dose) (and oral contraceptives like Yasmin)

Thanks for the input 🙂

You could technically skip that day—though I wouldn't recommend being too reckless about it—but you absolutely have to let the anesthesiologist and the surgeon know you're on birth control. You want them to be fully dialed in regarding your thromboprophylaxis protocols.

Alexander Wright said:then you definitely aren't dealing with atherosclerosis issues
I suppose if it's just tingling, maybe a neurologist or a physical therapist could weigh in on that

and as far as anesthesia goes, you seem perfectly fine

Thanks a lot for the input 🙂👍

I have a question,
Two weeks ago, I had shoulder surgery—a displaced clavicle fracture—where they installed some wires and a spiral plate. I actually pushed back against general anesthesia because I’m a student, and I need my memory to be razor-sharp; I can't afford any issues with concentration or forgetting basic names and facts.
Anyone who has been under general anesthesia knows exactly what I mean. I ended up switching from general to a nerve block. Now, I've seen someone mention that you're supposed to clone the block. Why on earth would you do that?
Also, I’m currently in a bit of shock. My incision is about 8 cm long, and I can't feel anything at all—it feels like I'm touching a foreign object—about 6 cm below the cut. It really rattled me, especially since they just removed my long-term stitches yesterday, and that’s when I realized something was off. Is this permanent nerve damage? I can't find any information online regarding this kind of issue.

I have surgery scheduled for next week. I’m wondering—does the consultation with the anesthesiologist happen right before the procedure itself, or am I supposed to head in a few days early? My doctor handed me this exhaustive list of all the tests I need to complete—and the ones I've already finished—and at the very bottom of the page sits the anesthesiologist...

Also, regarding this ankle arthroscopy, will I be under general anesthesia or just local? I can't quite wrap my head around the difference in experience here.

And what should I actually expect once I'm admitted? I’ll be staying at the Mayo Clinic for two or three days. What is the food situation like—how many meals do they serve? Do they track specific calorie counts that I need to hit? Because honestly, what good are five meals a day if it’s just a slice of bread and some cheap spread... I’m half-tempted to pack my own oatmeal just in case the hunger hits hard.😉
I’ve already packed toilet paper, wet wipes, pajamas, a toothbrush, and slippers. Is there anything else I’m forgetting?

I just underwent surgery on my shoulder to address a contracture in my pinky tendon... I was given an axillary block, but it seems like it might not have been fully effective because I ended up feeling several needle pricks in my shoulder area during the process. While the operation itself appears to have been successful—I’m currently pain-free—it has been about 48 hours now and I’ve noticed I can't move my chest properly, and there is this persistent tingling sensation running through my forearm and into my fingers... If anyone here has dealt with similar post-op complications, please respond as soon as possible. I really need some advice on what my next steps should be.

I went through a similar procedure myself (not tendons, though). They initially suggested local anesthesia combined with an axillary block... Fast forward twelve hours post-op, and my arm is completely numb while my fingers have turned swollen and blue—partly from blood pooling and partly due to those tight compression wraps they use to prevent hemorrhaging. Everything was fine until the sensation started returning; once they loosened the bandages even slightly, the agony began. It’s been about ten hours of pure misery. Honestly, the pain was so intense I felt like I couldn't take it anymore; you can practically feel your own bone. Thank God for the heavy-duty narcotics they provide in the hospital... I'm back on oral painkillers now and feeling a bit more human. And yes, I did pass out—and I'm not even someone prone to fainting—just from seeing what a massacre the dressing change looked like.🙄

I didn't mean to scare you; I just wanted to suggest that you should savor this current state of numbness while it lasts. Aren't you still at the hospital? You should ask the staff about it. When I had my surgery, they kept me under constant supervision because my fingers looked exactly like this...🤷

I’ve always had a thing for anesthesiologists 😍......and surgeons too......... in those green scrubs, wearing masks 😍😍😍

Had shoulder surgery to fix some old dislocations, so I figured it was time to get it patched up. Everything went smoothly enough—shoulder feels fine as long as I don't move it away from my side—but then... I woke up in the hospital with a paralyzed leg and foot.🙄 ...some kind of peroneal nerve paresis thing (honestly, I can't be bothered to go back and read the official medical jargon right now)... It’s been almost a week, and things are looking up thanks to electrical stimulation and physical therapy; I can actually put weight on it now. Spent a few days in the hospital, and even the doctors were pretty baffled by the whole situation. I get that weird stuff happens and I'm not pointing fingers at anyone, but still... waking up partially paralyzed because you pinched a nerve while under anesthesia? Just brilliant.

Hey, I was wondering if there’s any way to get a full list of the medications, anesthetics, painkillers, and everything else they used during my surgery?
I saw someone mentioning an anesthesia record in an old thread... is that what it's called? How do I actually track that down, and who am I supposed to be asking?

I’d say just file a formal request with the hospital administration... then you can figure out your next move from there.

Hey everyone. I’ve got a question. I’m heading in for inguinal hernia surgery soon and honestly, I’m a nervous wreck. I can't tell if it's the anesthesia or just the whole thing, since I've never been under any kind of sedation before. Does anyone know how long this procedure actually takes? They aren't using general anesthesia for this one. I work in the medical field, so I can handle a needle when I'm the one holding it, but the second someone turns that needle on me, I lose my mind.😁To be fair, I'm not even sure if I should push for general anesthesia. If they can just knock me out enough with a spinal block so I don't care about being awake while they cut me open, maybe that's fine. I don't even know what I'm trying to ask anymore. I'm just completely frazzled.😱If anyone here has dealt with an inguinal hernia, please speak up.

I’ve got a question... I have this surgery coming up in about a week, should only take maybe 30 minutes...
From what I gather, they’re just going to use some kind of light local anesthesia—you know, just a little sedation to knock you out.

Honestly, before I stumbled onto this page, I wasn't even really worried. Now? I'm pretty terrified.
I can't stop thinking about why that cocktail they use for anesthesia includes a drug designed to cause memory loss... specifically so we don't remember what happens during the procedure. Why is that necessary to forget?

And another thing... regarding what was mentioned about people feeling pain but being unable to move... how common is that, really?

Sorry for all the questions, it's just... I'm starting to get really freaked out about this whole thing. And based on my talk with the anesthesiologist, it doesn't look like I'll be chatting much with them, maybe just a few minutes right before it starts.

Dana Peterson2 said:Hey everyone! I’m honestly freaking out because I have an inguinal hernia surgery coming up soon, and I can't tell if it's just the anesthesia that's getting to me, since I've never actually been under any kind of sedation before. Does anyone know how long these things usually take? Apparently, they don't always use general anesthesia for this. I actually work in the medical field myself, so while I'm totally fine holding the needle, the second someone turns that needle on me, I lose my mind!😁 I'm not even sure if I should push for general anesthesia, because if they can just give me a spinal block that makes me feel so relaxed I won't care about being awake while they work, maybe that's actually the way to go! I'm all over the place right now and honestly don't even know what else to ask, I'm just a total wreck😱 so if anyone here has dealt with an inguinal hernia, please let me know what it was like!!!

Fixing an inguinal hernia is pretty much a routine procedure, and you're usually looking at just an hour or two to get everything wrapped up.

As for which type of anesthesia you go with, definitely just chat it through with your anesthesiologist. Either way, you aren't going to feel pain during the surgery, so there's really nothing to be scared of.

Jonathan Johnson67 said:So, I’ve got this surgery coming up in about a week, it should only take maybe 30 minutes or so...
From what I’ve gathered, they’re just going to give me some kind of light local anesthesia—you know, like a heavy sedation where you drift off.

Honestly, I wasn't feeling too anxious before I stumbled onto this page, but now I’m totally freaking out.
I can't help but wonder why that cocktail they use for anesthesia includes something meant to make you lose your memory, because if we're basically unconscious, why do we need to forget what happened during the procedure?

Also, regarding what people mentioned about actually feeling pain but being unable to move—how common is that really?

Sorry for dumping all these questions on you guys, it’s just that I’m starting to get really spooked about this whole thing, especially since from talking to my doctor, it sounds like I won't even get a chance to chat with the anesthesiologist until right before they go in.

Calling it "light anesthesia" is super vague and honestly just causes more confusion, so try to be a bit more specific about what kind of procedure you're actually having so we can give you better info.

And I'll echo what was said before... don't let yourself spiral into a panic over nothing. This whole idea of being conscious or feeling pain during the surgery... those are incredibly rare outliers that people tend to blow way out of proportion, making it sound like every patient is wide awake on the table.

So, seriously, stop worrying... you aren't going to be in pain and you definitely won't be aware of it. Between the Oxycodone and the Dolophine, you'll probably just feel like a total happy camper once you start waking up.🙂...

Two months ago, I underwent my first round of general anesthesia to reset a dislocated shoulder, and just yesterday, I had to go under again for a manual manipulation of the joint. The common thread in both instances is this grueling, full-body muscle inflammation that settles in afterward. It hits everything—the groin, the abdomen, the neck, the back, the biceps, the triceps; pretty much every muscle group except for the calves. Last time, the sensation passed within forty-eight hours, but that doesn't make it any more pleasant to endure, especially when the resulting stiffness leaves you practically immobilized.

Has anyone else experienced this kind of reaction to anesthesia?

Hello everyone,

I have a few questions I'm hoping you can help me with.

I'm scheduled for hernia surgery on September 18th, and I was wondering about a couple of things:

1. In your experience, which is the better route—general anesthesia where I'm fully asleep, or going with a spinal block?
2. I actually had a chat with a nurse recently who mentioned that she personally prefers spinal anesthesia every time, though she did advise me to simply follow whatever my anesthesiologist recommends (which is exactly what I figured I should do).
3. Does the spinal itself hurt? To be honest, the idea of getting an injection in my back doesn't exactly scream "painless" to me.🙂
4. Is there a realistic chance that I could start easing my way back into sports by early December or January? I’m thinking of something relatively low-impact, like playing some paintball.