Anesthesia, Resuscitation, and ICU: Q&A

If you’ve had a blood transfusion, there's no way they’re discharging you the next day.
I was stuck in the hospital for four days after what was supposed to be a "routine" surgery. It makes zero sense to them that they'd just let someone go immediately after receiving a transfusion.

Melissa Phillips4 said:I honestly don't think they'd let you walk out of the hospital the very next day if you'd had a blood transfusion.
Well, I had what was supposed to be a "routine" procedure—hardly routine, given I was stuck in a hospital bed for four days—so the idea that they’d just toss someone back into the world immediately after a transfusion feels... well, a bit illogical, doesn't it?

Thanks so much for all the input, everyone. It’s actually making me feel a bit more at ease now, and I suppose everything really did go according to plan, just like my discharge papers say. It's just that looming shadow of the next surgery that keeps me up at night.
Thanks again.

silentdriver23 said:Can I ask a question? So, I had a C5-C6 microdiscectomy at the NEA where they also implanted a device. Everything went smoothly, but I’m a little thrown by how I felt afterward. They woke me up right there in the OR and I was just covered in needle marks everywhere. My left arm and leg were totally numb, and my right leg was bruised up all over, plus my shoulder was blue. I was wrapped up in one of those thermal warming blankets they use, and they actually took off the bottom half of the clothes I was wearing when they put me under. My stuff was tucked away in a bag with a bunch of blood on it, which was honestly pretty terrifying. What I really want to know is, if I ended up needing a transfusion, are they required to list that in the discharge papers? Because my paperwork says everything was fine. Also, why would I have two bruises and be wrapped in a heating blanket? Thanks!

Look, if you're heading back to the ward, they usually wake you up right in the operating room, so that part is totally normal.

As for having two bruises, don't go looking for some huge medical drama there... it could be anything, just being safe, you know? Maybe one site wasn't quite hitting the mark or was slipping against the wall? Or maybe they tried a second spot because the first didn't take? It happens.

And about being naked or half-dressed on the table—it gets freezing in those ORs sometimes. They wrap you up in those blankets just to keep you from shivering like crazy while you're out.

Trust me, nobody is going to leave out any major screw-ups in your records if things actually went south... it's always a toss-up whether it's the surgeon's fault or the anesthesiologist's.😁...

stormyhound13 said:I’ve got an inguinal hernia repair coming up soon, so I was wondering what kind of anesthesia they usually use for stuff like that?

Can I actually ask for a Laryngeal Mask Airway instead of being intubated if I go under general anesthesia? Like, can we skip the tube?

Since they need to relax your muscles completely, they have to stay in total control of your breathing, which means making sure the airway is rock solid. A tube is definitely the safest bet... though an LMA is an option too... but honestly, don't sweat it too much; it really just comes down to the anesthesiologist's call based on how things look once you're under... either way, you'll be fine.🙂

stormyhound13 said:By the way, I wanted to ask—is it actually a good idea to go through with inguinal hernia surgery if my lower back is acting up, specifically around the lumbar region?
The reason I’m asking is that once you have that surgery, you really have to be careful not to strain the groin area, which usually means leaning more on your lower back for support, but my back is already killing me right now.

So, I'm wondering if I should focus on getting my back sorted out first before tackling the hernia surgery. I'd love to hear what you guys think about this.

Also, does anyone know what neurolysis actually entails? Is it something worth doing?

Here is the specific breakdown the doctor gave me when we were talking...

Operation:
Mesh Free Shouldice Repair with neurolysis of the inguinal nerves
(Ileoinguinalis, Ileohypogastricus and genitofemoralis) and restoration of the
inguinal floor with a faszia flap

Honestly, almost everyone deals with lower back pain at some point, and while you're waiting for that to clear up, I worry you might be waiting forever... so there isn't much of a direct link there, and there's not much you can do to control one by fixing the other.

What the doctor wrote is basically his plan for how he's going to "fix" things up for you... he's going to close off the hernia opening, and while he's at it, he'll release those nerves that are getting all cramped up or irritated by the hernia sac itself.

A few days ago, I had surgery under local anesthesia with sedation. Everything went smoothly and my recovery is moving along fine—but I’m dealing with some nagging discomfort in the arm where they placed my IV. It’s not an intense pain, but there’s definitely a dull ache whenever I press on it, and there’s some very slight swelling, too. On top of that, the vein where the IV was sitting feels kind of hard to the touch and is tender when pressed. Is this something I should be worried about? Like, will it just settle down on its own, or is this a "call the doctor" situation?

When you're in surgery, your arm is usually stretched out and held steady away from your body. Since you're totally relaxed and just staying still for a long stretch, sometimes the blood flow and lymph drainage can get a little... well, let's just say they take a bit of a hit. That’s what leads to those symptoms you're seeing, but honestly, they're usually just temporary and don't really need any medical intervention. It's kind of the same deal with the tourniquet, too—as long as it isn't red, painful when you touch it, significantly swollen, or running a fever, I wouldn't worry too much about it... doesn't seem like anything major to me.

Thanks for the reply! My hand is actually feeling a lot better already—it doesn't seem swollen anymore. It’s still a little tender to the touch right where they had the IV, and the vein itself feels kind of hard, but I'm not really worrying about it anymore.

Hey everyone!

So, my stomach is absolutely killing me, and I had to rush in for a gastroscopy. Long story short: I failed. I couldn't swallow the scope. Yeah, I know, hilarious. I literally gave birth with nothing but a heavy IV drip—no epidural—so don't even start with me about being tough. I deal with a ton of health crap on a daily basis, but honestly, nothing has been as traumatic as that procedure attempt.

Anyway, now the doctor is saying they’re gonna have to put me under just to get the job done.

Given everything else I'm juggling—migraines, insulin resistance, hypothyroidism, tachycardia, blood pressure swings, you name it—I am low-key terrified of how my body is going to handle it.

Does anyone actually know what kind of anesthesia they use for this stuff?

Thanks in advance for any help!

Kimberly Morris said:Hey everyone!

So, look, I’m having massive issues with my stomach right now, and I urgently needed a gastroscopy. But—get this—I couldn't even get through the exam because I physically could not swallow the endoscope. Yeah, unbelievable. I mean, I literally gave birth with nothing but a heavy IV drip, no epidural, just raw grit. I deal with a ton of health stuff and I've endured plenty, but honestly, nothing has been as nightmareish as that gastroscopy attempt.

Anyway, now the doctor is telling me they have to put me under just to get the procedure done.

Given everything I'm juggling—migraines, insulin resistance, hypothyroidism, tachycardia, blood pressure swings, you name it—I am seriously freaking out about how my body is going to handle being sedated.

What kind of anesthesia do they actually use for this sort of thing?

Thanks in advance for any help.

It can be local, or they can give you short-term general anesthesia. My guess is they’ll go with the short-term general stuff. Honestly, I've gone into procedures accepting way more risk than this, and I've dealt with much heavier issues than what you're facing. You'll likely just get something to calm you down. Everyone is terrified of anesthesia, it's totally normal. They'll put you under and you won't feel a thing. Then you'll just wake up, get an IV, and stay for observation.

I’m assuming that getting a headache is pretty standard after having spinal anesthesia and then spending two full days lying flat in bed without moving?

Kimberly Morris said:Hey everyone!

So, I've been dealing with some major stomach issues lately, and I urgently needed to get a gastroscopy done. Long story short, I couldn't even get through the procedure because I just couldn't swallow the endoscope—I know, sounds totally wild. Honestly, I actually gave birth with basically nothing but an IV drip and no epidural, so I thought I was tough, but this was different. I deal with a ton of health stuff and can usually push through pretty much anything, but I’ve never had an experience quite as rough as that attempt.

Well, my doctor just told me they're going to have to put me under so we can actually get the exam finished properly.

Since I'm juggling quite a few things—migraines, insulin resistance, hypothyroidism, tachycardia, blood pressure swings, you name it—I'm honestly a bit nervous about how my body will handle being sedated.

Does anyone know what kind of anesthesia they typically use for this sort of thing?

Thanks so much in advance for any help you can give!

I'm not entirely sure what you mean by "tachycardia and blood pressure swings," but regardless, they'll run a pre-anesthesia screening before the procedure to check everything out...

It's usually just a quick IV sedation, most likely using Propofol, where they just hold your chin steady for a second—nothing too intense like a breathing tube or anything.

stormyviper2 said:I'm guessing a headache is pretty standard after getting spinal anesthesia and just lying flat for two days straight?

Yeah, it can definitely be a thing even if it doesn't happen to everyone... that's why they always tell you to stay flat for a bit afterward... honestly, since you followed all the instructions to a T and you're still feeling it, I'd say you just landed in that tiny unlucky percentage where things don't go perfectly.

I finally managed to get things under control. I slightly bumped up my dosage for one of the medications since I ended up missing it for two days, and I made sure to stay extra hydrated... after about two days, that headache finally cleared right up.

Scott Allen10 said:The whole "tachycardia and blood pressure fluctuations" thing is a bit vague, but whatever. They’ll run a pre-op assessment before anything happens, so they can get a better handle on it...

It's just quick IV anesthesia—usually Propofol—with a little chin hold, no tubes or any of that mess.

Scott Allen10, thanks a ton for getting back to me.
Basically, my heart rate is constantly over 100, sometimes hitting 130. So yeah, there's the tachycardia part.
As for the blood pressure, I'll feel like absolute crap and end up in the ER, where my BP is sitting at 180/110. Then they have me lie there for five minutes, and once those five minutes are up, they check again and suddenly it's 120/70.
I even did a 24-hour Holter monitor and a blood pressure tracker, and they caught those crazy spikes and dips, even while I was sleeping. But the doctor is too chicken to actually prescribe any meds.

Can someone help me out here:
I’m getting ready for some abdominal surgery.
The thing is, there's a chance my period might hit right around then.
Is that going to be an issue? Does the hospital usually push back surgeries if you're on your cycle?

They told me straight up: if I'm on my period, I can't go under. I had to pick a surgery date specifically to avoid my cycle.
You need to call the head nurse at the unit you've been assigned to. Just ask her directly. Every hospital wing operates by its own set of rules; there's no universal standard.

Thanks for the reply.
I gave them a call, and they said it wouldn't be an issue.
I guess there’s just no such thing as a universal rule, then.

Hey everyone,
Has anyone here actually dealt with using Propofol? If you have, can you give me the lowdown on what it's really like?

Rachel Gonzalez16 said:Hey everyone,
Has anyone here actually had experience with Propofol? If you have, could you give me a bit more detail regarding how this specific anesthetic works and what the experience is like?

It acts 👍