Gratulerar(congratulations) to your 5000.
I have had some big back operations,
but to do them they where no choise of what to take,
I had to take anesthesia totaly,
but I was so scared for it.
So if I could haved chosen I go with epidural.
My best wishes and good luck.
I had surgery on my ankle two and a half years ago, and I had an epidural. I mostly slept, but every so often I’d come out and hear a high-pitched whine–the doc grinding off pieces of my disintigrated ankle bone, I suppose, though I never asked afterwards. But I was in a dreamy state, and I didn’t really care…as you probably wouldn’t, David.
(Yeah, I know, it’s the weasel-word “probably” that bugs you. But in medical procedures you only getprobably.)
Whichever way you go, chances are it’ll be just fine. So good luck and a speedy recovery.
Oh, yeah, happy 5000, too.
Davie: 5000!!!?!!. Sheeesh. Well, congrats & many more.
And I have Arthritis also, in my fingers, and I am only “a few” years older. 
Congrats on the 5000 David. So sorry to hear about the surgery. Anytime you have to get the body readjusted is scary. Best wishes and hope everything goes well.
Thanks for all the messages, folks!
I went to my regular doctor last night (they’re open 9-9 every day) for another reason and we discussed my situation. He verified the ortho doc’s diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis (I have pitted fingernails, which is another sign). We discussed the anesthesia options and, in part because of my asthma (another wonderful diagnosis I got within the past 6 months or so), he said I might as well have the epidural and remove any possible problems from the general. So, right now, that’s where I’m leaning. Of course, if I get to the hospital and end up with an anesthesiologist who isn’t comfortable doing epidurals for this type of surgery, I could be overruled.
I can’t reply to all of the messages here, but here are some selections.
Aha said:
Yeah, 'cus that’s one thing I’m great at – having faith. :rolleyes: 
tbea925 said:
Yeah, the nurse said I’d get that either way (unless I really wanted to be alert to see everything – which I don’t!).
TVeblen said:
Oh, believe me, I plan to!
Daniel: How does your arthritis in your fingers affect your typing ability?
I speed-type. I can type faster than my secretaries. This has probably been a factor in my ability to reach 5000 messages here. It’s also a factor in my ability to write articles and get paid for them. The thing I am most worried about with all of this is that it will spread to my fingers (the psoriasis itself already has, but not the arthritis, as far as I know).
Best wishes to you David, if it makes you feel any better, I’m only 26 and I’ve got arthritis in one of my toes. I guess I win the youngest old geezer contest.
I’ve had an epidural before, and it wasn’t so bad. The worst part was having my husband in the room and him saying “Oh my god, that’s the biggest needle I’ve ever seen.” Thanks a lot, hon. Chances are, Mrs. B, is much more sensitive than Mr. Tot, so you’ll not be having that problem.
Take care,
Tracy
Danalan mentioned Versed, if that is the same drug they gave me for my D & C, I would highly recommend it. I don’t remember a thing, and I went home the same night and just slept & slept (a very good thing).
Also, when you get your IV, make sure they give you a numbing shot before they start trying to insert it. Makes a world of difference!
Arthritis in one toe? I’ve never heard of it being so specific.
And Mrs. B won’t be anywhere near the room when they give any shots. She hates needles.
David, IMO being put out in a “chemical sleep” is too close to death for me. You close your eyes, you open them, and no time passes (cold shudder). Given my intense fear of death, there is no way I would go under, unless it was for something REALLY major, like heart surgery. 
In which case, I would probably be close to dying anyways at that point.
Now I’m scared just thinking about it, and it’s not even ME that has to have it!
I never go to Great Debates… Whos this David B person? Does he ever venture out to other forums?
They gave my son about a capful of that before his (third) ear surgery. That’s about the fastest working goofy juice I’ve ever seen. Inside of 10 minutes, he was pretty zoned. When I carried him into the operating room, his eyes were closed, but he was grinning.
He woke up happy, too.
David B, I had the surgery. Take the general. When I had mine, my cartilage was torn in half, but between the time of the exam and the time the surgery actually took place, my knee popped again. This time half the cartilage went entirely out of the knee joint and flipped behind the femur part of the knee joint.
When he went in to my knee he couldn’t find the part that needed repair. Trust me, hearing things like “where the hell is it?” or “turn off the tape, this is going to take a while” or “is his wife in the building somewhere?”, are not what you want to hear while your legs are numb.
The typical 1/2 hour surgery that you are up and going in a day or so, turned into a 2 1/2 hour surgery that took 6 weeks to fully recover from. There are somethings you just don’t want to know about.
Jim
Don’t sweat it. You seem to be doing just fine in those departments.
Welcome to the hang-loose side of the board.
Come back more often, why doncha?
I guess I should explain.
If you want to know how pointless “my operation” stories are, and how much they have in common with “my vacation” stories, you should work with old people more often. The categories become interchangeable.
David, I sure hope your operation goes well. I’ve never had a serious operation in my life, just some dental work.
My mother had cataracts, so they removed the lenses of her eyes and replaced them with artificial ones. She was anesthetized, but wide awake through each procedure. :eek:
David, If you dont go under, how are you going to have a N.D.E. convert and start witnessing in GD?
best of luck brother!
Way to go David B! 5000! Wow, wish I was more like you.
Hey, be sure they do a video of the operation & maybe put it online for us so we can watch…
I think this might be the 500th posting party Ive seen on the board
I haven’t had general yet, but I did have a lot of Nitrous Oxide and 5 shots of xenocane for a tooth once. My last root canal only took two shots, by example.
Huh, hey SaintZero, try 14 entire cartridges of Lidocain in my upper jaw when they took out my front teeth. It took about 36 shots to deliver it all. My face was so swollen from all of the unabsorbed fluid I looked like a chipmunk.:eek:
Hey David B, can’t you just get them to give you liquid Valium? That is some great stuff, really. You won’t remember a thing about the operation, but you are awake enough to talk to and cooperate with the doctor during the surgery. I don’t like going all the way under myself, and this is a good alternative.
Aenea