Epidural questions

So, it's likely I'll have an epi for my Open partial, and I'm curious to know if that keeps you bed bound?  Do they let you up if you're numb from the waist down?  I had one with my son's birth and they kept me in bed for 2 days until it wore off.  Not fun :(.

 

 

Comments

  • Eims
    Eims Member Posts: 423
    hi rainsandpours well you

    hi rainsandpours well you wont be up and about for at least 24 hours anyway.  they tried an epidural on me but something went wrong and they released some spinal fluid so i had to lie on the flat of my back for 24 hours but to honest i wasn't going anywhere anyway so it didn't bother me one bit...lol....the lady across from me had her kidney taken out by keyhome surgery and she was in the shower all by herself te next morning!!!  mine was open surgery so a bit different.  hope that helps...

    eims x

  • Sandi45
    Sandi45 Member Posts: 25
    Eims said:

    hi rainsandpours well you

    hi rainsandpours well you wont be up and about for at least 24 hours anyway.  they tried an epidural on me but something went wrong and they released some spinal fluid so i had to lie on the flat of my back for 24 hours but to honest i wasn't going anywhere anyway so it didn't bother me one bit...lol....the lady across from me had her kidney taken out by keyhome surgery and she was in the shower all by herself te next morning!!!  mine was open surgery so a bit different.  hope that helps...

    eims x

    I have questions about why

    I have questions about why they do epidurals for nephrectomies. Is it used in conjunction with typical anesthesia? Or is it only used for people who can't tolerate typical anesthesia? 

    One more question I guess I should have asked my dr.

  • Eims
    Eims Member Posts: 423
    Sandi45 said:

    I have questions about why

    I have questions about why they do epidurals for nephrectomies. Is it used in conjunction with typical anesthesia? Or is it only used for people who can't tolerate typical anesthesia? 

    One more question I guess I should have asked my dr.

    im not sure sandi45 but i

    im not sure sandi45 but i think it has to do with limiting the pain afterwards.......easier to monitor and it works well for pain.  maybe someone has the medical knowledge to share the real reason.

    eims x

  • rainsandpours
    rainsandpours Member Posts: 136
    Sandi45 said:

    I have questions about why

    I have questions about why they do epidurals for nephrectomies. Is it used in conjunction with typical anesthesia? Or is it only used for people who can't tolerate typical anesthesia? 

    One more question I guess I should have asked my dr.

    It's my understanding they

    It's my understanding they use it for pain control.  Im all for having one if it saves me from moaning and excruciating pain.  I had a tough time in May with a gallbladder removal/hernia repair, and was in 9/10 pain for the first 4 days.  Not an experience I'm excited to repeat.  The surgeon said the anesthesiologist will discuss it with me at consult, and likely offer it- but they don't always. 

     

    Thanks everyone for the replies.  It helped answer my question :)

  • GSRon
    GSRon Member Posts: 1,303 Member

    It's my understanding they

    It's my understanding they use it for pain control.  Im all for having one if it saves me from moaning and excruciating pain.  I had a tough time in May with a gallbladder removal/hernia repair, and was in 9/10 pain for the first 4 days.  Not an experience I'm excited to repeat.  The surgeon said the anesthesiologist will discuss it with me at consult, and likely offer it- but they don't always. 

     

    Thanks everyone for the replies.  It helped answer my question :)

    Yes, I was asked about it

    Yes, I was asked about it before surgery, and in my case I turned it down.  I can not tell you I made the right decision or not.. just what I did.  I was (sort of) walking on day 2, but had a bunch of hoses and wires hooked up to me, as I was in the ICU for 10 days.   Over a few days things got better, first I got a wirelss unit for all the heart monitoring, then less hoses, then down to a single IV line.  Life was good.. very good indeed..!!  Which ever way you go, you will likely have some initial pain.  The Dr's will help you.. just push the call button, especially the first day. push the button at the FIRST sign of any pain, as it takes time for the drugs to kick in..  You can do it..!!  (If I can, anyone can.. )

    Ron

  • LynninNC
    LynninNC Member Posts: 16
    Epidural

    I had an epidural. I think it was in for 24 hours, Once it was out I could get up and walk around some and sit in the chair. It was much easier to get comfortable in bed also, rolling to the side etc. After the epidural I had a pump for pain killers and that was removed after another 24 hours. Once it was gone I was able to go to a regular room. 24 hours later I was discharged.  I remember having to wiggle my toes before being being moved to a room where I was able to hold my son after delivery. This one seemed much different!  L~

  • rae_rae
    rae_rae Member Posts: 300 Member
    LynninNC said:

    Epidural

    I had an epidural. I think it was in for 24 hours, Once it was out I could get up and walk around some and sit in the chair. It was much easier to get comfortable in bed also, rolling to the side etc. After the epidural I had a pump for pain killers and that was removed after another 24 hours. Once it was gone I was able to go to a regular room. 24 hours later I was discharged.  I remember having to wiggle my toes before being being moved to a room where I was able to hold my son after delivery. This one seemed much different!  L~

    Epidural

    I had an epidural for my open nephrectomy. It was in for four of the six day hospital stay. I was able to walk less than 24 hours after surgery though I did have shakey legs the first few attempts (with help). It kept my mid section numb but still had feeling in my legs. I liked the epidural instead of all the pain meds. I wasn't asked if I wanted one, they just told me this is how we do it. 

    They put it in before I was wheeled off to surgery. I was pretty drugged up when they did it due to having a raging migraine/vomiting the night before and my entire two hour trip to the hospital so I barely remember it. I do remember by the fourth day, my back was getting itchy and uncomfortable and I wanted it out. They removed the catheter and epidural on the same day. I just drug everything around with me when I walked or moved out of bed to a chair, etc. My pain levels were pretty minimal on it. God Bless

  • srbelle1
    srbelle1 Member Posts: 123
    After reading this thread, we

    After reading this thread, we asked the anesthesiologist about the epidural for my husband's upcoming surgery; we were told that it wan not recommended for him because it would require a ventilator during the operation. 

    he said that there are cases where he would recommend it under circumstances (for a heavy person as an example). It had sounded like a good thing for recovery.

    sarah