Re: Local-Leyna

[Guest guest]

I have not EXPLANTED yet... but the 2 surgeries that I spoke of doing awake were 7 hours of surgery the first time (to implant and have lipo), and 2 hours of surgery the second time (to remove and replace). I don't even remember much of the breast part.

They started me off on my stomach doing lipo. I wore headphones and listened to music. (My doc said some women even talked on the cell phone during it.) I did feel them numb me the first time, and when I told them I could feel it they sedated me more and I literally didn't care. I had lipo on my butt, hips, back of my thighs, outer thighs, inner thighs. I think it was 5 hours of lipo, and it burned and hurt like heck... but I was so sedated that I tolerated it just fine. It didn't bother me. I kept saying how happy I was to be doing it, and they were laughing with me. Then implants I think were 2 hours, and I remember no pain -not even pressure.

I was so out of it from sedation that I fell asleep a few times. I remember them waking me up a few times, and talking about my blood pressure. They had to keep stopping because my blood pressure was falling down near shock levels. (I can't remember what it was exactly now, but I could see the monitor since I was on my stomach and it was in front of my face.) I also remember that they had to wake me up for the surgeon to flip me over, and sit me up for my implants. Then I remember them feeling me, numbing me, and I remember them telling me to look down right after they stuck them in. (I immediately thought "They aren't big enough!" but was too doped up to even know to complain.)

(Then not to stray too far off topic, but they wanted to admit me into the hospital because my blood pressure wouldn't come up and I was white as a sheet afterwards -from the lipo. I refused because I couldn't afford to pay, but I was there 12 hours in total that day.)

That's all I remember about it, and I promise you, it was what they called "sedation with a local."

The second time, I remember even less. I remember them sedating me, and I was so loopy I was laughing and asking my surgeon if I could drive his new Mercedes convertible -and I was serious... and I was joking about his vanity tags. On one car he had "LIFTERMD" and on another "TUCKERMD." And that's all I can remember of it. They did have to stop and put me to sleep for part of it, though, because they had to do a breathing tube. (I forgot about that when I was typing earlier.) I guess I wasn't breathing well. But it was due to health complications. I had serious fluid on my brain at the time, but because I had an implant that had been leaking so long while waiting to get money and also trying to wait on my health to improve... they went ahead and did this surgery despite, but had 3 other doctors present and it was done in the hospital. (That's why it cost $15,000 the second time.)

The doctor I am talking to now (I consult Sept. 15)... I am pretty sure is saying it will be done asleep. (I am also having a full T-Lift though.) I am assuming it's the "Monitored Anesthesia Care" I mentioned. Also, almost every doctor I have talked to in the past few years has told me I'd be asleep in office when I've consulted for replacement and a lift. None in WV, but in KY. In WV to be asleep, they want to do it in a one day surgery center or hospital op room.

So, like I was saying, check and ask if it's for sure "sedation and a local" or if it's actually "MAC." The other gals were saying they probably aren't planning to do it right if it's sedation and a local --- and I haven't been through it, so I don't know on that personally. But ask them if they at least knock you out during the most critical times. I am guessing the capsule removal would be the worst part.

Hopefully, they really mean "MAC," and you won't have ANYTHING to worry about... but if they don't, just remember --- if women weren't comfortable doing it awake with sedation and a local, they probably wouldn't offer it that way. Also, consider checking with another doc, or even in another state if you'd rather be asleep... and consider what was said about the possiblity they may not plan to be doing it right. Maybe we should take a poll on what types of anesthesia everyone has had for explant!!!

Good luck!!!

Brig