le

[Guest guest]

Hi le:

Yes, I remember being transported into the O.R. I remember everything -- them

hooking me up to the monitors, strapping me on the table, putting the

circulation booties on my legs, etc. I loved the nurse anesthetist team I had

(the woman's name was Ruth Long). I was very calm once I got into the O.R.

because I had waited in the holding area for over 90 minutes due to weather. I

listened to music through headphones and used visualization to calm myself down

(initially when I got down there I was quite nervous). Waiting this long in the

holding area is not typical, though, I would say usually you are down there no

longer than 20-30 minutes.

The last thing I remember is, in the O.R., them putting the oxygen mask on me

and telling me they were giving me something to relax. The mask is only oxygen

and not any kind of gas. What they gave me was Versed through my IV. Versed is

a benzodiazepine (same class as Valium) that works as a sedative and also causes

retrograde amnesia -- that is why, even though you may be conscious, you will

not remember anything later during the period you are on the Versed.

I have heard of some people getting some Versed from the anesthetist in the

holding area, and then later they remember nothing about the O.R. However, from

what I understand Dr. R does not believe in giving sedatives until you are in

the O.R. He wants you to be as conscious and alert as possible. I assume he

just wants you to be able to handle those last moments and give you a last

chance to change your mind.

You are allowed to take headphones with you and this really helped me a lot. If

you have any other questions feel free to ask me. I am three days post-op and I

feel so good I wonder if Dr. R did anything to me at all. I had a little gas

pain the first day but I haven't even taken any pain medicine since I've been

home. It's amazing. I wasn't doing this well after my sinus surgery, which was

done outpatient.

Best / e

MGB 5/25/00 " the tornado case "