Re: Re: I'm switched :-)BRIAN/Respirator

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 7/11/01 1:53:45 AM, duodenalswitch writes:

<< Well, they told me everyone goes on the respirator during the

surgery. I was asleep before they put it in (THANK GOD!!), and was

very hopeful that I would be off before I was awake. Because of too

much anesthesia, they were waiting for me to wake up on my own. I

felt paralyzed...I felt like this guy I saw in a Metallica video who

was trying to communicate with the doctors with morse code! LOL

Actually, it didn't seem to last that long before they pulled it

out. The pain and throwing up were the two worst things for me. I

am a big baby with everything...Hypochondriac to the max! But I can

throw myself into denial and that is what helped me through. Detach

myself from the situation and deny, deny, deny! LOL But anyway, I

don't believe that most people are aware of being intubated, except

for a sore throat when they wake up...at least that is what the

doctors told me before they knocked me out. :-)

>>

: I, too, was totally unaware of the respirator. It was inserted

after I was out and when I woke up in the OR (they were waiting for a bed in

recovery - sheesh). I didn't have any respirator. I also didn't have that

paralytic feeling. This is caused by paralytic drugs they must administer to

ensure the patient does no involuntary movement during the surgery. They

must give an 'anti-paralytic' (usually once the patient is in recovery) to

reverse this effect.

I know of a few people who woke up in recovery with the breathing tube still

in and being totally unable to move or speak. It was very frightening for

them, mainly because they were not aware that it was temporary and might be

expected. It usually happens with those in the higher bmi range because the

anesthesia amount given is more and also it can stay in the bloodstream

longer. The breathing tube must be left in until it is deemed that the

patient can breathe totally on their own. One friend whom I was an angel to

had it removed only to find out she COULDN'T breathe and it had to be

re-inserted for awhile!

Not to scare anyone here. This only happens to a few people. But, it is

good to know all about it just in case you do wake up in recovery and have

lost all feeling, etc.

Same goes for the tube insertion: The anesthesiologist may deem that those

with higher bmis are at risk for their airway closing after they are put

under. Therefore, they insert the breathing tube before the patient is

totally sedated. That can be really scary too. I asked the anesthesiologist

all these questions just so I wouldn't get any unexpected shocks!

I didn't have any of these problems but it's good to know more - knowledge is

power, I think.

all the best,

lap ds with gallbladder removal

January 25, 2001

five months post-op and still feelin' fab!

pre-op: 307 lbs/bmi 45

now: 240 (stuck there, yeesh!)

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 7/11/01 1:53:45 AM, duodenalswitch writes:

<< Well, they told me everyone goes on the respirator during the

surgery. I was asleep before they put it in (THANK GOD!!), and was

very hopeful that I would be off before I was awake. Because of too

much anesthesia, they were waiting for me to wake up on my own. I

felt paralyzed...I felt like this guy I saw in a Metallica video who

was trying to communicate with the doctors with morse code! LOL

Actually, it didn't seem to last that long before they pulled it

out. The pain and throwing up were the two worst things for me. I

am a big baby with everything...Hypochondriac to the max! But I can

throw myself into denial and that is what helped me through. Detach

myself from the situation and deny, deny, deny! LOL But anyway, I

don't believe that most people are aware of being intubated, except

for a sore throat when they wake up...at least that is what the

doctors told me before they knocked me out. :-)

>>

: I, too, was totally unaware of the respirator. It was inserted

after I was out and when I woke up in the OR (they were waiting for a bed in

recovery - sheesh). I didn't have any respirator. I also didn't have that

paralytic feeling. This is caused by paralytic drugs they must administer to

ensure the patient does no involuntary movement during the surgery. They

must give an 'anti-paralytic' (usually once the patient is in recovery) to

reverse this effect.

I know of a few people who woke up in recovery with the breathing tube still

in and being totally unable to move or speak. It was very frightening for

them, mainly because they were not aware that it was temporary and might be

expected. It usually happens with those in the higher bmi range because the

anesthesia amount given is more and also it can stay in the bloodstream

longer. The breathing tube must be left in until it is deemed that the

patient can breathe totally on their own. One friend whom I was an angel to

had it removed only to find out she COULDN'T breathe and it had to be

re-inserted for awhile!

Not to scare anyone here. This only happens to a few people. But, it is

good to know all about it just in case you do wake up in recovery and have

lost all feeling, etc.

Same goes for the tube insertion: The anesthesiologist may deem that those

with higher bmis are at risk for their airway closing after they are put

under. Therefore, they insert the breathing tube before the patient is

totally sedated. That can be really scary too. I asked the anesthesiologist

all these questions just so I wouldn't get any unexpected shocks!

I didn't have any of these problems but it's good to know more - knowledge is

power, I think.

all the best,

lap ds with gallbladder removal

January 25, 2001

five months post-op and still feelin' fab!

pre-op: 307 lbs/bmi 45

now: 240 (stuck there, yeesh!)