Guest guest Posted July 18, 2001 Report Share Posted July 18, 2001 I am having surgery at Mt. Sinai on the 24th. I have heard that in land, Dr. Marcus' patients receive an epididual with a pump on their way into surgery, which allows a lighter general anesthetic and relieves post-op pain. As a ninny about pain, I would like to hear from anyone out there who can tell me whether they had it and what the experience was like. Are there drawbacks? Does anyone know if they do it routinely at Mt. Sinai? If not, can you ask for it? Lynn Squire BMI=45 Dr. Gagner July 24, 2001 _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 18, 2001 Report Share Posted July 18, 2001 I am having surgery at Mt. Sinai on the 24th. I have heard that in land, Dr. Marcus' patients receive an epididual with a pump on their way into surgery, which allows a lighter general anesthetic and relieves post-op pain. As a ninny about pain, I would like to hear from anyone out there who can tell me whether they had it and what the experience was like. Are there drawbacks? Does anyone know if they do it routinely at Mt. Sinai? If not, can you ask for it? Lynn Squire BMI=45 Dr. Gagner July 24, 2001 _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 18, 2001 Report Share Posted July 18, 2001 I can't speak for Mt. Sinai but I can tell you my experience. The epidural is only for post op pain relief and doesn't allow for a lighter general anesthetic. When the epidural works, it works great, but there are some people that they aren't able to achieve a good block in and still need to have more traditional types of pain relief. 7/6/01 - open DS with Dr. Anthone - 261 lbs. > I am having surgery at Mt. Sinai on the 24th. I have heard that in > land, Dr. Marcus' patients receive an epididual with a pump on their way > into surgery, which allows a lighter general anesthetic and relieves post-op > pain. As a ninny about pain, I would like to hear from anyone out there who > can tell me whether they had it and what the experience was like. Are there > drawbacks? Does anyone know if they do it routinely at Mt. Sinai? If not, > can you ask for it? > > Lynn Squire > BMI=45 > Dr. Gagner > July 24, 2001 > _________________________________________________________________ > Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 18, 2001 Report Share Posted July 18, 2001 I can't speak for Mt. Sinai but I can tell you my experience. The epidural is only for post op pain relief and doesn't allow for a lighter general anesthetic. When the epidural works, it works great, but there are some people that they aren't able to achieve a good block in and still need to have more traditional types of pain relief. 7/6/01 - open DS with Dr. Anthone - 261 lbs. > I am having surgery at Mt. Sinai on the 24th. I have heard that in > land, Dr. Marcus' patients receive an epididual with a pump on their way > into surgery, which allows a lighter general anesthetic and relieves post-op > pain. As a ninny about pain, I would like to hear from anyone out there who > can tell me whether they had it and what the experience was like. Are there > drawbacks? Does anyone know if they do it routinely at Mt. Sinai? If not, > can you ask for it? > > Lynn Squire > BMI=45 > Dr. Gagner > July 24, 2001 > _________________________________________________________________ > Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 18, 2001 Report Share Posted July 18, 2001 You will receive a pump that works via IV. You can only hit it every 10 minutes. Bring a clock or a watch becuase for the first couple of days you will want to hit it every 2 minutes. You do not get an epidural. That would have been nice! > I am having surgery at Mt. Sinai on the 24th. I have heard that in > land, Dr. Marcus' patients receive an epididual with a pump on their way > into surgery, which allows a lighter general anesthetic and relieves post-op > pain. As a ninny about pain, I would like to hear from anyone out there who > can tell me whether they had it and what the experience was like. Are there > drawbacks? Does anyone know if they do it routinely at Mt. Sinai? If not, > can you ask for it? > > Lynn Squire > BMI=45 > Dr. Gagner > July 24, 2001 > _________________________________________________________________ > Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 18, 2001 Report Share Posted July 18, 2001 You will receive a pump that works via IV. You can only hit it every 10 minutes. Bring a clock or a watch becuase for the first couple of days you will want to hit it every 2 minutes. You do not get an epidural. That would have been nice! > I am having surgery at Mt. Sinai on the 24th. I have heard that in > land, Dr. Marcus' patients receive an epididual with a pump on their way > into surgery, which allows a lighter general anesthetic and relieves post-op > pain. As a ninny about pain, I would like to hear from anyone out there who > can tell me whether they had it and what the experience was like. Are there > drawbacks? Does anyone know if they do it routinely at Mt. Sinai? If not, > can you ask for it? > > Lynn Squire > BMI=45 > Dr. Gagner > July 24, 2001 > _________________________________________________________________ > Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 18, 2001 Report Share Posted July 18, 2001 Lynn why not e-mail or call Dr Gagner regarding an epidural. Mention it to your anesthesiologist also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 19, 2001 Report Share Posted July 19, 2001 In a message dated 7/18/01 11:31:35 PM, duodenalswitch writes: << Lynn why not e-mail or call Dr Gagner regarding an epidural. Mention it to your anesthesiologist also. >> Hi, I looked into this before my surgery with Dr. Gagner on January 25, 2001. I contacted someone in pain control (can't remember her name) and spoke to Dr. Gagner and the anesthesiologist. I was extremely concerned that I would experience pain that couldn't be controlled with morphine since I had morphine with a previous back surgery and it didn't seem to be terribly effective (I didn't have a controlled pump, though). I have a pretty high tolerance to pain meds so I was petrified that I'd be in a situation where the pain meds weren't strong enough and it would be like pulling nails to find the right adjustment, etc.... Dr. Gagner told me that he prefers NOT to do epidurals because in his opinion the pain of a DS lap wasn't enough to justify the risks of an epidural. He did say that he would let me have one if that is what I preferred. But, he stressed that he didn't think I'd need one. Just to be forewarned --- the people at Mt Sinai do the epidural insertion 'blindly'. THey do not routinely use ... oh, I forgot the name of the instrument... to help insert the epidural correctly. I've had some bad experiences with 'blind' epidural insertion with both my pregnancies (they kept telling me I had a 'thick' spinal sheath. I'm sure the extra fat didn't help matters, either). So, I had to weigh the problems I'd encounter and whether they would be worth it to use an epidural for pain control post-op. The pain control people did say that you could stress you need a flouroscope (I think that's what it's called) and then you'd have to arrive a few hours before you would normally because they'd have to do the epidural insertion in the flouroscopy room (they have to RESERVE IT as well), then take you to the OR, etc. IT would take quite a bit of coordination to ensure that one would have the floroscopy=guided epidural insertion. If you are having an open surgery (or there is a strong possibility that the surgery may be converted to open), you may think about the epidural more seriously. I think that the morphine pump is really adequate for post-op pain control with a lap DS. Dr. Gagner automatically administers Torodol for post-op swelling (every 9 hours) right from the beginning. He stressed that this combo (the torodol and pain pump) is a powerful one. I'm not sure if his associates have a totally identical post-op pain plan (i.e. - using the Torodol immediately or only as needed/if needed). Dr. Gagner also administers 'deep tissue anesthezation' which helps to control the pain before you even wake up. I'd DEFINATELY ask Dr. G about these issues and see what he says. I was the most scardy person when it came to pain control and, after discussing things with him and doing research, I decided that his preferred pain control plan was ok. I only had severe stomach spasms after surgery. IT took QUITE A BIT of morphine to calm them, but they did subside. I didn't have any pain in the intestinal area or at the mini-lap incisions, etc. -- just my stomach spasming out. I know that everyone has different reactions, etc. -- and I'm not saying yours will be identical to mine. I just wanted to give you one picture of how the pump was effective and was fine for me. I even had to get off it within 24 hours after surgery because my IV blew and the damn midnight nurse couldn't reinsert it properly. I was on crushed percocet after that and was worried that my stomach may have a reaction to it but it worked like a charm. all the best, lap ds with gallbladder removal January 25, 2001 five months post-op and still feelin' fabu! pre-op: 307 lbs/bmi 45 (5'9 1/2 " ) now: 235 (damn - I AM GOIN DOWN!! YAHOO!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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