Doc Hess's use of the epidural

September 2, 2001

In a message dated 09/02/2001 3:05:33 PM Central Daylight Time,

timarie55@... writes:

> I asked Dr. Rabkin if he does epidurals, and he clearly said no.

> However, he said if you insist on it, he would not stop it. I jus

> had total knee replacement and insisted on an epidural. I will assure

> you that you feel a thousand times better post surgically, because

> you are not having to wear off a general anesthesia...(which takes

> weeks and immediately after surgery can make you nauseas as hell) but

> also, you wake up from surgery numb, which you really wanna be!

>

> Hope you and I become switch sisters...crossing my fingers.

>

> Theresa

>

The epidural that Dr. Hess uses is not for during surgery. It is for post

operative pain control. They put it in before surgery so that they can have

it going before you wake up. You are still under general anesthesia for the

surgery. Dr. Hess highly recommends the epidural for post pain management

because they feel you can breath and move so much easier after surgery. This

prevents fluid in the lungs and blood clots because you get up and move more.

I know it really makes a difference because mine was not working correctly

after about 24 hours after surgery and I was in terrible pain. They finally

got it corrected (a filter was leaking) about 36 hours after it quit working.

It seemed as though I was getting the medication but the filter was leaking

just enough to make my gown damp and it turned out that I wasn't getting much

of the anesthesia. This epidural is higher up and does not make your legs

numb. You can still walk. You can't however, feel your bladder so they keep

a catheter in you until they remove the epidural.

Dawn----South suburban Chicago area

Dr. Hess, Bowling Green, OH

BPD/DS

4/27/00

267 to 165 5' 4 "

size 22 to size 10

have made size goal

no more high blood pressure, sore feet, or dieting!

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