Epidural - vs - Anesthesia ??????

[Guest guest]

Theresa,

Thanks so much for responding...your comments really helped...I have

a question for you...you said...

If anesthesia is a primary concern, you can opt for an epidural.

I personally feel that the recovery time from an epidural is days

where the recovery time for general anesthesia is about 2 months!

My question is this - Is an epidural given instead of anesthesia??...

I thought that the epidural was given before the surgery but it was

mainly for pain management after surgery...please explain...thanks...

Mia

> > I have a question, I hope that someone can help...

> > I know this is going to sound crazy, and I am so embarrassed

about

> > asking this...but I need to know...

> > I have been a smoker for many years, usually 1 - 1 1/2 pack a

day...

> > I started to quit about 2 months ago...I have really tried so

> hard...

> > but it seems like something always happens and I go back...This

has

> > been such a horrible and strenuous time for me (i.e. -

> Sept.11....my

> > husband worked at the WTC...he got out and he is fine, thank God,

> but

> > we lost so many friends...there are still 72 people missing from

> his

> > company...all friends he has worked with for 18 years...the last

> > month has been filled with going to funerals and memorials), the

> > smoking has been so hard to stay away from...I do not smoke as

much

> > as I used to...but still smoke from 4 - 5 cigarettes a day...

> > I am so upset because my surgery is in 2 1/2 weeks!!...I just

can't

> > seem to control it...the more I worry, the more I want to smoke...

> > Now, I am worried that I will have a pulmonary embolism or die on

> the

> > table...

> > I am so afraid...Should I tell my doctor all this?...I am afraid

> that

> > if I do he won't operate....I am going for my pulmonary clearance

> on

> > Tuesday...should I wait to hear what they tell me then?...I just

> > don't know what to do...

> > Does anyone know if anyone has had this surgery while they were

> still

> > a smoker, and if so, did they survive...

> > Is the only reason for not smoking because of the anesthesia

> > issue...I had back surgery years ago and did not quit, and I came

> out

> > of it alright...

> > is there another specific reason for not smoking with this

surgery?

> > Any feed back on this would be so appreciated... thank you...

> > Mia