Questions about anesthesia and depression...

[Guest guest]

(Sorry it's sooo long!)

First off, is it just me or is it hospital/surgery month or

something? It seems like just about everyone (including myself) has

been to the hospital or going to have surgery. That alone shows how

awful this disease is...any doctor who just stopped by to read a few

posts would realize how horrible CP is to live with. I would like

to send out a great big hug and get better to all of you who are

in/or have just gotten out of the hospital, to those having surgery,

and to those who just feel like poo. (((((HUG)))))

Y'all are probably starting to think that all I do is ask questions,

but there's still lots to learn. I'm like a 3 year old...what,

when, where, why, how?! Sorry for all the questions, but y'all know

your stuff, and I need to know it too. :0)

Have any of y'all " came to " while under sedation during an

ERCP/Endoscopy? The last endoscopy I had (Emory), I remember coming

around and gagging and trying to pull the thing out. I remember the

nurse trying to comfort me and it wasn't very long until it was

done. By this time, I was totally awake and was in horrible pain and

VERY sick at my stomach. The nurses pleaded with the doctor to give

me some pain and nausea meds, but he refused. I'm getting ready to

have my third ERCP w/ second sphincterotomy and I am scared to death

about waking up in the middle of the procedure. What should I do?

I have been taking more narcotics since that time, and I'm thinking

that it's probably going to take more meds during anesthesia, right?

Should I tell them of this past experience and let them know that I

woke up " sick as a dog? " I've never had this problem at MUSC during

the past ERCP's...just usually wake up with nausea and pain from an

attack of pancreatitis (resulting from procedure). I am soooo

scared about waking up in the middle of all this.

I also have some questions about depression and CP. Isn't it common

to have some sort of depression while living with a chronic

condition? I have been on Effexor in the past for this, but told my

doctor that I thought I was doing better and wanted to be weened of

of it. She did, and I am doing better, but there is a history of

severe depression in my family. My mother, grandmother, and great-

great grandfather all committed suicide, so of course, it's

something that I worry about and want to take care of. I'm

wondering if I should just go ahead and get back on the meds in case

I ever did get bad and not really realize that it was bad enough to

need something. There is NO way on earth that I would EVER consider

suicide as an option but I don't want to live all down and out

either. I've read in a previous post that someone had considered

suicide because of the CP, and PLEASE don't even consider this an

option. It might seem like the most logical thing to do at the

time, but you have NO idea what it does to the people who love you.

You are by NO means making ANYTHING better...so, please go speak

with your doctor and consider other methods of handling your

depression.

I think that's about it for now, and want to thank you in advance

for reading this very long post. Hope to hear from y'all soon.

:0)--Kim S. - NC