Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 2/28/2008

Question
Hi, ive had 3 ops in my life. the 1st was when i was 7 and i had my tonsils out. i was ment to go home the next day but was kept in for over a week and all my mum can remember the doctors saying was that i had somke kind of reaction. i then had another op when i was 9 and again was ment to go home the next day but was in for 2 weeks this time again with no real reason given by doctors and last year may i went in for day surgery to remove a lump under my arm and was told i could go home that same day and again was kept in for over a week and told i'd had a bad reaction but was never seen by a doctor.

could you pls tell me what you think of this and if i am allergic to the anestic?

thank you

Answer
You should not accept that answer and need to get more details. While you are probably not "allergic" to anesthesia, obviously something is going on. You might have pseudocholinesterase deficiency (which makes it difficult to metabolize certain muscle relaxants) or you might have malignant hyperthermia. Whatever the case, you should request your records and review with your physician and/or anesthesiologist what happened in these previous procedures.

Ronald Levy, MD
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston