AboutRonald Levy, M.D. Expertise Associate Professor of Anesthesiology, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. I am a board certified anesthesiologist who can answer all questions related to any type of Anesthesia with the exception of Pain Management.
Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. Date: 8/7/2008 Subject: Anesthesia when you have severe allergies
Question I have a hysterectomy scheduled in mid september. I also have allergies and receive weekly allergy shots, take rhinocort and nasalcrom daily, along with antihistamines and decongestants as needed. Due to the weather in my area, where it has rained every single day for 2 months, the mold counts are incredibly high, and my allergies have been difficult to control. My worst symptom is post-nasal drip with very thick mucus. It's difficult to sleep and if I cough, I go into a spasm.
I'm afraid of what effect that will have on general anesthesia. What do they do with people like me? I don't think postponing the surgery will help, because my allergies are year-round and completely unpredictable.
Any advice?
Answer It is not a problem from the anesthetic point of view. As long as your cough/sinus symptoms are due to allergies and not a cold or flu, you should not have any problem with the anesthesia.
Ronald Levy, MD
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston
