Expert: Dr Ian Jackson - please note UK based - 9/29/2007

Question
Hi im hoping you can help I have a skin disease called hidradenitis suppurativa which is really bad and requires surgery.  I went to my appointment with my surgeon and he told me that he could not preform the surgery required under a local anesthetic as the amount it would require would give me a seasure that he could only preform the surgery under a general anesthetic but the problem is that I have previously had 2 c-sections with my children and had an anestetic both times and took an allergic reaction on both occasions where I stopped breathing and now I am a single mother with 2 beautiful children I really dont want to take the chance a third time as there would be no one to look after my children if I did not make it out, but the disease is so bad that it leaves me unable to move my arms and legs and cant sleep with pain which never leave me, I must not be the only person in the world which needs an operation and cant have an anesthetic is there any thing you can suggest that I could do cause I am at my wits ends so sick of being sick so tired of the pain I just want to get better.  Many thanks Maureen

Answer
Hi Maureen
I am sorry to hear of your problems.
The real issue here is what was the reaction you had to the anaesthesia. You need to meet with the anaesthetist who will look after you for this operation and spend time with them so that they can investigate what happened and let you know what your options are. This is important because even if you don't go ahead with your current planned operation you never know when you may need one.
So now is the chance to get this all sorted out - not as an emergency but as a planned procedure.
I have no doubt that once my anaesthetic colleague understands what happened to you that they will be able to advise you on the best way forward. There are occasions when we can use alternative techniques e.g. local anaesthesia but there are many operations where this is just not possible.
So please don't panic, get an appointment to be reviewed by an anaesthetist and chat all these issues through with them. Get as much info as possible about what happened previously for them also (if you can).
I wish you all the best.
Kind regards
Dr Ian Jackson