Question I am only 50, yet am very limited by arthritis. I'm scheduled to go for hip re-surfacing in March, yet have a total surgery phobia. I have had several episodes of awakening during general anesthetic, when I could feel everything but couldn't tell anyone because of paralytic agents. I had two other episodes of having the paralytic agent not kick in during surgery (minor - D&C) but render my paralysed afterwards. I was in my room and couldn't communicated could hardly breathe, yet they just listed my condition as "patient asleep." I'm so terrified to have surgery as they don't seem to listen to my concerns. I feel as though there's something wrong and people aren't listening and I will die if I undergo surgery. I can't get around, am losing my ability to earn an income, ad can't see a way out. I can't decide if the benefits of surgery outweigh the risk of death, as I've almost died so many times before. I'm at my wit's end.
Answer Dear Mona,
I have thought about your concerns for a few days and have decided that the best thing for you to do is this...
Have sit down conversations with two people, one your surgeon and the other an anesthesiologist. You need to be able to talk about your experience and have some answers to questions that have occurred more than once.
ASK THEM ABOUT THE FOLLOWING...Does this type of reaction run in your family? Mention it if it does. What could be done differently?
Could the surgeon possibly use a spinal anesthesia? you could ask. Bring the information and questions you've written to me to the doctors let them hear what you are concerned about.
Has anyone mentioned to you psuedocholinesterase??? Bring this up in your conversations, as this is a possibility that I've seen before.
