Have you had a spinal

[Lynn CC]

Please tell me your experience.
I don't want to have general anesthesia, it makes me too sick and I feel like I can't breathe. I chose a spinal with light sedation, but I don't know anything about it.
Thanks!

 

[zurgswife]

What is the proceedure....??? that might make a difference

 

[debster812]

I did in prep for my epidural. The anesthesiologist came into my room, and announced that in 10 minutes, "Dr. Chen is going to be your new best friend" You know what, he wasn't lying! It ended up being a wide open epidural for a C-Section, and all I could feel was tugging and pulling, no pain whatsoever. Took me about an hour in the recovery room before they would release me to my room.

 

[Lynn CC]

I'm having fibroids removed. Mostly I was wondering if the needle hurts, and where exactly they put it in along your spine.

 

[debster812]

Lynn,

You might feel a little pinch, but they will numb where you are getting the stick with a spray on topical anesthesia. The trick (and it is indeed a trick) is to do what they say, and relax. If you are also having mild sedation, that will help.

Good Luck

 

[powellrj]

I have had 2 with my c sections, they are really not bad at all. It is over quickly and I really don't remember them at all. Good luck and {{{hugs}}}

 

[Breezy_Carol]

I had a spinal with one c-section and an epidural with the other. One (epidural) isn't as "deep" you can still move, the other (spinal) you can't. They weren't bad at all. I don't remember having any pain in my back when the needle went in. With one, I was a little tender afterwords. The needle is inserted in your lower back. If you are concerned, make sure the anesthesiologist explains it to you. That is their job.

 

[RitaZ.]

I had spinal anesthesia for two c-sections and it was wonderful. They do give you a topical anesthetic to numb the area and you really don't feel pain when the needle goes in. It's true what Debster said, let you body relax and do what they tell you. The procedure itself doesn't take long.

Good luck!

 

[slimplaw]

I had a bad headache after mine. The doctor had me drink a LOT of water to help with the headache.

 

[dcgrumpy]

I had a spinal with my last c-section. I had a bad reaction at first, but the anesthesiologist was able to give me an injection to counteract the reaction. If you start to feel nauseous, tell them immediately.

 

[Michelle]

I had a spinal in preparation for a forceps delivery (which would have turned into a c-section if that didn't work).

It was weird having my legs numb for a while but I didn't have any side effects. And at that point in my LONG labor it was so heavenly to have relief from the pain (no epidural and three hours of pushing) that ANYTHING they did to help was wonderful.

Good luck!

 

[Lynn CC]

How long can't you feel your legs?

 

[ckmommy]

Your legs will be numb for 4 hours or so. That was about how long I was numb after my 2 c-sections. The worst part of the procedure was the inital prick and the nausea that happened following the prick. Other than that, it is very easy. Good luck!!

 

[Breezy_Carol]

I didn't have any nausea but did have the sensation of not being able to catch my breath.

 

[mtemm]

I had a spinal for my c-section. Can't remember much about it because the section wasn't planned and I was very upset about it. Took the dr. no time to have it done, then my legs went numb...my torso following. Felt like they were asleep. I did shake a lot after, which is supposedly typical. I remember the nurse or somebody kept putting hot towels on my shoulders and chest and I think arms and they felt awesome!!! Seemed to take forever for me to feel my feet again, but in reality it wasn't all that long. I was to nauseous to eat more than an occasional cracker the next day (mine was at 10pm). That is typical of me and any anesthesia, though.

 

[Lynn CC]

One more question if I may, How long does it take the bikini-cut to heal. I think I'll start doing a lot more sit-ups on the bowflex until the surgery to strengthen that abdominal muscle, maybe that will help speed things up.
I see ladies walking around (on Dateline last night) soon after a spinal for C-Sections so it must not be that painful....I'm hoping!

 

[dcgrumpy]

A c-section is extremely painful, worse than I expected. I'm not sure if it's the same for fibroid surgery. Make sure you ask for your pain medication as often as allowed. Don't wait until you are in pain.

The incision doesn't take long to heal. They removed my staples the day I went home and put on steri strips. I had those removed a week later. The second took longer because it got infected.

 

[mtemm]

I think it depends. My scar healed very well, no complications. I had steristrips, so no staples to remove. It did hurt when out walking occasionally...the first exercise I did. Took me a while to build up to walking more than around the block. And forget trying to lay down in a bed! LOL! I thought I would rip open. Once again, this was for a c-section though. I missed those hospital beds that started upright and you could lower at will. Its been 18 months since my section and you can hardly see my scar...its very faint now.

At first laughing, coughing, or sneezing was a form of torture I never want to experience again. Especially since my dh kept cracking jokes thoughout the hospital stay. But that passed fairly quickly...maybe a week or 2? Can't remember really. But I don't think it was more than a couple of weeks.

 

[mom42860]

The scar fades pretty quickly and they have cream now that aids in that. Ask your DR or pharmacist, I have seen it advertised at our pharmacy. A spinal is usually very easy, in the past they would wait for you to sit up because of the headache but for my last there were no restrictions. I suffered more nausea from the morphine than any effects of the spinal. I asked for and received ibuprophen (SP?) for pain instead. I would think a csection would be more extensive surgery than the fibroids, therefore more painful. The key is to get moving as quickly as possible.

 

[mtemm]

I agree about getting moving as soon as you are able to. Even with my section I only took ibuprofen for the pain...it really wasn't that bad, and I discontinued that fairly soon. Do what you need to do, though.