Sedated for real medical procedure

To DrJ58 and BigK - Kudos to both of you for your concise assessment and explanation. I was trying to come up with a way to say exactly the same thing, but as usual, you've beat me to it and done a superior job.

I would like to take a minute and clarify another point brought up in ManyOohs4U's post regarding ownership and accessibility of medical records. This applies to patients in the US and falls under the auspices of the HIPAA legislation. Patients DO NOT own their medical records. The doctor who treats the patient and maintains the records has ownership of them, as does his business entity. Therefore, it is the physicians' responsibility to keep and maintain the record so that it accurately displays the course of treatment and continuum of care received by the patient. It is also the responsibility of the physician to ensure the privacy and confidentiality of those records. A patient may request all or part of the record and the physician then has 60 days to respond in the affirmative or to deny the request. The only time a physician is required to allow access is in response to a subpoena duces tecum and that document must be very specific as to the exact documents and/or dates covered.

Further, patients NEVER have access to notes regarding psychological or psychiatric interventions or treatments. Actual surgical reports are rarely released to patients because the vast majority wouldn't understand them.

Many of us assume that we own our medical records when the fact is we own the information in that record, but not the record itself. Confusing, I know.

Perhaps this isn't the perfect place for the question, but along the lines of sedation, I have a question for (true) medical professionals.

A number of years ago, I was to have an anterior lumbar disc fusion: I've never had any negative reaction to general anesthesia, except perhaps post-prcedural nausea. In this case, a moment after anesthesia was induced, noted by my inability to have spontaeous respirations and not being able to move, I was completely awake -- and remained so throughout the surgery. Fully conscious, aware of everything, including a step-by-step awareness of everything being done. Painful? No -- it was sheer, unmitigated torture.

The experience has been devastating. I wake up most nights in terror that I can't breathe -- as I have develoed sleep apnea somewhere along the way -- and sometimes, all it takes is the smell of antiseptics or the sound of something dropped on a hard floor, and I'm back reliving my experience.

However rare my experience, I am very sensitized by my experience. Any procedure that I have to have done, most of it necessary but not considered risky, I am secretly a basket-case until pre-op vitals are taken and it becomes obvious that my b.p. is very elevated. I have made it clear to the anesthesiologist or RN-Anesthesiologist that I had an episode of anesthesia awreness, but I honestly don't believe they are convinced that this is a real phenomnon. My apprehension is quite real, however. Any hints, suggestions, or recommendations?

There is no question that episodes like yours take place. Some are brief and rectified, a few rare occurrences unfortunately go on throughout the procedure.

Depending on what aspect of the anesthesia is lacking, you can be awake and aware or semi aware, in pain or not in pain, and your muscles can be paralyzed or not.

It is most frightening or painful when you are only paralyzed/can't breath and awake and not anesthetized.

On July 25, I was driving home from work and got hit by a school bus. I don't remember any of it and I'm so glad. they took me flight for life to an excellent hospital here in Wisconsin. I had a broken left leg, fractured left hip, a scratch on my kidney, 2 fractured vertebrae in my neck, 4 fractured ribs and a broken left humerus. the surgeon was absolutely amazing and I don't remember any of the surgery but my girlfriend and parents certainly do. I'm in rehab now, going really great can get around by myself for the most part even in and out of a car. sorry for posting this here, I thought it kinda fit and I like telling others my miraculous story.

Thank goodness you're okay, and I hope you make a full recovery. When I was still able to drive, I always worried about taking out a busload of kids with my car, not the other way 'round.

Now, isn't anesthesia a wonderful thing?

Dear Twiztid,

I agree with LadyDoc, Thank Goodness that you are okay. Thanks for sharing your situation with us. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers that you continue to heal.

Hugs,

Lady Teddy

Thank you ladydoc and Lady Teddy. I actually had to go back to the hospital for a Staph infection, had surgery to clean it out. Now have a wound vac on it plus iv antibiotics through a picc line in my left arm for 6 weeks. The plan is to go back to rehab today.

Oh yeah, I remember Staph, MRSA, PICC lines, IV ABX, and a 10-week stint attached to a woundvac. It's all for a good cause, so stick with it.

Hello all again, not really sure why my name changed from "Twiztid" back to "wicked clown" between those two posts. They took me off antibiotics completely around August 22 when I was taken back to the hospital for an elevated temp and heart rate. 2 ekgs, a monitor, and some other tests later they decided it was from meds so they took me off everything I was on, even antibiotics.

By Sept 1, I was back to as normal temp and heart rate but they gave me dilaudid for my wound vac change...broke out in a rash right before my surgeon's eyes. They got that under control and sent me on my merry way home with wound vac still on...I could post pics of my wounds if so desired by others.

Fast forward through a few weeks a vac changes 3x a week up until last week when I was a little worried about a smell coming from it, so I called the nurse to check it out. Wound was fine except the tissue grew into the sponge, so under the doctors order the vac was replaced by a sterile wet-dry dressing. I thought an update of what has happened would he nice.. now on to tomorrow, back to surgery for skin grafts. Kind of looking forward to it except the knee immobilizer. The sedation, though, I cannot wait for. Going to ask if its possible for a pic of me intubated too.

This morning I went in for my skin grafts. Was taken in to get prepped, stripped down naked and put on a gown then an IV was put in my arm. Being so helpless already got me turned on and then rolled into the OR, seeing everyone ready to put me under and take control make me even more turned on. As the really hot male anesthesiologist put the oxygen mask on my face and I was slowly put to sleep, I was getting really excited. Then when I woke up in recovery, I was rock hard...wonder if anyone noticed.

Awesome stories when i was a kid i had to have my tonsils out i didnt want it and i freaked in preop they gave me some "juice" and there was some kinda sedative in it for sure as i was quickly very very close to nappy time then i got the gas in the mask

I had sports hernia repair this year and i was amazed at the anesthetic i received, i simply dozed off as soon as i remarked how cold the operating room was and i awoke feeling very hungry and ready to go for lunch. it wasn't til the second morning the soreness set in. i guess i remember all to well the effects of ether when i had my tonsils out as a kid in the 1940s.

I had a general anaesthesia for tonsillectomy when I was 4. But I've no memory.

When I was 15, I got a i.v. sedation for wisdom teeth removal. That was very really exciting and awesome. I really didn't want the surgery cause I thought it wouldn't be necessary but the doc and my parents did'nt tolerate any discuss.

With 18, I had my first general anaesthesia I could remember. I had an appendectomy and it was similar to the wisdom teeth removal. I was totally nervous - of course it was my first real "big" surgery with real general anaesthesia I could rember and it's the age, when young ladies are still a little bit shy if anybody else will see you naked. I got the first i.v.-catheter in left hand backside for infusions some hours before surgery. In OR I got the second one in my right arm vene. That's one of the morst imposing memories I have, when the doc insert painfully this big needle. I got some clear medications and then one white medications which I suppose it was Propofol. The next I remeber is waking up in bed with belly ache, big plasters and some infusions.

The last three years I had also two sedations for coloscopy and cystoscopy. Additional one spinal anaesthesia which is a really amazing feeling. You butt becomes hot, then the legs. It starts prickling and suddenly you don't feel any more below the belly bottom. Unfortunately you need a bladder catheter for the procedure but that's mostly the less painfull feeling you will have if a spinal anaesthesia is necessary.

Greets

Blume

The doctor gave me a choice of a spinal or a general when he had to go in and remove kidney stone that was blocking the outlet. Somehow I had no desire to be able to see him going up through my penus and crush the stone. All I remember is waking up thinking " when are they going to start ' and the realize there was no more pain and it was over.

I went to a local hospital xray department last week for my second colonoscopy. The first was 6 years ago. At that time they found two polyps and removed them. They were benein. The prep this time was a little different but by early morning I felt I was totally cleaned out. A friend drove me to the hospital and waited in the lobby for me to return. A nurse ushered me into a brightly lit room with cabinets along two walls. In the center was a table on wheels with thick blankets.

The colonoscope was hanging on a bracket on one wall and was connected to a computer and tv screen by thick wires. It was black with white markings every ten cenemeters. That made it 160 cm long and about 1 inch in diameter. The thought of this long tube going up inside my colon got me excited. I was told to undress completely and put on a gown open to the back, which was laid out for me. I slowly undressed as I studied the scope hanging there. Then there I was alone, totally nude next to this black snake.

On a cart below it was a tray with a mound of KY jelly on it and a pair of blue nitrate gloves. I wish I could have photos of me standing there. It was very erotic to me. I put on the gown, the nurse returned and I was placed on the bed and covered with warm blankets. An IV was inserted in the back of my hand. The doctor and anesthesiologist entered the room and after some small talk, I was put to sleep and the procedure was done. When i woke up again, it was all over and I was in the recovery room. I got dressed and went home. Only neat part was being naked with the colonoscope.

I have been sedated twice. Once when I was 4 and had surgury on my toe. They used gas on me and I remember someone putting a mask over my face and a really funny smell. I remember my parents telling me that I was sick in the car on the way home but don't remember that part at all. The 2nd time was when I was 21 and had my appendix taken out. They gave me an IV and I remember counting backwards and counted 7 twice and then was asleep. I remember waking up and having really blurry vision for a minitue or so. I was really scared both timesbut if I have to have anything done again the requires sedation or partial sedation I would like to be slowely gassed and have a couple attractive nurses hold the mask over my face and hold me down in case I try to struggle.

I was sedated for Upper Endoscope procedure a few weeks ago!

I've had Versed a few times, for my first Colonoscopy and some cardiac catheterizations. Never again. My memory isn't the same as before.

I've got another Colonoscopy coming up soon, I plan to do it with just minor use of narcotics to take the edge off. I also have an upper GI scope in my future. As I have a very active gag reflex, the doctor and I plan to use propofol.

For me, it's either awake or asleep, no amnesia drugs for me. I even list versed as a drug allergy.

When I had surgery to repair a deviated septum, I wanted to be awake as long as possible but soon after I was brought into the OR and placed on the table. I closed my eyes and woke up in the recovery room. Same thing happened during my colonoscopy.

I had my appendix out when I was 14 (early 80's) and I remember being wheeled into the OR. I had a mask fetish even then, so when I started seeing more and more people in the OR put their masks on part of me started to get excited in some ways. (I have to say "part of me" as I was already heavily sedated. This was an emergency appendectomy and I had been in excruciating pain--the worst I've ever had--just hours before.) I remember them telling me that they would put a hair net on me, and then I saw them add something to my IV line. I'd hoped that I'd stay awake long enough to have them administer the mask to me, which I'm told happened, but when I think about it now, that event would have been so short that I would have been hoping it would last longer.

I have never had a medical examination only as a child but I have many memories, but I was not sedated. father must feel.

I am to have a bronchoscopy next week, which will be done with IV sedation. I had one about 6 years ago, again with sedation. It was OK and although I can remember parts of the procedure, my memory was and still is hazy. I was quite fascinated watching the monitor screen, seeing inside my own lungs. I was offered the procedure without sedation but I insisted that I would prefer it with. It's bearable with, I'm not having it without!

I have to undergo various tests the day before the bronchoscopy, including lung function tests and an ECG.

Well, famous last words! Last time I had a bronchoscopy, 5 years ago, it WAS bearable and the sedation did the job. My memory of it is hazy.

This time I opted for sedation and I don't know if it was a different drug or different dosage but I can recall every last detail. I was given midazolam but felt very little effect, it was only afterwards I felt a little sleepy and the hour following the procedure went by quite quickly. During the bronchoscopy itself however, I was horribly uncomfortable. I found it a trial this time and even vomited slightly part way through. I'd rather not experience it again !!

Versed (midazolam) is an awful drug. It's action is not guaranteed and its side effects can be disastrous. I list it as an allergy. The times I've had it, it did nothing but make me drowsy after the procedure and screw up my long term memory.

As I have a very active gag reflex, if I ever need something down my throat, I'll demand to be completely unconscious. Propofol, most likely.

I foolishly had spinal anesthesia for several hip surgeries. I think I made the orthopedic surgeon nervous because I knew what was going on. I was nervous about general anesthesia because I'd seen several anesthetic deaths at the hospital. The last surgery I had a spinal and then propofol. Propofol is da kine. It's instant unconsciousness and then very little recovery time when the infusion is stopped.

A couple of times, major surgery, removal of my perotid salavary gland left side, benign tumor. then again when a few escaped cells grew back!!! It Sucked!! They start piping in the sed. and ya' feel like you are back sliding into a bottomless pit!! You are Gone and the next thing you know you wake up in a strange place and it may as well be the next century for all you know!!! 'Rather do a John Wayne and just take a few hits off a bottle of Red Eye and let the Doc go at it with a Bowie Knife while I control the bleeding with my trusty old dirty Red bandana!!! Meanwhile yelling at the "Pilgrim" ta' hand me another box of "Cat-ridges!!" an' reload!!!! Ya' gotta' "Man Up" sometimes an' "Bite the Bullet!"

Anastesia sux!!!!!!

highwater

While pain sucks, I want to be aware and remember as much of my life and experiences (even the scary ones) as I can. Having medically induced amnesia is no bueno.

I had a cystoscopy when I was 8 or 9 years old. For me the procedure of the sedation was more exciting than the cystoscopy. But I only can remember that I got a small injection beside my vene to numb it for the i.v. Then I got a little injection of a clear drugs in the i.v. and a was going under. I woke up with pain in my penis and a huge tape around it.

With my today's interest it would be great I could remember more if the sedation or even the procedure. But as a child it was the best way of course. And to be honest - I would need a sedation nowadays too because the examination would stimulate me probably.

CU Apfelsaft

I had a cystoscopy when I was 8 or 9 years old. For me the procedure of the sedation was more exciting than the cystoscopy. But I only can remember that I got a small injection beside my vene to numb it for the i.v. Then I got a little injection of a clear drugs in the i.v. and a was going under. I woke up with pain in my penis and a huge tape around it.

With my today's interest it would be great I could remember more if the sedation or even the procedure. But as a child it was the best way of course. And to be honest - I would need a sedation nowadays too because the examination would stimulate me probably.

CU Apfelsaft

How long ago was this?

Ugh, I hate Versed (midazolam). I was given it twice as a "goofy juice" relaxant/sedative before surgery when I was little, and reacted horribly to it both times. Woke up combative, screaming at the top of my lungs, kicking, flailing, and trying to rip off monitors. I was completely aware of what I was doing, but I was out of control and couldn't stop. It didn't give me amnesia or cause any memory issues, but that reaction was horrible. In all of my 22 surgeries and procedures, those are the only time I ever had Versed and the only time that I ever came out of surgery acting like that! I remember it vividly... so much for amnesia.