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Anesthetic

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User
Posted 16 Aug 2025 at 23:48

Can i please ask how many who have had prostatectomy had spinal anaesthetic offered as well as general and if so how did you find it?

thanks

 

nick

User
Posted 17 Aug 2025 at 00:41

Nick ,my surgery was over 11 years ago I didn't realise I was having a spinal injection at the time. I was sat on the anesthetic table asking if it was to lare to change my mind, behind me the were putting the spinal block or epidural in ,not sure what the exact difference is. Any way I went ahead with the op . It was only on a conversation on here that it appeared many of us have them. I love the whole general anesthetic experience and modern anesthetics are quite different to the ones I had 60 years ago as a kid.

Have you got your biscuits packed ?

Thanks Chris 

User
Posted 17 Aug 2025 at 01:53

It’s meant to be the gold standard for pain control post surgery. I was ready for it having spoken to another patient that had it and as expected it wasn’t nice for about 30 seconds. I had it mainly as just followed the guidance of anaesthetist. I didn’t experience any pain post surgery at all. I’ve also chatted to a few patients who didn’t have it, who saw the same team, and didn’t have any post surgery pain either. If I did it all again I’d probably opt to not have it as it was the only real discomfort of the whole journey.

Edited by member 17 Aug 2025 at 02:08  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 17 Aug 2025 at 10:54
I had the spinal anaesthetic. Felt weird losing all feeling in my legs before the full anaesthetic was done but this is normal routine in my part of the world. Can't think of any reason to not do it if it improves outcomes.
User
Posted 17 Aug 2025 at 14:59

Niko, I didn't make it very clear I had spinal anesthetic and general anesthetic. I thought having both was pretty standard.

Thanks Chris.

User
Posted 17 Aug 2025 at 15:48
It wasn't painful.

Can't remember for sure but there may have been a local anaesthetic first.

User
Posted 17 Aug 2025 at 17:10

Bee sting is pretty accurate….a big bee at that but on the plus side it’s over fairly quickly. I asked for a large dose of local anaesthetic but it was still painful for a moment.

The epidural/spinal anaesthesia function is to provide post surgery pain control. Nothing to do with surgery and the general anaesthesia.

User
Posted 17 Aug 2025 at 20:03

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Thanks Chris, my response was to Barry as looking at his post I think he was asking why look at having that rather than having general , I might be wrong though 😀

was it painful when injected Chris, my anaesthetist described as like a bee sting ?

Niko

I don't recall it being painful or even mildly uncomfortable, but I was chatting to the staff. It was over 11 years ago 🙂.

User
Posted 17 Aug 2025 at 20:33

I had it while on the operating table. It was a trainee, or newly qualified guy (I can't spell anaethasist) who made three attempts because he couldn't get the angle of insertion of the very long needle correct, before the consultant took over. So yes, it was painful so please make sure that you have an experienced practitioner if you go for it. I was very bruised afterwards but I had no pain after the op.

Peter

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User
Posted 17 Aug 2025 at 00:41

Nick ,my surgery was over 11 years ago I didn't realise I was having a spinal injection at the time. I was sat on the anesthetic table asking if it was to lare to change my mind, behind me the were putting the spinal block or epidural in ,not sure what the exact difference is. Any way I went ahead with the op . It was only on a conversation on here that it appeared many of us have them. I love the whole general anesthetic experience and modern anesthetics are quite different to the ones I had 60 years ago as a kid.

Have you got your biscuits packed ?

Thanks Chris 

User
Posted 17 Aug 2025 at 01:42
Is there a reason you are looking at an epidural rather than the more usual method? Would it be preference or what was considered best in your case?
Barry
User
Posted 17 Aug 2025 at 01:53

It’s meant to be the gold standard for pain control post surgery. I was ready for it having spoken to another patient that had it and as expected it wasn’t nice for about 30 seconds. I had it mainly as just followed the guidance of anaesthetist. I didn’t experience any pain post surgery at all. I’ve also chatted to a few patients who didn’t have it, who saw the same team, and didn’t have any post surgery pain either. If I did it all again I’d probably opt to not have it as it was the only real discomfort of the whole journey.

Edited by member 17 Aug 2025 at 02:08  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 17 Aug 2025 at 10:54
I had the spinal anaesthetic. Felt weird losing all feeling in my legs before the full anaesthetic was done but this is normal routine in my part of the world. Can't think of any reason to not do it if it improves outcomes.
User
Posted 17 Aug 2025 at 13:01

I had a call yesterday from the anathatist advising me about it as an extra option , he said it was offered to all patients , I believe it takes away some of the initial pain for the first few hours after waking up , this isn’t instead of general anaesthetic it is performed with general anaesthetic 

Edited by member 17 Aug 2025 at 13:03  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 17 Aug 2025 at 14:59

Niko, I didn't make it very clear I had spinal anesthetic and general anesthetic. I thought having both was pretty standard.

Thanks Chris.

User
Posted 17 Aug 2025 at 15:10

Thanks Chris, my response was to Barry as looking at his post I think he was asking why look at having that rather than having general , I might be wrong though 😀

was it painful when injected Chris, my anaesthetist described as like a bee sting ?

User
Posted 17 Aug 2025 at 15:48
It wasn't painful.

Can't remember for sure but there may have been a local anaesthetic first.

User
Posted 17 Aug 2025 at 17:10

Bee sting is pretty accurate….a big bee at that but on the plus side it’s over fairly quickly. I asked for a large dose of local anaesthetic but it was still painful for a moment.

The epidural/spinal anaesthesia function is to provide post surgery pain control. Nothing to do with surgery and the general anaesthesia.

User
Posted 17 Aug 2025 at 20:03

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Thanks Chris, my response was to Barry as looking at his post I think he was asking why look at having that rather than having general , I might be wrong though 😀

was it painful when injected Chris, my anaesthetist described as like a bee sting ?

Niko

I don't recall it being painful or even mildly uncomfortable, but I was chatting to the staff. It was over 11 years ago 🙂.

User
Posted 17 Aug 2025 at 20:33

I had it while on the operating table. It was a trainee, or newly qualified guy (I can't spell anaethasist) who made three attempts because he couldn't get the angle of insertion of the very long needle correct, before the consultant took over. So yes, it was painful so please make sure that you have an experienced practitioner if you go for it. I was very bruised afterwards but I had no pain after the op.

Peter

 
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