surgery and effects on asthma

[Lotti_321-]

I had ear surgery today and the anaesthetic team were fantastic regarding my asthma, with putting me at ease and talking me through different plans if anything happened re asthma. They decided to give me some steroid (for anti sickness and hep my chest as a preventative measure)

3/4 through the surgery my asthma kicked off and apparently I became really wheezy, but thankfully it wasn’t a long surgery. Then when coming round my oxygen dropped, coughing, tight chested and so nebbed me and gave me my inhaler. My oxygen sats settled down and have been allowed home. I still feel a feel a bit tight, coughing and shorter of breath than usual. I don’t know if this is common after surgery or if it the surgery has irritated things (I’m really hoping not). Has anyone got any experiences of anaesthesia and their asthma?

[Christ0706]

Hi Lotti

I had a bad experience with my asthma, I had a attack and I was really bad I was fighting for about 2 hours while they was trying to give me all the drugs they could to settle me, they decided to Incubated me, I was in a coma for around 12 days, I nearly went a few times, but I kept fighting the Dr’s told my partner, then I caught pneumonia around 5 days in, I’m so lucky to have pulled through, it’s the 4th coma I’ve been in,I’ve got to have surgery on my back and they have told me I need a intensive care bed to keep me asleep for at least 48 hrs for my body to rest. I’m absolutely bricking it as I don’t want nothing to go wrong as my family and kids have been through enough, but I’m prepared to have the operation as it will make my life a bit more comfortable, and I’ve discussed it with my family and kids, I’m so glad your operation went well, hope you feel better soon x

[CallysMum in reply to Christ0706]

Wishing you well.

[Emaych61]

Last time I had surgery I came round from the anaesthetic in the recovery area and the first thing I noticed was that breathing was hard. I mentioned it to the attending nurse who just replied that my oxygen sats were fine at 99% (of course they were - I had oxygen being pumped into my system through tubes up my nostrils at the time, but that did not take away the fact that I was having problems breathing). Once back on the ward the nurses came to remind me to use my inhalers (as I had instructed them to do, I got back on the ward in the evening), whereupon I discovered that because I was having breathing problems I couldn’t use them (I had accuhalers at the time, and they require quite a sharp indrawn breath, which I couldn’t do). I managed to instruct the nurses to see if they could acquire evohalers and spacer devices. They managed to get an evohaler for ventolin, but couldn’t acquire a spacer device or my preventer medication in an evohaler. Very, very fortunately I do know how to use an evohaler without a spacer device and I mostly got through the night using ventolin when I required. I say “mostly” because at one point they decided to remove the oxygen. I was semi conscious at the time, was aware that breathing was getting harder and can recall thinking “that’s not a good idea” as they did it but was too drugged up to say it. I was also aware of breathing getting more and more difficult once the oxygen had been removed until eventually someone came and put it back. I can also remember the words “92%” being spoken sometime later by one nurse to another, so I assume an alarm had gone off. It was finally deemed safe to remove the oxygen the following morning. At no point was I put on a nebuliser - even though they knew I was asthmatic and had been unable to use my preventer inhaler. When I spoke to a GP afterwards about it she replied that had I been on a medical ward rather than a surgical one they probably would have put me on a nebuliser (can anyone explain to me why this should make a difference?). I had to bite my tongue to prevent myself replying angrily that asthma is asthma - it doesn’t distinguish between medical and surgical wards!

The upshot of all this was that I ended up in hospital for a further three days - admittedly not just because of the asthma, there were (justifiable) concerns about my blood pressure (always on the low side) which went very, very low post operation. I had never had issues with a general anaesthetic before, but as the GP pointed out, I had never had an operation of more than an hour before (I was in for appendicitis). I believe the suspicion is that I had an adverse reaction to the anaesthetic and the GP was going to add a note to my medical record warning of that.

I will add that once I got the all clear to go home my asthma was fine, but I had had three days in hospital after the operation where everything was being carefully monitored.

[Lotti_321- in reply to Emaych61]

yeah after having so many dismissive drs it was definitely a worry of mines. But I was fortunate that they were great and really swift in getting me treatment. I’m still bit wheezy today so keeping on the salbutamol and keeping a close eye on things

[Wheezeydarth]

Your lucky in a not lucky way if that makes sense, glad you got your operation sorry your asthma played up a fair bit. Ive had the same issues in my local hospitals over correct medication and nebuliser. A fortnight ago i was rushed into my local hospital with crippling stomach pain thought it was my appendix as well but turned out gall bladder issues not sure wither stones or sludge but was told that night by surgeon that they would operate the next day. A few hours later same surgeon came in and told me that due to my medical history no "anaesthetist in Scotland would touch me ". I have had a troubled past with my asthma resuscitated 5 times in icu annually for around a 2 week vist. But I printed out a card with instructions and medicine doses and all information on what works with me in an emergency. I also 'lucky' i have my own nhs provided nebuliser. Im now on long term antibiotics for gallbladder issues oh fun. Good luck and stay healthy.

[Yatzy]

I had a spinal anaesthetic for a hernia repair operation because of previous problems with a general anaesthetic. That worked very well for my asthma, though it was tough recovering, with about seven hours with no use of legs, urinary incontinence and nursing staff not aware of likely effects or recovery needs.

But I’d go for it again if at all possible, although this was a relatively short operation. I was fine by the next day though some sickness once I started eating again until my intestines recovered and started working properly. The spinal was excellent for the op and asthma, but advice on recovery needs inadequate. I would know next time! Super recovery otherwise and the problems only short term.