Anesthetic and Surgery

[Eliza-Jane]

I am hearing that having an anesthetic for surgery when you have Parkinson's can be risky. Does anyone know of problems?

[saraoutwest]

I had recently an 8 hr surgery...3 years diagnosed and not on meds. I was worried about the effects of the anaesthesia but my anaesthetist was very reassuring. I had no problems at all. Check out a recent post on the website ‘the science of parkinsons’ type in search for anaesthetic and has great article by Simon the researcher. Good luck

[ronn]

In March, 2016 I submitted to surgery for Lumbar problems. It was done under general anesthesia. At the pre-surgery meeting with the surgeon and anesthesiologist I asked about the possible effects of Parkinson's and age on general anesthesia and was assured

that they had not had any serious problems. In my case, there WERE serious problems. I am still living with them every day.

[ddmagee1 in reply to ronn]

Very sorry to hear about that!

[Jocee in reply to ronn]

What problems did you have, if you don't mind my asking.....

[ronn in reply to Jocee]

What problems?? Turning an overnight stay into a 6-day ordeal for the nursing staff might be considered a problem. Being released at that time in a semi-conscious condition, unable to retain information given and instructions then, for the next year and one half, living a strange life somewhere between reality and dementia *(I have never studied dementia and related problems so am not qualified to label things I will relate.) I experienced hallucinations and difficulty in oral communication, and in solving mathematical problems. Micrographia

I ask you to put yourself in the position where I found myself, seemingly in two different worlds unable to determine the date, not only the day but even the month, I found that my daughters seemed to change overnight, grow older and less affectionate toward me. To make this short, I finally awakened to the fact that more than a year had passed since my life had been forever changed by a trip into general anesthesia. I learned my daughters had not grown old overnight but had been gradually been changed, over time, through contact with a father not himself but living in a strange and foreign world which sometimes overlapped the real world, and somehow allowed life to go on in apparent near- normalcy. There have been more graphic examples than those above but is difficult to explain to someone else.

I hope that the above will, at least, answer some of your question.

[Jocee in reply to ronn]

Wow. I'm sorry you went thru that. Thank you for this information. It was very helpful for me to make decisions about surgery.....Sending you a hug and a prayer

[ronn in reply to Jocee]

I should have acknowledged that, at the time of the surgery I was 83 years old which may have been a factor in the problems I experienced. I hope things go well

with you.

[alexask in reply to ronn]

Congratulations for surviving such an ordeal and being able to post on an internet forum to report. If I can make 83 I will be very surprised ( if the internet even lasts that long).

[park_bear]

Surgery and anesthesia usually means hospitalization. Hospital staff must be made aware of the critical importance of receiving your correct meds at the correct times.

[Eliza-Jane in reply to park_bear]

Thank you to those that replied. I am being assessed to see if I can donate a kidney to my husband. It may not happen for a year or two depending on his need. The Drs are aware of my Parkinson's but it is a bit of an unknown for how it will affect me.

[NRyan in reply to Eliza-Jane]

It is not recommended that people with PD donate any body part....other than to science. I have been registered as an organ donor for years and had to take myself off the list. I am shocked that the doctors are contemplating your donation.

[Maxkas]

I have had 3 emergency operations over the last 12 months

Any progress I had made with daily physio for a year was completely down the drain

My head is still foggy after 18 months I would not recommend surgery unless for lift saving reasons

[twotutts42]

Hi anesthetic makes my PD worse. I fell d broke my wrist in April. It needed surgery and I asked for a block, it was incredible, no side effects or worsening of symptoms. It is definitely worth a chat with your anesthetist, explain your concern s and do some research. Good Luck 😊

[ion_ion in reply to twotutts42]

Hi! It is unclear what you said as your statements are contradicting. Anesthesia affected your PD or not? Yes or no?

[park_bear in reply to ion_ion]

What she is saying is general anesthetic is a problem for her, but a local anesthetic is okay.

[twotutts42 in reply to ion_ion]

Yes the anaesthetic made my symptoms a lot worse,apparently it’s quite common but nobody tells you.

I have to have surgery again on my wrist next month and am going to have the block again. So much better for me.

[Bridielena]

Full knee reconstruction, with an epidural block.....no problems.

Dental surgery in hospital general anaesthetic ....no problems.

[wifeofparky]

My husband had gall bladder surgery on a semi-urgent status. He was like Dr Jeckle and Mr Hyde. He was paranoid and nearly psychotic in his behavior. The nurses were clueless. I had to give them information and educate them about PD. They kept him drugged so he slept and became weak. I finally told the hospitalist to discharge him. She fought me because she was afraid of repercussions. Within 2 days of returning home and back on his drug regimen, he was back to normal. My only regret is that he remembered his behavior and was deeply disturbed by it.

[park_bear in reply to wifeofparky]

An all too common problem with hospitals. What is really needed is a preadmission conference with relevant staff educating them as to the importance of maintaining Parkinson's medications - the right meds delivered on time at the right times.

If such a conference is not possible there needs to be appropriate written notices in the patient's chart and notices delivered to nursing shift supervisors.

[wifeofparky in reply to park_bear]

his was an emergency admission. there was no time for a pre admission consultation

[ddmagee1 in reply to wifeofparky]

Yes, I went through a similar problem. I had an emergency acute pancreatitis. The infection was bad, and I had to have scopes to remove stones blocking ducts to the pancreas and liver, and had my gall bladder removed. I have a balance problem, because of Ataxia and PD, and orders for the nurses were that I had to always have somebody walk with me and help me get out of bed to go to bathroom. One nurse got so mad at me, after I had rung the buzzer for help too many times, in her opinion ( I was on a diauretic), she yelled at me, and said that I was perfectly capable of getting up and getting myself to the bathroom, and I wasn’t to bother her any more. That was only one night. The rest of the time everybody else was OK with helping me. She had no consideration at all, for my PD/Ataxia, balance, walking problems. I was ok with anaesthesia and surgery, thank goodness! I, pretty much, like to stay away from hospitals though!

[Boomercd in reply to ddmagee1]

On behalf of myself and my fellow nurses i apologize, unfortunately there are some nurses that are only there for a paycheck,

[Jocee in reply to ddmagee1]

I hope you reported this nurse to her boss!!! She has no business working in a hospital!

[Nhalvo]

My husband had two total knee replacements and each time his Parkinson’s got worse. But in April of 2016, he required an emergency surgery for a blockage of his small intestine, spending six days in ICU post surgery and that ruined his life. His dementia two and a half years later requires me to be a full time caregiver to him. General anesthesia kills brain cells.

[ddmagee1 in reply to Nhalvo]

So sorry to hear about that. Sometimes, life seems so unfair, for patients with debilitating ailments, and caretakers.

[ronn in reply to Nhalvo]

I have responded to Elizajane but noticed the similarities in our cases. Operation, under

general anesthesia in April, 2016. scheduled as an overnite stay, turned into a six-day nightmare followed by 18 months which have been "interesting".

Considerable research was done on this subject around 1998-2010 with some indication of a problem, but the result seems to have been, "Business as Usual." One of the better works done at that time was " HIDDEN DANGERS OF GOING UNDER" by Carina Stores, writing for Scientific America.

[Nhalvo in reply to ronn]

Three weeks prior to my husband’s emergency colectomy with sepsis, he had very successful DBS surgery. All of the benefits were negated by the intestinal surgery. He developed delirium, hallucinations, and psychosis post op and his dementia has progressed at a speedy pace. He can no longer use his iPad or phone nor compose a coherent sentence.

[ronn in reply to Nhalvo]

Take heart......Some of his symptoms may diminish or lessen with time and effort on his part and on yours. I am aware of at least one case in which the initial post -operative problems with hallucinations and dementia have partially subsided and he is seemingly regaining some of his lost cognitive skills. His Ipad has been replaced by an ancient, but still serviceable. desk-top and, with the support and advice of an old friend, (Google) he keeps relatively current. My best advice to you is, Love Him...........

[Nhalvo in reply to ronn]

Thank you for your comments. Two and a half years have passed and cognitive decline continues to accelerate for my poor husband. Hospital staff who refused to listen to me are to blame because septic shock plus serious abdominal surgery are a bad combination.

[Ramondo]

I have had two ops under general anaesthetic in the past four years, no

problems.

[2bats]

I’ve had a 2 hour and a 4 hour surgery which did set me back - and the other four surgeries before dx I feel contributed to the Parkinson’s Disease. Avoid if possible...

[ddmagee1]

I didn’t have any problem with my anaesthesia, during or after surgery. I was, also, concerned, having PD. I told the doctors before, though, about the PD.

[Iwanttogolf]

I have had 2 surgeries the first was 9 hours where the doctors in Australia inserted non pluriot stem cells into my brain (I was the first person world wide) and then mid June this year under with a general for about an hour. It did not cause any noticeable problems.

[Astra7 in reply to Iwanttogolf]

Wow. Did the stem cell surgery work?

[Iwanttogolf in reply to Astra7]

I have to wait 2 -3 years to see if it will work. I have 10 months to wait. Every 6 months I go to Royal Melbourne Hospital where I am tested to see what changes have occurred since the operation.

[munchybunch in reply to Iwanttogolf]

So interested to hear that you were one of the Melbourne patients. Have you noticed any improvements?

[Eliza-Jane in reply to Iwanttogolf]

Thank you everyone who has had input. It seems an emergency operation is risky as PD isn't top of the list for consideration. Scheduled surgery takes medication into consideration, and probably other issues we have. Everyone at the hospital I am attending to see if I am suitable to donate a kidney to my husband discusses my PD.

Iwanttoplaygolf - I am in awe of you. I have been watching any updates on you from when you first had surgery. I saw it on channel 7 news which has medical breakthroughs and have followed since. I hope things are going well for you.