Sorry for the mix up !

[Viv54]

I think I was a bit panicky when I wrote my post. I would like to say thank you to everyone who took the time to reply. My problem with claustrophobia is two things .One I hate lifts, I got stuck in one as a teenager and was ok until people panicked, I have not been in one since , hate enclosed spaces! The second is I can't bear anything over my face. The thought of a huge mask over my face makes my blood run cold! I have now looked up on you tube, seems a lot of people have epidurals that would suit me! I'm sorry for the confusion and very grateful for people's experience, it will give me more confidence. With my best wishes🌹

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Speak to the medical and surgical team - it is unlikely you will have a mask over your face, you are usually sedated beforehand through a cannula in your arm. No problem if you get an epidural or spinal anaesthetic. The lift is another problem - but on the way to theatre you may well be able to walk if it isn't a transfer across multiple floors. Explain - they do prefer to accommodate patients and not scrape them off the ceiling 😂

[Viv54 in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks I will😊

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Understandable..but as PMRpro says do speak to as many as you before your operation to express your concerns.... they want you to be in the best place all the way through...

[Viv54 in reply to DorsetLady]

Seems like a plan 😊

[piglette]

In fact they prefer you to have a spinal for your hip op. They are not actually epidurals, they call them spinals. The main difference is the placement. With an epidural, anesthesia is injected into the epidural space. With a spinal, the anesthesia is injected into the dural sac that contains cerebrospinal fluid. The direct access means that a spinal gives immediate relief. You can have sedation if you wish or you can be wide awake. I decided on being wide awake so I could check on what was going on!! You can even just be drowsy and listen to music if you wish.

[Viv54 in reply to piglette]

Thank you this is so helpful🌹

[borednow in reply to piglette]

It can get a bit boring though!! At least the anesthetist gave me a running commentary during my op. The Consultant was too busy telling a young lady Doctor that she'd made completely the wrong decision as to what she was planning for her future career in the NHS!

[piglette in reply to borednow]

Mine we had a conversation about the politics of Spain as one of the nurses was Spanish.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to piglette]

And for my skiig-mangled leg I had a circulation of 4 Italian anaesthetists all desperate to practise their English! The drills and electric screwdrivers were a bit disturbing ....

[piglette in reply to PMRpro]

It is the banging that got me, it was like my neighbours’ workmen!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to piglette]

Don;t think I had anything to hammer into place, just a plate to be screwed into place,

[piglette in reply to PMRpro]

That sounds a lot better. When they hammer the vibrations sort of rebound throughout your chest area.

[oscarandchloe]

Hi Viv54, I had an epidural and was sedated for the op. This did involve a light see-through mask over my face when I was in theatre. However, for my first op I had a general anaesthetic and that was just a canula in my hand and then I woke up and it was all over. I actually preferred the general as I saw, heard and felt nothing. You need to discuss this with the anaethetist if possible. I walked to the theatre suite. Hope this helps, it's soon over and you are cured for life!