C/S Anesthesia

775 Views 18 Replies 15 Participants Last post by Piglet68, Jun 22, 2004

LisaG

Discussion Starter · Jun 21, 2004

Ok gals, just curious about your experiences.

Thanks!

LisaG

PS I didn't include general anesthesia since that's more of a last resort/emergency situation

1 - 19 of 19 Posts

Kiki Runs

· #2 · Jun 21, 2004

Well, there's no option for me, lol... I had BOTH. Had an epidural during labor, it was supposedly turned off for pushing (I don't believe that it really was, though), then dosed again for the c/s.

However, it wasn't effective - I still had feeling (couldn't move my legs, so the OB didn't want to believe me).

They ended up doing a spinal in the OR.

Not much to report from them, as it would be pretty tough to attribute something to one over the other, YK?

Kinsey

Mom2baldie

· #3 · Jun 21, 2004

Ive had 1 cesarean with my 1st child and was given a spinal for pain relief. I have nothing to compare it to, as Ive never had an epidural for anything, but I was def. not pleased. I felt horrible afterwards (and this was a scheduled c-section with no labor beforehand)... I had the shakes, itching, I was disoriented...just felt like crap. Honestly though, I dont know whether it was because of the surgery or the spinal, Im sure it was a combination of both.

I think if I ever had to have another c-section I would choose an epidural just because I would be hoping for something unlike the experience I had before.

CortLong

· #4 · Jun 21, 2004

I had an epidural for my ceserean, and I was NOT pleased. I had a "hot spot" that they couldn't get rid of that right on my hip (like kinda where they cut) and it hurt like h*ell when the made the incision.

its_our_family

· #5 · Jun 21, 2004

2 cbs and both were epidurals. I have no complaints other than it is the scariest part of a c/b, IMO.

The shakes and itching was probably from something they put in your IV during or after the fact. I explained to my second anesth. that I had had both of those and he knew automatically which things to avoid and I had no problems with it for the second c/b.

clewal

· #6 · Jun 21, 2004

I had a spinal with mine. I really didn't have that many problems with it, I did get a headache an hour afterwards, but that may have been due to low blood sugar and excitement. I ended up getting in an argument with the nurse over what I could take for the headache (I need a tylenol, I can't give you tylenol only vicodin, I'm allergic to vicodin, go get me a tylenol, this went on for half an hour). I also didn't like the fact that I had to lie flat for six hours. I only went with the spinal because I was afraid the epidural wouldn't work.

AmandasMom

· #7 · Jun 21, 2004

My Epi... uggg.... it felt like someone was shoving a pipe cleaner in my back. Immediately after it was in, my blood pressure dropped and the baby heartbeat just about stopped. The adjusted something then everything was back to normal. After everything was all over, they took the epi out, I itched like mad. The best part of my epi? When they put the cathater (sp) in, and I no longer felt like I had to pee. That was the best part of my entire hospital stay. After struggling to get my butt out of bed for months every few mins night and day to pee, it was *heaven* not to have to feel like I needed to pee anymore. Oh, it was so wonderful!

kimberlylibby

· #8 · Jun 21, 2004

My epidural was fine, except that I could feel the surgery!

YIKES, getting cut open and gutted while you can feel it is NOT pleasant!

So, yeah, my epi didn't work. OUCH OUCH OUCH.

thepeach80

· #9 · Jun 21, 2004

I broke down and got an epi during labor and it only worked on one side till they fixed it at the end. They dosed me up again in the Or and it was fine. It wore off really fast though so I had quite a time lapse between that wearing off and getting meds in recovery.

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stafl

· #10 · Jun 21, 2004

2

I really don't understand your question.
Pleased? In what way? I mean, as far as pain relief goes, or what?
And just why in the world do you want to know?

I had a spinal, there wasn't time for epidural to take effect.
I felt no pain, but I could feel them cutting into me and felt everything they did, it just didn't hurt. There was no way I was agreeing to general, so I shut up about it when I realized that was my only other option.
Absolutely everything about my cesarean is clouded by the very severe trauma I experienced and am still feeling in the way of PTSD. I could never say I was "pleased" with any aspect of it, it's still very painful to even think about, three years later.

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LisaG

Discussion Starter · #11 · Jun 21, 2004

Stafl wrote: "I really don't understand your question.
Pleased? In what way? I mean, as far as pain relief goes, or what?
And just why in the world do you want to know?"

Stafl,

Pleased as in did it work for you, not as in "gee I'm so thrilled I got to have a c/s". Some people feel there are benefits to an epi over a spinal and vice versa, so I wanted to know about people's experiences.

And why I want to know - some of us will be giving birth via c/s.

LisaG

loving-my-babies

· #12 · Jun 21, 2004

I had an EPI and although it was pain-free I felt the surgery. and I had a horrible headache afterwords..

CarrieMF

· #13 · Jun 21, 2004

Nadia was supposed to be a c-section(she came out vaginally right before they were to take me down).

Even though you didn't list it as an option I opted for the general anesthesia. We do not have epidurals here, I could have had a spinal but there was no way I could have sat still for it, I do not like the idea of them sticking a needle into my spine and I get enough headaches that I did not want to deal with a spinal headache.

Kiki Runs

· #14 · Jun 22, 2004

3

Quote:

Originally Posted by stafl
Absolutely everything about my cesarean is clouded by the very severe trauma I experienced and am still feeling in the way of PTSD. I could never say I was "pleased" with any aspect of it, it's still very painful to even think about, three years later.

Uh huh. I think an expected, planned c/s is MUCH different from an "emergency", unplanned c/s. Both in terms of immediate experiences (ie, making your wishes known re: holding baby, bfing immediately, time spent in recovery, etc) and in long-term effects (PTSD, PPD, etc).

For me, it's very hard to say whether or not I was "pleased" with my anesthesia since I was/am VERY displeased about the entire situation.

I can say this: I have a spot on my back that's numb, which I attribute to the epidural. I am have also had back pain since about 4 mos pp, which *could* be a result of the anesthesia (hard to say, since a doc's not very likely to agree with that).

I can't remember much about the walking. DS was born at 10:02 PM and I know that at midnight I got myself from my bed to a wheelchair to be wheeled down the hall to the NICU (

don't get me started on that). I *could* have walked it, but wanted to get there quick. After that, I walked down and back every three hours. So clearly, the anesthesia was worn off at least partially two hours after the birth, and completely gone by five hours pp.

I did not have any pain relief carried over from the c/s (I think I remember someone saying her epi was still in place 12 hours later? Or something like that - sorry if I got it wrong). I was given an IV of morphine, with the self-dispensing clicker-thing. I used it ONCE, right before the nurse was going to take it out. TBH, the pain wasn't THAT bad, and I was so busy running around that I just didn't think to use the morphine.

I remember feeling like I was going to throw up during the c/s, but talked myself out of it. I also got REALLY hot during the operation, then got chills. Hard to say what's b/c of the spinal, what's b/c of the epidural, and what's b/c of my long labor w/NO FOOD!

( I ALWAYS throw up when I get very hungry, and I wasn't "allowed" to eat during labor, so VERY hungry by the time we went for the c/s).

Kinsey

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whateverdidiwants

· #15 · Jun 22, 2004

Getting the epidural put in was the most painful thing I've ever had done in my life. Period. Maybe I just had a shitty anesthesiologist, but I think a lot of it had to do with the fact that I was completely relaxed while I was laboring (18 hours and no pain meds, even with pitocin), and it was the first time in the whole process that I was nervous.

crazy_eights

· #16 · Jun 22, 2004

Just for the record, asking "spinal" or "epidural" probably isn't going to really answer the question you are wondering about. The advantage of an epidural is that there is tubing in place to keep dosing if the case takes longer, the advantage of a spinal is that it is usually quicker to do. However, the effect that *either one* can have can vary greatly depending on what the dosing protocol or the medications used.

LisaG

Discussion Starter · #17 · Jun 22, 2004

2

Mom2Six,

That's what I'm realizing as I read these posts

, not doing much to give me a clear cut answer

It would seem, as you mentioned, that with an epi they could give you another dose before removing it and decrease the need for other meds like morphine for pain relief.

Also, it would seem you're vulnerable to a headache with either one too?

LisaG

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crazy_eights

· #18 · Jun 22, 2004

2

Quote:

Originally Posted by LisaG
Mom2Six,

That's what I'm realizing as I read these posts

, not doing much to give me a clear cut answer

It would seem, as you mentioned, that with an epi they could give you another dose before removing it and decrease the need for other meds like morphine for pain relief.

Also, it would seem you're vulnerable to a headache with either one too?

LisaG

Actually, most places use a narcotic called 'duramorph' which is a long acting morphine that doesn't make you groggy since it is given either in the epidural or spinal. This is the drug that causes the itching for a lot of people, but it seems to be a good trade off for the excellent pain coverage it provides. IV morphine and the like are pretty much reserved for cases done under general anesthesia, which is blessedly uncommon. As an RN in L&D, there is NO comparison between the two. Those who get duramorph do fine with 'toradol' (drug in the same class as ibuprofen) and are usually up and moving around in 12 - 24 hours while those that get general often wake up either moaning in pain (or worse - screaming) and don't always get such great pain relief with their morphine PCA.

Yes, you are at risk for a 'spinal headache' with either one, but probably slightly more so with the spinal. There is more of a chance of the epidural not providing adequate pain relief and still needing a spinal (or general) though.

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Piglet68

· #19 · Jun 22, 2004

I, too, had both as part of a clinical trial that I agreed to participate in. Having never had either before, I have nothing to compare it to, but my experience was wonderful. I felt no pain, I recovered super fast, and was not in any pain afterwards either.

Now the problem is choosing which one for this birth...I don't know which would be better, lol.

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