It's not fun having fibro when you need surgery. I'm having trigger finger surgery tomorrow afternoon on three fingers with only local anesthesia. I refused Versed because it's only an amnesic, doesn't do anything for pain. I'm allowed to take diazepam and vicodin beforehand for pain and muscle relaxing for fibro and post-polio. I hope that's enough!
I had three bad experiences last year with anesthesia, so I'm anxious. I had a bad fibro-flare after first op (lumpectomy), didn't know to take pre-meds. Second op I wasn't put out until after torturous dye injections in breast, woke up while being stitched, afraid to scream because I didn't want to sleep any longer. Then I wasn't allowed any pain meds in recovery and cried for hours. Third time was not charming either: couldn't push pain pump button myself, lost three days memory from an amnesic sedative. So now I'm terrified of any sort of anesthesia, and am a nuissance, I'm sure.
What should I expect from pain during surgery and immediately post-op? If they can't find a non-preserved vial of a long-acting local anesthetic, I may only get the short-acting one. I have lots of allergies, mostly to sulfite preservatives, and Demerol which has sulfite in the drug. I can't take codeine at all, Fentanyl and Percocet make me nauseous unless I get Zofran.
Any hints you may have will be appreciated by me and the OR staff.
Thanks!