General anesthetic and cirrhosis question

Dougie may need to have surgery for his shoulder. Torn something in there.

At his consultation today he learned that it would be under a general anesthetic. He was mistaken when he thought that the twilight sleep he gets for endoscopy/colonoscopy was a general. He is sending an email to his GI doctor. And the GI doc and ortho surgeon will need to consult.

But, I wanted to check in with you all...

Thanks,
Emma

Mike has had 2 shoulder surgeries so far

Though both were typical day surgeries, both were done in hospital centers because his platelets were low the first time and because he was post TP the second time.

He wound up overnight the most recent time because his BP went a little crazy

When they got in there they found the MRI had under represented the extent of damage and they had to reattach his bicep and supraspinatus. I am totally sure they put him out and did a block for pain management. After he got pain pills he would not take remembering about the constipation.

My e is in my profile if you want to talk further

Rehab was long. PT imperative.

Hugs

Carol

Post Edited By Moderator (hep93) : 8/31/2013 12:28:45 AM (GMT-6)

I do not think generals are a problem. It might take longer to get out of his system due to the cirrhosis but I believe it is safe. I get generals when I have endoscopy and the ERCP's I get every 3 to 4 months require. I have never had an issue, actually I can pretty drive within an hour if I wanted to, however I always have a driver.
The twilight sleep otherwise known as sedation has no effect on me. I gag and choke through my normal endoscopy. They also start with the sedation on my way to the ERCP and it never effects me. Last time the NA was like, is this even doing anything for you. I was having a conversation about slot machines with them since I work at a casino.

Post Edited By Moderator (hep93) : 8/30/2013 7:31:10 PM (GMT-6)

Mae. Yes bday yesterday. I'm old and showing it. Very low key. Drove to hospital. Woohoo. C

Yikes David! I don't blame the nurses for being very upset. That doesn't sound safe at all, sneaking out of the hospital alone!

I was told no elective or non-emergency surgery when you have cirrhosis, but I am sure that if it is necessary surgery they will take care to do it safely. Hope it helps and one less problem to deal with!

Happy belated birthday Carol. Yesterday was my husband's birthday too. All the kids and grand kids actually sent cards and remembered to call or text him so he thought it was a pretty special day.

No twilight sleep for me. Even before cirrohosis when I had my gallbladder out and they did an endoscopy it never phased me, the sedation meds. I was told 300units is max they give at center. Hospital can give more, @ 500 they quit and went to general. Now in fairness to all involved its always a general.

Going forward I guess ERCPs will always be done. He can band as normal and check my duct at same time.

I have rolling veins. I have one girl who can hit my veins, but she has become smart enough to alternate arms and back of hands.

I can't roll over, so he's doing better than I am.

I was wondering if he's in a lot of pain. Another reason he might want to take a drink. Maybe he can get an Rx pain med when he sees his doctor.

A good thing to remember for everyone: We are powerless over OTHERS.

Hugs,
Connie

Interesting term for a hernia, Doni, incarcerated :)

Carol, sorry your birthday revolved around hospitals, but I hope it all leads to that goal of treatment :). Happy belated!

Emma, sure sounds like Dougie is paying attention at those meetings, bless his heart :)

I have never heard incarcerated in regards to a hernia. Getting a weird visual image on that.

There is one meeting that Dougie is really connecting with. He is amazed how many men are there. It is a men's only meeting during the lunch hour and there are usually over 60 guys there. He knows some of them, and they have graciously spoken with him after meetings sharing their stories. This is good for him, as he is a very social man, and he misses hanging with the guys.

@ Connie - I never thought about his pain making him want to drink. The two slips before I was out of town were stress and sadness related. The relapse while I was gone...I think that was the fox in the hen house kinda thing. He thought he could have a good ol' time and I would never know. He said he was surprised I could tell he was loaded when we spoke on the phone. He thinks I outsmarted him. Not the case. He just doesn't realize he was thinking with his alcoholic brain, and that doesn't equal rational thinking.

Anyway, Al Anon is teaching me a lot of things too. Like being more forgiving and understanding. Not in a door mat way, but I have always been a black and white thinker...I need to think about shades of gray. Also, I am learning that I need to give Dougie the basic human dignity of making his own choices (not that I could fix it anyway...but I always think/want to) even if those choices are not in his own best interest.

Happy Sunday everyone.

Emma

Incarcerated in regard to a hernia means that it is constricted, with the blood supply cut off. This is not a good thing. It can (and most likely will) cause a cut-off of the blood supply, resulting in necrosis of the intestine.) Usually, a hernia (particularly an umbilical one) can be reduced (pushed back into place), but if it cannot be, it is incarcerated and must be surgically repaired right away.

Hugs,
Connie

Whether your healthy or not being put under is always a risk. It needs to be weighed by you and your health team. I just know that my hep said the being put out is not an issue with cirrhosis as much as if you are having bleeding problems etc. due to portal hypertension.