hazel,
To use your phrase, "just suck it up" I know your not looking forward to this
procedure but you are one strong cookie and you will handle it well.
The type of anesthesia used is typically is known as
"local with monitored anesthesia care "(or IV sedation). This means
that you get an intravenous dose of medicine to relax or lightly sedate you. An
anesthesiologist, a physician, who is in charge of this part of your operation,
gives the sedation. Then the surgeon injects your palm to "numb it
up". The sedation usually makes you
forget that you had the palm injection. When the surgery starts you do not feel
the incision but you know that something is going on because the back of your
hand and your fingers still are awake.
Some patients fall gently asleep at this point but many stay awake and
are indifferent to what is happening.
Some patients prefer to be more alert while others prefer to be “totally
out.” Although the anesthesiologists are
very good at giving just the right amount of sedation to make you comfortable,
you may indicate your preference to them.
As I am not interested in listening to the surgeon talk I ask to have the 4 cocktail dose of sedation. When the procedure is complete, the Dr. will usually inject the area with a long lasting lidocaine to prevent pain and then they slowly back off on the sedation and you wake up wondering how they can be done already.
Walk in the park, my friend.
Hugs,
Kitt