Posted on 07/29/2010 1:40:34 AM PDT by Chet 99
(CNN) -- When Carol Weiher was having her right eye surgically removed in 1998, she woke up hearing disco music. The next thing she heard was "Cut deeper, pull harder."
She desperately wanted to scream or even move a finger to signal to doctors that she was awake, but the muscle relaxant she'd received prevented her from controlling her movements.
"I was doing a combination of praying and pleading and cursing and screaming, and trying anything I could do but I knew that there was nothing that was working," said Weiher, of Reston, Virginia. Weiher is one of few people who have experienced anesthesia awareness. Although normally a patient does not remember anything about surgery that involves general anesthesia, about one or two people in every 1,000 may wake up during general anesthesia, according to the Mayo Clinic. Most of these cases involve the person being aware of the surrounding environment, but some experience severe pain and go on to have psychological problems.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
This is classic approach of the Leftist media. On one hand, they appeal for higher standards of care while calling for more government control under 0bamacare. The fact is that standards will inevitably fall as we have seen most notably in the UK. Now when you think of it, how many providers will be willing to take care of a person like this who is a substantial litigious risk? There is very little incentive from a financial perspective. The anesthesiologist seeing this patient will no doubt be very careful, but may even attempt to persuade the patient not to undergo the procedure or find some other excuse to avoid doing the case. For the anesthesiologist, there is no up side only a down side. And now, there is so much demand for medical services so why not take care of the people that will be the least likely to cause a problem?
The bottom line is that difficult patients will have a very difficult time receiving appropriate quality care.
When I helped with angiograms patients were always heavily sedated and never put under a full anesthesia....quite frequently the doctor would talk with the patient and tell them what to expect......there were no resaon to write any about it. It would have been a non-incident
“Also woke up during a colonoscopy... strange that happened to me at my dentist’s office”.
You got a colonoscopy at your dentist’s office? (LOL)
Dentist must have been "moon"-lighting.
I had an angiogram and was awake the whole time.
When I woke up in recovery after my last surgery, I was not breathing. I had to force myself to take a breath and while struggling to get up and scream I almost fell off the cot I was on.
There are no provisions outlined in the Healthcare Bill for anesthesiologist....just $59 government issued clubs
My awake during surgery experience was actually pretty cool.
I had broken my wrist. The doctor had to implant a plate. No big deal. Takes 45 minutes.
Except the damage was worse than they thought. Took 3 hours. They had initially given me enough anesthisia (sp?) for the 45 minutes. So I woke up as they were working on my left arm.
I was intubated and could not speak, but I could raise my right arm. The anesthesiologist said; “You doing OK, want more ansesthesia?” I would nod, and he would dial up more juice, and I would go back to sleep.
Happened 4 times.
And I remember the loud music they had on in the OR. Was a local college radio station that I love listening too.
I never felt any pain. Even though they were pushing very hard to get that plate in.
bump
I had a similar experience, though fortunately I wasn’t in pain. The doc was working with a chisel in my mouth and I could feel the impacts but not pain. I decided it would be best to go back to sleep and did so.
I was awake for most of the time during my colonoscopy.
I even was allowed to walk the surgery room and recovery was short — about a 1/2 hour.
Again, I don’t mind being awake, but NOT for major surgery.
I’m glad you’re fine now Ditter.
bttt
In pre-op, my surgeon asked "why's that tape there?" I replied, "It's a message for you".
Written on the tape...
Shortly after being wheeled into the OR, I was out and have no recollection of anything until the following morning.
However, according to my wife, I did some pretty wild things in recovery.
A sense of humor is good — I’m glad you’re ok now.
Try to make sure your anesthesiologist is an alert and competent person, by whatever means necessary.
‘the noise of a bone saw can be unnerving.....’
Especially when it is YOUR bone! Still beats hip-hop music.
Your dentist gave you a colonoscopy!!! - you sure it was a camera ROTFL.
Cheers :)
Mel
The drugs are fine - they had better give me more of them next time!
Mel
Well, the only other surgery I've ever had was when I had my tonsils taken out at age 25 or so. I was totally out for that.
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