advice needed

I had a kidney transplant 22 years ago and it started to get a little cranky last year and I ended up back on dialysis last August 23, 2011.... It was no fun... A very good friend of mine has been tested and cleared as my donor and I will be having my second kidney transplant on August 30th...

While it is great to be finally off of dialysis and to get back to doing the things I love, I can honestly say as the day gets closer I am starting to get really scared....

The thing is I have gotten really sick after all my surgerys from anesthesia and I have a bad fear of it too... Would it be really crazy to be numb and drugged up and not totally put under.... Any advice and suggestions would be greatly appreciated

Thanks

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Permalink Reply by Nic on August 5, 2012 at 9:25pm

Hi Valerie,

You should mention to your doctors that anesthesia makes you sick, they may be able to give you an anti-nausea medication either before or with anesthesia or afterwards. Does not hurt to ask, and let them know about your fear of being under, maybe an anti-anxiety medication too? Good luck with the surgery.

Nic

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Permalink Reply by livecam on August 5, 2012 at 9:38pm

Yea it would be crazy to do what you suggested. No major surgery would ever be performed that way unless there was a shortage of drugs and it was an emergency surgery.

I had a fear of anesthesia too. We all know things can go wrong and before my transplant I was only "under" once before at the age of 7 for a tonsillectomy.

At transplant I specifically requested not to be drugged, no sedatives, nothing, just the general when the time came. I just don't like the feeling of being drugged or not completely with it.

Anyway everything went fine and I was relieved to know that I was awake, alive, and had a good kidney at the end.

Just try to relax until it is time for your transplant and continue to think about how nice things will be with that new kidney. Good luck!

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Permalink Reply by Dave on August 7, 2012 at 5:36pm

Happy, positive, optimistic, future-driven thoughts Elaine, that's the ticket. Nothing good ever came of sad, negative, pessimistic, and past-driven thoughts. I know you will be okay because you still have your sense of humor. Anyone who can refer to kidney transplant rejection as "...it started to get a little cranky," is okay in my book. God bless you, I will be praying for you. Dave

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Permalink Reply by Mark on August 7, 2012 at 5:48pm

lol Dave, I agree on your "cranky" observation :)

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Permalink Reply by Mark on August 7, 2012 at 5:52pm

Valerie, the surgical folks should have done an assessment as to why you got sick on previous anesthesia. It could be an allergic reaction. Please tell them your concerns. Best wishes for you on August 30!!

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Permalink Reply by Mr. T on August 11, 2012 at 8:05am

Hello Valerie, I had a Kidney tx on June 22, 2012 and feel great. Tell the anesthesiologist that is make you sick. They will give you something to counter it. You need to be completly under for surgery.

Good luck on Aug 30th, you will do fine. Stay positive and thing good thoughts, like being in Hawaii.

Where will your tx take place?

Mr. T