Who put you under? Did you consult with your anesthesiologist before surgery?

[Alue]

Just wondering if any of you consulted with the person that was putting you under before the day of the surgery.  Did you do a per-operative assessment?  If so, how far in advance?   I have some additional concerns with going under.

[Gregor Samsa]

It's standard praxis to consult with an anesthesiologist before the surgery (usually the day before).

[MrFox]

Take it you read this today?

Alcoholic Belgian female anaesthetist who drank four bottles of wine killed British mother after caesarean went wrong’

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2780402/Anaesthetist-charged-manslaughter-British-woman-dies-following-caesarean.html

[Modigliani]

Damn Belgians 

[Alue]

It's standard praxis to consult with an anesthesiologist before the surgery (usually the day before).

That's what I figured, but I would like to well before the day before.  I just have some concerns and want to make sure it wouldn't rule out elective surgery. 

[nrelax11]

Well for me, even if I did consult with my anesthesiologist before surgery,  I was told that it could always change the day of surgery personal reasons, ie, being sick.

[Nataliepryor]

Only 1 hr prior to surgery...go through questions, confirm operation and then see them inside.

[LoveofScotch]

Hi Alue,

Depending on your specific concerns, it might be better to have them addressed in advance by specialists.

If your ticker is a little funny you would want to work with a cardiologist, if your blood sugar is too high you would want your endocrinologist in on the fact that you're having surgery, if you have a history of addiction there are people who can help you figure out how you're going to approach pain control, etc.

TELL YOUR ANESTHESIOLOGIST EVERYTHING, but I would still consider getting your concerns addressed by the appropriate people prior to surgery.

Cheers!

[Alue]

Hi Alue,

Depending on your specific concerns, it might be better to have them addressed in advance by specialists.

If your ticker is a little funny you would want to work with a cardiologist, if your blood sugar is too high you would want your endocrinologist in on the fact that you're having surgery, if you have a history of addiction there are people who can help you figure out how you're going to approach pain control, etc.

TELL YOUR ANESTHESIOLOGIST EVERYTHING, but I would still consider getting your concerns addressed by the appropriate people prior to surgery.

Cheers!

Yea, not my heart, just worrying about my liver.  I drank fairly heavily for a few years and quit when it started effecting my health (hangovers got a lot worse other symptoms etc.).  This was 2 years ago since I quit.  Saw 3 specialists since and all three of them say my liver looks ok, but certain medications seem to effect me differently than they did before.  I avoid medications that tend to be hard on it like acetaminophen, some antibiotics too.   They say the co/post-op morbitity rate for people with alcoholic hepatitis (which I'm not saying I have) is much greater than the general population. 

[Cmonster]

I remember doing a physical two days prior to surgery BUT didnt meet the anesthesiologist till surgery time. What I remember quite clearly is him administering something and instantly feeling my heart beat go from regular to almost out of my chest in matter of seconds then it stopped, will not lie, was somewhat frightening. If anyone else experienced this or knows why this happened would appreciate your insight.

[Rico]

I remember doing a physical two days prior to surgery BUT didnt meet the anesthesiologist till surgery time. What I remember quite clearly is him administering something and instantly feeling my heart beat go from regular to almost out of my chest in matter of seconds then it stopped, will not lie, was somewhat frightening. If anyone else experienced this or knows why this happened would appreciate your insight.

holly s**t I hope its very rare. I had general anaesthesia once in my life, but only for 15 minutes. and when I woke up I felt drunk and euphoric - I wanted to talk
probably this nice effect will not appear after few hours of anaesthesia

but ..I cant get it. You felt like your heart stopped before you passed out ...and then woke up [after surgery] ?

[Optimistic]

You will meet the anaesthetist before the operation, however I believe it's standard to be asked to fill out a questionnaire a couple weeks prior, at which point you'd have the opportunity to write down any additional concerns you have.