Conscious Sedation

Question for those of you who had conscious sedation during your implant... Was anyone given additional medications that would knock you out like benadryl, adavan, xanax, etc.? We're you actually awake during your procedure? Just curious

14 Comments

um, nope.

by justme - 2009-12-29 02:12:02

Awake the whole time...not as sedated as I would have appreciated.

Yes

by ScottishTom - 2009-12-29 02:12:03

I think most people are awake during the implant, I was heavily sedated but still aware of the doc cutting and making the cavity to fit the PM. He was a bit of a joker and talking away to me all the time, he told me at one point all he had to do now was to connect the leads. Next I hear 'aw shit' and he looked round the green sheet and asked if I had a screwdriver as he could not find one in his toolbox.:)

If you are about to get one then there is nothing to worry about.

Wish I Knew ~ ~

by Carolyn65 - 2009-12-29 02:12:24

My cardiologist knows how nervous I am and get more talkative. The more my nerves are shot, the more I talk, or I guess I jabber about anything and everthing to the "extremes".

My doctor also knows I do not tolerate any pain to speak of. I had asked to be put to sleep if that was at all possible during my ablation/PM implant on 10/2/09. As I was moved from my "bed" I was brought into surgery on and on to the "skinny" board they put you on to do surgery, I remember chattering about the "skinny" board & what a "deep freeze" they keep surgery. I kept talking & talking to the point that I do not remember anything else. My thinking, is that everyone in surgery needed some peace & quiet & "they" decided I needed a lil' "nappy". I never remember waking up "in between" surgery areas & hospital rooms, even during my blood clot surgery in 3/09. Nor the times I was in surgery from having my heart stopped/jolted w/paddles many times. I "slept" well.

HAVE A GREAT NEW YEAR IN 2010 ~ ~
Carolyn G. in TEXAS GO UT LONGHORNS 1/7/10

AWAKE

by pete - 2009-12-29 03:12:12

Most are awake during proceedure but with light sedation. The sedation does nothing for me so I an not having it next time. Cheers Peter

Only There For The Start

by Greg in ME - 2009-12-29 04:12:11

I can remember being brought into the Cath Lab and sliding onto the table but after they connected my I.V. it was - DOINK! – lights out, and I don't remember a thing. I know I was supposedly awake because they put restraints on me before hand so I wouldn't "help" the cardiologist with the procedure. My pacemaker placement was a piece of cake but I was awake and aware when they put in my loop recorder – no conscious sedation. Even though the recorder placement didn’t hurt it was a little unpleasant because they had to tug and pull when they made the pocket in which to place it. I’m now a big fan of conscious sedation (I had versed and fentanyl) and would recommend it. If it’s done properly, at least for me, there was absolutely no memory of the procedure. Good luck!

Awake

by Angelie - 2009-12-29 04:12:42

I only had one shot each of the sleepy/loopy medicine for my initial implant (it's usually given in pairs). The second implant, I had the same and was again fully awake, talking and singing.

The last procedure, to reconnect loose wires, I didn't have anything but lidocaine to deaden the skin. I actually am more freaked out about losing control of myself and not knowing what happened while I was out, than feeling a little discomfort. At least I had my wits about me......

-Angelie

Out cold

by Quemal - 2009-12-29 04:12:44

When I went into the OR, it was daylight, when I came out, it was dark. They gave me benadryl to relax me. then gave me something else, and it was night-night time.

I do remember waking up right after the implant, while still in the OR. I remember being lifted off the table and onto a gurney.

Slept through it ...

by mikesmom93 - 2009-12-29 07:12:19

I hate general anesthesia. Always wake up feeling sick and groggy...

This time around they gave me propofol (Michael Jackson's drug of choice to help him get to sleep) and I totally understand why he liked it so much!

They wheeled me in, slid me onto the table, we talked while they got me set up, then wham! Sleepy time. Woke up in recovery feeling great - like I had the best night's sleep ever!

Melissa

Scrambled memory

by annaelliott76 - 2009-12-29 08:12:47

I feel like I have scrambled eggs for memory after my implant. I was out for the procedure which I did not want. Apparently I was talking in recovery and have fragments of memory... all bad. I had a pneumothorax and was wide awake for an emergency chest tube. I do not like being out of control and not knowing what is going on. I'm finding I'm having a hard time and keep trying to put the memories together. Each day more surfaces, none of it good. I feel like this was very traumatic for me mentally. I think the pieces of memory are feeding my anxieties over the implant. I wish I either remembered or didn't. Remebering just enough is tough. Thinking about seeing a therapist.

None

by ElectricFrank - 2009-12-29 08:12:55

I deliberately chose to skip any sedation. The anesthesiologist and I talked it over and he was willing to have the IV line in place, but hold off on giving me anything unless I asked for it. I was very straight about it with him that I wanted to be able to trust he wouldn't sneak some in on me.

The whole procedure was no problem at all. The local shots around the site were mildly painful, but I've had worse at the dentist. I could feel the pressure when they made the pocket and I knew it would be sore later. I also had an incident where someone decided to use the middle of my chest as an elbow rest. When I complained I was told I could have something to keep it from bothering me. I firmly said NO and to get off my chest. I also asked them to stop at some point about half way through and release the arm restraints so I could stretch a bit. I think this kept be from being so sore afterwards.

All and all it was very easy. It was also an exhilarating experience when they turned the pacer on. I could have jumped off the table and run around the room. The anesthesiologist told my wife that he was really surprised that I went through it so easy.

There was one part of it that could be a problem for some folks. They put my head under a "tent" made from the sheets for infection control. For someone who is claustrophobic it could definitely be a problem.

I do have questions about the amnesia drugs like Versaid. When a person is awake and feeling pain the brain records it even with the drug. Otherwise they wouldn't complain during the pain. With my background in biofeedback I'm very aware of the problems that this sort of vague, subtle memories can cause later in life.

frank

wide awake

by pupu - 2009-12-29 09:12:22

I was also wide awake the whole time, not a very nice feeling as such... But the real problem came with the mild (very mild) sedation, because it gradually made me feel more and more nautious. I threw up immediately after getting out of the or, and for several hours afterwards. And I wasn't supposed to move for some time because I had had a temporary pacemaker put in for the operation and there is a danger of bleeding. The other problem was the local anesthetic, which did not seem to work at all. I kept feeling the cuts and needed more injections several times during the op. I had forgotten that I had had similar problems at a dentist some years earlier... But on the positive side, a friend of mine had no problems other than a sore back from being on that hard table for some hours.

Knocked Out Cold

by Pookie - 2009-12-29 09:12:47

I had Propofol. There is NO way I could go thru any surgery without being totally knocked out.

To date I've had 5 surgeries since the pacer with one more coming in January or February.

Pookie

Thank you

by annaelliott76 - 2009-12-29 10:12:51

Thank you for your responses. I've been under conscious sedation before, and was wide awake also. Much as you describe. However for my implant, the situation was much different and concerns me. Hence the reason for my question.

lewanne

by Poohsdad - 2009-12-30 11:12:24

I was wide awake for the whole procedure and carried on a conversation with the surgeon about birdwatching. He had asked before he started about my background as I had somewhat of an enlarged heart with a slow beat. He thought I was an athlete, but I told him it was probably due to all the bales of hay I bucked as a young person. That lead to the fact that I was raised on a ranch and he wanted to know where. I was sure he wouldn't know, but I told him Tulelake and he immediately responded that he had been there many times as he was a birdwatcher. I am now a retired wildlife biologist so we proceeded to discuss birdwatching for the remainder of the implantation. It made the time really fly and he was finished before I knew it. Nice thing was that there was no recovery room time and no hangover. I have had worse times getting a tooth filled. My regular doctor at a followup appointment gave me a bad time about talking to the surgeon when he has a knife in his hand working on my heart!

You know you're wired when...

You run like the bionic man.

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