Pacemaker Amnesia

The doctor said that he always prescribes Versed so that I won’t remember the surgery. Versed causes amnesia. I told him I want to be awake. The doctor argued, “Why would you want to remember the surgery?”

The nurse told me they don’t prescribe anesthesia, because with Versed you won’t remember anything.

Is it better to stay awake during surgery with localized anesthesia, and not suffer from amnesia, to recover more quickly post-op?

12 Comments

More versed, please

by ellen53 - 2011-09-08 05:09:14

I received a minimal amount of Versed pre and during surgery. Just enough to reduce my anxiety. My bp was a tad low, so Versed was given stingily. Narcotics and bensodiazepams lower bp quickly. Once the surgical site is numbed with Lidocaine you should only feel the sensation of pulling or tugging. It took about 4 hours for the local anesthsia to wear off. Don't worry. If you have any pain during or after surgery, just ask for something.

I vote versed

by Parrothead57 - 2011-09-08 05:09:17

As for myself, having had general and local during past surgeries, I'm glad I did the twilight for my PM. I've had difficult times in the past with coming out of the general. I've gone through 3 previous heart caths using the versed and the PM procedure was very similar.

I have heard that the versed can put you in an almost sleep like state and some people don't remember the surgery. I, however, was fully alert but very relaxed. I joked with the team and listened to the music they had playing. During one song I started moving my foot to the beat and one of the techs said, "Looks like we got the music right."

PH

I have now had 4 procedures

by janetinak - 2011-09-08 05:09:49

with PM ( AV node ablation x2, & 2 PM replacement) with light use of the medication that is used. I believe it is Versed & Fentyl. The amnesia is just for part of the procedure & a very short period of time. I did not think it was much of issue for me. & the usual procedure for this an other short procedures like colonoscopies. I was able to get up an walk around as soon after IV finished, etc. I felt that except for a light fuzzyness I was awake. Hope that helps your concerns.

Janet

Propofol for me

by Gellia3 - 2011-09-08 06:09:44

I've had both Versed and propofol. I'll take the propofol anyday.
As soon as they stop the IV, you wake right up like you took a nice nap. I felt great! Whole time in the hospital was from 7 in the morning to 1pm right after a really nice lunch.

I was able to go home and make dinner and enjoy it. It didn't leave me with that groggy, sickish feeling that versed does and the brain fog is not nearly as bad for me.

I'm going to ask for propofol for now on.

Gellia
P.S. Yes, this is the Michael Jackson drug. You go to sleep and wake up refreshed enough to sing and dance your feet off! Seriously.

Ah, Versed!!!!

by donr - 2011-09-08 07:09:07

My first encounter w/ Versed was for a hand surgery. They used a strong local while cutting on me. Lemme tell you - it beats general like you won't believe. Give me general & i wake up fighting && being more obnoxious than when I'm awake. It's so bad it embarrasses me, cause I know some of what's happening. I also do what the Brits call "Be sick" (That's puke for those who need an explanation.) Had Versed for all three PM jobs & it was just as good & pleasant an experience. I recall some events during my PM jobs - like a nurse sticking her head under the sheet and asking me if I was still there. I also remember them sitting me up to remove a bunch of stuff they stuck to my back.

Propofol is better, but Versed is great stuff, anyway. To kill some of the pain, they gave me Fentynal - an opiate. That stuff sucks. It gives me a hangover, even though it has a short half life & wears off quickly.

I had Versed for 5 cataract procedures & they can control the level of grogginess you experience. For the cataracts, As soon as they cleaned me up, They let me stand up & leave the recovery area. Went home via a cracker Barrel restaurant as if nothing had happened.

Don

I have had Versedseveral times and only

by kathykat11 - 2011-09-08 08:09:44

once did they give me enough for the amvesia effect and the doctor told me before hand that he would be giving me enough that I would not remember the surgery in fact he told me that if I remembered the procudure or the pain that I could do the procedure on him without anesthsia. The story of why that happened is a long one and I won't tell it now, suffice it to say that the amount of Versed used determines the level of amnesia. BTW I didn't get to carve up a Doctor.
Best Always,
Kathykat11

given

by turboz24 - 2011-09-08 10:09:52

I'm given enough medication to not be consious, but not out like general. They do still put a mask on me, but no tube.

I'd never want to be aware during surgery. When my ICD get's replaced, it's being moved to a sub-pec location and I doubt they want you aware for that for sure.

Glad I was awake!

by DawnM - 2011-09-08 11:09:33

I just got my PM about 3 months ago, and was initially very nervous about the procedure itself and hoped I would be knocked out. I was kept comfortable (with Versed and Fentanyl), but not asleep, and was so glad I was awake. The only thing I felt was the initial injection to numb the skin. After that I only felt pressure. My EP talked to me throughout the procedure and I was able to ask him questions (I couldn't see him, of course, because my face was draped to maintain the sterile surgical field). He asked if I wanted more meds, but to my surprise, I didn't. I actually think being awake helped to calm my nerves, as it normalized this experience for me. It was also great to listen and hear the interactions my doctor had with the other cath lab staff, and see he had just as great a bedside manner as I had experienced in his office. Most patients though are kept in a "twilight sleep" for this procedure. Because I wasn't asleep, I did not have the amnesia from the medication. Hope you have as stress free surgical experience as I did. God bless!

versed

by kiml1123 - 2011-09-09 03:09:56

I was given versed during my c section and the Dr said it made me hallusinate and not to use it again.
I dont recall wht I ws given during my pacemaker surgery.When I had it replaced last year they gave my valium. I felt everything, The Dr injecting the lidocane, to cutting my chest open . I remember screaming.. He numbed me again and cut again.. until they finally got the meds right and put me out.
I highly recommend letting them use it. It is only to make you comfortble.
I will now chance the hallusinations before I have another surgery without versed...
Good Luck

Scary biccies

by ncrawford - 2011-09-09 08:09:15

wow this sounds scary!
its like being out on a night out with a couple too many!
if u dont remember the pain does it mean it really happened? its like the "if a tree falls in a forest and no one is there to hear it does it make a sound"
hats off i think id be terrified to go into an op to know i would be going through hell even though the 5 ops i have had have been terrible pain!

wide awake and talking

by rvrs708175 - 2011-09-21 06:09:34

Three years ago, I was wide awake and talking to the dr. It was interesting, and I do recall every minute of the 14 minutes he said it took. I was comfortable and don't know what was used.
Best wishes
Ann

who wants to remeber surgery

by spearhead9399 - 2011-09-27 12:09:55

Surgery sucks, its bad enough that we all hace PM to start with, the last thing I want to remeber is the surgery. I've had 3 (age 39) and I only slight remeber the middle surgery and it was extremely painful, not to mention the erie feeling of them cutting my chest open. I didn't feel any pain,but it kind of felt like the surgeopn was drawing on me with a pencil, but mentally I knew what he was doing.

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