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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> Anesthesia or a spinal with CH?
        
(Message started by: Roxy on Feb 13^th, 2006, 5:45pm)

Title: Anesthesia or a spinal with CH?
Post by Roxy on Feb 13^th, 2006, 5:45pm

I am going to have to have a pretty big surgery in a few weeks. I've read enough to be wary of anesthesia triggering a nasty ch when I wake up. Has anyone had any experience with this?

Does the medication they use in a spinal trigger too? I think I might have the option of a spinal.....and to be honest that sounds better to me than being put under.

Does anyone know whether you can take a triptan before surgery....or will it mess with the other medications they use for anesthesia?

I know the anesthesiologist can answer a lot of these questions, but I won't get to talk to him till the day before surgery. I would rather have some information now.

It's going to be five days in the hospital after surgery, and I'm pretty sure my orthopedic doc will arrange 02 for me. If not.....I'm fucked!

Roxy

Title: Re: Anesthesia or a spinal with CH?
Post by Jonny on Feb 13^th, 2006, 5:59pm

Hi Sweets :-*

Just after I was diagnosed, but before I found a cocktail to work for me, I was knocked out and had all my top teeth out. It did not trigger a CH for me...it may be the same for you.

Good luck and I will be thinking of you, Babe!!!!

Title: Re: Anesthesia or a spinal with CH?
Post by Karla on Feb 13^th, 2006, 6:16pm

I just had surgery on my rotator cuff last Monday. I had general anastesia plus a nerve block done on my right side. I was told I could use all the imitrix I needed to but I had to quit the usage 2 hrs before surgery. I have had 3 surguries with anastesia and had no problem with it triggering any ch. I asked if I could have imitrix on order by the dr in case I would need it after surgery. So after surgery the nurses where like how is your head feel? Do you need a shot of imitrix? But I felt fine and didn't need it.

Title: Re: Anesthesia or a spinal with CH?
Post by chewy on Feb 13^th, 2006, 6:39pm

Apendectomy last year. Had everything that could trigger a CH and none did.

Anesthesia, morphine, diluadid, vicodan.

No CH. Go figure.

Title: Re: Anesthesia or a spinal with CH?
Post by Guiseppi on Feb 13^th, 2006, 6:46pm

Had surgery while off cycle, knocked out and didn't wake up with anything. But I was off cycle. I'll keep you in the families prayers for your surgery, good luck!

Guiseppi

Title: Re: Anesthesia or a spinal with CH?
Post by unsolved1 on Feb 13^th, 2006, 7:06pm

I've had anesthesia a couple of times in the past few years. Only once did it trigger a (nasty) CH. I had kidney stones (thanks to Topomax) and had to have surgery. When I woke up in the recovery room, I was in Xtreme pain. I was given an Imitrex injection quickly and the pain stopped.

Chances are that the anesthesia wont cause a CH, but it never hurts to be prepared !

Goodluck

UNsolved

Title: Re: Anesthesia or a spinal with CH?
Post by Linda_Howell on Feb 13^th, 2006, 7:14pm

I've had both Roxy.

Spinal --- NO

Anesthsia ----- Woke up with one of the worst CHs ever, plus the pain of the surgery. Never again.

Linda

Title: Re: Anesthesia or a spinal with CH?
Post by Lizzie2 on Feb 13^th, 2006, 7:46pm

I had 3 surgeries last year, and after 2 of them, I had the worst CH's I've ever had. I had general anesthesia for all 3, but maybe the difference was that the first 2 surgeries were on the sinuses and they also used intranasal cocaine as part of the surgery. I wanted to die when I woke up. Plus I couldn't use O2 afterwards because of the nature of the surgery.

After my bilateral knee surgery though, I was okay as far as CH. Woke up with horrible post-op pain, but they started me on PCA...and then I was taken off PCA the next day. I did have O2 available to me after that one, but I actually did okay the 3 days I was in the hospital.

Best of luck to you and sorry I don't have a good answer!!

Hugz,
Carrie :)

Title: Re: Anesthesia or a spinal with CH?
Post by marlinsfan on Feb 13^th, 2006, 8:27pm

I've had both too (spinal for knee surgery, so no funny jokes, OK!!!).

I believe that the anesthesia is what triggered my last cycle. I had been PF for 3 yrs, and my cycle started 4 days after the back surgery, but the day after I stopped the vicadin. Could've been the vicadin, or just coincidence.

Title: Re: Anesthesia or a spinal with CH?
Post by Dragnlance on Feb 14^th, 2006, 9:30am

Two problems with anesthesia that are overlooked for some reason.
1) Often times make you very sick, so the best advice is to have a bucket close :-X

2) Severe depression. Since CH people have an issue with this already, this is something you need to be aware of.

Since I am not a doctor, I cannot answer the question about the mixing of meds.

Good luck on your surgery Rox!!

Dragnlance

Title: Re: Anesthesia or a spinal with CH?
Post by Roxy on Feb 14^th, 2006, 7:51pm

on 02/13/06 at 19:14:18, Linda_Howell wrote:

I've had both Roxy.

Spinal --- NO

Anesthsia ----- Woke up with one of the worst CHs ever, plus the pain of the surgery. Never again.

Linda

Lol....are you telling me "NO" to the spinal and "never again" to the anesthesia.... ;;D. I'll be damned if I'll have a knee replacement with a local.....LOLOL.

Thanks for the replies, I do appreciate the input. Don't have to worry about the depression aspect, I'm usually in the opposite realm....mmm, that would be pissed off....LOL.

I'm as happy as you can be while contemplating a total replacement, and the builder breaking ground on our new house on the day of surgery..... :o.

Thank God for alcohol,
Rox