paravertebral block

windingshores

Just wanted to share that on my second mastectomy, I again had a paravertebral block (regional anesthesia) which lightened the general anesthesia, and I needed no other pain relief at all.

The first time around I had the block but for some reason they also gave me a lot of dilaudid, and I vomited, was out of it, still cannot remember visitors etc.

So this time I was very clear and handed a written not to the anesthesiologists requiesting no pain meds.

I woke up clear as a bell and felt great the night after my surgery, ate a big meal, watched tv, send daughter home, no pain at all.Today, I can tell it is wearing off but still pretty good at 30 hours post-surgery.

I did have to be careful not to make movements that might hurt me later, since I wasn't really feeling any pain.

Here is an article on the effects of this kind of block on pain med use and cancer recurrence. It mentions an even better method of pain relief using local anesthetic post-surgery, directly through the wound.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/812680

I am excited to be going flat! And despite my initial resistance, am grateful to my surgeon for suggesting so strongly that I do one at a time.

Moderators

Glad to hear you're feeling well, windingshores! Thanks for sharing your experience so others can benefit!

Keep us posted on your recovery!

--The Mods

windingshores

The other important thing to know is that the first time, I told everyone that I did not want pain meds but got them anyway! So this time I really, really made it clear

I can thank my surgeon. I told her at my first visit that I was very sensitive to meds. She mentioned the block and I looked it up when I got home.

I did not meet with anesthesiology at preop, so the paravertebral blocks I got were requested in the surgery prep room, just before going into the OR: at least at the hospital I used that was okay. I was worried, the first time, that it would be too late.

I heard the anesthesiologist tell colleagues "this patient only takes 10% of usual dose of meds" and I knew I was in good hands. They minimized anesthesia for me as well.

I learned from my mistake first time around and benefited, hoping to spare others from the kind of nausea and, as you say, hallucinatory experiences I had the first time around.

Good luck everyone! Sitting here in my pj's at home and doing fine.

Netflix has gotten me through 4 months of this cancer stuff. Ready to put it away soon, at least I hope.

flannelette

I too had the paravertebral block, quite by accident and LOVED it! I did not know it even existed, was lying on the guerny waiting to go into OR, out bounces this young dr who says "you're lucky I'm your anesthetist today because I've just come from a post-mammo pain clinic where I learned this 24-block and not all can do it. You'll be so happy you did. think about it I'll be back" wow. what to do?

He was so enthusiastic I said yes. WOW. The only thing is, you have to be willing to be awake & sit up on the edge of the bed or guerny while they do it, which felt like someone was totally painlessly screwing a corkscrew into my back. But I was so happy on some thing else in m y IV by then I felt I could do the surgery myself. I said - I feel like I've had a glass of vodka, and then he laughed & said & now, you're getting the hole bottle! and they scooted me over to the operation table for the general anaesthetic.

bingo. It felt like in 1 second I was awake in the recovery room. Very happy. Not remotely nauseous. Clear-headed except I was still a bit high and trying to talk nonsense with my surgeon, who did his best to scurry away. Soon, up to my room where I ate two dinners. Not a hint of pain. Ever. I mean, not so much as a tylenol in the hospital or after I came home.

super highly recommended!

windingshores

I refused tylenol too!

Only want to add that the first time they did mine while I was asleep. I don't know how. I know they did it, I could feel it a little in my back afterward, and also I asked.

The second time, two days ago, it was exactly as you described, with ultrasound to guide.

Glad you had that MD!