I am sorry to hear about the surgery but so happy you will soon be released from the pain. My DH had hip replacement surgery 3 years ago and was not given a general. I was so surprised but since then have discovered that it is rarely given.
I had surgery in September (last month) and was not given a general either. I was so stressed about it but in fact it was completely fine. They gave me an Atavin in the morning due to anxiety and they also administered pain medication prior to the surgery. I slept through the entire procedure.
I think you need to be right on top of the pain medications for the first couple of days - at least that was my experience. I remember my husband tried to stretch it out on day 2 of his hip surgery and spent over a day in pain trying to get it back under control.
Good luck, will be thinking of you. Oh, I also had gravol administered - this is an anti nausea drug here in Canada.

Mary, we do have surgical recovery places here, but not like that one! I'd spend the full two weeks there. My mom has stayed in a couple here over the years, but compared to yours, they looked more like dorms converted to nursing home rooms. If there had been anything nicer here, she would have found it. Good to know that put.me.out is a viable back up option!

Thanks, Glory. Very helpful! And I hear you on the pain meds!

You just need to come out to Beverly Hills!

Carter, big love and hugs to you!

Best to you for your upcoming surgery, Carter.

I had Propofol a couple of years ago for my lumpectomy. The anesthesiologist didn't offer a choice. I LOVED IT. I was completely out to the best of my knowledge, and had the illusion of a deep restorative sleep.
I totally understand why Michael Jackson got hooked. My surgery lasted about 1 hour.

My daughter had this surgery. She said it is definitely worth it. Take the pain medicine and keep your foot up. Are they casting your foot? Hopefully your boys will take great care of you the first few days. I will be thinking about you.

Carter, fingers crossed that all goes well. I can't have general anesthesia because I stop breathing and then they stop the surgery. The solution was giving me the date rape drug, but I don't know what it's name is. A whole herd of anesthesiologists were present for what must have been an unusual procedure. It worked out ok as I no longer have a gall bladder. Just another idea.

Carter, so sorry, but happy you will have relief soon!

A few years ago I had a surgery. I met with my anesthesiologist ahead of time and told him firmly I wanted a local. He said no, absolutely not, he would not think of doing a local. And I survived

So now my bias is that if general is an option, there is probably a reason. Though nowadays they can put you so far under without general that I'm not sure what the difference is really, experientially.

Good luck!

CC, I LOVE your comment! I had to read it to my husband. Now he's looking forward to his shoulder surgery once I'm back on my feet:-)

Debbie, thanks so much for sharing your daughter's experience. I've seen very few regrets about it on the various toe surgery blogs. No cast. I will have a surgical shoe for the two weeks I'm supposed to be in bed full-time. After that, he said he'd put me in a boot if I needed to be out and about.

Joy! You stop breathing with a general? First positive use for rohypnol. So glad it worked for you.

Thanks, Adelfa. I'll go over all of this with the anesthesiologist Thursday morning. If he has any concerns about the propofol doing the job, I'll switch. From the nurse I did get the distinct impression that both options were available, and the decision was entirely mine. We'll see...

Good luck with the surgery, and sending over many advance healing thoughts. xo

Good luck. Hope all goes smoothly. Take care of yourself. I hope those boys baby you like you deserve.

I like general anesthesia. I'm telling you, the ol' complexion looks so good after surgery, lol. Sadly, I can't tell you off the top of my head what the drug used was. But definitely discussed it with the anesthesiologist to pick one that leaves the system quicky, etc. etc.

In any case, a good surgical experience to you!

Hey Carter. I hope you have a great outcome and relief from the pain. I am sure it was a tough decision.

Carter, I'm so sorry that you're dealing with so much pain. I'm glad that the solution is in sight! I'll be praying for you.

Carter, good luck with the surgery. Pain free is a worthy goal.

Oh boy, what an ordeal! Good luck with the surgery and also with men looking after your house while you are recovering!
I have no idea if I had a general or other option for my thyroid surgery but they definitely put me completely out and I had no problem with recovery at all ( and no need for additional recovery devices ) No problems with the stomach either.
I will be sending you healing vibes come Thursday!

Carter, best of luck to you! It's good to hear that you are happy with this decision and ready to get on with it. You've gotten a lot of good advice already. I had the choice of general anesthesia or laughing gas when I had dental surgery, and I took the latter. I felt comfortable. It helped that they covered my eyes with a towel, so I couldn't watch what was going on around me. But they kept talking to me and occasionally reminding me to breathe deeply, so I didn't feel anxious.

Oh, and I like your choice of TV shows! You are set. Ha ha!

Carter - I hope the surgery goes really well for you and that recovery is relatively painless!
I know that if I were having the surgery and got a choice about sedation I would go for the twilight - as the general leaves me extremely nauseous and exhausted for days! Recovery seems so much easier with the twilight - and from my experience if you feel any discomfort during the procedure the anesthesiologist can just give you a little bit more and presto - everything is good!

Wishing you the best of luck.

I've had no experience with general, but I've had both wisdom teeth removed with local (I think with nitrous oxide, not sure). My mom just had surgery in the hip region with a local. For both of us, we really weren't aware of the passage of time. I thought it was ten minutes when it was almost two hours, and she also thought it was brief and had no recollection of talking with the doctor during it. I could see the dentists and hear the sounds and sometimes feel (not pain, but movement) the tools and things going on in my mouth, but I remember being perfectly happy, filled with well-being, and slightly amused while it was happening no doubt due to the drug, It felt kind of like half-napping somewhere comfortable and safe.

Thanks so much to everyone for your wisdom and well wishes. It's the last minute rush today to get everything done before I'm under house arrest;-).

Please ping back in to let us know how it goes.

I'm hoping the surgery goes very well for you, Carter, we'll be thinking of you.