GRS Brassard Next Week...Nervous! Have some questions.

[nicolegn7]

I am having my GRS with Brassard next week. I have a few questions if anyone would be kind enough to answer.

1). Spinal or General Anesth? I've done general twice (FFS and Adams Apple) and I've been fine. I heard that it's easier to recover from spinal, is this true? I really don't want to risk waking up. Nor do I want to "forget" what happen because that means I was up at some point! Is general really that bad to do?

2). Right after surgery how where you feeling? Where you coherent or knocked out?

3). How painful is it? Be real ladies, I know some of the girls exaggerate lol. I had my chin/jaw shaved and recontoured and it was more uncomfortable than painful. On a level of 1-10 how bad was it? Was it agonizing pain or just pain that you can deal with?

4). Does the pain meds they use in Canada work well? I keep hearing they inject you every so often with the pain meds. In USA they usually have an IV in you with a bag and inject the medication in the bag so they dont have to keep poking you with needles.

5). Any tips/recommendations for a quick and fast recovery?

Thanks!

[Devlyn]

My friend told me that FFS was a lot more painful for her than SRS, that's all I got.

Hugs, Devlyn

[mrs izzy]

They use the spinal and asleep method. Finds it better for patient and the spinal is deep do last longer to manage pain.

Yes groggy and tired after.

As anyone pain is there own. Me it was around a 5 first 2 days with a few spikes to 8

Yes they give shots of pain meds in the hospital as needed. I had one and after went with pills.

You will be asked to stand and walk the first night if possible with more the next day.

Tips in hospital and residence lots of walking and high fiber meals. Prunes!

[Jenna Marie]

I had the spinal, and no issues with it. (I did wake up really queasy, but they said that was the morphine, not the anesthetic.) I was basically alert and coherent as soon as I left the recovery room, which was about an hour post-op.

At its worst, the pain was about a 5 - the nurses did keep asking using that scale, too - and that was day 1. After that I'd say it never got past a 3, and when controlled with painkillers it barely registered. (Except for bladder spasms from the catheter, which hit on day 3 and made it all the way to an 8.)

I, at least, had an IV running and they injected the pain meds into that. As far as I know, I got morphine, oxycodone, and Demerol, all of which are available in the US too.

I second the suggestion that being mobile and active really seemed to help speed recovery, and it's certainly Brassard's personal philosophy.

Good luck!!

[dkl]

5 mos post op with Brassard.

I too was not sure about the spinal, I expressed my concerns with the doctor and anesthesiologist and they both assured me that I would not wake until after, and I would not feel anything. I remember waking shortly after and asking a question regarding my surgery,  I think I was aware at that point, but obviously still foggy. Pain was not that bad, they manage the pain real well. I started to feel a little queasy on the elevator ride back to my room, and continued to be most of the first night. Each day is a huge improvement over the last. You are in very good hands. The doctors, and nursing staff are awesome.

[dkl]

Oh by the way congratulations, and good luck.

[jfong]

Thanks so much for the info, made me feel much better with what's coming in 2 weeks


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[nicolegn7]

Thank you so much ladies, it really makes me feel much more better!

[Jenn_nb]

Thanks for asking the questions Nicole and thanks everyone else for answering.

I also have a question:   In the documents I received from Brassard's office it states that IF we are active post-op, we may be able to resume taking our hormones.  Can you girls verify when you were able to start taking your E again? I'm worried about being off my HRT for an extended time.

Thanks.

[mrs izzy]

Started back the day I went back home.

[PinkCloud]

I also have a question:   In the documents I received from Brassard's office it states that IF we are active post-op, we may be able to resume taking our hormones.

My endo said around two weeks after surgery. But every endo/surgeon might have other ideas. I stopped estrogen 7 weeks ago for surgery. I do not notice any change.

[Expressgirl]

Has anyone had pain in the epidural area after surgery? I do not mean like a couple of days, but I heard that there can be random pain at the injection site for months or years later.

[Jenna Marie]

I was allowed to restart estrogen the day I left for home (but I hear things may have changed, that was over two years ago).

No epidural site pain, at the time or later...

[dkl]

Began E after getting home. No pain at epidural site

[mrs izzy]

Same as the last two girls.

Vajayjay will take all your pain management attention.