Pre-Surgery Anaesthetist Appointment
[ Thursday October 22nd 2026 at 1:13 pm ]
My pre-surgery anaesthetist appointment was interesting in a good way. In 2015 the anaesthetist has great difficulty putting the sedation in my spine. I wanted to understand what exactly was wrong and if having a spinal sedation is dangerous for me in the future. The answer is no. It is just the shape and placement of the bones that make up my spine that made it hard getting the needle where it needed to go. The anaesthetist drew me up a diagram to explain this. If I need surgery as I get older I am not going to want to have a general anesthetic. There will reach a point where this will be too risky.
For my left knee replacement surgery I said to the anaesthetist there haven't been complications from having a general anesthetic when both of my artificial hips were replaced. I also said there weren't complications from the sedation for my colonoscopy and endoscopy. Then I said to the anaesthetist I wanted to stay with what is known to work. He agreed.
We had a discussion about my pain causing nausea. I think he grasps the seriousness of this. He listened while I explained how this affects me. I felt heard. I explained this is likely to be the biggest challenge of getting my pain under control over surgery. My original left knee joint and 2 seromas have been knocking the snot out of me from all the pain, nausea and dizziness I have been experiencing courtesy of these.
He also asked me what my living arrangements are. I explained I live by myself except with my little hamster. Then without thinking I told the anaesthetist my hamster is my little sidekick. He added onto my patient chart that I enjoy my hamster. When you have a chronic condition they want to assess if you are suffering mental illness. They get you talking about your life to gauge how your coping. I just happen to have an overabundance of artificial joints and pain.
The final item the anaesthetist wanted to review with me is the instructions for the day before and day of surgery. This is so I don't so do something that disqualifies me from having my operation. I can't use my blood pressure medication on the day of surgery. I am not to eat anything past midnight. I am only allowed to consume clear liquids up to 3 hours before surgery. The only exception to the liquids is the bit of water it takes to get pain medication into me.
My anaesthetist appointment has gone well. I am pleased. With this done it is time to start working towards getting myself home. I looking forward to the scenery on the train ride back to the city where I live.