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Epilepsy and Anesthesia
Sun, 09/03/2006 - 10:45Topic: New to Epilepsy.com
Have any of you with epilepsy had any type of surgery where you had to be put under general anesthesia???
I am scheduled to have surgery on September 15th and I am very worried about being put under. Both my plastic surgeon and my neuro. say I "should" be fine, but i'm worried. My seizures have ALWAYS occured right after waking up in the morning so I worry about waking up from the deep sleep of anesthesia. I also have switched meds about two months ago and had a seizure last week, had bloodwork done yesterday to test levels. If there is anyone out there that can shed light on this worry for me....please do!!
Kristin
Comments
Re: Epeilepsy and Anesthesia
Submitted by Buggytrtls on Mon, 2006-09-04 - 10:11
I might have to have surgury on my leg in the next couple of months and I am scared because my Gm's usually happen just before I fall into a deep deep sleep ( or so I have been told by my bf, who has witnessed them). Do you think I should be worried. I have another question as well. I have been on Lamictal for about a month now,, when do they normally check your blood for levels. I am new to this and have only had epilepsy now for about 3 months.
Re: Epilepsy and Anesthesia
Submitted by Mactheknife on Sun, 2007-04-08 - 05:37
Hi Kristin,
I'll tell you about a nasty experience I had a few years ago after surgery, but DO NOT WORRY.
After general anaesthetic to manipulate a frozen shoulder I had 5 fits in a row - unconscious for 3 days. Why? Because I was given the wrong anaesthetic. Speak to your doctor and to the anaesthetist and DEMAND a guarantee you'll get what's right for you.
I was given probophol, which is a very good anaesthetic for most people. But for epileptics it can have the side-effect of blocking ant-convulsant medication in the liver so that it doesn't reach the little gray cells. :-)
Good luck, but please don't worry.
Iain
Re: Epeilepsy and Anesthesia
Submitted by SaraOwens on Sun, 2006-09-03 - 11:59
I've had the same fear! I went to get a tooth pulled, and was afraid they might put me out. They didn't, just gave me a local shot, but the fear still stands for me. My GMs occur right before I wake up, too. I've learned from one doctor I visited that GM's happen during a particular stage of REM sleep. There are 5 stages, I believe, and the 4th one is the doozy. The stages represent how fast the neurons are traveling in your brain. In each stage the rate of travel changes, and during the change is when a seizure is likely to take place. So, I think that if you're put under, your neurons may stay at the same pace, until you start to regain consciousness, and by then your surgery should be over. As long as the docs are aware of your epilepsy, you should be fine. I told my dentist about it, and they didn't have a problem! I'm sure there are many epileptics who have to deal with these same issues! Don't worry! Knowlege is the key to beating fear!