BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuAnesthesia - what to ask your doctor - adultWhat to ask your doctor about anesthesia - adultYou are scheduled to have a surgery or procedure. You will need to talk with your surgeon about the type of anesthesia that will be best for you. Below are some questions you may want to ask your surgeon.QuestionsWhich type of anesthesia is best for me based on the procedure that I am having?General anesthesia General anesthesiaGeneral anesthesia is treatment with certain medicines that puts you into a deep sleep-like state so you do not feel pain during surgery. After you ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Spinal or epidural anesthesia Spinal or epidural anesthesiaSpinal and epidural anesthesia are procedures that deliver medicines that numb parts of your body to block pain. They are given through shots in or ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Regional anesthesia Conscious sedationConscious sedationConscious sedation uses a combination of medicines to help you relax (a sedative) and to reduce pain (an analgesic) during a medical or dental proced...Read Article Now Book Mark Article When do I need to stop eating or drinking before having the anesthesia?Is it alright to come alone to the hospital, or should someone come with me? Can I drive myself home?If I am taking the following medicines, what should I do?Aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), naproxen (Aleve), other arthritis medicines, vitamin E, clopidogrel (Plavix), warfarin (Coumadin), and any other blood thinners Sildenafil (Viagra), vardenafil (Levitra), or tadalafil (Cialis) Vitamins, minerals, herbs, or other supplements Medicines for heart problems, lung problems, diabetes, or allergies Other medicines I am supposed to take everydayIf I have asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, or any other medical problems, do I need to do anything special before I have anesthesia?AsthmaAsthma is a chronic disease that causes the airways of the lungs to swell and become narrow. It leads to breathing difficulty such as wheezing, shor...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common lung disease. Having COPD makes it hard to breathe. There are two main forms of COPD:Chroni...Read Article Now Book Mark Article DiabetesDiabetes is a long-term (chronic) disease in which the body cannot regulate the amount of sugar in the blood.Read Article Now Book Mark Article If I am nervous, can I get medicine to relax my nerves before going into the operating room?After I receive the anesthesia:Will I be awake or aware of what is happening? Will I feel any pain? Will someone be watching and making sure I am ok?After the anesthesia wears off:How soon will I wake up? How soon before I can get up and move around? How long will I need to stay? Will I have any pain? Will I be sick to my stomach?If I have spinal or epidural anesthesia, will I have a headache afterward?What if I have more questions after the surgery? Who can I talk to?Open ReferencesReferencesHernandez A, Sherwood ER. Anesthesiology principles, pain management, and conscious sedation. In: Townsend CM Jr, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 21st ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2022:chap 14.AllVideoImagesTogA Closer Look Urinary incontinence - InDepth(In-Depth)Feverfew(Alt. Medicine)Cataracts - InDepth(In-Depth)Gamma-linolenic acid(Alt. Medicine)Stroke - InDepth(In-Depth)Obstructive sleep apnea - InDepth(In-Depth)Benign prostatic hyperplasia - InDepth(In-Depth)Licorice(Alt. Medicine)Ginger(Alt. Medicine)Omega-6 fatty acids(Alt. Medicine)Talking to your MD Anesthesia - what to ask your doctor - adultAnesthesia - what to ask your doctor - childRelated Information Conscious sedation for surgical procedures(Surgery)General anesthesia(Surgery)Spinal and epidural anesthesia(Surgery) Review Date: 9/30/2024 Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. 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Anesthesia - what to ask your doctor - adultWhat to ask your doctor about anesthesia - adultYou are scheduled to have a surgery or procedure. You will need to talk with your surgeon about the type of anesthesia that will be best for you. Below are some questions you may want to ask your surgeon.QuestionsWhich type of anesthesia is best for me based on the procedure that I am having?General anesthesia General anesthesiaGeneral anesthesia is treatment with certain medicines that puts you into a deep sleep-like state so you do not feel pain during surgery. After you ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Spinal or epidural anesthesia Spinal or epidural anesthesiaSpinal and epidural anesthesia are procedures that deliver medicines that numb parts of your body to block pain. They are given through shots in or ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Regional anesthesia Conscious sedationConscious sedationConscious sedation uses a combination of medicines to help you relax (a sedative) and to reduce pain (an analgesic) during a medical or dental proced...Read Article Now Book Mark Article When do I need to stop eating or drinking before having the anesthesia?Is it alright to come alone to the hospital, or should someone come with me? Can I drive myself home?If I am taking the following medicines, what should I do?Aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), naproxen (Aleve), other arthritis medicines, vitamin E, clopidogrel (Plavix), warfarin (Coumadin), and any other blood thinners Sildenafil (Viagra), vardenafil (Levitra), or tadalafil (Cialis) Vitamins, minerals, herbs, or other supplements Medicines for heart problems, lung problems, diabetes, or allergies Other medicines I am supposed to take everydayIf I have asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, or any other medical problems, do I need to do anything special before I have anesthesia?AsthmaAsthma is a chronic disease that causes the airways of the lungs to swell and become narrow. It leads to breathing difficulty such as wheezing, shor...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common lung disease. Having COPD makes it hard to breathe. There are two main forms of COPD:Chroni...Read Article Now Book Mark Article DiabetesDiabetes is a long-term (chronic) disease in which the body cannot regulate the amount of sugar in the blood.Read Article Now Book Mark Article If I am nervous, can I get medicine to relax my nerves before going into the operating room?After I receive the anesthesia:Will I be awake or aware of what is happening? Will I feel any pain? Will someone be watching and making sure I am ok?After the anesthesia wears off:How soon will I wake up? How soon before I can get up and move around? How long will I need to stay? Will I have any pain? Will I be sick to my stomach?If I have spinal or epidural anesthesia, will I have a headache afterward?What if I have more questions after the surgery? Who can I talk to?Open ReferencesReferencesHernandez A, Sherwood ER. Anesthesiology principles, pain management, and conscious sedation. In: Townsend CM Jr, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 21st ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2022:chap 14.
