Anyone have any issues with a spinal block that went to high.

[blackduckies]

Girls, I am really scared about what to do..my OB does'nt want me to attempt a VBAC but will let me???? He has really scared me, with all his horror stories I understand they have to tell you the risks but>>>???? I wonder if he is going further than nessecary to deter me???

But I think I am more scared of a spinal block that goes too high.

This happened with my DS and I had restricted breathing and swallowing issues for hours after his birth. A meeting was arranged with an anethestitis to discuss my concerns and I walked away feeling worse..he was nice but he felt that the best way was to do a block that went from above my breasts to my feet, (my last CS emergency blocked from below my breasts to my hips which was great) I was able to push myself up afterwards to help BF my baby, he feels this was'nt enough of a block and that if we try to repeat it I will end up feeling the surgery which will mean I need to be knocked out completely!!!
(This I have to say is a preferrable option to me than struggling to swallow/breath and the fear that went with it.)

My questions are did you request a particular type of block? How often does it occur that a block goes too high? Did it happen to you? Do you know what your anethesitis gave you? HELP I am so nervous!!!!

[Pandora]

My gf did, and they nearly lost her, it was an emergency c/s.
Shes since had a second bub, I will see if I can ask her for you.

[~Minny~]

wow i have never heard of a high spinal block, i thought they all just went into around the same spot. That definately would be scary! The spinal i had with DD went from below the breasts to the knees and wore off pretty quickly i could feel being stitched up. I would ask for the spinal you want and if anything goes wrong they can always knock you our like in my case pump morphine into you so you dont feel much.

Hmm that wasnt much help was it

[*Infinity*]

Blackduckies, I really feel for you regarding your OB telling you horror stories. To me, that's really not helpful at this point in time for you, so I hope you're able to come to some agreement with them about your wishes for your upcoming birth.

As for my experience with a spinal block, our prep for c-section was VERY rushed so there was no discussion about a type of block or how far it would reach. But based on what I could feel afterwards, I'm fairly sure it went from below my breasts, all the way down to my feet. I fed DS straight after the c-section and had no problems whatsoever feeling him attach to my BBs! He had a mighty suck on him. I had no issues with the block going up any further.

Can you request another discussion with the anaesthetist to convey your feelings? Or ask for a second opinion? It sounds like they're really not listening to your wishes and that is just not on.

Good luck

[Heaven]

Mine went too high! It was awful. They tried 3 times just topping up the epidural but it wasn't working on me at all so I had to have a spinal. It went from my neck to my feet. I felt like I couldn't breathe and started to panic. I kept telling them I couldn't breathe and they just kept saying 'yes you can, it's fine, your oxygen levels are fine' and I felt like they didn't get what I was saying, I really couldn't breathe!! It was scary. I remember looking at their faces trying to decide if it really was bad or not bc it seemed like they were just telling me it was fine but really they didn't know what was going on and were worried. I don't know if that's true or not but the next day they came and apologised to me for what happened.

I don't know anything else about it though sorry so that probably wasn't helpful but I know why you're so scared

[Fleur]

I had an emergency CS with a spinal that cut out at my jawline. And yes, it was scary, my BP dropped and I flet like i needed to cough but couldn't. I kept saying 'something's wrong, I don't feel right' and they kept telling me to calm down, asking me what was wrong but I couldn't tell them - just that something was wrong. I heard the aneasthetist going off at someone behind me saying 'see! this is why I don't like using blah blah...' which was a bit freaky too
They then said my BP had dropped a bit, they adjusted my drip, not sure what else they did. It must have helped because by the time we (eventually) got into theatre I was feeling better, it did take ages to get in there though & DH was getting worried. And after that, it wore off early - I regained sensation while they were stitching me up.

It was a factor in my decision to VBAC, and I had an aneasthetist consult while I was PG because I worried if I needed another CS what would I get.
I asked her if I could choose an epidural instead & she said spinal was the preferred option, quicker safer & more effective, and that what I had didn't sound like a bad high block, more of an uncomfortable sensation (Ican't remember her exact words). It did help put my mind at ease a bit although I was still nervous .

Anyway I have no idea what advice to offer, just hugs, I understand your worries; I think like Heaven said it would be worth seeing if you can speak to someone again.

Good luck hun

[blackduckies]

Fleur, that was pretty much the conversation I had, epi is not preferrable, to a spinal...mine was'nt a bad reaction that some people need to be incubated...and it can be a long lasting effect up to 24 hours (all I could think was oh my Lord just kill me now!!!) (maybe they need to sit through a bit of their own medicine and know what it feels like to be in that situation before they start calling it a minor reaction???) and best of all a spinal won't kill you whereas a general can and is dangerous for the baby. I don't know call me crazy, that was'nt all that helpful???

Heaven, I thought if I go into labour I might have the epi, so there is no possiblity of that happening again I have had local injected in around the wound to get me through, I think this would be preferrable to a high block.

Minny I am sure his intentions are good, and I guess thtas what he would hope to avoid, feeling returnign during surgery or soon after..but..I would rather chance that.

Infinity, this might not be who I get (i hope not anyway) and if I do I don't plan on letting him do it to me, they can look up my records and give me what i had last time, I'II take my chances. After he made me panic I did'nt really hear a lot of what he said but I think there was somethign about a lot of aneasthetist give 9 units but he likes to give more to make sure the block works and gives enough pain relief, if most agree 9 works why not him? I have a pre-op appointment next week so will be discussing this a lot further and won't be signing anything until I'm sure..They should be able to tell me who did it last time and with any luck I might be able to have him again (same hospital) he was also excllent in surgery very reasurring and caring, some just seem to be doing a job.

Thanks Pandora, don't worry about asking her..I have thought a bit about it and just won't be letting him give me more than last time if it comes to it, the block from under my breast to my hips was spot on I was able to feed easily and had sensation and it was nice to move my legs and be able to push up etc. Mybe he is thinking if I can move my legs I might use them??? especially if I'm scared???

i guess i take it a day at a time and hopefully i get the chance to labour and it all falls into place? if not go to my booked CS with lots of requests in place.