[Aussie99]

I am thinking about having surgery at the end of the year
(elective procedure). But it's under full anaesthetic. I have had full body monophasic PN 4 1/2 years ago and have recovered more or less.

I am on 2 pills daily for mild/moderate BP and take 1 panadol with 9.6 miligrams of codeine most nights for my athritis pain in my hands. No other meds. I have been off xanax for 5 weeks now.

Due to PN I have had some degree of dysautonomia/anxiety disorder and if I still have it it is very very mild. Most days now I am ok.

Can someone offer any advice to me if I am at greater risk for complications from surgery/anaesthetic due to my PN?

I have had 2 endoscopies with local anaethetic without any problems.

Thank you,
Aussie

[nide44]

I don't think that PN (unless autonomic, affecting respiration)
would be of any major concern - either to you or the anesthesiologist.
But I'd make him/her very aware of any medical concerns you may have.
Ask him/her about it, up-front, now.

[Megan]

I guess from an anaesthetic point of view the Dysautonomia may be the thing that needs to be watched closely. Do you get a plummeting BP when not well controlled? The anaesthetist and post surgical staff would certainly need to be aware of the Dysautonomia.

I've been wondering the same thing, regarding surgery and its implication as I have been considering having a bunion done which is starting to trouble me. I am not so much concerned about the anaesthetic complications but more the wound area whether the neuropathic pain in that area will worsen after the surgery. I'd hate to only make matters worse.

[Aussie99]

I do not have autonomic neuropathy. I couldn't even prove I had dysautonomia as it was highly subjective. 2 rounds of autonomic testing have come back normal. My BP is not low, it runs highish and with anxiety it goes up. The only way I knew for sure that I had dysautonomia and not just anxiety is that I had things like goosebumps/chills and sometimes I would go tachy and my BP would shoot up for no reason. This has subsided over the last year or so.

I was definately planning on telling the surgeon. I think I will also call my neuro who specialises in autonomic dysfunction and ask her opinion.

I was just wondering if anyone with widespread PN has had surgery under general anasthesia (sp), and if there was an extra risk involved.