[GymJunky]

I was reading somewhere when you have either a Epi or Spinal I am not sure which one you feel like you can't breathe once the numbness kicks in?

Can anyone tell me which one does this? and do you really feel like you can't breathe or is it just panic kicking in?

I really dont know as I was under a GA for my first but want to avoid that this time and be awake, just gearing myself up for it this time.

Thanks,

[Hattie]

Hi there,
I had a spinal block for my caesar and didn't experience problems with feeling like I couldn't breathe. I had some nausea and a bit of a panic attack when the spinal block was done, but then I calmed down and felt fantastic - very relaxed.

Cheers,
Julie

[alybel]

I have had an epi and a spinal and have never felt like I couldn't breathe...

[soapy]

I don't remember having trouble breathing. I do remember shaking a lot though.

[~my happiness~]

Yes I have felt like this before.
You can breathe, you just feel like you can't because the spinal blocks so high up to your chest that you can't feel yourself breathing. It's almost a feeling of having your lungs enclosed, or something heavy on them.
That was with my first and fifth.

They gave me medazalam (sp) which is a relaxant drug which from my experience I would recommend not having. It made me so "out of it" that I barely knew what was going on, and for a long time afterwards.

The way I have learned to 'deal with' this 'heavy can't breathe' feeling is to ask for a little oxygen on your face, they let you hold the 'muzzle part' (sorry can't think of the correct word) so you can take it on and off when you want the air flow.

This is all just the way it made me feel, may be quite different for others. You will be okay though, even if you do get that feeling it is only momentary, and as long as you tell your partner or anath or theatre nurse, they will help you and make you feel more comfortable. Remind yourself just slowly, I am breathing, I am breathing, and you will do just fine. It's such a short time, everything happens so quickly in theatre!

Good luck!

[tle]

I've had 4 spinals and never experienced breathlessness.

[T2Mum]

I also felt short of breath, but I was losing a lot of blood due to complications so I don't think that helped. Like the PP said, they can give you an oxygen mask which makes it seem better.

One thing which I found helpful was that they kept reassuring me that I was doing OK even when I felt I couldn't breathe so even though it felt strange I knew I wasn't about to pass out from lack of oxygen!

[MagickMerlin]

I had a spinal last time and I did have the feeling of not breathing. The anethesist told me to relax it was just because he'd put it in a bit higher? Not sure if it was that or they just told me that to stop me feeling panicy (which I felt a bit too). Way better than my GA experience. The worst thing about it was the blood pressure machine was crunching my arm sooo hard I couldn't stay still. It was so painful, felt like my sholder and arm were being pulled off. Way more painful than anything else regarding the c/s. Haven't heard anyone else complain about it before though. They did loosen it after about 10minutes and it was fine, the rest was cruisy and I was chilled out and peaceful (or maybe jsut high?).
Good Luck! I'm sure you'll be fine, go in positive and remember everyone experiences things differently

[catmeow82]

I had a GA for my first too.

2nd I had a spinal block. i didn't feel like i couldn't breathe. i did feel awful though. i felt like i needed to reposition myself but obviously had no sensation! i also felt a little anxious with all the drapes up near my face. one arm was held down with the drip and the other with the blood pressure cuff. my bub was quite big and still sitting very high (had c-section due to bub not engaging and being 10 days overdue). when the ob was pulling him out i felt really nausious and it was lucky they got the bowl under my mouth in time for the throwing up!!!!
tbh it was awful. it all took so long (considering the speed of the op the first time around!) and i was anxious. In the end it was all so fast really. once ds was out and i heard his cry i relaxed a bit and felt much much better

hopefully that wasn't TMI for u!

[elliebellie]

I didn't feel breathless but did feel nausea and this bizzare overwhelming feeling that I just had to get out of there - like i felt i wanted to literally get off the bed and go home LOL. It passed quickly though.

Good luck!