I'm scheduled for a surgical abortion on
4/15 - I will be exactly 12 weeks at that
time. I have taken 4 weeks wrestling with
this decision and have decided that I
cannot physically or emotionally have this
child. I am petrified of sedation and
general. I had a slight/moderate reaction
to sed/gen when I had a D&C when I
hemmoraged after the birth of my second
child. (Retained placental parts) I was
wondering if a local combined with 800 mg
ibuprophen will be acceptable for pain
relief? I know it won't take care of all
of the pain - but will it make it
reasonable and reduce it to uncomfortable
as oppossed to painful? The clinic
personnel say it should be fine and that
the procedure will take about 3 to 8
minutes. They say with the local that I
should experience moderate cramping while
they insert dilators to dilate my cervix
and then feel pulling and tugging and more
cramping during the suction procedure.
They say it will be uncomfortable, but
bearable and is only a few minutes. I'm
really nervous. They say because I have
given birth vaginally (I have 4 children -
24, 19, 16 and 10 - and my baby days are
over - hence the abortion) that my cervix
should be easier to manipulate/dilate and
the procedure will be easier on me than a
person who has never given birth
vaginally. I'm so scared. Also, is
anyone familiar with complications? I'm
scared something will happen to me. Sorry
for the long, rambling post - I'm just
beside myself. Thanks in advance for
reading!
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Reptar
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 24 Oct 2007 Posts: 372
Thanks: 39
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Posted: 04-10-08 19:25pm
First trimester complication rates are
LOW. You probably have nothing to worry
about. It will most certainly be
uncomfortable, and it might even be a bit
emotional depending on how you're feeling.
You'll probably be fully recovered in a
day or so. It's a simple procedure and
pretty quick. I really wouldn't worry,
you'll be fine. Unless there is something
specific you're worrying about, the
chances of anything going wrong are so SO
low. Good luck!
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amber♥
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 27 Feb 2008 Posts: 38 Location: I hate, Oklahoma
Posted: 04-10-08 20:53pm
The pain was nothing for me. I actually
went HIKING the next day and went back to
work. I think you will be fine. Don't let
people get to you, this is a PRO CHOICE
forum and people with ugly opinions don't
need to post here!
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Carifairy
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 12 Nov 2005 Posts: 2570 Location: Charlotte n.c.
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Posted: 04-10-08 20:57pm
The pain will be VERY VERY intense. I work
in an abortion clinic. It is going to be
painful with local only, but it only lasts
a few minutes.
IV sedation is NOT general anesthesia, and
does NOT carry the same risks!!
IV sedation is a STRONG narcotic which
makes the procedure more comfortable. They
also will use valium or Versed to make
your memory fuzzy.
You could use IV sedation even if you had
a slight reaction to general, because they
are TOTALLY different drugs.
I have never seen a complication in my
YEARS as a nurse in an abortion clinic.
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lucy315
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 25 Oct 2007 Posts: 122 Location: New Jersey, USA
Thanks: 10
Thanked:5
Posted: 04-11-08 01:09am
I really wish people would learn to put
their opinions in the debate forum. This
woman needs advice and support, not
criticism.
hrschk66-
I had a surgical abortion last year, and
am also terrified of sedation, so I chose
to be awake during the procedure. It was
VERY painful (not gonna lie) but also very
quick. I was literally walking out the
door 10 minutes after the procedure. I
drove myself there and back, and went
straight to a diner for breakfast
afterward. I had light cramping for about
2 days, and very light bleeding for about
a week. The cramping and bleeding I get
with my usual monthly period are MUCH
worse then this was!
Good luck with everything!
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hrschk66
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 2
thanks Posted: 04-11-08 06:50am
First of all, thanks to those of you who
replied in a non-judgmental manner. Part
of my aversion to sedation/general (in
addition to the reaction I had to it
before) is that I have very frequent
irregular heartbeats - several thousand a
day - and find that lots of things make my
heart race and beat irregularly - lots of
meds.....so, I like to avoid that. What
types of sedation (my clinic can give it
by injection) would be unlikely to cause a
change in heart rate/rhythm? Would Ativan
help at all? I had a cardiac workup 2
months ago (24 hour holter and echo) and
the cardiologist doesn't need to see me
again - says my irregulars are "normal"
for me unless they increase or won't stop.
You say it will be very very painful
without sedation/general - that is scary.
I was hoping it would be uncomfortable,
but bearable. The nurse at the clinic I
am going to said that most people with a
local only say that it is more painful
than a backache or headache - but less
painful than an earache or toothache. At
12 weeks - how long will the procedure
take from start to finish? Thanks again!
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lucy315
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 25 Oct 2007 Posts: 122 Location: New Jersey, USA
Thanks: 10
Thanked:5
Posted: 04-11-08 22:21pm
The pain is intense, but bearable. I
wasn't screaming out in pain or anything
like that. It's a difficult pain to
describe to someone who has never been
through it. It's kinda like a "sharp
pressure" kind of feeling. A nurse will
usually stand with you during the
procedure, and you can hold her hand as
tight as you need to. The shots actually
hurt me more then the procedure itself.
The whole thing for me (including the
shots) was about 7 minutes. The "actual"
abortion took about 2 minutes. They had a
clock on the wall, and told me to count
down. It helped a lot. The second it was
over, the pain stopped immediately.
Except for very minor cramps. Much
lighter then normal period cramping. I
was dressed and out the door minutes
later. I was glad I chose no sedation
because I didn't have to stay in recovery
and I hate that groggy feeling. I'll put
it this way. If I ever had to abort
again, I wouldn't chose no sedation again.
So it can't be that bad, right?
As for the Ativan, it won't really help
with the pain (I have been on Ativan
before for anxiety) but it will relax you
a bit.
Please don't worry too much. It's over
very quickly.
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Carifairy
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 12 Nov 2005 Posts: 2570 Location: Charlotte n.c.
Thanks: 11
Thanked:0
Posted: 04-13-08 18:06pm
Hrsch-
Sedation is actually BETTER for women with
issues relating to anxiety, stress, high
blood pressure, and even heart issues.
Sedation would not increase your heart
rate, but actually keep you calmer, which
is why it is good for people with high
blood pressure.
AT 12 weeks it will take about 5 minutes.
Honestly, yes, it will be very painful.
But you can get through it if you decide
that you do not want sedation.
You can actually discuss your sedation
concerns with the doctor at the abortion
clinic/office. They have full knowledge of
the sedation that they use, and the
effects of it on the heart.
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