dr laub recommended general, so i did it.  no problems.  make sure the
anasthesiologist is on your ins co's ppo list.  original charge was
gigantic.

I had spinal for my first prostate procedure (Indigo Laser) and hated the
recovery because of the feeling of helplessness with no feeling in the legs.
Had general anesthesia for my PVP procedure last summer and liked it alot
better although I did need to be recatheterized for 2 hrs after first
removal because the anesthesia locked me up.  If you go general just ask
them to wait long enough after surgery to remove the catheter to allow for
possible complications.  Jim W.

----- Original Message -----

Chockman, that post might have been mine?

I was the one, or one of the ones,  who had a local.  I'm in good shape and
could easly tolerate general or spinal but I chose local.  I had generals in
the past to fix ripped ligaments and other injuries so have no problem going
that route, too.  But when I found out about local for PVP I asked for it.

I did have some previous experience with locals when I had a major stomach
muscle hernia repaired.  Back then they allowed me to go home 1 day early.

So I picked local for PVP.  I didn't want to be knocked out (general) for
such a simple procedure.  I also didn't want to take the unnecessary risk of
a needle into the spine--Yikes!--nor to be held up because of dead weight in
my legs after the operation (spinal).   Also, I wanted to get going quickly.
With general and spinal,  patients have to wait till the anesthesia clears
and they are able to tolerate fluids.  With local, there is nothing to
clear.  I was good to go almost immediately.

Local : almost no pain going in and no pain at all during the procedure.
I was able to communicate  with the surgeon and was alert during the
operation and immediately afterward, etc.   I was drinking water
immediately, whizzed quickly, and the nurses/doctor was happy enough to let
me go home within a couple of hours.

For me, a local anesthesia anytime!   But, for others, it is best to discuss
with their doctor.   Good luck.

"Chockman" <chockman@canby.com> wrote [SNIP...] remember one post where the
person opted for local anesthesia...[SNIP...]