Found this article. Everyone on this board should take a copy...

http://www.prohealth.com/library/showArticle.cfm?libid=13409

Hi Max!

I read the article. I have read others that say very much the same thing. I have copied it and leave it on my table for my husband, should emergency surgery ever be needed in my case.

Once I just googled "CFS and anesthesia" and there was a lot to be said about what our bodies can tolerate as concerning anesthesia.

I, myself, have gone under with Propofol for two procedures. I tolerated it very well!!! This sedative was listed as a good idea in the article you presented!

As far as healing, I have not had a surgery done where I might have been hours under general anesthesia, so I cannot comment on that. But I have had many friends with CFS/FM who HAVE had surgery. Their healing has been complete, but they HAVE taken a longer time to get back on their feet.

I had a tooth extraction of a big ole whopping tooth in the back of my mouth last year. It took almost two months to heal. My dentist was surprised at how slowly I healed, yet there was never any infection, nor did my CFS symptoms recur and cause me to crash . I was just fine (fine by my CFS standards) during the entire recovery process, it just took longer. So, I would expect that any procedure or surgery that needs healing is simply going to cause us to have a longer recovery period. In my case, my CFS didn't get any worse, at all, as a result of an hour under anesthesia!!

I've had many procedures in the last 21 yrs. Hystectomy, gastric sleeve, EGD and Gallbladder removal were the most intense.
I had propofol for all of them and it was just fine.
I had far more trouble with the painkillers afterward than the anesthesia. Somehow I just couldn't make them understand that even though I am a larger woman I need less meds and am sensitive to all of them.
As far as getting back on my feet as it were, I'd say it was maybe about 1/2 again more time than a healthy person. For my gallbladder (the latest of the bunch), I was in bed for 6 days. Most seem to be there for 3 or 4. I didn't have any issues with healing or infections. I did purposely ask to go home from the hospital as soon as possible to avoid catching any viruses there. I also spoke with my surgeon about prophylactic antibiotics, which they gave me in my IV just before surgery, during and after. Just one large dose. I did my own thing with lots of vitamin C and zinc pre-surg and keeping as peaceful as possible. I had a post op appt a week after surgery and drove myself there, and then went straight home back to bed but that's normal for me.
Hope it's nothing worrisome - and healing comes fast for you.

I've had colonoscopy, and later this last year a minor surgery both under general anesthesia. The second one slowed me down for a while. My only complaint is I can't remember anything.

OMG the article was so validating as are other peoples' experiences. i've had 7 major surgeries since being sick with ME - back, rotator cuff,, etc and just recently neck surgery in november. my experience is that i recover very well as far as the healing process and surgery are concerned, but i not only relapse with the cfs but take a major step backwards. I healed very nicely from my cervical fusion but i am having to adjust to an all new low baseline of functioning. Every surgery has made me worse. i'm sorry to say. and i really did everything in my power this last time to avoid this.

i was taken off all my nutraceuticals and anything remotely herbal for 2 weeks prior to surgery. was very concerned about my neurally mediated hypotension and anesthesia so made this clear to surgeon and anesthesiologist. also saw a cardiologist prior to surgery for complete cardiac clearance (on my doctor's insistence).

i'm sorry i can't offer any solutions that have helped me to offer you Max. i'm still struggling now to come to terms with my loss in functioning and increased sickness.

i can say that there was a difference betwen general and local anesthesia. i had bilateral carpal tunnel surgeries and insisted on local anesthesia and did not notice as big a set back with cfs. i think it's not just the anesthesia but the whole trauma and stress of surgery. i wish you well.

I think it depends on the type of surgery and the individuals level of cfs.I had gallbladder surgery and was severely collapsed and bedridden for 3mths.I had an unsuccessful nasal septum op many years ago and they had difficulty bringing me out of the anesthetic. When I was suffering with pancreatitus, the pain meds were not working and they had to knock me out with an anesthetic and I had an out of body experience. I was looking at my self on the trolley and looking at the doctor standing beside me.I thought I must have died, and felt so shocked, then suddenly jolted back into my body.I later woke up in a whole different hospital as they were unable to monitor me in the first one.
Oh sorry max, I was just flashing back . Don't even consider that you won't be fine.I am familar with the procedure you are having, it's not complicated, I'm sure you will be fine.No heavy long general anesthetic. You'll be up and going in those leopard skin shoes of yours girl.

Since I've had CFS, I've had back surgery (2 hrs.), knee surgery twice (2hrs), a mastectomy immediately followed by a Tram flap reconstruction (10hrs), and three 1 hour follow-up procedures. The numbers in the ( ) are how long I was under anesthesia.

I found a protocol before my back surgery and gave a copy to my surgeon and to the anesthesiologist on the day of surgery. I had that protocol bookmarked but the last time my husband cleaned out my laptop he didn't save the bookmarks. He asked me about everything else but not that. I do remember it said to hydrate the patient well.

As for recovery, I found that it took twice as long as the normal recovery time. So the year to 18 months recovery time after my mastectomy/Tram flap was actually 4 years. But that is extreme surgery with a lot of your internal organs moved and blood supply re-routed. Plus my woman-made breast had no feeling for years but did get itchy. You can't scratch a numb itch.

Recovery from anything takes twice as long. I'm having my teeth cleaned this week and that will take 2-3 days to recover from.

Life is definitely not a bowl of cherries for us. It's more like 50 lbs. of crap on a good day!!!!

I just had surgery on April 7th. Mine wasn't minor (a Unilateral mastectomy) but I found that I did MUCH better than expected. Here's my experience:
beforehand I tried to get well rested, drink lots of spring water and eat as well as possible. That really helped I think.
After surgery, week 1 I felt GREAT. I was hungry and I ate quite a lot, which oddly seemed to be what my body needed.
Weeks 2 and 3, it all seemed to catch up to me and I had some ups and downs, but I did try to go back to work 1/2 time on about day 9 and then full time or close to full time on week 3, which I wouldn't really recommend unless absolutely necessary.

I think good protein helps and I ate lots of lean meat and greek yogurt. I also think it helped me to drink 1 cup of dandelion tea (a diuretic) a day (I waited till week 2) and an occasional cup of nettle tea, which has easily absorbed iron, which ... can't hurt, I think.
I also tried to eat "healing foods" from the super food cookbook. (I ate dishes with onion and garlic with antibiotic qualities. I tried to eat foods like broccoli, spinach, citrus, raw nuts, bananas, berries, etc.)

Be as gentle with yourself as you can afterward. Declaring everyday as pajama day can't hurt either. I had bought some new pretty pjs and robes beforehand and they really lifted my spirits afterward that I wore them all day for weeks LOL.