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Originally posted by oldbill123:
Wife had surgery yesterday. Doc sez he prefers a sudden tear repair to those of normal wear and tear.
Wife has apnea with shallow breathing. Arm has been paining her for months. Initial diagnoses was frozen shoulder. She lifted up the corner of the mattress and felt shoulder pop. Torn bicep also.
The issue. After the nerve block in the shoulder, she lost control of most of her voice, 1/2 of diaphragm, and droopy eye. Supposedly all normal. In recovery, when she would fall asleep, her o2 would drop and trigger the alarm (set at 84). They claimed it would be that way as long as the block was effective - 12-16 hours. Since they want you to start the narcotics before the block wears off and she was already sleep deprived, I asked them how we were to deal with the low o2. Their advice was they could xfer to an Emergency room at a hospital as the out patient facility closed in 2 hours-if we were uncomfortable being discharged.
So, if you have apnea be aware. This occurred while she was using her CPAP after the procedure. These are somewhat common side effects of the block.
I had an o2 sesor at home and had purchased an old o2 machine years ago for hobby use. Had never used the O2 machine.
I don't know how low the o2 would drop if I just let her sleep