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Getting Over Going Under: 5 Things you Must Know before Anesthesia Reviewed By Fran Lewis of Bookpleasures.com
- By Fran Lewis
- Published November 8, 2010
- Health & Fitness
Fran Lewis
Reviewer Fran Lewis:
Fran worked in the NYC Public Schools as the Reading and Writing
Staff Developer for over 36 years. She has three masters degrees and
a PD in Supervision and Administration. Currently. She is a member of
Who's Who of America's Teachers and Who's
Who of America's Executives from Cambridge. In addition,
she is the author of three children's books and a fourth Alzheimer’s
book is Memories are Precious: Alzheimer’s Journey: Ruth’s story
in honor of her mom. Fran
hopes to create more awareness for a cure of Alzheimer.
She
was also the musical director for shows in her school and ran the
school's newspaper. Fran writes reviews for authors upon request and
for several other sites. You can read some of my reviews on Ezine.com
and on ijustfinished under
the name Gabina.
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View all articles by Fran Lewis
Author: Dr. Barry L. Friedberg M.D.
ISBN:
9780982916902
Publisher: Goldilocks Press
Click Here To Purchase Getting Over Going Under: 5 Things you Must Know before Anesthesia
Going to the doctor is not one of my favorite ways to spend a day.
Hoping for a glowing report you try and prepare for your visit, having
the answers the doctors wants at your fingertips and never thinking
that anything could go wrong. Optimistic, you enter the exam room and
get ready for the doctor to make an appearance and do the required
exam so that you can get on with your day. But, after the
doctor does his preliminary tests, exam and more you are told to go
to a lab or diagnostic center to confirm what he/she thinks might be
causing a problem that you might not even be aware of. When all the
results are in you hear the dreaded word: OPERATION and if you are
like me: TURN PALE. It is not the operation that concerns you it is
the anesthesia. This brings me to my review of Getting Over Going
Under: 5 Things you MUST know before Anesthesia by Dr. Barry L.
Friedberg. After reading my review and this book your fears should be
allayed and you will definitely be informed.
Dr.
Friedberg begins by explaining the major side effects of anesthesia.
They are walking up nauseous, headaches and damage to your brain. Dr.
Friedberg explains the importance of using a brain monitor during
surgery enabling the doctor to know you level of brain awareness.
This monitor is attached to the forehead of the patients monitoring
your brain function throughout the surgery.
The
Goldilocks Anesthesia method created by Dr. Friedberg means just
that. As Goldilocks entered the home of the three bears and tested
the porridge, sat in the chairs or slept in the bed she prefaced each
with: This is too hot, too cold or just right when dealing with the
food. Dr. Friedberg’s message is loud and clear. You want
anesthesia that is just right for you, not too much and definitely
not too little where you wake up in the middle of surgery in terrible
pain.
“A device called the bispectral index measured
brain activity and consciousness during sedation and general
anesthesia,” states Dr. Friedberg. This device allows the
anesthesiologist to monitor the brain. Brain monitoring is definitely
paramount for patient safety.
Throughout Chapter 2 the
author describes in detail why many of us, including him fear going
under and how understanding the Friedberg Method of Goldilocks
Anesthesia will allay your fears. Explaining to the reader or a
potential surgery patient why propofol, is a wonderful and effect
anesthetic drug that has a quick onset and quick recovery profile. It
is an anti-nausea drug. That sounds great. Imagine getting up after
surgery and throwing up you guts. Having heard of isoflurane,
sevoflurane and desflurane, I would love to have been more enlighted
before my surgery two years ago. My primary concern before
undergoing surgery two years ago was the side effects of the sedation
being used. I was not afraid of the major operation I was about to
undergo. I delayed the surgery for one hour until my questions were
answered and prayed they were right ones. I still would have
liked to have known about the brain monitor and propofol. Being an
anti-oxidant the author states that the above-mentioned sedations are
called “stinky gases,” are known to raise blood markers for
inflammation, which might contribute to the growth of cancers. The
rest of the chapter explains more about this drug, the brain monitor
and other drugs that are often used during surgery.
The
author continues with the five most important things you need to know
before undergoing surgery. The one point that prominently stands out
is that you have the Power to get this type of anesthesia and can
decide to go to another facility to have your surgery if the team
performing yours, will not address and respect your wishes. Dr.
Friedberg includes five questions to ask your doctor to see if he/she
is the right one to operate on you.
The Nine Traits of an Empowered
Patient is included in this book. Chapter 12 explains in detail these
nine traits. The three that stand out are persistence, confidence and
being totally informed which helped me when meeting with the surgeon
that performed by operation two years ago. Agreeing with Dr.
Friedberg about being concerned about waking up the same person you
were before, asking questions about what type of anesthesia was going
to be used, surprised my doctor when I questioned him, because he was
not used to dealing with someone so informed. I was not questioning
his skills; I was concerned about not waking up disoriented and sick.
Chapter 13 is crucial for the reader to fully understand. Do not be
intimidated by your doctor. Ask your questions and as Dr. Friedberg
states, do not become confrontational. “Start out as if your doctor
is going to agree with you.” Acting calm and not reacting poorly
will give you greater leverage to getting what you want. Taking the
author’s advice to Listen first and Talk second is definitely
crucial. Hear the other person out before presenting your argument. I
always take notes when meeting with anyone and I write questions as I
hear what they are saying. Listen, be informed and then state your
views after hearing what the other person has to say.
The rest of the
tips you will have to read for yourself. I cannot give away
everything since I feel everyone should get a copy of this great
resource in order to become more knowledgeable about Dr. Friedberg’s
method of anesthesia and the vital information he’s included to
make you an informed and empowered patient. Read the Patient’s Bill
of Rights, Doing Research to make you more informed when meeting with
your doctors, and the checklist at the end of the book, which
summarizes the questions, to ask before GOING UNDER.
Click Here To Purchase Getting Over Going Under: 5 Things you Must Know before Anesthesia