"Traumatic sedation experience"

I was admitted to the Royal Hospital for Women for a bilateral pudendal nerve block and pelvic floor botox. This is not my first time having this procedure, in fact, I have been admitted several times to the Royal for this procedure but unfortunately I had a very different experience this time.

After I was in the OR and positioned for the procedure, I was given sedating medications before the nerve block. I was terrified to soon realise that the dosage given had not properly sedated me. I experienced searing pain as they administered the blocks and I kept telling my anaesthetist that I couldn't do it and it was so painful. I was moaning and sobbing uncontrollably. They just said that I was okay and I could do it. But I didn't feel at all safe. Never before have I been so awake for this nerve block procedure and it has deeply traumatised me. I just wanted the pain to stop and to receive more sedation. I didn't feel like I was heard.

Towards the end of the block, I had been sobbing and crying so much that it triggered an asthma attack. I couldn't breathe and I was so scared. I vaguely remember being handed an asthma puffer but I was barely able to take it. Shortly thereafter a general anaesthetic was administered for the botox part of the procedure. I had a very rough recovery with breathing and panic difficulties, but the post-op nursing staff were absolute angels.

I wish that I had been listened to when I was in pain during this procedure. I'm struggling to know how to process it and it's left me worried for my next anaesthetic.

I'm grateful that the follow up in post-op and the ward was beyond exemplary with each member of nursing staff, my specialist, and the ward Drs fully validating and showing compassion for my experience. It doesn't erase the trauma, but their care has helped keep my head above water.

I would hate for this experience to happen to anyone else and I certainly don't want to go through it again myself!