Going Under: Preparing Yourself for Anesthesia : Your Guide to Pain Control and Healing Techniques - Before, During and After Surgery [Paperback]

Monica W. Furlong (Author), Elliot Essman (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

No one who has undergone surgery can downplay the part played in the ordeal by anesthesia. Whether a godsend or a necessary evil to be endured, both kinds of experiences would have benefited the information contained in Going Under. From the outset, the coauthors offer this levelheaded perspective: "More than 23 million surgical procedures are performed in the United States annually. That averages to more than 63 thousand a day; or about 42 every minute. Surgical personnel in America are among the world's finest, but, obviously, they are also among the world's busiest.... your own input into the equation is crucial." This helpful guide converts the mystery surrounding anesthesia into information that can lead to good choices.

Looking at pain control from many angles, Going Under gives brief histories and easy-to-read descriptions of local, general, and spinal anesthetics. A highly informative and fascinating book for the general reader, it proves invaluable for anyone facing post-op pain and recovery. Thirty chapters offer information on alternative systems of medicine, pain as a learned phenomena, anesthesia in childbirth, and healing, plus much more. It also offers a welcome look at the medical field's bias against narcotics that forces some patients to "tough it out" instead of finding appropriate relief. In short, Going Under teaches everything you need to know about managing your postsurgical pain and helping you set realistic goals for your recovery.

Product Details

• Paperback: 190 pages
• Publisher: Autonomy Pub Co (November 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0963645161
• ISBN-13: 978-0963645166
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #885,205 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Filled With Useful Information For My Surgery, June 24, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Going Under: Preparing Yourself for Anesthesia : Your Guide to Pain Control and Healing Techniques - Before, During and After Surgery (Paperback)

I found Going Under filled with useful information that helped me get through my recent hernia surgery. Sometimes you get skeptical about relaxation techniques, but the ones given here really worked for me. I also like the tone of the book. It is respectful yet informative.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very practical health writing., April 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Going Under: Preparing Yourself for Anesthesia : Your Guide to Pain Control and Healing Techniques - Before, During and After Surgery (Paperback)

I have enjoyed Dr. Furlong's television show on public TV for some time, especially because she shies away from easy answers to tough health questions. Going Under is a book without the usual fill. Even though mind/body techniques seem to be paramount in Dr. Furlong's philosophy, she is not afraid to bring up the issue of the appropriate use of narcotic drugs for surgical pain. I understand pain issues better now that I have read this book.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Helped me immensely with my surgery., April 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Going Under: Preparing Yourself for Anesthesia : Your Guide to Pain Control and Healing Techniques - Before, During and After Surgery (Paperback)

I want to commend Dr. Furlong for her unique contribution to books on healing. The techniques she outlined were excellent and helped me get over a lot of my apprehension before my surgery. A thorough book like this in this area was needed.