I completely agree with what I interpret as @Rarebear saying patients can’t guess or really dictate what anesthesia is appropriate for a particular individual or particular procedure.
But, I will give these examples: I requested Diprovan going forward for colonoscopies, so that’s the same procedure over and over. I found out that Diprovan requires an anasthesiologist be present (at least in the state I was in) and is probably part of the reason it wasn’t given to me during an egg extraction for IVF. That extraction was a bad experience for me. My point with that is I didn’t even realize before that why my doctor might be choosing the anesthesia they were choosing. They really played up that they can keep me near consciousness so I’ll know how many eggs they retrieved. Yay! Who gives a fuck if I know then or 30 minutes later? It hurt for zero reason! Midway through I asked for more medication and didn’t know how many until afterwards anyway.
My dad told his doctor the last colonoscopy he had he had a very bad reaction to the medication. They used the same mess again and my dad wound up in the emergency room. Heart rate went down below 40.
When my sister had her nose job the doctor wanted to put her under, my mom insisted on local, or something different than what the doctor wanted to do, I don’t remember exactly. He did it her way.
My GYN once made the comment, “its better under general so the patient is still.” I also inferred and out from what he said. Meaning out, not talkative, not bothering him.
A friend of mine had a hysterectomy under general if some sort and afterwards woke up with a heart problem. They were able to fix it with surgery. They insisted it wasn’t from the surgery. Years later she had double knee surgery under general and woke up with a heart problem. They couldn’t fix it easily this time. I was so pissed they didn’t consider a block or some other option for her below the waist knee surgery. I once saw on TV a reporter did his knee surgery with a block and he filmed it and showed it in a report he did.
Then I have many many many friends who have had no troubles with procedures, so I don’t want it to sound like things are likely to go wrong, they aren’t.
I think discussing anesthesia options is valid. I’m not talking about insisting on anything, I’m talking about knowing your body, and knowing your options. Over time, after having several procedures, you get to know better what works well for you.