Sedation with a local anaesthetic

[Bellini12]

I'm having an op to remove a varicose vein from my leg (radiotherapy ablation) which is similar to the laser treatment.

The hospital were asking me about sedation. I naively said I would be ok with a local but she said it can be quite 'stingy' which I guess is hospital speak for 'really hurts'.

She recommended iv sedation (a drip and oxygen mask). Has anyone had this before? A couple of other people I know have had this op but I think theirs were both legs or bigger so they had a general (which I'm told is more risky and more downtime) and something I'd rather avoid if poss. I'm quite nervous about it as it is!
Any advice?

I have had both the varicose vein ablation and sedation! The sedation was for some dentistry.

Believe me when I say, the sedation is amazing. It's like a day off from your life! It was so stress free and didn't feel weird at all - just a bit like you are happy-drunk and relaxed. I was so nervous beforehand but it was absolutely great. It wore off very evenly too with no comedown.

The varicose vein ablation does sting - I had to ask them to stop and put more anaesthetic in.

I had eye surgery with light sedation and it was lovely.

I felt aware and awake but just so calm and content, its like the 3 drinks in point when the alcohol is kicking in but you're not tipsy yet.

Yes the nurse said it was like going to a paradise island for a while! I wasn't sure what she meant.

So it's enough to have that with a local anaesthetic for vein removal? Can you speak with it (she said I'd have an oxygen mask on). Do you feel sick or it just wears off nicely afterwards?

I had key hole surgery on my eye with 3 incisions into the eyeball, laser and my lens was removed and replaced.

Local anaesthetic and light sedation meant I felt not a thing at all, not even pressure.

I could speak throughout and there was no hangover or anything it just wore off within 30-60/minutes

It just wore off nicely for me, I went to sleep and woke up feeling totally normal.

I didn't wear an oxygen mask as it was for dentistry.

I also had sedation for dentistry work - I slept all the way through it!