When you are having a procedure requiring regional, neuraxial, or general anesthesia, you may have a pre-operative consultation with an anesthesiologist, nurse, or physician assistant a few days before your operation. It 's important to let the doctor know all the medications you're taking every day. You will also be asked whether you have ever had an adverse reaction to anesthesia and whether you have ever been reliant on drugs, alcohol, or other substances. The knowledge will help you determine the type of anesthesia you are getting. You should be able to select between regional, neuraxial, and general anesthesia for several procedures depending on your age. In certain cases, a combination may be a better option. For example, even if general anesthesia is required, a regional block or epidural can also be provided to help with pain management after surgery, minimizing the need for narcotic pain relievers when you recover. Using regional or neuraxial anesthesia often decreases the amount of general anesthesia you need, and thus side effects such as delirium, nausea, and delayed bowel and bladder function are less likely to manifest.