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Anyone know about General Anaesthetic?

54 replies

Littlestelephant · 19/05/2021 08:31

Im due to have one tomorrow and I'm really scared. I also have TMJ issues and forgot to mention it at Pre Op. I'm so scared it's going to cause airway difficulties. I think I need to be handed a massive grip basically.

OP posts:
Littlestelephant · 19/05/2021 20:19

My mistake was Googling TMJ deplaced disk & General Anaesthetic. All the horror stories come out of people getting lockjaw and not being able to be intubated. Never Google anything ever is obviously a lesson I'm yet to learn!

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Littlestelephant · 19/05/2021 22:29

I've also been writing letters to my family in case I die. So I've truly now gone over to the insane side. I will be fine.

OP posts:
JustFedUpOfThis · 19/05/2021 22:33

I absolutely love them. If I could get one when I got my haircut I’d take it.

Please don’t worry - modern anaesthetics are amazing.

Mummysgonetobed · 19/05/2021 22:38

I’ve had several GA’s and also 3 spinals and I’ve met a lot of anaesthetists and I have to say they have all been bloody brilliant. I’ve felt so reassured and cared for by them. The most amazing people. They’ll talk you through it all, tell them you’re scared and they’ll help you, I promise.

peaceanddove · 19/05/2021 22:53

Bizarrely I enjoy them and have had several. Latest one was last Saturday. My anaesthetist was lovely and funny and when he was about to inject into my cannula asked if I preferred it to be gin & tonic or vodka & tonic? I started to reply a vodka & tonic please but was gone before I could finish the (short) sentence. When I came round apparently I had a long chatty conversation with the recovery nurse about Game of Thrones which I cannot recall at all Smile

I actually find having a GA reassuring because you know you're in the hands of someone who is exceptionally highly trained and experienced x

Lovemusic33 · 20/05/2021 07:46

Good luck today OP, my surgery is late morning, I hope I don’t get left hanging around, waiting is the worst bit, being knocked out the best bit 🤣🤣. I am a emetophobe so the worst bit for me is worrying about being sick afterwards, it kind of scares me more than dying. I booked a holiday last night to give me something to look forward too and joked with a friend about her having to look after my pets if I die 🤣

Good luck, I’m sure all will be fine for both of us.

Littlestelephant · 22/05/2021 11:18

How did it go @Lovemusic33? I hope you are recovering well.

My op has been rescheduled for Tuesday. I've had to spend a few days in hospital first. It's making my anxiety worse. Just want it all to be over now!!

@Greybeardy my op is to remove breast cancer so think it can only be done under general. Hopefully I will meet the Anethestist before Tuesday and I can ask all my questions. (Hope that won't annoy him/ her too much)? Having not spent much time in hospitals before now I have a new found respect and think you are all amazing by the way!

I've found out that my TMJ disk slips out of my place when I open my mouth. Really worried about the General because of that and worried that the surgery will make it worse. My jaw is already very clicky and painful. I can just but only just open it wide enough.

Thank you everyone for your advice and support it has meant a lot. Brew Cake Flowers

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PaperMonster · 22/05/2021 12:10

@Littlestelephant I hope your op goes ok. I had a GA and couldn’t open my mouth, so all the tubes went down (or should that be up?) my nose. So if your TMJ proves to be problematic they can deal with it.

Littlestelephant · 22/05/2021 12:55

Thank you @PaperMonster.

I would prefer them to go up/down my nose just so I could stop worrying about it. Grin Only 3 more days and then hopefully it will also be over and I will be able to reassure people who post about being scared of GA themselves!

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PaperMonster · 22/05/2021 14:39

@Littlestelephant it’s not an easier option - but it can be done.

AbsentmindedWoman · 22/05/2021 15:00

I hope your operation goes well OP (and others having procedures) and I'm sure it will be fine regarding the anaesthesia.

Remember to come back and update us when you can!

Lovemusic33 · 22/05/2021 19:09

My surgery went well, was scheduled to go in at 2pm but went in early. Was home by 7pm. I feel like I’ve been hit by a bus but am recovering, today I feel a bit more human. My veins collapsed when I went into surgery so took ages to get a line in me, ended up putting it in my wrist which was really painful, my heart rate then shot up so I was given a pre med, I don’t remember anything after that 🤣.

Littlestelephant · 24/05/2021 14:59

Now my surgery is scheduled for tomorrow I'm back to panicking. I would quite like it to be delayed again really. Grin

I think I have dislocated one of the discs in my jaw or similar. It looks very strange when opened. I will talk to the Anaesthetist about it. Will they be able to assess if the surgery is safe to go ahead?

OP posts:
Lovemusic33 · 24/05/2021 17:00

You will get to talk to them before the surgery to discus anything. They were really good before my surgery and asked if I was worried about anything, I told them I have a phobia of being sick so they said they would give me extra anti sickness meds. I'm sure they will discus any worries you have and put your mind at rest.

QweenJinx · 24/05/2021 19:11

Ask for a pre med if you're anxious. I had to have one as my pulse rate was through the roof. It's perfectly normal to be anxious- but they will take excellent care of you 🌸

PaperMonster · 24/05/2021 19:16

@Littlestelephant wishing you well and giving you a virtual handhold for tomorrow xxx

WingingItSince1973 · 24/05/2021 19:54

Smooth recovery to you. I've had 2 GAs before and felt like I had a lovely sleep. The anaesthetists were absolutely wonderful and would totally understand your fears. So sorry its for breast cancer! I hope that's all sorted too xxx Take care xxx

Littlestelephant · 24/05/2021 20:20

Thank you. If it wasn't for the jaw issue I would be much less panicked. It just feels like it will lead to complications. And could be something that an Anaesthetist could miss? I've spent the day hiding in the bathroom so the children don't see me cry.

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Zoladrama · 24/05/2021 20:35

Another GA lover here! Easy to say but don't worry OP, you'll get to speak to the anaesthetist before anything happens. The anaesthetist came and had a chat with me on admit way before my procedure. Once the induction drug goes in everything relaxes so I would imagine that will make intubation easier. Plus I'm sure the staff will have experience with such issues. Good luck.

Littlestelephant · 24/05/2021 21:17

My dentist seems to think my jaw could be slightly dislocated which is what's worrying me so much. I'm falling to bits. I will speak to Doctor in the morning about it but I'm just so frightened.

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Lovemusic33 · 25/05/2021 07:42

Good luck today, hopefully it will all be over with quickly with no complications.

My daughter has issues with her jaw and is actually waiting for surgery to have her jaw broken and extended. I will be a mess when she finally has surgery 😬.

Just remember that the surgeons are really experienced and you will be in the best hands. Have a pre med if offered, I was given one after my heart rate shot up due to not being able to get a line in for ages. I can’t remember much after the pre med.

SpindleWhorl · 25/05/2021 07:44

Good luck 👍

Shareddriveagghh · 25/05/2021 09:03

I have assisted at many general anaesthetics though they were all for dental treatment so the tube is put up a persons nostril. I can see you have had your fears allayed by other posters. Please try not to worry. I always look on anaesthetists as unsung heroes they have always tended to be very calm and very clever types, I have worked with a few.

I wanted to write more about your TMJ. It is almost always related to anxiety. The anxiety gets treated, the TMJ improves. I remember being told this when I was really young and in training. I was also told by the male lecturer that it was almost always women that suffered from it. I actually suffer from it when very stressed myself though on a far more minor level.

I found one thing helped me and that was very gentle face massage it is almost like brushing your face because the touch is so light from the chin up to the joint in the slowest way possible using the back of your hand.

The other thing of note is getting in touch with Macmillan, because if you have any emotional, medical questions and financial issues then they can advise you.

I would advise not googling any random sites, look at Macmillan and NHS websites for help at this time. I loved my time working for the NHS but couldn’t stand the hours so retrained after six years.

I hope you have someone who is going to spoil you post op, no running about after just plenty of rest. Netflix, nice food, good books.

Shareddriveagghh · 25/05/2021 09:09

Lovemusic33 I have seen the outcome of this type of op it’s very life changing as apart from the actual structural issue being addressed it inspires confidence in the patient.

Lovemusic33 · 25/05/2021 10:28

@Shareddriveagghh

Lovemusic33 I have seen the outcome of this type of op it’s very life changing as apart from the actual structural issue being addressed it inspires confidence in the patient.
Thank you, dd really wants the surgery, she’s 17 and we have already had surgery out back twice because her teeth are not clean enough 😬, we are waiting for wisdom tooth extraction (to make space) and brace fitting before the big surgery so could be a while yet. She has hypermobility and her bottom jaw stopped growing when she was 7/8 so it needs to be extended. At the moment she struggles to chew and has been bullied due to her over bite. I think I will find surgery harder than she will 😬, I keep hoping she will change her mind.