Absolutely petrified about operation

[Morningsunriseagain]

NC
never had an op before. This will be an hours op. I am beyond petrified
The feeling of doom walking to theatre.
Being put to sleep. What if I wake up in the middle of it but I'm too sedated to talk or move but can hear and feel it all happening
Having a tube instead into my throat
Being cut open, with a perm scar as a reminder of it
Waking up with a tube down my throat, some people say they have a recollection of the tube being removed as they come round

I can't do this.

I understand. I felt the same before surgery a couple of years back, but it’s honestly ok. Last year, I had two more operations, and by the second one, I was actually looking forward to the general anaesthetic 😁 it all felt quite relaxing.

Be prepared for delays on the day. Go in expecting to wait a long time. I’ve been seen really quickly, but also once had a long wait. Also pack nice snacks in your bag for when you’re allowed to eat again.

When is the operation?

You absolutely can do this! I promise!

I felt the same before my first procedure a few years ago (I’ve had several since) but it was nothing like I thought it would be. Please chat to the anaesthetist when they come to speak to you - TBH I spoke to anyone who came near my cubicle about my nervousness - but the anaesthetist will be able to talk you through it. When I went there were multiple people in the room, nurses etc, and one was able to hold my hand and chat to me when it was being administered. This was only briefly necessary as I was out like a light and next thing I was waking up after the procedure.

My sister also had to have her first procedure ever recently too and was petrified about the anaesthesia part too. I tried to calm her fears (they are very understandable) but she was still nervous. Coming out she said she wished she hadn’t built it up so much as she can’t even remember it being administered.

Grey’s anatomy will have you believing that things that that happen in every surgery but they are so rare. You are amazing, you can do this!

You can do this and you will be absolutely fine❤️ I was equally petrified before my first surgery, mostly due to fear of going under anaesthesia but in reality it was all surprisingly pleasant! I’ve since had multiple operations and now experience hardly any pre surgery anxiety as each previous experience has been so good. The staff are all fantastic and will look after you really well

You can chat with the anaesthetist in advance and ask for a pre-med to take the nerves away before you go down to theatre. When you get there they’ll pop an IV in and give you some oxygen to breathe. As they give you the medication you’ll start to feel a bit floaty (one anaesthetist described it as a few gin and tonics - definitely accurate🤣) and before you know it surgery is over and you’re waking up in recovery. It’s honestly that simple

The anaesthetist will look after you. They will visit you before you go to theatre so you will have chance to tell them all your fears. They have the most marvellous drugs these days, you will be completely fine I promise you. Ex theatre nurse here.

I have had quite a few general anaesthetics and honestly I have enjoyed them. It really has been a relaxing feeling, no sense of doom or even of unpleasant drowsiness. It happens quite fast. The anaesthetists are often very calming people and they really are there to look after you and keep a close eye on everything to do with how you are doing. You will be closely watched and looked after. Coming round I have always felt fine, I think once I felt them removing the tube but barely because it’s done before you realise what’s happening. It was only in retrospect that I felt I’d had a slightly odd sensation as I came round that could have been that. Usually I have woken up feeling really warm and cosy and with someone right there monitoring.

I was dreading my op, to the point I nearly cancelled it and then on the day I asked them to do it while I was awake (they rightly refused). In reality it was absolutely fine - no issues whatsoever. When they gave me the anaesthetic I was asleep in about a quarter of a second. When I woke up, I expected to be very disoriented etc but it felt completely normal, just like waking up on a normal morning.

Within 5 minutes, I was back on the ward. Within 15 mins I was eating toast. Within 20 mins, I was going to the loo and then they booted me out 😂. Obviously it depends a little on how long you are under/dose of anesthetic etc but I was pleasantly surprised with just how easy it all was.

I wouldn't go in with the expectation of a premed, they're pretty much not used at all in adults outside of cardiac theatres and severe learning disabilities, I haven't seen one given in the last 8yrs I've been an anaesthetist (it delays recovery makes people groggy etc)

Op I'll post in a second to answer your qs

Your anaesthetist will talk to you before the op and you should explain your concerns . I had an op last month and they gave me the option of sedation or a general and explained the pros and cons of each.

I was worried like you are but it was fine.. I was sedated and had no issues .. it was much better than I expected

Remind yourself that they are experts and have seen and successfully dealt with so many operations like yours

Ah right, apologies. Just thought it would be an option as DD (18 at the time, no learning disabilities) was given a midazolam pre-med before major spinal surgery last year. We didn’t specifically ask, her anaesthetist just advised that it was there as an option should she want it. Definitely made things less traumatic for her and we were very grateful

Doi anaesthetist. I was totally an utterly petrified of my first GA as an 18, I was crying my eyes out the whole induction, losing the plot as they refused my mum to come down as I'd just turned 18 so was too old. In reality it was fine. So bizarre as there's just a big missing gap in my mind and I just woke and it was all over

Anyway... beyond personal experience, work hat going on...
You can definitely have someone walk with you down to theatres. Ask your anaesthetist if they can come in the anaesthetic room with you, we are pretty obliging on that, most will agree if you ask nicely and don't demand it as an expectation as we are making exeptions for you (also depends on the nurse in charge of theatres that day but we will advocate for you)

You arrive, we check your tags, ask you you dob and surgery another 2x, bring you in, lay you on the bed. Connect monitoring ecg dots, oxygen probe, bp cuff, all routine. Small plastic straw in the back of the hand for the anaesthetic

Feel free to bring headphones and music and totally ignore us, very happy with that.

Give u oxygen to breathe before the anaesthetic
...ask if u wantbto hold the mask, also v common and fine

We give u a v strong painkiller to start with, makes u feel light headed spacey and chilled, apparently like being slightly drunk

Then the anaesthetic. Often cold as it goes up your arm, v normal nothing to worry about

Then you'll have no recall until its over

Modern Anaesthetics are so so safe, awareness rates under anaesthetic are incredibly low, on average rates of 1 in 20k patients, certain instances make it more likely things like emergency csections, cardiac surgery. For the average short procedure it's incredibly rare. We have many many ways of telling how asleep you are

What op are you having?

A lot of surgeries are now amenable to spinal anaesthetic where you can be completely numb and pain free and chatting to us/listening to music if that would be preferable to you

Awareness of extubation (tube coming out) is uncommon, most have no memory at all as its in the sleepy phase of anaesthetic, but if occurs its normal and a safety thing to ensure you're awake enough to protect your airway from spit and vomit once we stop protecting it for you

You'll here us saying its all over, take some deep breaths, squeeze my hands then the tube is removed. A lot of short ops are done on airways that don't go through the vocal cords anyway, which means this isn't a possibility of being remembered anyway

Most scars are tiny tiny can barely see mine now unless I pull my skin at an angle to make it tight

As I say to all my patients, no surgery is compulsory we aren't going to force you into it, you can change your mind at any time, just ideally in advance of the day of surgery so we can fill your slot as waiting lists are so high

Feel free to message me, but in conclusion you'll be totally fine and after will wonder what the fuss is xx

Your memory of time frames will be skewed by the medication we give

noone is in recovery for 5mins, most units have an absolute minimum stay of 20mins, most 30. We wouldn't have even finished reattaching the monitoring and telling the nurse about you by 5mins!

Most aren't allowed to eat for at least 45mins post op

Dont worry at all :) Teenage spines are often done by paed anaesthetists which will be why, we premed a lot in children and the tween adult border is more lax :)

Well to be fair it might have been longer than 5 mins in recovery. That's how long I was in there after waking up. I've no idea how long I was asleep in there. The rest of the timings are accurate as my family member, who was waiting for me in the ward, was keeping an eye on times due to car park parking 😂

I had a general for day surgery last year and was a little worried about waking up in surgery (damn you Greys Anatomy!) but they took me down, had a nice conversation with the anaesthetist and they popped a needle into my hand. Asked me to count back from 10 and the next thing a lovely nurse was talking to me in recovery. It really was a pleasant experience!

I know exactly how you feel, OP. I had major bowel surgery earlier this year and was absolutely petrified. I was convinced either that I’d somehow wake up on the table, or that I wouldn’t wake up at all and my DD would be left without a mum. I almost cancelled several times and on the day of the surgery I have never been so frightened in my life. Everyone was absolutely lovely and reassuring though, especially the anaesthetist - one minute I remember talking to her about my DD’s favourite music, and the next thing I was waking up in recovery! I’m so glad I went through with it. You will be absolutely fine too, although I know it doesn’t feel that way right now. I’m happy to answer any other questions if it’s helpful.

Honestly same experience as everyone else as I had major surgery in 2022 - I was also petrified I made sure we had our wills finalised a week before I went in! The actual GA was fine, I was so scared but they make you so comfortable and look after you so well. It just makes you feel pleasantly sleepy for a few seconds and then you are under and waking up when it's all done xx

You can ask the anaesthetist for pre meds which are basically strong relaxation drugs. You won’t care if they’re sawing off your arm in front of you. It’s great!!

Ive had 7 major surgeries and honestly it’s like a nice nap.

I'd had a few as a kid (under 10) but nothing as an adult until recently. The first one I was in absolute bits, I'd had to go for a few checks before heading to the unit so had already been in the hospital most of the day so the anxiety had built up. The team of anaesthetists were brilliant, put me at ease and I was chatting away to the student about his final anaesthetist exams. We all had a laugh when I described the relaxing meds as spiders dancing on the ceiling and then I was out. When I came round 4 hours later the male nurse looking after me was fab. Can't remember what we chatted about but I recall he did not shut up 🤣. I do remember trying to focus on the clock that was on the wall in front of me and trying to tell the time and finding it amusing like I was drunk without the alcohol. I was in recovery for about two hours until the ward finally came and got me just before shift change 🙄. I did have another a year later and that was day shift, in and out kind of thing. I do find after anesthesia that my throat does not work very well. Fine drinking tea but I struggle swallowing food for a few hours afterwards. They do encourage you to eat but I explain that I struggle and concerned about choking and they are usually ok with that.

Good luck.
I had one recently. I was surprised at how long it all took, actually. I had to be there at 7am as is usual, and I was second on the list, so went in about 10.45 as expected. I then saw the clock in recovery and it was 3pm! I could see from my notes afterwards that I was having the anaesthetic drugs between 11 and 2.30, though I have read that the surgery itself is usually 30min-90min, so there must be a long time of getting you ready and waking you up. Or the surgery was a bit slower than expected for some reason - she had a registrar in with her so maybe there was a lot of teaching happening or something, not sure. But it felt like I'd lost a couple of hours, which I hadn't expected.

I had a nerve block as well, which carries on after you wake up, and is really really weird. They put the cannula in first, and I don't remember anything about the ecg leads, blood pressure, tube, nerve block injection or anything, so that must all have been done after I was asleep I guess.

Tell them if you feel sick or in pain as you wake up and they are really good about getting the drugs into you asap.

You might have a bit of a sore throat after.

Be prepared to sleep a lot for the next week or so - it really took it out of me and felt a little like jet lag almost, even from a short operation (obviously some of it is the healing process as well). But I'd suddenly get overwhelming sleepiness during the day.

Hope all goes well!

Also, about the waking up during surgery bit - you have the anaesthetist that stays with you throughout, and they are monitoring all kinds of things, so if you were waking up, they'd know from that even if you couldn't speak! I found it comforting to know that they are there the whole time, not just the doctors who are doing the actual surgery.

Make sure you follow the instructions about when to stop eating and drinking beforehand. But do drink water up to the time when you have to stop. And don't go to the toilet immediately before you go in for all the pre-op stuff, because you likely have to do a pregnancy test, and if you've not been drinking for a while, it might be hard to produce another sample by that point!

Hehe you made me giggle with "student" and "final anaesthetic exams".... we can't sit finals until we are in our mid 30s and having worked 9 years as a Dr by this point

(Also amused by the patient asking me a few months ago, if I needed gcses to do anaesthetics... yeaaaa and alevels and 5 years at uni, and 2 years of generic foundation training, and a bare minimum of 7 years of post graduate anaesthetics training but often much longer...)

I had my only op (quite a big one, 4 hrs or so) three years ago. I was terrified of dying on the table. I told the nurse and the anaesthetists and they were lovely and supportive, not at all dismissive. I didn't have any additional sedation, just great care and support. Coming round was like waking up from a really, really good sleep, and I was immediately offered all the top-drawer analgesics even though the pain was very little.

Maybe his university exams then 🤣. I was so out of it he could have been a toddler in scrubs 🤣

I've had several operations under GA - please try not to worry, you will be asleep very quickly and it's actually a very pleasant feeling!

So much so, I'd do it for fun!

As for waking up mid operation I would suggest that is pretty much impossible.

Honestly, you'll be fine.