First surgery and terrified!

[LKAO]

Hi everyone,

I have my first surgery on Tuesday relating to my liver I'll be out under general for it.

I've read through the material the hospital have given me but I have some questions.

I've been told to arrive at 7am, what happens upon my arrival?
I'm terrified of needles, will I need any?
Am I put onto a trolley upon arrival, or is there a waiting room?
What does general anaesthetic feel like?

Thanks in advance, if you're able to answer my questions.

I've been told to arrive at 7am, what happens upon my arrival?

You turn up with a bunch of other people, get put in a bed, asked the same questions over and over again and wait. Depending where you are on this list, it could be a very long wait

I'm terrified of needles, will I need any?

Tell the anaesthetist but quite possibly

Am I put onto a trolley upon arrival, or is there a waiting room?

Depends on the set up but generally you are put wherever your bedspace is

What does general anaesthetic feel like?

No idea, I don't remember! Woke up and needed persuading that the operation had actually been done.

Hi.

They will admit you, ask alot of questions

allergies, metalwork, diabetes, asthma etc.

you’ll see the surgeon and an anaesthetist. Who will go through more bits and bobs with you. You’ll be changed into a hospital gown, a urine test will be done.

you will need a cannula before your anaesthetic, in my hospital we do these in the anaesthetic room. You’ll need this before the anaesthetic is started. Yes it’s a needle, but all that’s left in is a little plastic tube. In anaesthetics we do so many of these, and it’s usually over very quickly.

the nurse that brings you down, or the anaesthetists ODP, will be happy to chat to you or hold your hand while that’s done.

the anaesthetic is really quick. Usually they give a strong opiate such as fentanyl just before they start, and when they administer the medication for the general, you’ll be asleep within about 45 seconds.

Hope that helps.

You’ll 100% need a cannula for an operation under general.

I've been told to arrive at 7am, what happens upon my arrival?
You'll be booked in and taken to your bed and probably told to get into a gown. You'll have a preop meeting with your surgeon and anaesthetist
I'm terrified of needles, will I need any?
Yes
Am I put onto a trolley upon arrival, or is there a waiting room?
It depends on the procedure. Most likely you'll be taken to a bay with a bed and seat in it where you'll wait. If it's a day case it will be a general waiting area.

Best of luck and an un-mumsnetty hug for you. I’ve unfortunately had a lot of surgery and was really nervous before my first one as I didn’t know what would happen. Here’s what I’ve found (7 surgeries in 7 years, across 3 hospitals).

Generally what happens when you arrive is that you are asked to change into a hospital gown and you’ll have your vitals checked. A nurse will go through what will happen with you, and before you go to the theatre you will see the anaesthetist and the surgeon. You will be able to talk through any concerns with them. Where this happens depends on the hospital and the nature of the surgery - it could be an admissions lounge or on the ward.

The surgeon usually gives you an idea of where you are on the list, so you’ll have a rough idea of how long you’ll be waiting. It’s a good idea to have something to distract you at this time - a book, downloaded things to watch on your phone or a puzzle book work well for me.

When it’s time for surgery, again - it depends on the hospital. Some I’ve walked into theatre, others I’ve gone on my bed or trolley.

When you get there, you go into an antechamber type room where you’ll see the anaesthetist again and they will pop a cannula in your hand. Then you go into theatre, get onto the bed and they will get you comfy before giving you some medicine to go to sleep. The staff will take amazing care of you and will be chatting to you the whole time.

It will be over before you know it - anaesthetic is like a light switch being turned on and off, so you won’t feel like any time has passed when you wake up. You will wake up in recovery. There will be a nurse taking care of you - they will give you pain relief, antiemitics if you feel sick (not uncommon) and oxygen if you need it. Once you’re awake and feeling a little more with it, they’ll take you back to the ward and make sure you’re comfy.

I've had hip surgery, for a trauma injury a couple of years ago. So this is what happened to me.

You'll be wheeled into theatre and the surgeons and anaesthetists will introduce themselves, and explain they'll put you to sleep and do the operation.

They ask your consent and then they do use a needle and or a mouthpiece/mask to give the medicine. But they will answer any questions you have.
You'll then be asleep until they bring you back and the operation will be complete.

You may feel woozy when you come back and hungry. So make sure ideally someone can visit with some nice food for afterwards.

It's amazing they can use this technique to fix people and they have no recollection whatsoever.

I felt really grateful and happy afterwards.

Honestly I'm fairly needle phobic, but the last time I needed to be anaesthetised, they were so calm, professional & friendly that should I ever need to be admitted, I'm quite sure my nerves will be no where as near as on edge as last time, please do trust your anaesthetist, they are (IMO) the unsung hero!

If you explain to your anaesthetist about your needle phobia they will have strategy to help. Some will offer numbing spray or cream, most will offer someone to distract you on the other side. It's usually only one quick cannula, so please don't worry. Usually you are so completely bored and fed up by the time it happens you are ready for anything!
Make sure you have some slow release carbs and protein the night before, and get up and have a big drink of water or black tea or coffee (No milk!!) at 6am. If you are not going to be done until the afternoon they'll usually give you some more water at the hospital- ask if they don't

General anaesthetic is completely wonderful! The best sleep of your life, and then you wake up in recovery.
Seriously, I'd have a GA every week if I could 😂
There is absolutely nothing to be scared of in having surgery - just enjoy.

Thank you all so much!

I was terrified, made myself quite ill with worry beforehand in fact. Turned out to be THE most wonderful sleep. It's so pleasant feeeling the tiredness wash over you. I've heard quite a few others say the same so while it sounds weird, it's pretty common to find it a positive experience.

I'm in a wheelchair, so hopefully it's a smooth process!

The nerves are kicking in but I know it'll be ok.

I had lovely nurses for my last surgery earlier this year. I was awake for it so very different I know but they wrapped me up in blankets to send me down to theatre and were so lovely and I felt very safe. It's so normal to be a nervous wreck, it really is.

I was terrified before my first and only surgery - neurosurgery- last year at the grand age of 54.
It was fine. I went to the admittance lounge and after a while was asked to change into a gown and get on the bed or trolley. I remember the porter who wheeled me to theatre got me a lovely warmed blanket.
I think I was put under in the ante chamber thing rather than theatre itself but the anaesthetist and all the staff were lovely.
When I came round the cannula had come out and there was a bit of blood on the sheets but it was calmly and efficiently dealt with and then I was taken up to a ward attached to the theatre, had a hot drink and something to eat, and I had a lovely nurse sitting by me all night.
Two things I wasn’t expecting was firstly the emotion. I think I woke up crying, sobbing to some poor doctor to ring my pregnant dd and tell her I was ok, and I cried off and on for months afterwards. I’d held it together before the surgery but had a bit of a meltdown afterwards. Secondly, it was quite a long surgery, seven hours or so, and it threw my whole body clock out. The first night I woke up at 4am-ish and for a month or so afterwards I was awake for a good couple of hours from 4am or 5am and then I’d go back to sleep for a bit.
I won’t be anywhere near as nervous if I have to have surgery again. You really are in very good hands.

Thank you all for your comments you've really put my mind at rest.

Thank you all x

I found myself sitting in a waiting room at 9am with a load of other people. It was very strange! I didn't have a bed assigned to me until after the op. The cannula was put in, then i was taken to the theatre and laid on a trolley. The nurse asked me what I do for a living and i was explaining, then the next thing i remember was waking up in the recovery room. Then to a ward and a lovely sleep! They try to bring you round asap afterwards. It was all good - best wishes for your surgery.

So, it's tomorrow. Well, what everyone else has said. Last time they put a thing over my nose and I didn't like someone else holding it so the nurse told me to hold it myself and then I was waking up.
Best wishes.

I'm currently waiting to go down,

I'm next in the queue, still quite nervous but telling myself it will all be over soon and to relax.

Hope you’re ok, @LKAO

Hope all went well OP!

Surgery is very scary.

Thank you so much,

Hated the cannula, but best sleep one has ever had.

Recovering for the next 8 weeks now :)

Good to hear it went well OP. 💐

Glad it went well.
My surgeon said recovery is not the smooth upwards trajectory of a plane taking off but more like the peaks and dips of a heartbeat, so in other words you might have a good day followed by a bad rather than feeling a little better every day. He was right so be prepared for that and get lots of rest. If you’re still in hospital make the most of being looked after.

I wasn't prepared for the pain and soreness that is ongoing!

It's all for the greater good though :)