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Original poster

I’m having surgery today and terrified

34 replies

Blunget · 21/05/2025 06:13

Nothing major nothing too crazy but under GA I’m now working myself in to a huuuuge panic. Please anyone give me a bloody pep talk / and or any coping tips for the long waits so I don’t convince myself I’m going to die?!

OP posts:
LadyButtonofButtonHouse · 21/05/2025 06:18

Good luck OP, try and remember they do this all day every day and are extremely competent and experienced. You're in safe hands and it'll be done before you know it. You can do this! Not long and it'll all be done. Hang in there xx

Original poster
Blunget · 21/05/2025 06:21

Thank you!! I’ve been on the waiting list since the Jurassic era so i should be ready! I think it’s also the no eating and no drinking from now. I do have anxiety so going through a million scenarios varying from what if I fart whilst I’m under the GA and they all laugh right up to ‘buggar I don’t have a Will in place’ lol.xxx

OP posts:
TallSuzy · 21/05/2025 06:22

GA is like falling into the best sleep ever. I love them, less so surgery.

Bearsunhat · 21/05/2025 06:22

It will be over before you know it. Wishing you well ☺️

RobinHeartella · 21/05/2025 06:24

I've been under GA three times. You won't die, it's really extremely rare. You might feel queasy and confused when you wake up. If you have a partner or family member to be there in the recovery ward, that would be ideal

angelopal · 21/05/2025 06:25

First time is scary but they will take good care of you and it will be over before you know it.

shakeitoffshakeacocktail · 21/05/2025 06:32

Mumsnet helped me when I had my first op a year ago under GA

Everyone was saying how good a sleep they had and how they love it!

Mine was absolutely fine, no problem at all but I was very nervous.

The strangest thing I remember was I walked into the operating theatre, and could see all the equipment.

I thought id be wheeled in from an adjacent ward as that's what they did when my daughter had an operation

autumn1610 · 21/05/2025 06:32

Once I got to hospital and got checked in I felt really calm (I’m pretty anxious when it comes to health and had been building it up so much) even when I found out my surgery time had to be there at 7 and then wasn’t until 1pm i was calm (extremely hungry and thirsty by the time it came around…you can have little sips of water they give you) I didn’t take anyone with me because I knew I’d be anxious if they were there and just waiting with me. I read some of my book and listened to music and podcasts. But it was like I walked in and just accepted my fate 🤣 the operating team come and see you and put you at ease and then when one came to collect me she just chatted away making jokes and distracted me and then boom I was off asleep and woke up confused as anything!

ItsMutinyontheBunty · 21/05/2025 06:58

I worked in theatres for a few years. Problems with anaesthetics are rare and more likely with emergency ops when a patient is already unstable. Last time I had a GA I heard them say ‘You’ll be getting sleepy’ and one second later they were calling my name to wake me! Do tell a member of staff you’re feeling anxious, they will help to reassure you. Hope it all goes well.

Phunkychicken · 21/05/2025 07:02

Sadly due to cancer and cancer scares I've had 8 surgeries in the past 18 months.

IME if you aren't going to be under for long they tend to give deep sedation rather than GA, which does knock you out so you aren't aware/awake but feel amazing when you come to.

The waiting is tough, when you check into the hospital you should be able to ask where you are on the list and how many lists there are, our hospital tends to have 10 theatres running at once so things are much quicker than you would think.

Focus on what you will have when it's over.

Best of luck

greeneyessparksfly · 21/05/2025 07:08

it will be ok. The best thing I did was to tell the staff how scared I was and ask for reassurance. They were very kind and I had a lovely lady who stayed with me the whole time and even stroked my hair and cheek - she was a lovely lady. They will do their best to try and distract you whilst they are doing the things they need to do, let them and try to go with it. I eventually went to sleep talking about different kinds of cake whilst they all discussed their favourites - my operation was for cancer and was debulking surgery so I was under for a while. When you wake up (you will - it’s going to be ok!) you’ll be in the recovery room and you will probably feel disorientated. You might shake a bit, some people do and some don’t. They will be checking your pain level and giving you everything you need to stay comfortable. I hope It all goes well!

mechanicalpencil · 21/05/2025 07:11

Good Luck OP!

LunaTheCat · 21/05/2025 07:15

all very cleverest people in my medical school class became anaesthetists.. you will be under wonderful hands.

Cynic17 · 21/05/2025 07:18

Lucky you! I had the best sleep of my life under GA, it was flipping fantastic! It's a shame we can't all book in for a GA every few months, because I'd be there.

I'm not sure what there is to be "terrified" of, tbh. You know nothing about it, fab sleep and someone else does all the work.
Just make sure you follow instructions afterwards and take your painkillers regularly (don't be tempted to skip)

Missywelliot · 21/05/2025 07:22

Please don't panic. They know what they're doing with a GA. I know it's weird but you will be OK. I had a similar panic once and started a thread, I am still very much alive.

Bear in mind that they give people who have been in severe accidents an emergency general anaesthetic and they come through it fine too. They aren't weighed, prodded and fasted prior to their live saving operations.

See you here in a day or two so you can report back.

Dawnchorusiswonderful · 21/05/2025 07:42

I totally empathise OP.

Before my hip operation a few years ago I was absolutely petrified: not about the operation as such but about the anaesthetic. I convinced myself I'd never come round and I updated my will and made sure my finances were sorted in preparation for my exit from life.
But. As you can see I not only survived but I've benefited hugely from the hip replacement.

And last year I had to have another operation for a broken leg and I wasn't worried about the anaesthetic at all! I actually welcomed being knocked out for a few hours.

I'm sure everything will be fine for you OP.
Best wishes to you.

USaYwHatNow · 21/05/2025 07:44

It will be fine-have seen many GAs due to my job and had 3 myself (X2 for teeth, 1 for spinal surgery).

After each I have been mildly depressed and tearful which lasted about a week, apparently this can be normal. Interestingly I also seem to go into urinary retention and had a catheter for 3 days after spinal surgery, then threatened with a catheter after 2nd oral surgery but managed to pee after 8 hours. Just something to bear in mind though I don't think this is common.

rainbowstardrops · 21/05/2025 07:50

Just wanted to say good luck!

Wheelz46 · 21/05/2025 07:58

Honestly I was the same as you, worked myself up into a right state the first time I had to go under GA, even cancelled the first appointment.

Got my second appointment and put my big girl pants on and when I met with the doctor, I think she thought I was going to pass out with fear. She asked what my worry was, I couldn't even speak, when she said, "are you worried you are not going to wake up" I was like yep, she guaranteed me that I would wake up. Told her I would come and haunt her, if I didn't and she kindly told me she didn't have that to worry about it 😅

Well she was right and before I knew it, I was awake and just felt like I had a good old kip.

Honestly, I completely understand, but you are in the best care.

SwanOfThoseThings · 21/05/2025 08:00

I had one a few weeks ago and got very nervous - have had them before, but for some reason this time I convinced myself I wouldn't come round.

I had about a three hour wait in the hospital before going into theatre - I took a book with me and basically buried myself in it (your standard page-turner psychological thriller, nothing requiring too much thought).

When I went in, they put in a cannula and the anaesthetist said "I'm going to give you something to make you sleepy now" - I was briefly aware of a cold sensation in my chest and, next thing, I was waking up in the recovery area.

By the time I was discharged a couple of hours later, I had finished my book.

SENNeeds2 · 21/05/2025 08:02

I love a bit of general me - allowed to sleep with no disruptions from kids. Nice nurses waking you up gently and offering you tea and biscuits and then you get to order food from a menu while you lie in bed and eat! Drs orders!
You'll be absolutely fine. You are giving relaxing meds through a tube into your blood stream prob your hand - its not like the movies where you get a mask shoved in your face sort of thing. You will be chatting to the med staff one minute and asleep before you know it.

WorkerBee83 · 21/05/2025 08:07

I’m one day post op for gallbladder surgery and I was really nervous but they really helped me and were so lovely so just tell them and they will do their best to make you feel at ease. Good luck xx

MrsMoastyToasty · 21/05/2025 08:09

Last time I had surgery I had an epidural to set a broken leg. That was weird (I didn't have one during childbirth). The theatre staff were talking about their plans for that evening (it was a Saturday).

Cuppachuchu · 21/05/2025 08:18

I had minor surgery under local anaesthetic recently, which was fine, but I'd much rather have a general for the sleep.
I always plan something nice for afterwards.

mindutopia · 21/05/2025 08:19

You’ll be absolutely fine, op. I’ve lost count of the ones I’ve had. Three in the last year and I’m due 2 more before the end of this year (cancer).

The surgery itself is fine and it’s much better if you get to go home after. It’s the having to stay on the ward for days after that sucks. You’ll be glad when it’s all done.