Talk some sense into me... terrified of upcoming General Anaesthetic. Panic and sleepness nights

[TheNewVillageIdiot]

Having a reasonably straightforward procedure in two weeks time (hysteroscopy with biopsy and polypectomy) under general anaesthetic.
I am terrified.
I know, rationally, that GA is very safe, but I'm convinced I just won't wake up from it. It's occupying my thoughts constantly and I'm struggling to sleep.
I have my pre-op assessment on Tuesday, so no doubt they'll explain stuff and may be able to reassure me, but I don't know...

I'm 56, BMI 31, slightly high blood pressure, but otherwise healthy.

Thanks for any advice/ figurative face slaps.

That must be so good. I thought it would be great to get to menopause and be done with all that business… but here I still am still buying period pants at 56!

I think you are me! So looking forward to throwing out my period pants once and for all!

I’m having the same op soon too OP. I’ve not given the GA any thought at all but I’m a little worried about the risk of cancer being found. I’m a bit older than you and I don’t love the risk but I should be fine.
Im not worried about the GA as I love having them. I have fantastic dreams as I’m coming around where everything feels and looks amazing. I’ve woken up from a GA before after a small op and felt 100% fine. I didn’t feel tired or drowzey at all.
I hope it goes well OP - you will feel better once it’s done

OP have you not had one before? GA is amazing! I see it as a lovely uninterrupted sleep! You know nothing of anything going on and just gently wake up when it’s all over. You will be absolutely fine and wonder why you were so stressed about it. Lots of love x

I wasn’t too nervous about mine and then it hit me about 20 mins before! BMI 36, and it ended up being over 8hrs under GA
I am still here - I was a total weeping mess in the anaesthetic room and one of the staff distracted me by asking me loads of random questions constantly (what’s your cats name, is he your only one, where do you work, who is picking you up after, what do you want on your toast….) and I don’t remember anything then until I woke up

It very very normal to feel this way. Is it your first one? I've had it twice. The second time they said I was the most relaxed person they had ever had. I was chatting away beforehand.

I think i just rationalised that it must be very safe or they wouldn't do them. Also it is always a choice- you don't have to but then you just weigh up whether you want the consequences of not having surgery. When you come it on your terms it helps. Then just use positive self talk.

You can tell them you are nervous too and they will be helpful.

I've had various GAs for various things, from a hysteroscopy through to a full hysterectomy. Honestly, the GA is somewhere between absolutely fine and bloody marvellous.

Getting the needle into your hand is probably the part I like least (and TBH it's still easier and a lot less painful than trying to get an appointment with a GP!), then they give you two injections through it which are painless and just feel a bit chilly as they go in.

The first makes you feel pleasantly drunk and relaxed, in a "Ooo, the room is gently spinning and I rather like it" kind of way. Then as soon as the second injection starts, you blink your eyes and suddenly find yourself teleported into the recovery room - usually feeling quite comfortable, if a bit cold. More blankets (and sometimes warmed blocks) are available upon request.

Then, as an added bonus, you may find you get the best few nights of sleep ever over the next few days! Easier than usual to drop off, then a sensation of being better rested than normal when you wake.

Thank you all so much, everyone single post has helped. I’m feeling so much braver now.

@ghostyslovesheets nah, don’t throw out the period pants yet, you may need them for incontinence in a few years!

I was like this a few years ago, the the extent that I actually talked an orthopaedic surgeon into using a nerve block on me and letting me stay awake while they screwed my hand back together after I broke it.

Then I had to have my gallbladder out as an emergency and they said GA was the only option.

It was great. The anaesthetist told me to think of something happy, injected something into the cannula and before I’d finished counting to 5 I was asleep, then I was waking up and it felt like no time had passed at all. Within half an hour I was completely awake and feeling like I’d had the very best sleep of my entire life.

I’ve had GA 9 times. It’s honestly fine. They will look after you really well and risks are low. Good luck.

I had a hysteroscopy and biopsy without any anaesthetic or sedation. It was a bit uncomfortable but perfectly manageable. Didn't have the polypectomy though, so maybe that makes a difference.

I have had a GA for another operation, though. I was terrified beforehand but actually it was fine in the end.

Good luck OP!

I used to think they put the anaesthetic in and then you woke up, they don’t, it’s continual, controlled and closely monitored. You will be fine

It is reasonable for you to be worried. But you will be safe. The anesthetist watches you constantly. At your head, checking you, checking the monitors. The surgeon and the rest of the team checks you, checks him/her. You are healthy which is a huge advantage. My DF wasn't healthy and he was overweight. He had a 9 hour operation and was absolutely fine.

I hope it goes well.

Too true! I wear mine for trampolining 😂

Only just seen your post, how did you get on? X

Well, here I am, still alive,@DeeKitch !
Thanks for asking.

Well I never calmed down, but I was lucky enough to get the nicest, most understanding anaesthetist in the world who gave me a spinal block and sedation instead.

I was pretty much out of it anyway, and it was all fine.

Fantastic! They’re used to anxiety and what a great team you had x

I had this in December and I was so so anxious. I cried to the anaesthetist before th op and again in theatre just before I was put under. They were absolutely lovely and gave me lots of reassurance. It’s absolutely routine for them and very very safe. before I knew it, it was coming round in recovery. It was totally fine and I think I would feel far less anxious having it done again, but I get how you are feeling.

I was the same before my first op (as an adult), and mentioned it to the consultant. His response "ah, don't worry, I've been doing this for 40 years and not lost anyone to GA yet" and off he walked! The flippancy actually calmed me right down! And he was right, I was fine.

Since then I've had GA twice more and not been afraid. Once you've done it once, you'll be calm.

And you'll be fine..

The anaesthesist will be next to you during the entire procedure, doing nothing else apart from watching you to make sure you’re ok. Knowing this helped me when I had my last procedure.

Anaesthetist. Death under anaesthetic is vanishingly rare. For the average healthy person you're more likely to die on an easyjet flight to Spain. If you'd rather (and you're not on blood thinners) we can do it under spinal Anaesthetics (injection in the back similar to an epidural) that makes you pain free but stay awake