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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be terrified of having a general anasthetic next week?

45 replies

OneLittleChicken · 20/01/2012 21:01

I have to have an routine operation under general anesthetic and I am absolutely terrified... I have had three in the past and wasn't too worried but I am older now and have 3 young children.

I'm fit and healthy but feel sick with fear just thinking about it, am I over reacting?

OP posts:

perceptionreality · 20/01/2012 22:39

Don't worry at all. I found it quite a pleasant experience :)

perceptionreality · 20/01/2012 22:40

I agree with OldBag!

samandi · 20/01/2012 23:07

Understandable but if you're fit and healthy there's little reason to worry. All the best.

PrimaBallerina · 20/01/2012 23:13

I'm having one next month too and am also crapping myself due to baby DS.

Thanks for posting this OP, I feel a bit better now.

Naoko · 20/01/2012 23:34

I had one today. I was very nervous and asked for the pre-med, which they gave me without trouble. They gave me the tablet, they wheeled me into theatre, put a cannula into my hand, next thing I know I'm waking up to a kind nurse asking me how I'm feeling.

Felt more rested after waking up from the GA than when I got up this morning, frankly... :o

Now if only my nostrils would stop bleeding so I could take this sodding bandage off and drink a cup of tea from a mug like an adult rather than through a straw, that would be awesome....

Birnamwood · 20/01/2012 23:47

I had one when ds1 was 14 mths old and was terrified of not waking up, to the point I actually wrote a letter to him telling how much I love him and how proud I was I put it in a safe place where I knew it would be found if I died

Op, you'll be fine, I woke up!

SquashedSquirrel · 21/01/2012 00:08

I had one 2 weeks ago. I was slightly concerned as I had previously had issues with an operation carried out under local anaesthetic (the surgeon failed to give me enough and so I felt everything).

Anyway, the Anaesthetist came to see me on the morning of the op and was lovely, in fact fabulous.

She explained exactly what she would do and how it all worked. She also asked me if I wanted to 'drift off to sleep' or be knocked out quickly. I said the latter as I actually really dislike the 'drifting' feeling. She said that was fine (I did go off very quickly).

I also asked her if it was really necessary to wake up with such a sore throat. She confirmed that it wasn't and that it a really bad throat is a result of someone being a bit heavy handed. She promised that I wouldn't have a sore throat and I didn't really. She came to see me afterwards once I was on the Ward and talked through the op' (from her perspective). It was actually quite interesting. Basically though, she made time for me and was very patient.

So, I understand your concerns but try and talk them through with your Anaesthetist and hopefully that'll calm you down.

Naoko · 21/01/2012 00:13

Oh yes absolutely do talk to your anaesthetist. Mine came to see me this morning before the op as well and he was wonderful - very friendly and patient and answered all my questions; and when I raised concerns (which I'd previously tried to raise with my ENT consultant, who actually laughed and then mocked me - yes, I will be complaining) agreed these were completely valid, and ordered some tests to be done before putting me under to make sure it was safe.

Cadsuane · 21/01/2012 12:26

I will probably need an operation on my nose soon, just waiting for my next appointment with ENT. Dh and I bumped into each other and apparently the front of my nose is now dislocated causing me lots of problems.
I?m a bit worried about about having a general anaesthetic as I had such a bad reaction to the epidural I had with DD2, ended up being in hospital for 9 days with a spinal headache. Apparently I had an atipical reaction and was the talk of the weekly anaesthesiologists meeting according to the consultant anaesthesiologist who treated me. I have spent my my life having odd reactions to things just hope this isn't one of them.

Original poster

OneLittleChicken · 21/01/2012 14:56

Cadsuane - Maybe you could ask to be tested for allergic reactions before they put you under?

OP posts:

AfternoonDelight · 21/01/2012 15:11

YANBU, my physio is looking into the possibility of me having back surgery, and I've never been under GA before, and I'm petrified.

However, I keep telling myself that these are experienced professionals, and although it's a big deal to you, it's routine to the surgeon because they do it every day.

Remember, you've been under 3 times and nothing bad happened. They're doing it to make you better :)

mrsjay · 21/01/2012 15:36

I have had loads of G A mostly in my childhood up to late teens and i sailed through them i had to get a major op after dd1 was born well she was 14ish months and i was shitting myself about the whole thing i was so nervous and near hysterical about the G A , YANBU to be anxious but you will be ok x

UserNameNotAvailable · 21/01/2012 20:01

SquashedSquirrel that's what I'm worried about- not having enough GA and feeling everything. I'm not scared of the op or even the fact of having a GA just not being able to mOve and having to lie there for hours feeling everything. I think I'm worrying more because when I had to have a LA for my filling the dentist gave me the dose but I could still feel it and he gave me another 2 doses and gave me a when I said I needed more.
I've just had another memory there of when was about 8 and had the mask to knock me out for an extraction and I could feel it and hear everything around me (and see, although it was blurry) I remember crying before/ during and after! Ah fuck!

Groovee · 21/01/2012 20:15

I had my first GA 14 months ago and was so terrified. I was a relief to be woken up. My friend has had 37 and often thinks this will be the one I don't wake up to. I don't think you ABU and it is a concern. I had another one 11 months ago and was calmer but still felt eeek about it all.

Original poster

OneLittleChicken · 22/01/2012 19:29

Tomorrow's the day... I'm feeling a little better knowing my chance of dying is 1-100,000 apparently, I'm happy with those odds but still scared!

OP posts:

OldBagWantsNewBag · 24/01/2012 20:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

OneLittleChicken · 26/01/2012 20:20

I'm fine! Still here! I was crying on the way to theatre and the anesthetists seemed a bit puzzled by my reaction as my chances of anything going wrong were so low.. Anyway they gave me an intravenous pre-med and I don't remember much after that, I remember being very exited in the recovery room after coming round, they even gave me a mobile phone so I could speak to my husband and let him know I was still alive!

OP posts:

OldBagWantsNewBag · 26/01/2012 21:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WetAugust · 26/01/2012 21:27

I'm having to go private, I'm really worried it won't be as good as the NHS!

I've had a GA as a private patient and also as an NHS one.

Private was even better than NHS as private hospital gave me a pre-med to calm me down before GA whereas NHS made me walk to operating theatre and no pre-med.

You'll be fine.

WetAugust · 26/01/2012 21:28

Sorry - didn't see 2nd page

Glad it went well. Speedy recovery!

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