To be terrified of having general anaesthetic for keyhole surgery

[silverfishgoldfish]

I am due to have keyhole surgery to remove my gallbladder soon, but I am absolutely terrified of being unconscious and having an operation.
I am overweight, I have lost some and will continue to do so, but my BMI is about 40 and I know that comes with added risks.
I just have a horrible feeling that something awful will happen.
I know I the grand scheme of things it's common surgery and I am just overreacting but I am so worried! Can anyone help reassure me?

I’ve had several GAs and it’s nowhere near as bad as you think. The staff are lovely and if you tell the anaesthetist how scared you are, they will give you something to help.

I’ve had my gallbladder out with keyhole surgery and quite honestly it was fine. I felt a bit sick afterwards and for a few days but that soon went. I had almost zero pain.

When they put you off to sleep, they chat to you and before you know it you’re awake again.

I had the same surgery a few years ago, and I was scared too. It wasn't bad though. When I got to the OR, the nurses started going over the safe surgery checklist and it was interesting enough that it kept my mind off the anesthesia, and then I was asleep about 30 seconds after they put the IV in my hand.

I had the same key hole op in Germany in 2003, when I don’t think a keyhole cholecystectomy was very common.

I said to them I didn’t want to have it without a general. If anything goes wrong, they can instantly revert to the open surgery.

I was in a fair bit of pain afterwards (as they only give pain relief if you ask for it) and for the next 3 days I was in hospital (they kept me in because I was a British dependent having the op as a private patient and because the MOD pay for it, they kept us in for longer to get more money per day!)

Oncd the year let me have some paracetamol, I felt a bit better and on the day I came home, we stopped for a coffee somewhere and whilst walking was painful, it was only for a short time and I didn’t pass out or anything.

Don’t they do it in a day and you leave the same day in the U.K.?

sorry typo.....once they let me have paracetamol

I had my Gall bladder removed by keyhole surgery 7 years ago, I went in at lunchtime, went to theatre around 2.00PM, was back in bed by 4.00PM & was sat watching soaps by 7.00PM. The general anaesthetic is nothing to worry about, they get you to lie down, put heart monitor stickers on, put a cannula in the back of your hand, then a syringe of white stuff & a smaller syringe of clear stuff, you might feel a bit cold, but by the time you realise you are just about off to sleep. Next thing you know you are in recovery, if you feel the least bit of pain or sickness, tell the nurses & they will top up your cannula with painkillers & anti sickness medicine, I'm normally asking for a drink at this stage, once they are happy with you, they take you back to your bed, you will probably have a saline drip for an hour or so, once they are satisfied you are over the anaesthetic & are reasonably pain free you will be able to be collected & go home, they should give you some painkillers, but it doesn't hurt to have cocodamol & ibuprofen in at home in case they don't give you anything. Don't be surprised if you aren't really hungry until the day after, get some peppermint tea & windeze in at home for the trapped wind from the gas they use, that was the only thing that worked for me, drink plenty if you don't feel like eating. I've had worse trips to the dentist, it really isn't that bad.

Wear something loose, you will be a bit bloated for a couple of days, a loose dress or drawstring waist trousers or go home in pjs if you are getting driven door to door.

My BMI is high and I’ve had two GA safely in the last few years.

Nat699 describes it very well. Also before you go into surgery the anaesthetist should discuss with you what they will do - this is helpful as you then realise what an active role they play during surgery and how they know exactly what they're doing.

While you're under they will monitor you minutely for any changes that might cause the slightest concern and they will act swiftly in the unlikely event that anything will occur. There is so much more to it than just making you unconscious. They are trained medical professionals who will take full account of all your risk factors in their approach to sedating you.

I get that ceding control is scary and no one likes it. But you need to have this done and if you're going to have it done best be in a place with a team of people who between them have seen every possible outcome and will watch you like a hawk to make sure you get through this safely.

Good luck with your op.

The 30 day mortality figure for gall bladder removal is no worse than for the general population. The peri-operative mortality is very low (0.012%) with most deaths being related to patients over 75 years, those with known cardiac or respiratory conditions and open rather than keyhole surgery.
Results are marginally better in centres that perform higher numbers of operations of the same type.
Despite all the warnings about obesity and increased anaesthetic risk, the risk remains very, very low except in cases of extreme morbid obesity. Forty falls on the cusp of obesity and severe obesity and is unlikely to lead to difficulties.
Relax and be glad your gall stones are being removed.

I had mine down a few years ago, I'd never had surgery before.

I was wheeled to theatre (because it was late afternoon they did all the prep in theatre so I could see everything ) they talk to you , put the monitors on your chest and elastic DVT stockings on .

I was completely weirdly calm when I went , if I died, I would know nothing about it , but statistically I wouldn't.
I insisted on having my stone , when I woke up I was clutching a little pot !

I didn't need Post-Op painkillers but I was really thirsty.

Good Luck.

I've had 13 GA's, having my gallbladder out was one of them, and I assure you that you'll be just fine. You won't even remember falling asleep and you'll be awake before you even know what's going on.

Anaesthetists are very very clever doctors.
Also could you do some things to make yourself feel better before op? Walk so you are puffed 15mins a day ? Eat more nuts and veges . May feel like you are taking some control of situation.

I’ve had one and was really worried. The anaesthetist came to say hello before the op and I told him I was worried about not waking up or waking during the op. He just looked straight at me and said that’s not going to happen. I found that reassuring and assumed he’d been told that millions of times before!!

As I was prepped, a nurse chatted to me and asked me what I’d usually be doing at that time on a normal day. I said I’d be at my Pilates class and she asked me how Pilates differed from yoga etc etc. The last thing I remember is feeling very relaxed and saying something nonsensical about Pilates!!

Next thing I knew someone was calling my name and I opened my eyes to see a smiley nurse saying hello.

Recovery was a bit harder than I imagined but perfectly manageable. I drank peppermint tea to help with the bloating.

Thank you everyone for your replies, it does help to hear of your experiences, particularly if you are similar BMI to me....I may ask for a sedative, I think I'm quite a long way down the list as I can't be a day case due to my weight.

I think my BMI was 36/37 When I had mine done, I was choose & book on NHS at my local private hospital, I went in about lunchtime & I was home by 7.00PM

My BMI was similar to Nat. Between 35-40

Don't worry. The anaesthetic team will be aware of the situation and have prepped any specialist equipment needed. I imagine your anaesthetist will be experienced and well prepared. Try not to worry. They do this all day everyday. Xxxxxx

You should mention your anxiousness to the anaesthetist, they will arrange something to calm you down. I had a lap chole last year, four small scars tell the story. It's just shite I've contracted PCS two months after the surgery... you'll be fine, promise.

Try not to worry. I’ve had 2 Csections with a high BMI (even after deducting baby’s weight). All absolutely fine.

Anaesthetists are amonth the most highly trained, experienced and clever doctors out there and will be certain get everything spot on. They will come to introduce themselves before you go into surgery and keep an eye the whole time. You’ll be in very safe hands. Don’t be afraid to tell them if you’re particularly anxious and they will help reassure you further.

I totally understand - i had always been afraid of it too for similar reasons! I ended up having to have emergency surgery twice last year and it was all happening before I could get too wound up! The team were super lovely, chatty and reassuring and we were joking around in the anaesthetic room as they were preparing to put me under. Next I knew I was coming round and asking why I wasn't allowed to bring my pet pony into hospital for emotional support.

I do t even have a pony.

It was all absolutely fine despite my fears, and you will be fine too. It's actually a nice chance for a little lie down in the middle of the day.

If one of your fears about the anaesthetic is not waking up again, I found it reassuring to know that you need a steady supply of it to stay 'under'. In other words, it's not a case of them doing something to knock you out and then doing something else to wake you up and hoping that the wake up procedure works - they can wake you up simply by removing the anaesthetic supply (though not instantly, so it won't happen by accident or anything!)

Also, if your gallstones are anything like mine were, rest assured that the operation is soooooo worth it!

Honestly, it is not nearly as scary as you think! One minute I was chatting to the anaesthetist and the surgeon, literally the next second they were waking me up on the ward. I am a fatty and they didn’t even mention my weight, loads of fat people have ops every day.

Thank you again, honestly...these comments have made me feel loads better about the whole thing. I will speak to the anaethatist about sedation, hopefully I'll be a lot calmer on the day.