Surgery/ anaesthetic

[Liamandlee]

I’m due to see gynaecologist on Friday regarding endometrial cyst which is causing severe pain. Likelihood is he may recommend surgery. I’m in a panic regarding this especially the anaesthetic. What if if I wake up during the operation? I know people say you are unconscious but I have a low pain threshold and whenever I have had local anaesthetic such as tooth removal I have felt sensations. Xxx

Local anaesthetic is very different to general. You definitely won't wake up, there's a nurse watching over you specifically for that reason. With regards to pain, you will be given painkillers as you wake up, and just let the nurse know if you're in pain and they will help.

I worried about this a bit too. The anaesthetist's job is to keep you asleep. They track your heart rate and if it changes due to any change in consciousness they increase the anaesthetic. X

The anaesthetist should come to assess you prior to your surgery, th check you are fit and we’ll enough for general anaesthetic. It might help to discuss your worries with them and mention your previous experience. They can answer your questions and perhaps this will reassure you .

I have been under many times. You will not wake up. You will not feel anything. You will not remember anything. It’s very strange.

Don't panic. There's an anaesthetist (doctor) there the whole time specifically to make sure you stay the right level of unconscious. The anaesthetist will come and see you beforehand to let you know what will happen and answer any questions you have. I had an op a few weeks ago and was initially worried but it was absolutely fine. Fingers crossed for you xx

I quite like the feeling of going under anaesthetic

You shut your eyes and fall asleep and next thing you know you open them and it’s all over!

I know when my DS had an operation he was given a local anaesthetic after the general took effect so that when he woke afterwards he wouldn't feel the pain immediately. Not sure whether that was due to his age or the location of the surgery, or whether it's the usual procedure. Anyway, my point is it may be worth asking if that is something they do as it may reassure you. But, really, I've never known anyone wake during a general anaesthetic.

This used to worry me, but had a few ops over last few years, on lasting just short of ten hours and you won't wake up or remember anything, infact like Bishalisha says , it's quite a nice feeling going under.
Good luck with it all

Aww thank you for all responding 36 years old and panicking about this 🤦‍♀️ I go in a cold sweat just thinking about it. I have only had surgery once when I was a child but was given anaesthetic just as I was waking up for the day and just remember a feeling of confusion. Xxx

If you're worried about having a general, you could ask if it's possible to do it under spinal/epidural then you'd be awake and able to indicate if you're in pain. I don't know if it would be possible, depends on the surgery and how long it'll take, but it doesn't hurt to ask. Definitely discuss your worries with the consultant as they'll be able to answer all your questions.

I'm with a pp here - I quite like the feeling of being anaesthetised! (I always think to myself I'm going to have a lovely sleep.)
I've lost count of the GAs I've had (at least ten).

You definitely won't wake up, there's a nurse watching over you specifically for that reason Um and an ANAESTHETIST!

Awareness during anaesthetic is incredibly rare. Even of those who have awareness it is usually brief and they often don’t feel pain etc so don’t imagine that as a likely scenario. Anaesthetists will see your heart rate etc rise if you get even a tiny bit light and that is long before you would be aware.

As with everyone else I loved it. Lie there, get the drugs, feel woozy for 10 seconds and wake up later! It is normal to be nervous but just tell your anaesthetist and they will look after you- they are very used to it :)

It is normal to be nervous of anaesthetic. I’ve had many and I still don’t like it very much. Tell the anaesthetist that you are nervous.

you may have is a pre-op check. My local hospital has an outpatient clinic just for it. When I need surgery I get sent there directly after appointment with my surgeon or go another day. They ask things like whether I have hearing aids, all my medical conditions and any problems with previous operations. They used to just do that on the day of surgery so other hospitals may do that. I let them know the things I need. It isn’t the anaesthetist that I see but I still mention what they will need to know. You can mention your nervous.

I write down any questions I have or things I need to say to take with me on the day of the surgery.

I’m very difficult to keep under apparently. The only reason I know this is it’s on my notes and my husband watched our egg collection and was freaked out by it.

Despite this I’ve never come round in surgery, and never have any recollection after.

It’s very unlikely you’ll be an awkward case like me, but even if you are you’re extremely unlikely to ever know about it.

I am awful when it comes to surgery and have had two major surgies and some minor .Talk to your aneasthetist,every one i have had have been lovely .If you explain how scared you are they will allay your fears .They are very experienced and in my eyes extremely clever people. They wont mind they see it a lot .I had a GA on Friday 13th and came out fine the other side .I think when i have ever had a GA i wake up feeling much better as i am not a good sleeper .Good luck with it all.

I've had a lot of GAs and I still get myself a little worked up beforehand so it's completely normal to feel anxious. You'll definitely be out of it and anaesthetists are very highly trained doctors.

What's your genetic heritage?

It's rare but starting to be recognised that some of us with Celtic origins. Particularly redheads metabolise anaesthetics and analgesics faster than others.

I'm one of these people. I've had pain relief etc wear off at dentist & outpatient surgeries. Since I moved back to Scotland I've found it much easier to get my experience on this accepted and not dismissed - my current dentist has the same problem himself, also a redhead, I was so relieved because it meant he "got it".

But it's better recognised now, that some people need more. You can tell the anaesthetist and they will/should take the information on board and monitor you closely and "top you up" if necessary. As pp say general anaesthetic isn't the same as other situations as you're closely monitored for any adverse reactions anyway and any indication that the nervous system isn't acting as it should is apparent before you get to the point of waking up.

Also it's not just the general anaesthetic that's put in place to prevent pain, even people who very rarely become conscious during surgery don't feel pain.

Weirdly my mum is the complete opposite and goes too deep - that makes them more nervous! She's very difficult to bring round and suffers awfully with side effects and feeling very groggy for days after even a local! It's now well documented on her notes to tread carefully and maybe not give her as much as her size indicates may be necessary.

People are weird.

You'll be fine.

Like Graphista explains we are all different, however, if you happen to have a condition called EDS (Ehlers Danlos Syndrome) as this can cause difficulties with anaesthetics.

Speak with the anaesthetist, write your fears down and ask them to put at the front on your notes so if it's not the same Dr on surgery day it's clear what your fears are and any suggestions to help or make things easier for you and they will be aware and can work with you re this.

They are very highly trained and in my opinion the most responsible of all Drs as they are tasked with looking after you literally at your head on the operating table and making sure you are ok and your vital signs are all within a range, they are the ones who will notice first if anything changes and take actions accordingly.

Im like Graphistas mum, I go too deep and have difficulty coming round,

I also hate the feeling of the mask going over my face so in the past I've had the needle in the back of my hand to count down from 15 to allow a longer time to go out and after the very first time, they made sure I never saw a mask again as didn't put it on until I closed my eyes out, I had short lasting GAs twice a week for 6 weeks so 12 in all, in a short time when I had ECT for depression.

If you have a tendency to get sick easily they can give you something iv to stop that or if your BP fluctuates they will keep a good eye on it, also good to mention at the appointment if you have any allergies to meds, past reactions etc as for example my local hospitals first line in anti sickness meds are Zofran which I always have to turn down as it gives me crushing chest pains and I can't have codeine either as I can't metabolise it, Im a nightmare for a Dr treating me but I have a list uploaded to my records and agreed with my GP of what I can be treated with for sickness, pain etc

I see an anaesthetist for pain management, he did a spinal injection for me in the past just like he was giving an injection in my arm, total ease. He also suggests things to try and see what would help

Their only focus in the operating room is you, anaesthetic and your vitals.

Good luck.

Hi I’m very fair, burn very easily in the sun. I know they are so highly trained and experienced, It just makes me sick thinking about it, what if the medications they administer don’t allow my vital signs to change to notify them. It’s a fear of being locked in my body and them not being aware. I feel even more daft about it because as an ex mental health nurse I have seen lots of ECT treatments being performed xxx

Part of the drugs they give you during the anaesthetic has a “memory wiping” side effect, so even if you did wake up - INCREDIBLY RARE - you wouldnt remember it. You certainly wouldnt feel pain as one of the drugs is a paralysis inducing drug (hence the need for the machine to breathe for you). Honestly, I work in theatres and Ive never known anyone wake up or have any amount of awareness during surgery.

But i agree with previous posters advice, most hospitals have an anaesthetic review clinic held by the anaesthetist, they are usually reserved for the high risk patients but if youre incredibly anxious you could request this and go through your fears/have them explain. They might be able to look up who will be anaesthetising the list you’ll be on and reassure you about them as an individual and as a medic.

When youre admitted, the anaesthetist who will put you to sleep will come and see you on the ward flr a final review. If youre still panicked, they’ll prob prescribe you a relaxant or a calming drug to help you.

Local and general are very different. with local you can feel sensations, everyone feels something just not pain. This is normal and doesnt mean you have an abnormal reaction to anesthetic.

With general you are completely out of it. Whilst awareness has been documented it is very very rare. I have never known anyone to have it or actually heard of it from someone who works in theatres. Only ever as a sort of rumour really. Even if you did (which you wont) you won't remember it and won't feel anything.

There will be an aneasthitist there the whole time monitoring your heart rate and blood pressure, they will note any changes in this which could indicate you are coming round and top you up.

I agree it would be a good idea to talk through with he aneasthetist prior to the GA if you are worried.

Although heart rate and blood pressure are a subtle indicator they aren’t really used to look at level of consciousness. We have lot more sophisticated monitoring than that. All to do with the amount of maintenance gases you have on board and how much you are breathing out in your breath etc.

Heart rate and blood pressure can indicate pain more than anything.

Honestly don’t worry. Easier said than done I know. Anaesthesia is so safe now days. The likelihood of anaesthetic awareness is incredibly low and mainly reported in cases of Caesarian sections where less anaesthetic drugs tend to be given at the beginning as they don’t want them to pass to the baby to err on the side of caution.

Human nature is to worry though so we see it every day and everyone involved in your care is trained to put you at ease and ensure you feel safe at all times. I’m an ODP btw. I help the anaesthetist with the anaesthetic.

Good luck. Hopefully it won’t come to surgery. If it’s any consolation, I am having gynae surgery myself next week.

Another daft question my systolic bp at times can drop to 90 sometimes high 80s however it is generally around 110-120. If my bp fell to these low levels which could be normal for me, whilst in surgery could they think that anaesthetic needed reducing when it doesn’t. Xxx

"Im like Graphistas mum, I go too deep and have difficulty coming round" as the person witnessing it's very scary! She takes several HOURS longer than others to come around. And the first few hours she is conscious she's not with it at all.

As an ex mental health nurse you should know that's not how these medications work. Your brain is still operating it's just not responding to pain.

Re the bp - I'm also naturally on the low side, that's on your notes if that's the case and accounted for.

Honestly? The worst thing I've found with gynae surgery (and I've had a few!) you will have never felt the need to pee SO MUCH IN ALL YOUR LIFE! 😂 and then when you go it's a pathetic dribble!

Just tell your Anaesthetist about your systolic bp. They’ll do an assessment of you on the ward before hand. Youre not the first nor will you be the last with this issue, they’ll have seen it all before and got everyone through safely. Just communicate your medical history, including your anxiety to the team. Maybe ring the surgeons secretary and ask for referral to see the anaesthetist. Take a list of all your questions and concerns so you dont miss anything x