To be scared of anaesthetic?

[TrueFriendsStabYouInTheFront]

I am having an operation at the end of October and I keep getting cold feet as I'm so scared of the thought of anaesthetic. Please tell me IABU and that all will be fine!

Could I ask for your experiences if you've ever had surgery?

It's just occurred to me a couple of people mentioning their throat, does everyone have a tube down their throat for breathing?

Ive had 3 fairly major ops in the last 3 years and was terrified of being anaesthetised ( bit of a control freak )
The staff were wonderful and kept me calm. It's over before you know it and I had no bad after effects luckily.
Op honestly you'll be just fine.

And yes everyone has a tube down their throat

No - not everyone - it depends on the procedure and lots of other factors. You will have some kind of airway device placed when you’re asleep. Some sit in the mouth, others go down the throat. They’re removed as you’re waking and you’ll remember very little if anything of it
Both can give you an annoying dry sore throat afterwards, the tube in the throat is worse. But it’s nothing to worry about and settled down itself.

The tube is put in & taken back out while you're asleep though so don't worry about that. Just may have a slight sore / dry throat.

As for the actual experience;

Generally you'll get wheeled down to surgery on your trolley/bed. You'll go into a little room that isn't the operating theatre, and the team will say hello and double check with you what you're having done and if relevant which side it is (when I had ankle surgery they asked me to confirm SO many times, and they'd also drawn a massive arrow in sharpie on my leg ). They'll pop a cannula in (even that's nicer than it ever used to be, as they no longer leave a needle in your hand but a flexible plastic tube it's much more comfy), and probably tell you that you'll feel the cold anaesthetic going in. You'll feel a bit drowsy and feel like shutting your eyes, and/or they might get you to count. Once you've shut your eyes the next thing you will know is waking up in the recovery room. You will probably be desperate for water and a nurse will be the to offer you some and make sure you take little sips not big gulps. Sometimes I've woken up feeling cold or in pain - if that's the case, tell them and they'll sort it immediately. (The warm air blanket is the absolute BEST THING EVER!!). You are likely to feel light headed, like you want to go back to sleep (but the nurses won't let you until you're back on the ward) or nauseous. All normal and will pass soon. Sometimes not always your consultant will come to see you to tell Tony your surgery went well while you'e still in recovery room. As soon as you'e deemed recovered (awake) enough then the porters will wheel you back to your ward where you can doze, come to, and be interrupted regularly by nurses checking your blood pressure and pain levels. Remember this is bread and butter routine to them.

'TrueFriendsStabYouInTheFront

It's just occurred to me a couple of people mentioning their throat, does everyone have a tube down their throat for breathing'

I think so. I only remember it being there 1 out of 8 times though as I remember coming round in recovery before it had been removed for a few seconds. The other times I was still out of it.

I too am having an (elective) op involving GA later this month. Last time I had one I insisted they numb the area where the cannula was being inserted. They tried to dissuade me but I knows my own mind.

I try to rationalise the GA thusly:

1). it's far, far preferable to being bloody AWAKE whilst they slice and dice me
2). even given the minuscule risk that I might die under GA, I imagine death under GA must be pretty high up on the list of Top 10 Ways to Die. You go to sleep and don't know anything about it. Cool.

One thing that does give me pause - no-one has ever said this to me but I get the impression I'm kinda ... obnoxious when I come round from GA. I don't whether to warn the hospital staff and apologise in advance. I don't want them chalking me up as a horrendous patient.

Ah @Coffeeandchocolate9 thank you for your post, really helpful

@Butchyrestingface - I wouldn't worry about how you appear when you are coming around. The staff would of seen it all - from random rambling to outburst of years for absolutely no reason. You won't be looked at as a bad patient

*tears ... Not years!

You'll sometimes be checked during one of the pre-op checks for what size or type of tube they will need (they'll ask if you have any dental work and look in your mouth). You never see it feel the tube though, that's put in and taken out while you're blissfully unaware. As others say you will probably have a bit of a sore throat which is one reason why you'll probably want water when you come round. It goes quite quickly.

@VaggieMight wtf?! How unhelpful of her, jeez!!

@Butchyrestingface - I wouldn't worry about how you appear when you are coming around. The staff would of seen it all - from random rambling to outburst of years for absolutely no reason. You won't be looked at as a bad patient smile

Have they had a 9 year old tell them to fuck off? I haven't improved any in the years since.

@Coffeeandchocolate9 one of my bottom teeth is wobbly so instantly worried it's gonna get pushed/knocked out! Trying to hang on to it as long as possible!

@TrueFriendsStabYouInTheFront - is it a bit weird that I'm actually feeling a tad excited for you knowing that you're having an operation that will, hopefully, greatly improve your life? 😊

@HaveeeeYouMetTed that's so lovely of you, thank you!! I really hope so, I've felt a lot of shame about having it but I'm past that now thankfully and on to worrying about the op itself haha!

@Butchyrestingface - that made me giggle a little! You might of been the first but they wouldn't of remembered you as that horrible child, just a child drugged up & unaware of what they were really saying. IT's probably a story the staff talk about with good humour.

It will be fine. I was honestly terrified but as soon as the cannula went it I was out like a light and I didn't even notice I was being put to sleep. Next thing I remember is waking up and that's it. Anaesthetists are very nice and calming people, they know what they're doing!

Same as this (and I was scared shitless!). You'll be fine.

I was terrified too and told the anaesthetist I was scared of not waking up. She replied "oh yeah, that can happen" when she saw the look of horror on my face she quickly stumbled through her words and told me that it would be highly unlikely for someone of my age and health.

Last time I had surgery the surgeon came in for the pre-op chit chat and asked me, "what's the worst thing you can imagine happening during the operation?" (I imagine this was to assuage any concerns I had about the procedure).

"Dying under general anaesthesia", sez I, cheerily.

He was VERY OFFENDED. I think he thought I was casting aspersions on his surgical skills. I was simply answering a direct question honestly. ¯\(ツ)/¯

Absolutely no need to feel shameful! Best of luck for the operation & the recovery going forward. Hopefully you'll drop us a little update when you've had it done

I have the same fear. I refused it and said I knew I could have a spinal for my back op, so I did. Obviously there are some things that you need to have a general for but where posi definitely wouldn't.

Thanks, @HaveeeeYouMetTed. 👍 Good luck, OP!