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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to be petrified of getting a general anaesthetic?

63 replies

FineAlrightThen · 19/03/2020 18:31

I have an ENT procedure on the 30th to remove an obstructing polyp from my sinus. It is only day surgery but I am absolutely petrified of getting the general anesthetic to the point where I'm having serious thoughts of cancelling the surgery! Believe it or not I'm a 30 year old woman not a 6 year old girl

My anxiety is generally out of control but I'm afraid of dying while I'm under or not coming out of it. Or waking up with the tube down my throat unable to breathe. I have a lot to live for as I now have a precious DD!

I'm even afraid of coming out of it and not being able to breathe due to the nature of the surgery. If I do manage to make it through, am I going to wake up thinking I can breathe through my nose when I can't because it's all swollen/packed/bloody etc, am I going to be gasping and freaking out as I regain my bearings. I used to suffer terrible panic attacks as well as my generalised anxiety, it's a horrible feeling thinking something physical is terribly wrong and I'm in danger.

Another thing, I think I'm going to panic as I've heard you can feel the propofol going in to the vein and travelling up your arm?? That will properly terrify me before I lose consciousness. It sounds very scary.

Aaaaahhhhhhh.

I have only had one other anaesthetic when I got teeth extracted as a teen. I actually don't know if it was a general or just sedation, I remember having a mask over my face, 3 seconds later I hear the assistant saying "she's waking up" and I was pissed that they hadn't put me under yet after all that anxiety and bother, in fact it had already been done! I don't remember an IV or anything like that but it was long ago, and I remember immediately feeling awake and well enough to get out of the chair and walk to recovery where I spent 5 minutes then off to go home with my mum like nothing happened. I don't think I ever had a breathing tube or at least I was not aware of it. From what I know a proper general anaesthetic makes you quite out of it for a while in recovery?

Anyway sorry for the novel, it would be helpful to hear others' experiences, good or bad, so I know what to honestly expect. Also if you've had an ENT procedure what was it like? Also if you were sedated beforehand due to anxiety would you recommend it and what's it like? Wondering if I can have a bit of gas and air or something like that to relax me so I don't care about the scary sensations before I'm out.

OP posts:
user1469292281 · 19/03/2020 18:42

Fine - not ENT, but I put off gall bladder surgery for 4 years because I was terrified of having a general anesthetic. Eventually, things got so bad I had to go for surgery and I talked to the nurse doing my pre-op about it and to the surgeon on the day. They both explained that anesthesia has come on leaps and bounds in the past 20 years (since I'd last had a GA). They were so reassuring and I was fine on the day. My op was at 3:00pm and they said they would start bringing me round at 4:30pm. I remember being in the operating theatre and then the next thing I was in the recovery room and the clock said 4:45pm. No sickness, no soreness in my throat from the breathing tube (I assume I had one!), no headache or feeling groggy. I couldn't believe I'd spent 4 years worrying myself silly about it and it was a complete non-event (in terms of the anesthetic). And, I'm nearly 3 decades older and the nurse and surgeon didn't think I was being ridiculous, they took my concerns seriously.

FlyFishingg · 19/03/2020 18:53

I also had my gallbladder out recently, and have no memory of being knocked out at all! I'm a very anxious person and thought I'd panic. But I was suddenly awake and it was all over!

You don't have time to panic, you're just talking to nurses one minute, waking up from surgery the next.

I struggle with insomnia so actually quite enjoyed it.

Dontrainonmyparade · 19/03/2020 18:55

Yanbu, it’s ok to be scared, please talk to the anesthetist about your fears, they’ll take good care of you.

sunshinemachine · 19/03/2020 18:59

hiya yanbu to be scared. i had my tonsils out earlier this year and i was crapping myself but it was honestly fine. i remember getting the needle, counting down to ten (i don’t think i even got to 9). my arm did feel weird, but honestly i was knocked out before i could even think about it. i think it just went a bit cold. next thing i knew i was awake. i was quite sick but that was because i had a reaction to morphine.

userabcname · 19/03/2020 18:59

Most likely you'll be ok. I had a GA I reacted badly to as a child so was always nervous of needing one as an adult. Following the delivery of DC1 I ended up under GA for a few hours to be patched up / have blood infusions etc. When I woke up I didn't even realise what had happened. I was fine, even breastfeeding my newborn within an hour or so. It was a bit of an emergency but I didn't feel anything and felt fine when I woke up! Well, I was in pain but that was thanks to childbirth, not the GA!

Hoggleludo · 19/03/2020 19:00

I always remember my mum saying to me

If you die under anaesthetic. You won't even know about it. So don't worry

It helped me massively.

FaithInfinity · 19/03/2020 19:01

It’s actually incredibly rare to have a reaction, especially for a planned surgery (obviously more risk in an emergency). Last time I had an anaesthetic I literally went under then felt like I woke a second later! In the majority of cases people stir enough to have the breathing tube removed but don’t fully wake for a while after that.
They’ll give you pain relief while your under but the key is to ask for more if you need it in Recovery. If you are nervous explain that to the anaesthetist when you meet them and they will help to reassure you.

Hoggleludo · 19/03/2020 19:03

Oh. And I love LOVE whatever they give you beforehand. The stuff they say. Now what's your favourite drink. It will feel like you've had 5 glasses!

I've had lots of ent surgeries. Your nose is packed. But I've never found it uncomfortable in anyway. Plus they dose you up before they wake you. Trust me. The day after is the worst. But even that's nothing.

Though I've had 4 major surgeries and haven't ever felt pain.

Cheerbear23 · 19/03/2020 19:05

I had my appendix out last year, and the anaesthetic was a doddle, I had it and was woken up, no recollection of the op. I was a bit confused over where I was but not distressed.
The ‘worst’ bit was a spinning feeling like I was very very drunk as I was being put under.

WobblyAllOver · 19/03/2020 19:05

I had surgery last year. I remember the nurse saying have a nice sleep then the next thing I remember was in the recovery room. I felt quite cold and shivery afterwards and they put a warming blanket on me for a while before taking me back to my room

It's perfectly normal to worry but try not to dwell on it too much and mention your fears when you attend so they can reassure you.

probablynotthesame · 19/03/2020 19:06

You'll probably find your surgery will be cancelled so I wouldn't get too worked up about it. All non cancer/emergency ops in many hospitals have already been cancelled before the cut off set by the government. If it does go ahead you can ask for some midazolam prior to anything else, it will calm you down and you won't remember anything. Yes the propofol can hurt in some patients, it can feel icy cold/hot/ tingly or nothing...everyone is different BUT this doesn't last and you won't wake up with it!

OhMargo · 19/03/2020 19:07

Very nervous beforehand for sure. But the drugs, oh the lovely drugs!

Medics know what to do.

FlyFishingg · 19/03/2020 19:07

OOHhhh and sometimes you get a shot of morphine when you wake up too. I fucking love morphine, worth having an operation for. Grin

NotExactlyHappyToHelp · 19/03/2020 19:08

YANBU the complete loss of control is a scary prospect.

I had a big dental surgery so not quite the same but similar.

I was very scared and told the anaesthetist my fears. He couldn’t have been more lovely or reassuring. He said that this was a big day for me and it’s a scary thing to go through but to him this is just another day. That he does this day in day out and it’s completely normal for him. It really comforted me. They also offered to put me out with the mask because I was very needle phobic at the time.

They’re all highly trained professionals who wouldn’t perform this operation if it was to your detriment.

IndieTara · 19/03/2020 19:10

I've had 4 surgeries in 4 years and I was terrified the first time, panic attacks and everything! It was nowhere near as bad as I imagined and now I know what to expect it doesn't worry me.
When they inject into the canula they give you a big dose of pain relief first, I was so anxious I had a huge headache and it disappeared immediately which was lovely.
Then they give you the anaesthetic and very briefly I felt it go up my arm for maybe 2 seconds then I was out cold.
Luckily I've never reacted badly and when waking up just felt groggy for a while.

littlepeas · 19/03/2020 19:14

I was nervous before my first GA but it was fine. They give you something that chills you out first - one minute I was talking about green smoothies, the next I was waking up! It’s like an amazing sleep. You don’t feel yourself go under - it’s literally lights out. Apparently I woke up with the tube still in - I say apparently, because I don’t remember.

SugarSugarShimmy · 19/03/2020 19:15

Sorry to throw a spanner in the works but won’t this be cancelled as they’ve cancelled all non urgent surgery?

Dishevelled09 · 19/03/2020 19:15

I recently had surgery under GA & was apprehensive too. There was a split second when I felt uneasy when the liquid went into my veins, the room spun similar to too many drinks so I shut my eyes and woke up 90 mins later. That was the best sleep I ever had! Would definitely have it again if I needed an op.

allaboardthesinkingship · 19/03/2020 19:19

I've had a GA 3 times and I love it! I can see why you're nervous but don't be and you can talk to your doctors before and express your anxiety

Babdoc · 19/03/2020 19:21

Retired anaesthetist here. OP, I wish I had a pound for every patient who told me they were scared they wouldn’t wake up, or would wake up in the middle!
Those are perfectly natural fears, but you will have an anaesthetist beside you through the entire op, monitoring your every heartbeat and breath, your blood pressure, your oxygen and CO2 levels - you will be more meticulously looked after than at any other time in your life.
We don’t spend five years training as doctors, two foundation years in hospital and then a further seven years in specialist anaesthetic training in order to mess around in theatre letting patients die!
As many PPs have said to you, you will wonder afterwards what on earth you were worrying for.
You will come round in the recovery room with a specialist nurse giving you one to one care. She will be monitoring you, and will give you any extra pain relief if needed. You won’t be discharged home from the day surgery unit until you are fully with it and comfy, and able to eat and drink.

I hope your op isn’t cancelled - a lot of hospitals are stopping most of their elective surgery to clear beds for Corona virus patients. But if it goes ahead, I’m sure you will be fine. It’s just another day at the office for the staff!
Come back and tell us how you got on - and I bet you’ll say it was fine. Good luck.

Aquamarine1029 · 19/03/2020 19:24

I've had GA 14 times. You will be perfectly fine.

Percypopper · 19/03/2020 19:24

I was petrified having my first (and only) GA.

I sobbed my heart out from the minute I was weighed for dosage all the way up to when they administered the anaesthetic.
When I came round after the operation, it was so peaceful and quiet on the ward, like waking up from the most fantastic sleep ever!

Noooblerooble · 19/03/2020 19:26

I highly doubt this will go ahead op sorry. I have just had an operation cancelled and to be honest I was getting increasingly worried it was too big a risk right now.

But it's natural to be scared and I promise anaesthetics are really safe these days. They aren't pleasant but they're very low risk.

Talia99 · 19/03/2020 19:30

I had a GA for a back operation. One minute I was talking to the various nurses/doctors in the entry room, the next I was waking up back in my room.

I didn’t feel the anaesthetic at all and I certainly didn’t wake up in the middle.

Chanel05 · 19/03/2020 19:31

I've had GA once in my life which was last year for day surgery. I was, like you, absolutely petrified. Fear of the unknown. I was even petrified about them putting the cannula in. I spoke to my surgeon and anaesthetist and they were so good to me. I remember feeling like I was in a grey space and when I came round I saw the time on the clock and realised two hours had passed! You will be totally fine. It's a perfectly natural fear but I can assure you it will be okay.