To be scared of having general anaesthetic?

[IndiaRose22]

Posting here for traffic really!!

I have an op at some point this morning to remove my gallbladder, so keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic. When I was talking about "whipping it out" I don't think I actually thought this far ahead and now it's here and I'm bricking it! That's all really, being a softie and over thinking - how do they make sure I'm asleep? Do I really not feel anything during?

Hi @IndiaRose22, I'm in hospital right now waiting for my gallbladder surgery to start, and I'm terrified too. So scared.

I haven't had any problems with my gallbladder recently in any case, so can't help but wonder if it's the right thing to go ahead, but I'm here now! I'm sure we won't feel a thing... the doctors do this every day and they know what they're doing.

I wish you the best of luck with yours!!

It’s rather lovely. You’ll have a wee chat with the anaesthetist and they will tell you that you can count to ten or something and you’ll be SURE you will make it and then hey presto you are asking up.

You might feel a bit emotional when you wake up ad that’s normal too.

Good luck and look forward to to being pain free after a recovery period.

Waking up, not asking up.

Ah, honey, you are bound to be feeling iffy! I think most people who need a GA have these thoughts.

But the anaesthetist do not want you to be awake at all! They also do not want you to feel a thing. That's their responsibility and they take it seriously! You'll normally get to talk to them before the op. Tell them that you're concerned and they'll talk you through it. Honestly, they'll have you counting down and the next thing you know you'll be coming round, all done, hopefully to the smell of fresh toast!

Good luck.

Most people are scared before their first general anaesthetic. What happens is: they knock you out (it's remarkably fast), then you wake up and it's all over! You won't feel anything at all during your op.

I got the hca to hold my hand as I went to sleep when I had my appendix out, that helped me to feel calm. You'll get to meet the anaesthetist beforehand, mine was a really friendly and conscientious lady, they're the one making sure you're asleep and checking you're ok during the op. With that surgery which was keyhole I was healed up and swimming a week later.

Good luck to you both. From my experience, yes, you will be completely unconscious and not feel anything at all.

Oh wow, do you have a time? I started with the pain on Friday and was originally told it was acid at urgent care. Glad I went back because I felt very dramatic for acid!

You are right, they do it everyday, so many times! And same to you, best wishes and a good recovery 💐

I had my womb out a week ago and the general is a nice bit of it. They laid me in theatre, put my cannula in my hand for pain relief and then the mask on.. I breathed deeply for 20 seconds while someone stroked my hand and I was gone! Woke up instantly in recovery.

YANBU. I am terrified of GAs and it's got worse as I've got older. I know that statistically things are very unlikely to gom wrong.

I love a GA you just drift off to sleep and know nothing about what's going on
Hope you and @Anothernamechangeplease recover soon

No time yet. I just know I'm next so I reckon they'll take me in at some point during the next hour or so.

Gallbladder pain is horrible so it will be worth it in the end. The waiting is the worst bit. Do you know what time you're going in?

Thank you all for your reassuring words!! Do you just go to sleep and not dream or anything? Literally just wake up what feels like straight away?

Yes 🤷🏻‍♀️

It is scary, especially the first time but honestly you just go to sleep and wake up and that's it. It's like nothing at all happened in the middle. Not even dreams.

Thank you @MatildaMonroe.

Also had my gallbladder out in July, it was my second general. You do just go to sleep quickly and when you wake it is like no time has passed.

You are definitely waiting then! They put me on nil by mouth yesterday incase they could squeeze me in, then I've woke up this morning and been told I'm allowed to order food for after now because its this morning. No actual time though!

I've had 3 ops with general anesthetic including gall bladder removal. Was also terrified the first time but it was just as someone else has said in this thread - you v. quickly go under. They put a cannula in the top of my hand and then injected some liquid into it. I felt it go up my arm towards my shoulder really quickly and started counting down from 10. I think I got to about 8 before I was then waking up groggy. I also remember the anaesthetist decrying the anti capitalist protests that had taken place earlier that week (this was May 2000) and we had a debate about whether capitalism worked whilst the cannula went in, so that took the edge off 🙂. When I had the cholecystectomy, the main thing I remember was I coughed a lot on waking and they gave me oxygen and having a pain in my belly button which was the main operation site (laproscopy) and they gave me morphine for that. Was out the next day at home eating custard cream biscuits for the first time in months (my gall stones had built over a long period of time and over about two years foods I could tolerate became fewer). I don't recommend slaughtering a packet of custard creams the day after gall bladder removal, though, it felt like I had swallowed a breeze block and was a pretty stupid thing to do!

Short version: you'll be fine and life will be some much better without agonising gallstone pain

Hope you don't have to wait too long. Too much time to stress about it isn't good!

I had surgery a few weeks ago and was more nervous than I expected to be about the general anaesthetic but when it comes to it they are so calm, professional and friendly that it all happens as you're chatting to them. They said 'now this is going to feel like you've had a very large glass of wine so you're lovely and relaxed, now this next one will be the anaesthetic.' The last thing I remember thinking was that my eyebrow was itchy but I was too relaxed to do anything about it.

I woke up a couple of hours later in a different room and spent some time drifting in and out of a lovely easy sleep until they gave me some orange juice.

You'll be absolutely fine.

Yes for me it goes black as I have the anesthetic and then suddenly I'm sitting up and I'm in the recovery room, it's all completed and I'm asking for my hairband back as they took it out what felt like a second before pre-surgery. The nurse in the recovery room looked taken aback- apparently some people wake up more gradually.

I had fairly major surgery last week so the GA situation is fresh in my mind. There were about 4 people around me in the anaesthetic room.
Canula in hand. Sticky pads on forehead - some king of electronic connection, I guess, to apparently show how asleep I was. Obviously worked!
A good dose of a ‘very strong pain killer’, which was lovely. Anaesthetic next, which feels cold as it goes up your arm. This time I didn’t feel it at all, but previously I’ve felt it get to my elbow before going to sleep.

Came round in recovery room with the most adorable nurse.

worst headache ever for a couple of days which is the GA apparently.

Something happening now... think they're taking me in soon. I hope it's going to be OK! Good luck @IndiaRose22!

Ooo GA is nice! It’s literally “sharp scratch” as they site the cannula and then when they inject the good stuff it’s like a lovely dip into a warm bath. You remember NOTHING and next thing you come round after a good sleep with “all done.”

Good luck @MrsBennetsPoorNerves