To be terrified of having surgery?

[Daisythecat15]

I'm having my first surgery in 8 days and I'm absolutely terrified.

I can't stop thinking that I won't wake up from the anaesthetic. Is that stupid? I know the chances of it happening are tiny (I got given a leaflet and it said it's a 5 in 1 million chance) but I just can't shake the fear!! I keep feeling like I'm getting closer and closer to the last day of my life.

How do I get over this? Is it normal to feel this way? For context I'm having major abdominal surgery, so I'm also very nervous about pain etc but my main fear is being put under.

@Daisythecat15 teeth!! OMG 😱

I’m done!! Proud of myself. Assume they’ll be bringing me a bravery sticker later.

I was fine as soon as the ‘relaxing’ thing kicked in. They could’ve done anything they liked after that 😂😂

Did they tell you it was an undeveloped twin, Daisy? My cousin had one of those.

Yay well done!! We did it!

Hope you're not in too much pain and recovery goes smoothly for you.

No they didn't, they said it was a dermoid... Which I think is just a strange type of cyst/ tumour that grows different body parts inside it. I hope it wasn't an undeveloped twin 😨 that's so creepy.

I've had GA loads of times. It's a nice drug fuelled sleep. If you are worried about pain speak to the staff before you go under and ask about post op pain relief. I always ask them to give me something before I wake up. They would anyway for a major op.

Was speaking to my ex about this earlier. I've been put under GA twice and each time I enjoyed it. The first time they asked me to count back, I made it to 8 then came around in recovery. Second time they asked me where I worked and before I could finish answering them I was out and then came around in recovery. It was literally like a blink. No time passed at all for me (although in reality, 6 hours passed). It's a nice feeling, nothing to worry about and if you die (you won't), it would be a painless way to go.

Only thing about GAs for me is that I can't sleep the night after for some reason

Good luck, you will honestly be fine.

Oh sorry just realised you've had it done. You're alive!!! Yay well done

Thank you 😁 I'm so proud of myself. I also couldn't sleep the first night though oddly. I imagined I'd be out like a light but I was awake for over 24 hours after surgery. Have just managed a good night's sleep though.

I'm also proud of myself because I just did my own injection into my tummy which I was so nervous about, but honestly compared to the surgery itself I feel like I can do anything now 😁

We wouldn't dream of waking ANYone up without multiple pain killers, let alone major ops. All patients will have 2-3 regular pain killers on their drug chart and a quick acting strong opiate that can be given in addition on request 2-4hrly