Fear of general anesthetic?

[Maria971]

I'm posting in AIBU for more traffic...

I've never had any form of anesthetic before, and I'm really scared of it. I know it's very safe, especially for a young, fit person (I'm 30), but I'm just so terrified of that tiny possibility that I might not wake up!

Could anyone share their experiences with being put under/how afraid or not they were etc.

Me too, had more than one, but you feel so well rested and all of my tension in my muscles disappear.

I am 55 and I think I have only experienced true peace and happiness once in my life. After the pethidine I was given before the anaesthetic for my tonsillectomy aged 18. I would have a GA again just for that.

I’ve had seven GAs and I’m still here. It’s very safe and they really look after you.

I've had a few in my time and the waking up goes one of two ways for me. Either I wake up apparently totally lucid and conversant or wake up 'combatative' as one nurse put it. I'm sure the staff who got a very detailed rundown of some technical work stuff were delighted. I'm not quite so sure about the staff who got to hear me calling my DH all the names under the sun (they wouldnt tell me so I'm assuming it was bad!) after trying to whack a 2nd member of staff and declaring my desire to divorce DH there and then and marry a 3rd member of staff.

I'm a redhead. Apparently this means certain drugs are less effective but there are so many nowadays they can essentially personalise it to you.

hate to disappoint but most of us stopped using pethidine 20 yrs ago!

I was terrified for my one and only surgery. I was close to crying when I went into the pre-op room. The two ladies (one was the anaesthetist) were very patient with me and put me at as much ease as they could.

They got me chatting about something else and next thing I knew I was coming round afterwards.

Its not high on my list of things to repeat (the surgery not the ga) if given a choice but I dont think I would be as worried next time.

What was it and what effects did it have?

it's an opioid painkiller. There are better drugs for the job in anaesthetics that we use these days. It does still have a roll for some things (some women find it really useful in labour), just not so much for what we do routinely in theatre any more.

I was terrified… I was crying the whole way to the theatre, then when they started the procedure I had a panic attack, which I thought was my body reacting to the anaesthetic. Launch complete fear, tears, everything!!!… and then I knocked out. It was such a deep sleep, I woke up wishing they’d knocked me out for longer. Sooooooooo relaxing!!!

In my case it's in a couple of months but indeed - need to focus on getting the thing out!
My best to you!

Apparently that's what you're not 'supposed' to do, but the fact that you had a full blown panic attack and no adverse effects speaks to how effective it is.

I bloody love it! I have to go under twice a year and I’ve also had a couple of bigger ops too. It first started in covid where I had my own room and it was all lovely, less so now on a ward with 11 other people watching me being wheeled back in after recovery.

Beforehand I go in and over the course of a few hours I do a lot of waiting, they come to check blood pressure, temperature etc. A pregnancy test. Then both the surgeon and the GA people come speak to me separately to see how I’m doing. Then gowned up, stocking on and off I go. Last time I walked to theatre that was weird!

I go into a sort of holding room where there’s usually 3 people in. They insert a cannula which is always a bitch cos I’ve been nil by mouth. Connect wires to me. Give me oxygen and tell me to take deep breaths. Even that feels lovely! Then they tell me when they’re starting the good stuff and I count down from 10, I don’t think I’ve ever got to 7!

Recovery is weird, it’s as though they are shouting my name at me. But I’ve just had the best sleep of my life. Tell them how you feel - last time I couldn’t stop coughing and a previous time I was so cold I was shaking. But they have warm blankets.

After a bit of observation I got wheeled to my room or the ward and then could go home after I had a wee, my blood thinning injection and had eaten something. The next few days I’m quite anxious at night/bed time but that’s it.

I'm having one this year for necessary surgery and I'm worried. Not because of most people's common fears but because I hate the idea of not having control. I had a GA years ago and I remember being on the ward afterwards but nothing about recovery. Presumably, I spoke and interacted sufficiently that they took me back to the ward but I have zero memory of it. I'm teetotal and uptight and get genuinely upset that I have this gap in my memory. I also didn't drift off; I felt like I was suffocating and that was hideous. And I hated the pre-med. I felt woozy and weird.

I need a hysterectomy but I am dreading the GA.

I'm the same, I really do understand how you feel. Having said that I've been put under three times as an adult and was absolutely clear that I was shit scared. They were good with me and the experience was not bad at all. If I ever need another, I'll still be scared, but be open with your medical team.

I had the same experience re coming around afterwards, I was expecting what many here have described, coming round in a recovery room with nurses looking after you, but I don't remember anything until I was back in my bay on the shared ward.

If you tell us what you're considering having done, we'll be able to advise you better.

Ive had seven GAs and loved every one of them! I get sick sometimes though and it takes me forever to come around due to having a slow metabolism.

It feels like drifting into a slow, delicious sleep, while drunk. It really is so nice.

It's cosmetic surgery!

I was the same when due for an op in 2024. I told the anaesthetist and they really put me at ease beforehand. I was terrified of something going wrong, but literally one minute I was laying on the bed, the next (or what felt like it), I was waking up in the next room chatting shit. It was actually a really pleasurable experience. I was then knocked out during my emcs the following year with no pre-warning. I woke up both times 😂 it's really not scary when you've done it. You'll be fine x

Just seen your update. Mine was for a boob job too. The recovery is actually so easy and painless, just don't lift your arms above your head for a while! Yes you get very constipated afterwards, take laxatives and eat a good diet. Mine was under the muscle which is supposed to be more painful but I honestly wasn't in pain afterwards. My surgeon prescribed relaxins, which not all do, and I think they must have helped massively. I didn't even need to take the painkillers, I just took ibuprofen.

Absolutely petrified to the point I swear that as I was told I was getting close to an emergency c-section with my first I pushed very hard to make that not happen.

A few years later had an accident that needed two surgeries. I was wheeled in both times shaking like a leaf. The porters and anaesthetists were so lovely. It was all very fine and actually no big deal.

I think I would be brave if it happened agin. x

I'm getting breast implants, probably with over the muscle placement.

Not going to lie, I LOVE a good general anaesthetic! I’m 39 and had about ten of them, best sleeps I’ve ever had.

I freak out every time just as I get into the room and say “I can’t do this” and without fail I’ve gone through with it
my last was over 8hrs and I did feel a bit rough when I woke up, no sickness but just took me longer to feel fully awake than normal

I love them... however to put your fear into perspective - think how many times Katie Price has been under and she's still here 😜

I absolutely love having a GA! I didn’t have any before 31, when I had an appendix rupture, so emergency surgery. 6 months later, had my gallbladder out and unfortunately stones damaged my pancreas, so I had 15 endoscopies with stents etc, which all ended up being done under GA not sedation due to strong painkillers i’m on affecting the sedation (not working). Eventually I had a major pancreas surgery and that was 9yrs ago and no GA’s since. I was so nervous before the 1st, but was in safe hands and then I realised how relaxing it is as it starts to take effect.