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Original poster

General Anaesthetic

85 replies

mrsblakey · 22/01/2014 18:35

Am having surgery in a few weeks.
I haven't had a GA since I was young & can't really remember much about the procedure.
I am feeling more apprehensive about that rather than the surgery itself!
I have been told I won't be able to meet the anaesthetist until the day of my surgery so am bottling up more nerves.
I think my main fear is not waking up afterwards - I feel really silly admitting that!
Anyone had a similar anxiety?

OP posts:
Mummywheel · 22/01/2014 19:02

I had my very first anesthetic six weeks ago and then another four weeks later. I too was very anxious however the anesthetist both times was lovely and put me at ease. You no sooner drift off to sleep to be woken again after what seems like seconds. I'm sure you will be fine and will be wondering why you were so nervous Smile x

Belize · 22/01/2014 19:03

I agree with Mummywheel. I've had four now - terrified the first time, really learnt to relax and enjoy the last one!

The anaesthetist's often seem to be the most chilled out people on the planet in my experience Smile.

Original poster
mrsblakey · 22/01/2014 20:11

Thanks guys it's good to hear your experiences.

OP posts:
Original poster
mrsblakey · 22/01/2014 20:11

Thanks guys it's good to hear your experiences.

OP posts:
honeybeeridiculous · 22/01/2014 22:33

Df had his first one last week aged 70! He was very nervous but was fine.said the anaesthetist was lovely.he said the worst bit was the walk to the theatre and the waiting around.
good luck OP

WhispersOfWickedness · 22/01/2014 22:55

I had one in 2012 and was very anxious beforehand but the anaesthetist was lovely Smile
She told me that it is a very common fear to not wake up afterwards - my fear was actually the opposite, I was worried about waking up during! They were very reassuring though and it was good in the end, I felt like I'd had a really lovely sleep Smile

Original poster
mrsblakey · 23/01/2014 15:52

Thankyou all xx

OP posts:
17leftfeet · 23/01/2014 16:24

I've had 15 generals, the last one I remember talking about trees (they asked me what I did for a living and that's the way the conversation went) and then being woken up and asked if I wanted a cup of tea which I had then went back to sleep again

Enjoy the rest Grin

3bunnies · 23/01/2014 16:30

I told my anaesthetist that it seemed like the best way with 3 young children to get some uninterrupted sleep! Was worse when ds had to go under but they have all been quite cheerful doctors.

InPursuitOfOblivion · 24/01/2014 21:35

Hi, anaesthetic practitioner here. Happy to answer any questions you have! Even if they sound to you the most stupid question in the world, please ask! Stupid questions are the best questions and always the most important.
I would say 90% of patients have a fear of either not waking up or waking up at the wrong time, so you are not alone. 10 years in practice and I have NEVER seen that happen. I haven't heard colleagues report it happening to them either and they are veterans.
For God sakes don't listen to horror stories in mags/tabloids etc. most of these stories are pure fabrication done for financial benefit Angry

specialsubject · 25/01/2014 18:07

your journey to the hospital, or any car trips you do, are massively higher risk than the anaesthetic.

good luck and get well soon.

redspottydress · 26/01/2014 20:33

Is it true that they automatically put in a catheter when you have a general even if they don't tell you they will?

3bunnies · 26/01/2014 20:57

I didn't have a catheter, or if I did then they whipped it out before I woke up!

bumblebeebzz · 26/01/2014 21:03

I had one last week, I was so nervous.

it was amazing! definitely feels like seconds between drifting off and being woken up.

good luck Flowers

Samwidge · 26/01/2014 21:05

In my experience, the anaesthetist will come and see you and talk through any concerns.

I've had many operations and one of the things I was fed up of was waking up with a v v sore throat. Discussed it with the anaesthetist and she informed me that there was no need to to end up with a sore throat and that it was down to poor practice. We had a long discussion which really educated me. Knowledge is probably the answer to you feeling calmer.

Good luck

Branleuse · 26/01/2014 21:10

I bloody love general anaesthetic

InPursuitOfOblivion · 26/01/2014 22:15

Redspottydress. There is no way we put in a catheter without express consent of the patient!
The only exception to this is if it were absolutely necessary and the patient were not able to consent themselves. (If they were in a coma for example)

We are very, deeply respectful to our anaesthetised patients and would not do anything to them that we would not be comfortable having done to ourselves.

Samwidge- post operative sore throat is very common, but unfortunately it is not always unavoidable. I think it may have been a little unfair for your anaesthetist to blame it solely on poor practice.

AHardDaysWrite · 26/01/2014 22:19

I love having a GA. The lovely woozy feeling when you're coming round is great.

Inpursuit are patients under GAs always incubated?

AHardDaysWrite · 26/01/2014 22:19

Int

AHardDaysWrite · 26/01/2014 22:19

Bloody phone. Intubated even!

InPursuitOfOblivion · 26/01/2014 22:24

Yes. All patients receiving a general anaesthetic will have some form of 'airway' . The type of airway you will receive depends on the type and length of the surgery, drugs used and relevant medical history.

ChestyNut · 26/01/2014 23:00

I love GA Grin

Not so much the wheezy chest after, think that may be asthma related tho? Sad

InPursuitOfOblivion · 26/01/2014 23:06

Yes and no ChestyNut. Asthma never helps, but sometimes the anaesthetic vapours used can irritate the lungs slightly. Nothing serious, doesn't do any long term harm.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 26/01/2014 23:10

WaMy last GA asked me what sort of alcohol I liked and generally talked about that. I got to tell him didnt want to be sick and he promised me an antiemetic. Didnt like the oxygen mask but he was gentle and took his time. Woke up fine, no sickness a bit cold which they sorted with an amazing hot air blanket.

fairykissesforyou · 26/01/2014 23:10

InPursuit
I had an GA recently where I was put under using a continuous pump of IV drugs and was very sick afterwards. Soon after this I had another anaesthetic (for different type of surgery) and I said I had been very sick so the anaesthetist said they would give plenty me of anti sickness drugs to help. I was also given my anaesthetic by face mask this time and had a small amount of ?propofol to relax me prior to the inhaled gases- I had no sickness and felt more clear headed afterwards.

My question is- was my sickness better because of the inhaled anaesthetic (or does everyone get this after initial induction), or was it the type of surgery that caused the sickness (was ENT), or did giving the anti emetics in theatre make it better-though I was given antiemetics in recovery after the ENT op but maybe too late. I am interested to know before I have my next GA which is coming up to try to avoid the problem again.

Reading this back I hope it makes sense-basically what is better IV or inhaled anaesthetic?