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Original poster

Worrying about possible op

97 replies

Shoegal0305 · 18/12/2014 04:26

So it's 4am. I'm yet again lying awake. I'm a single parent and suffer with really bad loneliness and isolation so this is my low point anyway.

For those who haven't followed my threads ive been diagnosed with an ovarian cyst. Seeing gynae in a few weeks as I have what is called a 'bilocular' cyst. Doc says it's unlikely to go of its own accord. Herein lies my problem I'm absolutely PETRIFIED of having a GA. I've never had one maybe it's fear of the unknown? Ever since I was little ive had this fear.......... I don't know where it stems from? This fear is taking over my life I'm not functioning. My GP has put me on beta blockers. I know lol of you will say this is a mental health issue, I agree partly, but I DO have something to be scared of! I'm not 'imagining' things, ive been diagnosed with this awful bloody cyst, and I'm scared stiff. I really don't know how to cope? I'm so alone.

I wish I had someone, especially in these wary hours. I'm so lonely I look longingly at others who have support, either from partners and/or family.

HmmHmm

OP posts:
hugoagogo · 20/12/2014 17:02

I have had a couple of GAs I would say it's quite pleasant- the pre med especially is very dreamy and the feeling of being looked after is nice too.

Anaesthetists seem universally lovely too, their whole job is to make sure you are comfortable.
I absolutely adore the man who gave me my epidural I still grin at him when I see him- I don' t suppose he has a clue who I am after 12 years!Grin

Original poster
Shoegal0305 · 20/12/2014 20:09

Thankyou hugagogo xx

OP posts:
bonzo77 · 20/12/2014 20:25

Oh I love a GA. Anaesthetists are usually lovely, know when to pamper you and when to joke with you. They're used to people being scared.
Going under is lovely. They put a cannula in your hand. The drugs going in feel quite warm and heavy. The anaesthetist might ask you to count backwards from 10 or something, but I don't remember getting further than "te....."

When you come round there's no memory, no dreams. It's normal to feel sleepy and to nod off again. You might feel woozy or tender from the op but they can give you something for that. I also feel very cold, ask for a hot air blanket if you do.

Original poster
Shoegal0305 · 20/12/2014 20:37

Bonzo so many people have said the same as you lol. I guess the only thing I can try and think it's like is falling asleep but then you don't fall asleep in a split second! Plus you kind of remember being asleep and dream so again very hard to imagine just this 'blackness'? Xx

OP posts:
bonzo77 · 20/12/2014 20:43

There's no sensation of having missed anything. It's the oddest thing. You don't feel like you've just woken. Obviously intellectually you know it's all a bit odd, but you don't feel it. You just suddenly are somewhere different (recovery) that you were before (theatre or the anaesthetics room, depending on what they do). It's probably the closest thing to time travel!

Original poster
Shoegal0305 · 20/12/2014 20:44

Stop you're almost making me look forward to it!!!! Winkx

OP posts:
gingeroots · 20/12/2014 20:55

shoe - hi ,of course you're scared but it honestly is fine .

I was so scared before my first ever op that the nurse doing the admin type checks beforehand took one look at me ,put down the paperwork and gave me a huge hug .

There's no sense of being forced unconscious ,I found that they put something through the cannula ,you feel nothing really ,maybe just a warm sensation travelling up your arm and then ,as others have said ,it's just like a light switch .

The strange thing is waking up ,you have no sensation that any time has passed at all .So yes ,one minute you're talking to the lovely aneasathetist ( another huge fan ) and the next someone is saying your name and it's all over .

Gosh ,I rather fancy a GA tonight ...

Original poster
Shoegal0305 · 20/12/2014 21:02

Hi ginger roots. I really am scared. Wish they could do this via a local I'd much rather that but know it has to be a GA! Reading all these positive stories is really helping. Would you really just like one right now? If it was possible I mean? See that makes me think that the procedure, this fear that ive had throughout my life, isn't really such the big deal im making it out to be? Xx

OP posts:
marne2 · 20/12/2014 21:05

GA is much better than LA ( I have had many LA and some have been truly awful ).

gingeroots · 20/12/2014 21:06

Yes I honestly would like one right now if I could ! It would be relaxing ,you know like when you're really stressed and you ( or I used to Blush ) drink too much just to have a break ? Well it's like having the break ,but without the hangover or any worries .

Original poster
Shoegal0305 · 20/12/2014 21:07

I need to keep thinking all this!!!! Xx

OP posts:
IgnoreMeEveryOtherReindeerDoes · 20/12/2014 21:23

I've had few GA for various reasons, the first time I was petrified, scared for same reasons as you. The anaesthetists have all been lovely even through my tears, explained what is going to happen, made sure I was ok to start, made jokes, told me to start counting to 10, never made it to 3! Eyes feel really heavy quickly that's all I remember, none of that floaty feeling like gas and air. Dont remember dreaming or anything just bizarre one minute being in op next walking up in recovery. No sense of being a sleep in like time lost. Came around as quick as I did going under.

Hope all goes well for you (it will btw)

hugoagogo · 20/12/2014 23:40

I forgot to say I am currently waiting to have my gallbladder removed and really am not worrying about the actual op at all- just the unknown of living without it.

You will be fine I am sure - at

least you have. Christmas to distract you Smile

LuluJakey1 · 20/12/2014 23:45

It just feels like a huge gin and tonic and you just drift happily off in about 3 seconds. I have had 5 and have not had a problem with any, no sickness and woke up pain free every time. And I am panicky.

tobee · 21/12/2014 01:19

Hi. I've just had a proceedure that I've just posted about. I,too, was very scared of the GA even though I'd had two before. I was so scared at the pre op I had raging tachycardia and failed it. This in turn freaked me out that the next night I spent in a&e having been taken by ambulance worrying I was dying. So my GP put me on beta blockers. I already had diazepam to hand fo take the night before the GA as my GP proscribed it for my initial scan. It works really well.
In the end, for the GA, I was last on the list but I told everyone I was very nervous and they all took it seriously unlike some previous health care professionals who tried to be nice but ultimately said how much they preferred to be under GA and not know. I did want to shout "yeah, but I'm not you!"

In the end, when I came to I thought "ooh, I'm in bed having a nice kip! That's nice and cosy for a Friday lunchtime."

However, beta blockers have had the side effect of giving me disturbing dreams which sometimes wake me up with I start. Just in case you weren't aware of this as a possibility which might be contributing to your 4am struggles.

Original poster
Shoegal0305 · 21/12/2014 18:34

How did you all cope with the sheer panic and extreme anxiety I KNOW I'm going to experience on the journey down to theatre???

OP posts:
mummylin2495 · 21/12/2014 20:05

I was actually not aware of it because of the premed they gave me. As I said in my previous post I too was terrified and the night before I even thought about going home ! But honestly all my worries were for nothing. You won't know anything after they have put you to sleep then you will be woken and it will all be done! You will surprise yourself. I was like you and asked everyone about it and they all tried to reassure me. But it didn't. and they were right all along ' you will be fine

Original poster
Shoegal0305 · 21/12/2014 20:11

Thankyou mummylin im glad someone understands where I'm coming from! X

OP posts:
tobee · 22/12/2014 15:37

Hi again. By the time I eventually went down I couldn't actually believe I was going to finally have the op. I mean really, which sort of helped. However, I'd just taken off my reading glasses and my vision was still a bit odd which added to the whole surreal experience walking along in what felt like slow motion with someone pushing the bed and about 5 other people all there for me, to take me to somewhere that looked like a storage recess.

I don't remember much more about the start, it was like a weird dream

I've done a lot of cbt stuff and one thing that comes to mind is write down all the possibilities about what you might do at the moment:- scream and shout, faint, vomit, cry, wee yourself, run off, lash out, whatever it maybe and then think what would be the next steps if this happened. I felt as though the Drs and nurses would have been able to cope with any of it; except perhaps the lashing out where I would have probably been restrained but even then I think they would have been sympathetic and know what to do. Just writing this down might be enough or you could talk all these through with the ward nurse. I think he/she would take it seriously and reassure you. It's a sort of what's the worse thing that could happen if I do any of these things exercise . It really helps because it's part of the preparation. Take care!

BlandandInsipid · 27/12/2014 23:25

Hi OP,
Have you had the chance to discuss this with your anaesthetist yet? Have they mentioned to you the possibility of doing this surgery under spinal block? That way you will stay conscious throughout the operation, although you can have additional sedation if you wish.

Most trusts don't routinely offer patients appointments with anaesthetists before the day of surgery, but they are available if you request them.
They will talk to you about different anaesthetic options available to you, pre-meds, sedation etc. They will address all your concerns, even if you think they are ridiculous, just blurt them all out! I can promise you, anaesthetists have seen and heard all sorts. Nervous patients are a daily speciality!

Thymeout · 28/12/2014 06:44

With me the worst thing was worrying that the cab wouldn't turn up. I was on seroxat and took a valium. (I'd been prescribed that by my GP because it was a big cancer scare and I was so anxious I couldn't eat.)

I had quite a long wait in the 'surgical lounge', but plenty of jolly people to talk to. I met the anaesthetist in a sort of cupboard and he put an epidural in and that's the last I remember till I woke up back on the ward. Have no memory at all of any counting or being wheeled into the theatre or of coming to in recovery.

It was such a relief that it was over, no more cysts. And no cancer, either!

Good luck!

Thymeout · 28/12/2014 06:50

P.S. The epidural was for post-op pain relief. I needed a G.A. because I was having an open hysterectomy among other things.

Original poster
Shoegal0305 · 28/12/2014 08:38

Thanks for replies, I'm seeing gynae end of this week so will know more then, still terrified tho. Can't have spinal needs to be GA I think but will ask. X

OP posts:
Jumpinginside · 28/12/2014 10:52

Let them know when you arrive that you are suffering from anxiety. My anxiety went sky high. They let my husband stay with me to keep me calm/distracted. They are used to people being scared about having an op and GA. One of the nurses held my hand and kept telling me how brilliantly I was doing and how normal it was to be scared.

I'm sure you will be ok. Keep smiling.

Original poster
Shoegal0305 · 28/12/2014 16:44

I will be on my own as no partner or family, will defo tell them my fears tho hoping for a sedative of some kind? X

OP posts:
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