Obese and needing an anaesthetic

[fatbeforesurgery]

I’m needing a GA or spinal next week and I’m fat . As in 21.5 stone fat . I can go out walks about 1.5 miles at a time but that’s generally my maximum although I think if pushed I could do more . I average out at about 2500 steps a day - with two longer walks a week ...

I’m dreading going to hospital as I’m convinced I’m so fat the anaesthetic will kill me . I had a stress test (due to palpitations) last spring but I’ve gained weight and less fat now than I was then .

At my pre op they had concerns about sleep apnoea because I snore, often wake with a blocked nose and a headache .

Previous ops were both done with spinals , in one case they were worried about heartburn and said they would need to do an RSI if necessary to do a full GA. I’m on daily omeprazole now to try and help , which seems to be working well .

I don’t know how I can help myself before the op . I’m scared that they’ll find I can’t breathe properly under anaesthetic . I’m getting into an absolute flap over it all .

*less fit, not less fat

Please don’t worry. Yes, the risks are higher but fat people have anaesthetics every day. You will be monitored extremely closely by the medical team. You can’t change your weight or fitness at this stage (and honestly, a position of fear and anxiety isn’t a great starting point for healthy habits) but what you can do is speak to health professionals about your worries, learn some breathing and calming techniques and try to do as much as you can so that you go into the room mentally in the best place possible.

Thank you . I’m trying to convince myself that as I’m only 28 hopefully there won’t be too much issues ... and it’s a very short procedure, they said it shouldn’t be more than 30 minutes (cystoscopy and dilitation) . I’ll keep going with walking meantime but try to calm down a bit too ! Thank you

Can they not do the op under spinal anaesthesia?

That’s what I’m hoping to push for yes , I’ve had that twice and quite happy to go for that again .

Breathe OP! I have the opposite problem as severely underweight but have just been declined a nerve transfer operation that could be life changing for me because they can’t take the risk on a cardiac and infection/no healing level. If they felt it was too risky they’d just not do it! They’ll express the increase in chance of anything bad happening because they have to, but please try not to dwell on that. Sounds like with the omeprazole and talking about sleep apnoea they’re really just ticking those boxes - i have acid reflux and in past ops they’ve just made sure to put a tube down to keep acid levels regulated.

I am also panicking,, I am having a general anaesthetic this week for a major op, I am 5ft 3 and weight 11st 10, keep thinking I will too obese for the surgery! Its hard not to worry isnt it?

Rancid, it is very very hard to not worry yes !

Thank you onehanded, the omperazole is definitely helping yeah , I’m just so so worried .

I’ve even got myself convinced that my back is too fat for a spinal anaesthetic which I’m sure it isn’t , but I remember them having placement issues when I was having my coil fitted , I don’t want to be told the same again that I’m too fat. But I’m terrified of having a general and them realising too late that I can’t breathe .