Cancelling surgery due to fear of general anaesthesia

[Witchinabottle]

hi there everyone,

I have had surgery before which includes two C Sections ( 1 emergency, 1 planned) plus an assisted delivery.

Although I’ve had regional anaesthesia before, I’ve not had a GA. I’m 52.

I have elective surgery for a hernia and some reconstructive surgery book for later this week coming. So it’s major abdominal surgery- around 3 hours and 4 procedures in total.

I am so terrified of GA that I’ve put off this surgery for many years. I also didn’t fully realise that 30 seconds after the drugs, you stop breathing . Not only are you unconscious but you cannot breathe without a machine and a tube inserted into your trachea.

I like to understand what is happening to my body so I watched a video of the process and I am beyond horrified; it looked exactly like a scene from Alien . I felt so sick watching it. I’ve been shaking and not eating all last week.

I do want the surgery and I don’t care about the recovery pain as much, just the GA.

To me, it seems so unnatural and weird. It fills me with absolute horror and I can’t can’t find any way to bring myself to do it. Just absolutely not. For me, it’s akin to death and I can’t cope with the anxiety of it. ( Obviously if it was an emergency or life - threatening it would be different)

I have a last blood test tomorrow and my blood pressure is a little elevated at around 143/80 ( approx) . Not too high but I’m concerned.

I am not asking for anyone to really advise me, just perhaps people’s experiences if they would be kind and willing to share.

Thank you so much, really appreciate it if you explain to me how to ever overcome such terror. And I am too terrified- I expect I will cancel. Which is a shame as I know my quality of life will be fantastic with the surgery. But I can’t find the strength to do it.

My husband of 20 years walked out on me and my 3 teenage children last year after an affair and is divorcing me. I have little support and live in a small town so it’s not ideal.

I suffer from an anxiety disorder and as I’ve put this for what, 16 years, I can’t get passed the whole notion of no consciousness and not being able to breathe on your own. It’s not the risks as such but the whole idea of losing control and your body in well- a state of semi death.

It’s too frightening for words for me and I can’t face it. Not just the fear of not waking up, but the whole concept of being absent from your body in that way.

Thank you so much for anyone who is happy to reply. I am not looking for advice or to be persuaded, just what others have experienced. x

I’ve had SO many general anesthetics and minor surgeries - just counted it up and it’s 9 in total. Mainly gynea but two eye operations and my tonsils out as a child.

I can honestly say that at the point of going to surgery and being put to sleep, every single time, I’ve felt extremely safe and have had a strong sense of being cared for.

The number of hand holds I’ve had when I’ve been nervous or upset, the kind word and reassurance too. It’s natural to feel nervous and vulnerable but my experiences have indicated that on the whole, the staff know that and do their best to make you feel at ease.

Good luck!

Bless you OP. I’ve had 6 surgeries, 4 under GA. Anaesthetists are absolute heroes, they’re amazing. They will be with you the entire surgery, they literally don’t leave your side and will be monitoring all outputs constantly. Your blood pressure, heart rate will all be looked at, they’ll be looking after your airway and keeping an eye on the drugs.

the most likely issue you’ll have is some nausea as you wake up but they’ll prescribe anti sickness which are amazing and work really quickly.

good luck. It’s normal to be scared, despite my history if I needed another surgery I’d be scared again!

@Witchinabottle how did you get on? Did you have the surgery