Fear of Anaesthetic!

[Elenaspy25]

Good evening, I’m due to have an operation next month and I can’t stop thinking about going under and whether or not I’d wake up after it! I know it’s sound silly as I read this is extremely unlikely but I’m still so scared I have young children and worry that if that happens they would grow up without their mum. can anyone of some kind of support or someone I can speak to or go to please?

I don't know what the operation is so this might be a silly suggestion. I also had this fear so when I needed a lumpectomy i insisted that it was done under a local anaesthetic. They don't like doing it and try to insist you need a general as it's easier for them but they will. I have also observed operations when I was a student and actually saw someone having an amputation without general anaesthetic, they had a nerve block I think it was called plus tranquillisers.

It’s a relatively minor surgery for a deviated septum, I was told by the pre assessment nurse that it will be general anaesthetic but didn’t think I had an option

As a long standing health care professional working with anaesthesia and receiver of many GA's I'd say you really have nothing to worry about! The chances of not waking up are beyond minuscule
Personally I rather enjoy them!

I enjoy them too!

I was in this situation last year, I had to have my first surgery. It was for a major abdominal surgery. I was terrified of going under anaesthesia. I really believed I might die. I was so scared I nearly fainted walking down to the theatre.

I shouldn't have been scared! It was absolutely fine. Last thing I remember is the anaesthetist saying "ok it's going into your arm now, it might make your arm ache slightly" and I said "oh yeah it does ache a bit".... Next thing I know I'm in recovery and they're telling me my mum has just called the ward to ask if I'm awake yet 🙂 and then they gave me some morphine.

Your chance of not waking up from anaesthesia is 0.0001%. I looked up this figure when I was scared last year. The chance is so minimal it's just not even worth thinking about. You absolutely definitely WILL wake up. It will be fine.

I was in hospital a few years ago with an ectopic pregnancy. The anaesthetist came round to speak to me and then invited me to ask her any questions. I told her I was terrified of anaesthetic. She just gave me a withering look as if I was mad and left me feeling a bit embarrassed, as if I was the only person who had ever felt this way. In the end, I remember feeling nervous as I was asked to count back from 20. Then all of a sudden, as the anaesthetic kicked in, I didn't give a stuff. About anything! It felt great to be honest.

I've had two, about to have a third.
I don't find it particularly pleasant, but never considered I wouldn't wake up.

My first one gave me something akin to the mad spins and left me shouting stop I don't like it!

My second one the anaesthetist was great and put it in really slowly so I didn't notice as much. I usually keep going and am aware until they say they are putting the mask on. Two deep breaths and I'm gone. Neither have asked me to count, they've just chatted and made small talk as I go under.

The first time I woke up crying, the second time I was grinning so I assume they were joking with me as I came out of it

Both were private.

Thank you! I’m sure I don’t have anything to worry about, I read a story on the news about a young healthy girl having problems when she got put under and ended up dying, so that’s put the fear in me! I need to avoid the news and these kind of stories I think! I have asthma so I’m worried about that effecting the anaesthetic, when I mentioned it to the nurse at my pre assessment and that I’m quiet anxious, she just shrugged it off and said il be fine.

That’s so funny because everyone I have spoke to who is having or has had general anaesthetic has said they are worried and have a fear! So you are definitely not the only one! Glad was all fine!