Surgery on Tuesday!

[chinoisierychic]

Hello everyone - I’m so nervous - any tips or reassuring words would be so appreciated. It’s a Lumpectomy and I have general surgery fears like not waking up or breathing trouble …

Are you having GA or just sedation? My sister was given strong sedation and was allowed home 3 hours later. The procedure itself took around 25 minutes.

It’s GA!

Hope your sister is doing well

I recently had a colonoscopy and had some sedation, I was so nervous that they offered me a small dose (not sure what of) beforehand. It worked immediately and I went happily walking into the room and got onto the bed telling the Dr that he sounded just like Eric Bana. Next thing I was waking up, all had gone well. Can you ask for something similar to help you get through it. Good luck 🤞

Thank you that sounds a good idea. I have my own xanex which I was prescribed for the MRI… didn’t really work so maybe I should wait to have something when I arrive that morning

I have irrational health fears so worried something will go wrong

I have had 7 general anaesthetics over the last few years and have 2 more coming up in the next year.
I have been a chronic insomniac for my whole life. I love having a GA because the feeling of going gently off to sleep and then waking up all woozy is lovely!!
😁

Thank you for this comment! Ok I’m going to look at it as a nice rest. Just the fear of something going wrong,,. I can’t shake it

I know it’s hard but try to remember that this might be a new experience for you but something the staff do literally every single day.
When in theatre their whole focus is on your safety and well being. The anaesthetists job is to check you are breathing and the surgeon and nurses will want the best possible outcome from your surgery

if it's a breast lumpectomy, it's relatively unusual to do it with local/sedation unless you have such terrible lungs that a GA is contraindicated. It's pretty routine, day-case stuff done under GA. If it's something more like a lipoma/sebaceous cyst type of 'lumpectomy' then those can often be done with just local, but if they're whoppers, infected or in a difficult position then GA is used. I wouldn't take anything sedative/anxiolytic before coming in without discussing it with the surgeon/anaesthetist, particularly if you still need to sign the consent form (benzos can also cause positive pregnancy tests so if you have a uterus/could become pregnant they can make things more complicated). If they thought you were at high risk of complications they'd already have discussed it with you - it's should be reassuring if they've not already warned you.

Thank you again! I appreciate this a lot - I am constantly tearful and anxious about it and have been for weeks and weeks. One hand can’t wait for it to be over, other hand dreading it! But your comment really helps

Ok so I am home after the surgery and I can positively say it went well but man do I feel exhausted and lousy today. Can hardly walk I’m so weak and feeling teary. Is this normal?

Yes, very normal. You had a GA on Tuesday and felt lousy on Wednesday. The drugs are still in your system for around 24 hours after GA, so you can feel grotty for a few days. You may also feel off while your body is healing from the procedure itself.

Feeling teary is also normal after GA and surgery. Some people wake up from GA laughing or crying. Plus you were really stressed beforehand so your body needs to release all those emotions somehow.

I'm glad it went well and hope you are feeling a bit better than when you posted yesterday.

Yes indeed. Get plenty of fluids in you, and take it easy. It can be the GA, but also the release of all that tension you were carrying as well. Hope you feel better soon xxx