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Original poster

general anesthetic

20 replies

geordieminx · 11/01/2009 12:06

hello.

Due to be having a general tomorrow to have lower wisdom teeth out, and am starting to panic a bit. Does anyone know..

Will i have to have a canula in? Is there an alternative? Having had 14 hour labour and c/s a canula is still my biggest fear.

Will i have to wear a gown?

I have to be in at 8, any idea what time i will be ready to go?

Sorry, stressing a lot bit

OP posts:
emma1977 · 11/01/2009 12:13

Cannula- yes. The drugs that knock you out are given via the cannula and iv access is a must for any GA to give any additional drugs promptly. An anaesthetist will probably put it in- much slicker at doing it than a midwife or gynae doc. The cannulae that are used during labour are MASSIVE and so hurt, the one for tomorrow will be much smaller.

You may not have to wear a gown, but it is likely.

What time you get done depends on where you are on the list and whether the procedures of thos before you happen on time/according to plan, or whether any emergency cases need to go to theatre. Can't really say, so ask when you get there what the situation is. You may be the first to go at 9am, so be prepared.

Original poster
geordieminx · 11/01/2009 12:15

no alternative to canula? Thought not. i feel sick.

OP posts:
wingandprayer · 11/01/2009 12:19

Ask to have some anaestehtic cream put on your hand in advance (Emola?) as it will help numb the area before they do the canula. Having had them before and after birth, agree with emma1977 - they much better when done by a doctor or nurse in non-birth situation. Brief scratch and that's it.

27 · 11/01/2009 12:21

I agree with emma1997, its a lot different having a cannula put in by an anaesthetist then by an ob/gyn person.
I have had both, and the Ob/gyn SHO left me in agony, still have a scar, and she didnt even manage to get it in the vein (and I dont have difficult veins).

The anaesthetist then did it (it was for a C Section), it was in straight away, and I hardly felt it.

smellyeli · 11/01/2009 12:25

May not have to have cannula - may do gas induction and cannula after or not at all - quite a short anaesthetic so cannula not always necessary. Good luck!

JumpingJellyfish · 11/01/2009 12:25

I had my wisdom teeth out under GA but it was nearly 10 years ago- like you went in early and managed to escape home about 2pm.

As far as I know, having had 8 GAs myself, they always have to be given via a cannula. But like emma1977 said they should be very small and done so expertly you can hardly feel them go in. I think it's rare that you get offered anaesthetic cream for the cannula site unless you're a young child but you might be able to ask for some. It really shouldn't hurt though.

I think I had to wear a gown, but might be wrong. The whole thing was really not too bad at all as far as I recall. Couldn't eat solid food for a few days but paracetamol alone kept on top of the pain and it healed very fast.

Good luck xx

Original poster
geordieminx · 11/01/2009 15:18

Its not the putting in, its the being in if that makes sense? I have really small hands and can always feel it scraping against my wrist...bleurghhhh

OP posts:
27 · 11/01/2009 15:22

Ask them to put it in higher up. It can go by your elbow. Its not quite as convienient for you, as you cant bend your arm as much, but if it only has to be in for a short timr it might be ok.

norksinmywaistband · 11/01/2009 15:42

If it is only wisdom teeth you will only be in for day surgery, so the cannula can come out as soon as you are drinking, postop.
I would explain your concerns and ask for it to be sited in your elbow.
Plus I echo what all the others say, cannula insertion is what aneathetists are good at, so don't worry too much

Hope all goes ok for tomorrow

expatinscotland · 11/01/2009 15:52

i still have the scar from the cannula the midwife put in 10 weeks ago, too.

but i've had several GAs and the anaesthetists are much better at putting them in!

i have small hands, too, and can always feel the cannula, but i've had loads of them in now (for dehydration a few times, for pneumonia in addition to surgeries and births) and prefer them in the hand becuase the higher up they are, i find i can feel them even more when i move my arm.

ThingOne · 11/01/2009 17:33

What is it that frightens you about the cannula? Can you make yourself feel a bit better by thinking logically about it, to try and persuade the scared but of your brain to be reasonable? Giving yourself a bit of a talking to can help can help take the edge of irrational fears. It's not going to stop it altogether but it may bring you down from the ceiling.

I find talking to the anaesthetist really helps. They understand people have all sorts of different fears and can help reassure you. It is just a "sharp scratch". They used to say "little prick" but they can't now. You could try having a giggle about that as you get used to the feeling.

I'm sure they can try a different site.

Good luck. Hope you don't get too freaked.

Original poster
geordieminx · 11/01/2009 18:56

Its not fear realy its just the feeling of it in, not going in, just being there, under my skin that makes me feel really really sick.

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 11/01/2009 21:01

you won't have it in there for long. they usually don't put it in until right before you're going into the theatre, in this little anteroom before you go in.

and if you're super nervous and your blood pressure is up the first thing they'll use it for is to give you a pre-op drug that will make you not care about how ti feels, i promise.

then they will tell you right before you go to sleep and i kid you not, you will be completely gone in seconds and when you wake up it'll be over.

27 · 11/01/2009 21:06

The needle isnt left in you, it is just a little plastic tube that stays in your vein(just in case you were worrying that the needle was left in).

Original poster
geordieminx · 11/01/2009 21:23

Thank you all for being so kind... I am such a wimp!

Thanks Expat!! Next time you are down in the smoke' you'll have to let me know, it would be fab to meet you. I thought about you last week when we were up L Lomond way!

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 11/01/2009 23:24

that would be cool!

just tell the anaesthetist exactly how you feel, like everyone says, they're used to dealing with peoples' fears surrounding going under, which are very normal.

best of luck tomorrow!

expatinscotland · 13/01/2009 13:36

How'd it go, geordie? Hope you're recovering well.

Original poster
geordieminx · 13/01/2009 13:43

Got a bit teary before I went int theatre....mainly cos I was last and had been waiting for 4 hours...

All fine, very sore, my mum reckons I look like Desperate Dan as bottom half of my face is that swollen

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 13/01/2009 15:30

poor you!

glad it's over now, though .

ThingOne · 13/01/2009 15:51

But you made it! Well done for getting through it. Hope it gets better soon.

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