I'm having a general anaesthetic tomorrow. I am terrified. Please tell me it will be fine.

[GingerbreadFolk]

Short 20 minute procedure, light anaesthetic apparently (whatever that means), day surgery.

I am so frightened. I can't eat or sleep and have slowly got into more of a tizz about this as the week has gone on.

I do not want the nice man in the white coat to switch off my consciousness.

I am so ridiculously scared that I won't wake up that I'm thinking about writing goodbye letters to my dh and dd tonight.

I have to walk to surgery myself and I have visions of myself having a full blown panic attack on the way.

Please supply your 'there's nothing to be frightened of' tales here. What will it feel like?

My Mum had a bad reaction to a general a few years ago- was very confused afterwards, didn't know what was happening and was kept in for days while she recovered.

I have a 2yr old to look after afterwards.

Please tell me I'll wake up.

I totally sympathise. I had a GA a few months ago and I posted on here several times as I was so scared. I even wrote a good bye letter to DH.

I was closing my eyes but immediately opened them as I didn't want him to think I was asleep yet. Immediately after that thought I was.

I also sold my baby.

They ask you to keep your eyes open as long as you can. You concentrate on that for about 2 seconds and the next thing you know you are conscious again.

It feels like nothing happened. Like you blinked and missed it. Not like going to sleep and waking up, when you are aware that time has passed.

You'll probably come round in the recovery room - ie somewhere different to where you were put under. That's a bit wierd.

I've had a short general for wisdom teeth removal - I felt sick after that one, but then that was probably the teeth not the anaesthetic.

And I've had a 12-hour anaesthetic for major surgery - felt crap after that one! But then, that probably wasn't the anaesthetic either.

Tell the anaesthetist that you are scared - he/she will help.

You will be fine, honest!

You will be ok.

I have had a light 20 min one too. As soon as i was shutting my eyes i was opening them again.

It is such a light anaesthetic that they use it carries such a low risk.

What was your Mums for?

Don't worry - please don't! I have had several generals from light to full blown. It is a little disorientating but can be quick to get over. I initially thought that I had "passed" out in the pub and woken in hospital, but that went pretty quickly. You will have lots of people keeping an eye on you and you will probably feel a little tired (but then who doesn't with a 2 yo!) and might need a bit of help from dh. Have to say the sensation of going under is not bad - you usually count to 10 (and only get to 3!) and just go to sleep. It really is nothing to worry too much about. I am sorry you mother had a bad reaction but they are more uncommon than common place. If you are really concerned have you thought of asking if it is possible to have an epidural for the op? Or a local?

I'm with you on this one! The idea of being knocked out terrifies me. But I have had a couple, and everything was fine. I am not the fittest, healthiest individual going.

You WILL be fine of course. You should tell them at the hospital as they shoould be able to give you something to relax you beforehand.

My last one was an emergency CS. I think I made DH promise not to let me die and I was groggy afterwards (had morphine too though) but was up and out of bed the next day - fully with it. When I had day surgery once, I was fully awake and having a cup of tea by the time Neighbours was on.

TRY not to worry!

yy tell the anaesthtist you are scared. I am sure they will be lovely and help you through it.

Mention it when you first go in and they will write it on your notes.

It will be ok.

Hi of course you'll wake up - there's nothing to be frightened of at all! General anaesthetics have greatly improved over the years so don't be put off by what happened to your mum.
I've had several GA's, the most recent 5 days before Christmas for a 45min procedure and have got to have it repeated next week.
Just take some deep breaths if you feel a panic attack coming on and remember it is a very common medical procedure.
Good Luck!!

I am also terrified of GA - I've had it 2 times and honestly got so stressed in one I had a nightmare I was dead (and I was only 13 and can remember it like it was yesterday ). I was so scared going for it I literally couldn't walk there and they had to transport me.

Tell them beforehand that you are petrified and ask for something to calm you down - I think they give you pethidine if you're nervous but it may be something else. I actually feel so strongly about this that I wouldn't have GA unless I had something beforehand.

Wishing you lots of luck for tomorrow

Mum had a D&C. Was only a few years ago. She came round and thought it was 1980, she'd just given birth and they'd stolen her baby. She threw a pillow at a surgeon and threatened to sue him. She remained confused for some time.

Look at you lot, still alive, still posting. How heartening.

Will they laugh at me when I cry and beg for my Mum?

I don't want to be switched off.

Has to be a general. I asked today if it could be local but no coconut.

I did think about asking for a pre-med but don't want to be more groggy than I have to. I want to go home as soon as possible.

I'm teetotal. I don't like being out of control. G&A while in labour upset me a great deal and I refused to use it because I felt altered. I don't let go easily.

I promise it will be ok.

You will be just fine. It so quick and safe. SHut your eyes and wake up in seconds.

Will be thinking of you

I'm teetotal and hate that out of control feeling too. I seem to get every side effect going when I take medication. Even a paracetamol makes me sleepy!!!!

However I have survived three GA's. Went to my first op crying my eyes out like a baby and was really pathetic if I am honest. The staff were fantastic and didn't mind a bit!!! Maybe they put me under a bit quicker though to give them some peace.

Please please please do not get in too much of a state you will be fine and you will wake up.

Even my 3 month old baby survived a GA so I know you can. Deep breaths and think big confident thoughts about how great you are and it will be over in no time. Keep busy until you op

I'll come and hold you hand and promise you I will not let switch you off

Probably a weird admission here but I actually like the sensation of going under a GA .

As you go under I find its like that surreal moment when you drift off to sleep in front of the TV but are still half awake IYSWIM.

I try and "fight" it but of course theres no chance.

Next thing you know its all over and you wake up in a hospital bed in the recovery suite or back on the ward.

PS-I'm not one for recreational drugs either so its not that I like and seek out that type of feeling either. I even hate it if I get the spins from too much red wine

I'm with Norbert - I actually don't mind them

See GingerbreadFolk, it can't be that bad if there are people like me and sowhatitsonlysnow who actually enjoy it.

dinamum, 12.30 tomorrow alright? I'd love to have somebody to hold my hand. DH is a Man and therefore Not Allowed (hospital policy).

DH says he quite likes the sensation too but he's also normal. I don't like many things that lots of people like such as Johnny Depp and modern music and those silly Twilight novels. I'm missing a requisite normality gene and instead have this anxiety chip that I can't switch off.

I had a GA yesterday and it was absolutely fine.
I was quietly apprehensive, but the anaesthetist (sp?) put me completely at ease and I even said night night to them as I went under!

The whole feel was very professional and I felt well cared for. I felt groggy afterwards and needed a sleep once I got home but otherwise have been pretty much back to normal.

One thing that I read in some of the information I was given was that older people can sometimes get confused and disorientate after a GA and perhaps this is similar to what happened to your mum?

You too will be fine, come back and let us know how you get on.

I shall tell my Mum that. She was 47 when she had the op!

I'm glad you're recovering well.

I'll be skipping across the boards tomorrow if when I wake up.

well 47 is not old and therefore it can't possibly apply! Perhaps she is very maternal? Deep into her subconscious!

best of luck for tomorrow

When I had GA years ago I remember them saying count down in your head from 10-1 and I went 10 and blinked and I suddenly felt verrrry sleepy and went 9 and that's the last I remember! It was fine, I just remember not eating the sandwiches they had made for me when I woke up as I felt a bit sicky but that was it and it passed quickly, it was far less scary than I thought it would be.

I have had two GAs in recent years and was scared I was going to die each time, just because I hated the idea of someone 'putting me to sleep'. So I know how you feel. I was incredibly nervous lying waiting for it to be done but kind nurses held my hand - ask if someone will do this for you and/or talk to you while they give the GA. They will be used to doing this. As has been said, you won't even be aware of it - one moment you are awake, the next you are coming round. Honestly, you'll be fine.

I've had GA twice with no problems whatsoever. I was really apprehensive the first time so googled death rates etc (pathetic I know!)

It's fewer than one in a million dying because of anaesthetic and those are almost exclusively people with known risk factors. So as a healthy individual you WILL be fine!

I know the statistics off by heart. I have googled and googled myself into oblivion. I know everything that can go wrong.

I'm very worried I'm going to cry a lot and/or have a panic attack. I hope they don't try to hold my hand. I don't like being touched (another potential problem with having an op).