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Original poster

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

47 replies

GingerbreadFolk · 06/01/2010 20:21

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.

OP posts:

TidyBush · 06/01/2010 22:33

I'm due to have some wisdom teeth out under GA in a couple of weeks and this is my second time. You literally count down and then you're awake again. You really don't know that you've been 'away' from everything at all.

Anyway of course you'll wake up, just tell the hospital staff that you're worried and they really will look after you. You'll soon be fine and back home with you LO.

BTW if you're at all worried about feeling sick afterwards they can give you an anti-sickness suppository (sp?) while you're under

Cyclops · 06/01/2010 22:39

Of course you are nervous, it's only natural. However, you will be fine. I was also very nervous the first time I had a GA and I really fought the drugs until the last second! My next two GAs were fine, I knew what to expect and I even relaxed as they put the drugs in. However, what is odd is waking up and not being able to account for a chunk of time!

bellavita · 06/01/2010 22:55

I had a ga in September and I was terrified beforehand, I thought I might feel claustrophic once that needle went in...and thought I might start panicing.

No need. They made me feel really comfortable and I had a lovely man who held my hand and asked me about my holiday whilst someone else administered the ga. I only remember saying we went to so and so and that was it. Next thing, I remember someone softly calling my name and I just woke up.

I am sure you will be ok

Facebookaddict · 06/01/2010 22:55

I've had four! ( all random little things!). It is totally understandable to be scared but it will be fine! You will wake up having felt NO pain during procedure and hopefully have lots of post op grapes, magazines and tlc! Don't waste precious magazine without child time when you are in waiting!
( and try not to let DC know you're scared !)

alypaly · 07/01/2010 00:58

NorbertDentressangle...know where you are coming from...it is a strangely surreal feeling as you go under.You are busy chatting to them about ridiculously inane things and next second you are gone.Then no matter how long the op is,it seems like seconds when you wake up again. My boyfriend vowed he would never evr watch me going under again,as he said it was like watching me die,when my eyes rolled back

dinamum · 07/01/2010 09:14

Right I'll be around at 11.00 to not hold hand! but to make sure everything is ok. Thinking of you today and you will be fine let us know how you got on.

Doyouthinktheysaurus · 07/01/2010 09:25

I have had GA twice. Both times I was petrified beforehand.

The theatre staff are some of the nicest medics I have ever met. Both times they were so friendly and seemed to recognise my anxiety without me even saying anything.

They just chatted to me and put me at ease and next thing I knew I was in recovery.

It is natural to be scared. I went into melt down for 2 weeks before my most recent op

dinamum · 07/01/2010 18:21

Gingerbreadfolk hope you are ok and everything went well.

largeginandtonic · 07/01/2010 19:00

She is out and ok

dinamum · 07/01/2010 19:15

Hurray she managed to fight them off send her my best wishes for a speedy recovery What a brave girly!

Original poster

GingerbreadFolk · 08/01/2010 12:24

Thank you for all your reassuring words.

I woke up alive.

They had a great ploy in the end of making me wait around for 6hrs in a cubicle before they wheeled me off to surgery. By that point I'd moved from terrified to bored to tired to just wanting it over and done with. I lie, I was still terrified but institutionalised.

The nurse in the pre-op room chatted incessantly and we'd just worked out that her husband was in my year at school when the anaesthetist started putting the GA in. I was surprised that they didn't say they were about to do it, didn't ask me to count etc, just did it. In the event I didn't have time to panic really.

The only weird thing was that it made me cough as it was going in. They said that was normal and that's the last thing I remember.

Woke up about 20 minutes later as I was wheeled out of recovery and back to a cubicle. I sat straight up and started taking my gown off and asking for my clothes. They told me off a bit and said I had to have tea and toast first, which I did and then started dressing myself. They told me I should stay in bed. I refused and started removing the canula plaster at which point they realised I was really about to leave, took out the canula, chucked some meds at me and tried to carry my bags to the car for me. I refused.

Apparently, I am stubborn and wilful and they told dh I needed tying down. DH was very pleased.

Anyway...

I'M ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!

OP posts:

StrawberriesandCherries · 11/01/2010 11:59

Ginger - did it hurt when they put the canula in your hand? Did you feel odd for a couple of days after? Am off for GA too this week so really appreciate your post about what happened

ShowOfHands · 11/01/2010 21:58

Just seen this StrawberriesandCherries. I'm GingerbreadFolk in my usual name.

The canula didn't really hurt, well as much as having a needle stuck in your hand hurts I suppose, a scratch and then nothing. I'm not bothered by needles though which helps. It was very cold and they struggled to site it at first. The anaesthetist said he'd struggled all day as the weather was so bad and everybody's veins had retreated. It's more sore now, bit bruised!

I felt a bit groggy afterwards. The op was around 5pm and I was driven home around 6.30. I just felt that sort of fatigue you have after a broken night's sleep where you move a little bit slower and your head's a little slower. By bedtime I was fine.

Honestly, the two weird bits were the premed that was injected a couple of minutes before the actual general. It made the room spin and I didn't like it. And the actual general going in made me cough, my throat felt like it was closing. They said that was normal but I wasn't prepared for it.

I had a suppository while under too which is routine for pain relief apparently. I could feel that somebody had been there iyswim.

StrawberriesandCherries · 11/01/2010 22:20

Thanks ShowofHands, that is really helpful. I am bit scared of the unknown but am sure it will be ok, I will just try not to think too much about what could go wrong.

Bit about the suppository though - didnt realise someone might be having a little rummage down there!!!! I will be asking about that i think

Thanks again though and glad it all went well for you x

ShowOfHands · 11/01/2010 22:47

Good luck. Let me know that you're okay afterwards.

Like most of these things, the reality is not as bad as the expectation. The suppository thing might not be routine where you are and they'll tell you beforehand everything they're planning to do.

The staff made all the difference, I felt no pain and no nausea and recovered quickly.

StrawberriesandCherries · 14/01/2010 14:18

You're right SOH - the reality wasnt as bad as i had been expecting!! Quite enjoyed being out of it for a while actually - can only remember them putting the canula and the heart monitors on and then nothing till waking up in recovery and being given morphine.

Was very sick on the way home the day after and head was like it was going to explode all day, but have slept it off.

Glad it's over though

ShowOfHands · 15/01/2010 23:54

Oh brill. Just seen this. I'm glad you're fine. Hope you continue to recover well.

morethan1 · 16/01/2010 23:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

kaz5669 · 24/01/2019 16:54

I just want to say a huge thank you for all your words of encouragement and comfort. I had a general anaesthetic yesterday for the first time and i was so scared but after reading this page it really helped me. So a great big thank you to all. I DID IT and I’m so relieved x

rachiielou12 · 01/03/2019 21:43

Trust me honestly it's nothing to worry about, I had gallbladder removal I was so scared but I explained it to the hospital they were very understanding. They give me calming medicine and let my partner stay till I was taken down to theatre
I just felt like I was Tipsy but they talk to you ask you questions through it so it calms you down they are used to seeing people like it on a regular basis so they do understand.

Oldmum55 · 01/03/2019 23:46

When I had my first C section many moons ago, I remember the pleasant sensation of the pre med, I knew I was being wheeled into the theatre but didn't care. By then was so tired that the quick sleep was welcome and when they wake you up you think.: "Leave me alone I haven't been to sleep yet!"

Foxy23 · 30/01/2024 12:39

Hi all, having my first ga as an adult(had an op when I was little), soon,and I am terrified
I am terrified of something going wrong,I am terrified I will die. I suffer from palpitations at times,and this is really playing on my mind.
I'm scared I'll panic when I go in to lie on the bed.
I really feel like I might bolt for the door.
Help please!!

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