Surgical procedure - absolutely terrified

[Ronnie211097]

I’m new to this forum but after reading your experiences; I thought this would be the perfect place to share with you my fears and feelings in hopes to get some support. I’m really sorry if this post upsets anyone but I just need to get this off my chest.

I found out I was pregnant after my period was two days late (I’m very regular), and my partner and I have decided to go ahead with medical termination. I didn’t need to have a scan as I’ve had a successful telephone consultation with MSI, and they sent my pills over in the post. After waiting for 3 days following the initial consultation, I’ve taken them, bled, passed clots and thought that was that. Three weeks later I took a pregnancy test provided by the clinic which displayed a faint positive. I thought not much of it as my symptoms decreased a little and I wasn’t feeling as pregnant - I decided to wait another week before another test. Week later, another positive...

I got an appointment to go into the clinic and it was confirmed to me that the medical treatment failed and I was pregnant with twins!!! They are alive and I’m now showing a little bit. I’m scheduled for a surgical treatment on Monday morning but I am absolutely terrified. I’ve had a general anaesthetic before but over the years I’ve developed nasty health anxiety and I’m absolutely petrified that I will not wake up, something will go wrong and it’s getting to the point where I’m thinking of writing goodbye letters to everyone. The Dr told me that it will take around 10 mins so the procedure isn’t long, but it’s the 10 mins that I’m under I’m afraid of.

I know it’s ridiculous - I guess I just need someone to tell me to get a grip!

My boyfriend is extremely supportive by the way, but he sometimes gets insanely sick of my irrational anxiety. Oops!

Hi @Ronnie211097, wow that sounds really tough bless you, how many weeks are you now? I def didnt want to have a medical so had the surgical at 9 weeks with conscious sedation is that not a possibility for you rather than the GA? I have been put under twice & Im such a worrier so can sympathise with how anxious your feeling & it must be heightened ten fold because of the reasons why your having it , im glad your partner is supportive xx

Surgical treatment is not so bad lovely
Takes literally minutes and you'll wake up with a small amount of cramping in your tummy - bit like a period
You may have GA or CS depending on what you consented for ... sedation takes longer to leave the body - GA you will have absolutely no recollection of anything at all

Much less bleeding after and you will know 100% that this is finally all over - you will be fine , sorry you have been so unlucky
It's a very small risk but totally crap when it happens to you . Let us know you are ok after

@ZAK3 thank you for replying. I’ll be starting 13 weeks tomorrow. They couldn’t give me an appointment until two weeks later after I rung them to inform them of the positive test... Dr also said he prefers if his patients go under GA as sedation or local may be too distressing and painful. I’m trying to enjoy my Sunday but I’m in tears, I can barely cope I’m so terrified. I’m just thinking this time tomorrow it’ll all be over... hopefully. Xx

@66babe I remember being put to sleep before for a short procedure and it felt exactly how you describe it. You wake up seconds later... but anxiety prevails and I just think of the possibility that I might not wake up. As mentioned above, my Dr prefers if I have a GA as it’s a lot faster, I won’t feel anything and it’ll be over before i know it. I’m just so afraid and really distressed.

I will let you know as soon as it’s all over... just want it all behind me :(

@Ronnie211097, I know your terrified & anxious so even if having GA is making you feel like that I guess it is the best option for you it really will be over so quickly & having no recollection of anything will probably be best thing for you , I didnt actually want to have mine so emotionally it was very difficult to go through the surgical but there was no pain etc & everyone was really nice & im sure you will be completley looked after & reassured , keep talking on here if it helps hope your being looked after by your partner xx

@ZAK3 thank you so much for your kind words. I’m trying to feel more accustomed with the fact it’s got to be done and it won’t be as bad as I think. I just can not wait to wake up in the recovery ward, relieved, though naturally a little upset about it. The choice to abort was a mutual decision we have both taken, and we feel that it doesn’t feel right to keep the little ones after an attempt to have the pregnancy medically terminated.

Who was your treatment provider if you don’t mind me asking?

I’m really sorry and empathetic towards your experience, if you ever need a chat - please reach out. We can only help each other out xxx

@ZAK3 @66babe on our way to the clinic! Wish me luck, please!!! 😢

Hello, sending strength your way. I have health anxiety too so know the struggle. But try and hold on to the facts here. There is very very very little risk involved. You will be in the best hands in the best place and they do this all the time without incident. It really will be over before you know it and then you can try and remember that the fear didn’t turn into anything real. Just fear. It’s horrible for you and I’m sorry you’re in this position. Thinking of you

F

@Ronnie211097 you will be absolutely fine ... from now till the procedure- just slow down your breathing , relax your shoulders , listen to the info given and trust the team looking after you
Let us know you are ok after x

How are you @Ronnie211097? Fingers crossed that all went well

@ZAK3 @Urghhhhh @Ttoast @66babe

Recovering in bed! Didn’t really have a good experience with MSI if I’m honest and it was an emotional turmoil. The dr that had me checked out last week wrote incorrect notes in my file and they thought I was there to clear out my cervix than actually remove the pregnancy. The dr performing the surgery kept asking me quite rudely what was said / happened and it really did set my anxiety off I came into the theatre crying. The nurse told me I’d be having sedation but at the theatre turns out I was going under GA and no one had told me. Then they said they couldn’t fit the coil but the coil was fitted... given antibiotics, bleeding and cramping but fully recovering and taking it incredibly easy today. Back to work tomorrow. Thanking you all so much for your replies. It made me feel less alone and did read them before I went in. Sending you all so much love.

@Ronnie211097 just wanted to send you an unmumsnetty hug, couldn't read and run....

Are you okay to return to work? You've been through so much I'd suggest (if possible?) to try and take some time out? I hope your being well looked after lovely.

@Frazzledd thank you for the hug! It’s being returned!

I’ll be okay with work as it’s from home and my manager is very supportive with me if I need to have an easier week. :) plus I’d go mad if I didn’t have anything to do as the other half is on house cleaning duties this week! 😂 thank you again ♥️

Another hug here @Ronnie211097 💐

When this is all over and you are feeling better please consider giving some feedback

Why did they think you there for ERPC ?
Did you consent to sedation or GA
Were you NBM ?
Did you consent to coil
Why was that not expected and then fitted ?

So sorry to hear you had a bad experience
I work for the other so hear a lot of things about MSI and always felt a bit sorry for them as I know some nurses/midwives who've worked for both but this really doesn't sound too good .. just concentrate on getting better first

Yes to an extent x

So...
When I went there last Wednesday, I was told by a lovely Dr that I was pregnant with twins and my medical had failed - the babies were alive and healthy and I would be scheduled for a surgical under GA. Hence this post in the first place as I did not know what to expect.

I went in there today, following the strict instructions of not eating anything 6 hours prior to treatment or drinking (not an issue as my appointment was at 8am). I got there this morning and was welcomed by a nurse who has confirmed to me that I have seen a Dr on Wednesday and he left the notes for a different operating Dr today to look after me and completely my procedure. She did not specify surgical, only said I would have remaining tissue removed following my scan on Wednesday and I would be given sedation anaesthetic to which I have agreed. I was given two pills to dissolve in my mouth and given some water but had to stop drinking half an hour before my treatment.

I was transferred to the pre-treatment room where I got changed and another nurse confirmed to my I would have an ERPC but the Dr alongside the lovely nurse rudely stated that this is not the case and was questioning me in a rather intimidating manner about what was discussed with the other Dr... that really raised my anxiety. They did a scan in the theatre, confirmed I needed a surgical, and only before he put the anaesthetic in me, he told me I will be going into a GA... I was crying so much and then sleep.

They initially told me I could not get the coil because of having to have an ERPC... but then they said it was okay. They kept changing whatever they said to me and none of it was really fed back to me. It was really the nurses that kept me informed briefly about what is going on. I was in the recovery lounge for 30 mins and still feeling drowsy they stated I was fit enough to leave only because my partner was waiting outside.

It is a shame because I found most of the staff really rude, and I consented to a sedative anaesthetic and not a GA in the official formed signed today.

I am just glad it is over, and hoping for a swift recovery. They did give me some antibiotics to take during the course of the week which I will. I am just so glad it is over...

It is over now @Ronnie211097 just relax for now , try to eat a little something you fancy later and get an early night
Take some paracetamol or ibuprofen before you go to bed just to keep on top of you become comfortable... you'll feel so much better tomorrow x

@Ronnie211097, so sorry was working late last night & hadnt seen post, im glad you had others on here for support. Once again it seems you have had a difficult time that must have made everything 10 times worse, are you glad you did have the GA in the end? Good to hear you are relaxing at home & hopefully being well looked after , you have been through a hell of a lot , sending hugs xxxx

You sound like you have had an awful time & it will take you some time to come to terms with it all. The GA was the only positive thing to come out of it all, you haven't any memory of the actual procedure. Take whatever time you need & if you feel that you wish to make a complaint, wait until you feel mentally & physically ready to do it.

How you feeling today @Ronnie211097 ?

@SudokuZebra Thank you so much for providing me with the phone number. I might actually look into it as I am feeling really emotionally wrecked after the whole experience, and I may actually go down the route of complaining whilst it is all fresh in my head. I am really upset about it and the way they treated me.

@Nat6999 it was traumatising and complaining is definitely something that I am going to look into. Waking up this morning in tears was not exactly a good way to wake up... Thank you so much for your replies.