RE: Petrified about having a General Anesthetic

Hi Issy

Please don't be frightened by being under sedation. When you are put under general anaesthetic you are done so by an anaesthetist. Anaethesia is a medical specialisation - which means they have the same amount of additional training as a surgeon, or a gynaecologist, or gastroenterologist, or a radiologist etc. These folk do five years of a medical degree, then work as a junior doctor in a hospital for several years, then study a further six years to become a specialist. Anaesthetists are specialists. You will NOT be put under by a nurse with a syringe and then ignored whilst they operate on the bit of you they are concerned with. You will have an anaesthetist beside you (usually by your head) the whole time, who will be monitoring you and will make any minor adjustments to ensure that your organs are safe and happy.

If however you are obese, or are a smoker, or are elderly, or very underweight then these are additional challenges - but the anaesthetist will take these into consideration. The general anaesthetic is safe, and you will be fine. My brother is a nurse and he's told me the above many times. He would, however, encourage you to get out of hospital after the operation as soon as you are able. The operation will be safe, the general anaesthesia will be safe, but dirty hospitals are a real concern.

Please be assured that general anaesthetic is safe, and that you will be in capable hands the entire time.

As for what it feels like. They do it in stages, you will be given something that sedates you slightly (makes you relaxed). Then maybe an hour later you will be injected with the first anaesthetic - and you will be asked to count down from 10 to 1. Before you hit 5 you'll be under sedation. The next thing you know will be when you come around in hospital!

N x

RE: Petrified about having a General Anesthetic

Hiya Issy

Please don't be afraid of having general anaesthetic like neukolnn said it is done by a specialist. Last year I had a operation on my neck and I was fine apart from a bit of a sore throat due to what I had done but after a few hour's it was better. I did not have the pre med which is the injection to sedate you, I walked to the operating theatre main doorswith my husband which was nice. They put monitors on you for checking your heart etc while you are asleep and if the operating staff are anything like I had you will be laughing because they say some really funny thing's.Someone said to me that I would just feel a scratch and there was a comment of how can you say it is a scratch whenit is a pinch, or something like that I can't really say because by then I was asleep. It seems like only seconds before someone is asking if you are awake in post op and then the next thing is you wake up on the ward, thinking is that all there is to it why was I so afraid.
It was on the cards that I had to go for another operation on my neck but it's not needed now and I was disappointed I was looking forward to being waited on hand and foot again. So it's not that bad really Issy so don't worry to much, if you need to talk please PM me

Cis

RE: Petrified about having a General Anesthetic

[sm=grouphug.gif]Hello ISSY,

I have had more operations than you would believe, all with general anaesthetic. your anethestist will come to your bed to speak to you, just tell them you are nervous they will do all they can to calm you down, you may have a pre med, wich is a small tablet,the anaesthetic will be put into your arm they will tell you to count to three, you never get there, because you are under before hand.
you will just fall asleep.when your operation is over the will take you into the recovery room where they will wake you up.
its nothing to be afraid off, but let them know they will understand. good luck.

take care

RE: Petrified about having a General Anesthetic

Hi Issy,

It sounds to me as though your phobia is as much to do with hospitals and medical situations in general? If so, please just have the courage to go through with it.

As for general anaesthetic, I've had it once and can tell you how it was for me. I'd been on the waiting list for ages for a hernia operation, but by coincidence injured my arm a week before the operation and was 24 hours a day in terrible pain from the arm, which was in a sling. We all differ I know, but I thought so little of the operation that I almost forgot it! I suddenly realised I was meant to be in a hospital within 25 minutes, bungled some stuff into a bag, and ran out to catch a taxi.

Oh, the big joke is that getting a cab and asking to go to the hospital (in a sling) he said, "I hope they fix your arm". The arm was so unrelentingly painful, and nothing to do with my operation, that when I finally went into unconsciousness for the op, I thought, "Yes! Oh, relief!"

I just wanted to give you a light-hearted tone. As for what general anaesthetic is actually like, nothing could be more simple. Have you ever slept? Have you ever been asleep? It's simply that and nothing more, honestly. They do know that some people are nervous of operations, so you get pills to calm you a while before. Then the actual thing itself, to prove to themselves that you are unconscious, well they asked me after a tiny scratch of an injection to count numbers. I thought, "I'll show you!" I tried to fight it as a joke, but got to about four.

In short, general is a blessing as you simply are "asleep" through it all. You don't know anything and it's all under control. We'd hardly want to be awake for it, would we?

P.S. When I woke up from the op, immediately all I could think was "xxxx, the arm is killing me again!"

Good luck, and have courage.

Venetian xxx

RE: Petrified about having a General Anesthetic

I am terrified of Hospitals & anything medical.
I've never been a patient & the last time i visited someone in hospital,i hada Panic Attack & then Fainted !!

I'm soooo scared about going into Hospital. Can't cope with anything medical !!

The anesthetic scares me sooo much & i wanna chicken out

RE: Petrified about having a General Anesthetic

Tell the medical and nursing staff of your fear.
I have had three GA'sover a few years and its nothing. You drop off to sleep as you do at home, no different.

Ask them to put on emla cream (usually afew minutes before theatre)on the injection site, this numbs the area where they will inject.

Believe me as a ex nurse, I know more than most but if surgery is needed then you trust them.
Embarrassingly, I knew the anaethetist on one surgery I was having!!

RE: Petrified about having a General Anesthetic

I'd suggest letting your hospital - or you could let your GP - know about this phobia. Which you can do by phone so it won't in itself involve going anywhere. Your GP may be the best person to call, or to visit if you can do that. And the point would be to be open with them and to tell them all that you've written here.

Phobias are common, and I'd hope they would understand and have some way of helping.

Venetian

RE: Petrified about having a General Anesthetic

Just to add to the general reassurances - I recently went into hospital for abdominal surgery. I knew I was going to be under anaesthetic for quite a while and I too was absolutely terrified - either that I was going to wake up in the middle of the operation, or that I was not going to wake up at all.

However, despite being very nervous everything was fine. I did let the nurses and anaesthetist know of my fears and they were totally reassuring and explained everthing that has been mentioned above to me. No one could remember anyone waking up in an operation before and anaesthetists are so experienced in what they are doing, that the likelihood of you not waking up at all are extremely remote.

Someone was chatting to me all the while until I "went under" and as I went to sleep I actually felt quite tingly and relaxed...

Coming round I felt sleepy and happy and a bit drunk - ina nice way.

I can totally understand your fears and I shared them, but I really think I will be OK about it if there is a next time.

I do hope your op is successful and that you recover quickly. I can also say that the hospital I was in was spotlessly clean and could have eaten my dinner off the floor...... All the staff were lovely too.

Not sure if I am allowed to mention the hospital to give them a pat on the back. But it was in Essex......... by the sea......

RE: Petrified about having a General Anesthetic

Thankyou so much for all ur reassurance - very grateful.

U have calmed me down a little. But MAIN FEARS are, Waking up during Surgery & Dying during it.

I'll be under Anesthetic for8 hours - tis a long operation. The thought of being unconscious & having a Breathing Tube in me,completely petryfies me.

RE: Petrified about having a General Anesthetic

DO speak to the anaethetist.Why dont you ring your consultants secretary and ask to speak to thetell them of your fears and is it possible to speak toa anaethetist

RE: Petrified about having a General Anesthetic

Issy,

I would rather have an operation than an injection!!! I have had quite a few in my earlier years and every one of them was a good experience. Going to sleep and waking up when its all over is the best way of dealing with things............it will only seem like a 5 minute nap when you wake up!!!....even after hours of surgery.

Don't think of nehgative things, just make plans for what you will do after the op....stay positive. People are having surgery every day and its a success and improves life....why think the worst when it isn't likely to happen.

If you can eat some marshmallows just before you have the anaesthetic it will make a big difference to your blood sugar and you will not feel sick as sometimes you do afterwards. Hide them though, as you're not supposed to eat!! I was given that tip by a doctor and it made a big difference to me.
Hope all goes well.

RE: Petrified about having a General Anesthetic

Hi Issy

Please do try not to worry, I do understand where you are coming from. Anaesthetics these days are generally pretty safe.
Do speak to the surgeon and his team and express your fears. Believe me they will only want to do their best for you.

My best friend just had an op. I was there when she went under and I was waiting for her in her room when she was brought up from recovery. She said that this was great/
Take someone with you and when you go for your op. There is nothing better than having a friendly, familiar face there when you start to wake up.
Not so sure about the marshmallow advice. The whole idea is that you are starved so that you do not vomit.
Bach rescue remedy will help.
Best wishes

Aria
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