I'm having my first general anesthetic on monday. Am petrified, and terriffied. Please help?

Question

Help. I's soooooo scared, and panicking. bee sick with anxiety.
Have a huge fear of being "put to sleep". It petrifies and terriffies me. lol.

What will happen?
Does it hurt?
What will it feel like?
Will i wake up during the operation?!!!!
Will i wake up afterwards?!!!!

Please help me. Don't know what to expect. And also really hate hospitals, and anything medical. HELP PLEASE

Really thinking about not having this operation done. (altough i need it) lol.

Answer 1

it doesnt hurt, its like falling asleep, your vital signs will be monitored all during it,,,, you should wake up in the recovery room,,,,, i always wake up fast, so i have sometimes as they are taking me to the recovery ,,, what they do,, is administer the anesthetic during your operation, turning it off as the operation ends, so no , you shouldnt wake up,,,,, you also, before your surgery should have/will meet with the anesthesiologist (sp) . you might do this on monday, right before your operation, if you are having outpatient surgery,,,,,,, they can answer all your questions... just try to remain calm, sometimes they even at the hospital give you something to calm you down if you need it,,, until you have been threw it,,, you really wont know how quick you wake up , if you have any side effects (upset stomach etc) from it , they would not put you to sleep if your medical history or test showed any reasons not to,

Answer 2

Its not really that bad. The only side effects I had was a sore throat for a few days. About an hour before the operation there going to give you a couple of pills they work really well and relieve all of your anxiety and make you sleepy. By the time you get into the operating room your going to feel really really good and won't care what they are doing. The anesthesia works really fast, about 3 seconds after they inject it. The anesthesiologist will tell you what he's doing and have you count backwards from 100. I don't know anyone who makes it past 97. You won't wake up during the operation. The only pain involved is the pin prick of them putting in the IV and that's done in your room. In the mean time call your doctor he can probably give you an anti-anxiety med that will help with your anxiety while your waiting to go Monday. Hope this helps some. Also when you wake up your going to feel really tired and relaxed.

Answer 3

Geez the anxiety you are putting yourself through is way worse than the anesthetic itself!
Anesthesia is a medical specialization using tried and tested formulae to administer medication to make you unconscious and then to reverse the process. It doesn't hurt, you will not wake up during the surgery, and you don't feel anything.
You usually are given an injected sedative 1/2 hour before you go to surgery, so when the preparation for surgery starts you're already somewhat relaxed. the anesthetic is administered through an existing IV and is painless. The last time I had it I was told to count as the anesthetic was administered and i didn't get passed 2. I saw the first drop of anesthetic fall into the tube going into my arm, and I say the second drop getting ready to fall, and the nothing. It was like night, everything went black and I didn't feel anything, hear anything, and didn't even have the sensation that I existed. the next thing I remember was waking up in a different room. Six hours had elapsed in what I would have thought was a second.
I wish you a speedy recovery and please don't worry!!! it's really nothing to worry about!!

Answer 4

RELAX!!! It does not hurt. It feels like you are sleeping-that's all. You won't wake during the operation. You will wake whe the operation is done and they stop giving you the gas. Make sure you tell them how scared you are when you get to the hospital-they can give you a mild sedative before if you need it.
Keep busy over the weekend. Watch funny movies, go for a walk. Eat junk food.

Answer 5

I know how you feel. I use to be that way. ok, lets answer your questions.
1st. nothing will happen, it will be like going to bed for the night,
2nd, no, it doesn't hurt
3rd, you won't feel a thing. They will put medicine in your IV first and then wheel you to surgery and by the time you get around the corner, you'll be sleeping like a baby.
4th, NO!!! you won't wake up during surgery. They know how much to give you according to your weight and body.
and 5th, YES!!! you will wake up after wards. Its just a normal procedure that they are use to doing. Its not like in the old days any more. They do know what they are doing. Just breath deep and relax and let the nurses know how scared you are and they will help you work through this. They did my father-in-law. He hates hospitals and everything about them also.
So, PLEASE don't cancel your surgery, get it done and over with and you'll see how simple it was.

Answer 6

The trick is to stay calm and positive . It's just like going to sleep and before you know it , it will all be over and you will say to yourself " So what was the big deal ?? " . They will probably give you something to help you relax a couple of hours before you go to theatre . You won't wake up during the surgery and you won't have any significant if any pain at all afterwards . Millions of people 'go under' annually so relax about the whole thing . Hey , GOOD LUCK and good health to you !!!

Answer 7

Louisa, Louisa: Calm down. I've had surgery so many times I was wondering what it would be like being awake and trying it next time...I'm only kidding. It doesn't hurt, calm down. When you go in, the nurse will ask if your anxious. Tell her your very nervous. They'll more than likely give you Benadryl or something to calm you down.
Don't get upset. It happens so fast, you'll be asleep and wake up and, it'll be over.

Answer 8

yeah it is a scary feeling. but honestly ive had many operations... it doesnt hurt. they just put a mask on your face and tell you to breathe normally, and seriously... in like 10 seconds your fast asleep. you dont feel a thing. you'll definitely wake up afterwards. i hate hospitals too, theyre horrible... just stay calm, im sure everything will be fine.
good luck!!