No Date: Worried About General Anesthesia and Asking Advice!

I feel very silly bringing this up, because I didn't feel this way before, but the nerves are really gnawing at me, and I'd really love some feedback and experiences from all who have gone under general anesthesia to get your hysterectomies done.

It's very possible I might be recommended for one, depending on the results of my LEEP next Wednesday. They've been trying to remove some pesky cells since last November on my cervix, and after a couple of punch biopsy rounds, a cone biopsy and now the LEEP I just got yesterday, it something ends up found that's deep enough, getting the hysterectomy done was finally put on the table by the doctor.

I was fine with the idea before, but...last month a family member of mine, only in his 50s and quite healthy and active, died suddenly, and it's made me very fearful of my own death. I'm about to turn 43, myself. I feel as though I'm reasonably healthy, and get plenty of brisk walking done (though my diet could probably be a bit better - I love sweets!), so I feel my heart may be in good shape for it, but the darkness keeps coming into my head about being that one fraction of a percentage of a statistic of those who "don't make it". It's got to be somebody after all, right?...ughhhh....I know this way of thinking is totally defeatist, and irrational, but this shock that has happened to my family has just driven the whole existential crisis thing home, so now I'm worried, and can't seem to stop worrying about it. 9_9 Just as an example, as recently as 4 months ago when I had my cone done and thought I might have to have a hysterectomy done down the line, the fear of going under never even crossed my mind. I was more worried about possibly having a catheter strapped to me for a while!

I was wondering if anyone has had these feelings, and how you dealt with them, or how you're currently dealing with them.

Not sure if I should save this for another question altogether, but what kind of hysterectomy surgery would you recommend? I don't know if my current hospital is quite equipped with the latest in technology where hysterectomy is concerned, so I will need to search around, but I'm not entirely sure what I should search for. I've had a recommendation for robot assisted hysterectomy - is that the same as DaVinci method?

Thanks so much to anyone who might be able to help and ease my mind about this. I want to go in expecting anything and everything for my LEEP result next week, and being ok with it. I'm just so tired of being afraid and working myself into a frenzy over it. Knowledge (and anecdotal evidence!) is power!

It's not silly at all. It's major surgery, should you find yourself facing a hysterectomy, and for many of us worry and anxiety will surface. Often it is over specific issues. I had three things that I was really concerned about - two of them were procedural during surgery (specific to my thyroid nodules and arrhythmia), and the third one was a phobia which came out of left field. Prayer with friends helped, as did keeping busy so I wouldn't think about those things so much. As it is, none of my three concerns came to pass.

I'm sorry for the unexpected death of your family member. It's always a shock, and it brings the realization into our lives that we all have our time. At the risk of sounding like a statistician, with 500-600,000 hysterectomies performed every year in the US alone (2.5-3.0 million over 5 years), you probably rub elbows with women who've had this surgery every day and don't realize it. Most of us get on with our lives after recovering.

Regarding anesthesia, since that's what prompted you to write. I'd never been put under in my adult life (I don't remember much about the tonsillectomy I had when I was 5). I get motion sick easily, so I let the assistant know beforehand and I was given an anti-nausea patch. Understand that there's a TEAM of specialists and medical professionals surrounding you in the OR and you are their #1 priority. The anesthesiologist and his assistant are dedicated to monitoring your vital signs the whole time. They are your front line defense and your biggest cheerleaders and fans. Though I didn't know what to expect, going under was pretty amazing - within 2-3 minutes of getting the "juice" I was out. It's way deeper than any sleep, no dreams, no sensations, and when you finally come around a few hours later, it feels like you'd only been out 5-10 minutes.

The type of surgery you have depends on what you're having done, why you're having it done, the skills of the doctor/surgeon and your particular circumstances. If you even get to the point of surgery, you've got time to get a second opinion, and it's always good to do so - see 5 Reasons to Seek a Second Opinion. As for the type of surgeries available, great article here on the Different Types of Hysterectomies including variations and initial recovery times.

In truth, worrying is like a rocking chair, always in motion but never getting anywhere - and it robs you of being able to live for today. A wise man whom I more than admire once said you can't add a single hour to your lifespan by worrying. He was and is right.

I hope this has helped in some small way.

I'm sorry for your loss. My mother passed away in 2013, so I was also scared about going under general anaesthesia, maybe even more so than for the actual surgery, but as I quickly learned, the process is quite safe. In addition to the in-op monitoring Cussette mentioned, you'll also undergo a comprehensive pre-op screening. You'll be asked questions about your overall health, allergies or other concerns, medications and supplements, and anything else you think they should know; saying that you're a regular exerciser will definitely count in your favour. You'll undergo testing to check your blood coumt, blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation; other tests may be ordered, depending on your individual situation, surgeon's preference, and hospital policy. If your anaesthesiologist knows you're scared, there are things he can do to help you, whether it's just spending time talking to you, or giving you medication to calm you down. And here's another tip, courtesy of my next-door neighbour: as they're giving you the juice, think of something pleasant, like your family or a beach vacation; the next thing you know, you'll be waking up in recovery. I have chronic digestive issues, so I was also concerned about the nausea, so I packed some ginger candies in my hospital bag, which really helped. I had a catheter strapped to me for the first night, while I was in the hospital; it was removed the next morning, before I was sent home, and the nurse supervised my first bathroom trip, to make sure I was peeing okay. So I think you'll do just fine! Best wishes for a successful surgery and a smooth recovery!

Hi there!

As the other (((sisters))) have pointed out, having anxiety surrounding surgery is natural. Quite honestly, I'd be more worried about you if you DIDN'T have some level of apprehension! This shows you are considering the risks and benefits and not just barreling ahead.

I was scheduled for my surgery a few months in advance. (Went to the doc in June and I had my surgery in September.) So I had plenty of time to worry! The best trick I found was to "futurize" the event, if that makes any sense. Instead of worrying about how much pain I might (or might not) wake up in after the surgery, I would say to myself, "Just think - in 2 weeks at this time I will have had my surgery." Or "In 2 months I'll be back to work." It helped keep me out of "the moment", where I could get myself in all sorts of trouble.

Anesthesia is a strange thing... I think I had anxiety about it because going under general anesthesia truly means I'm giving up control. I can tell you that I didn't have any issues with it and when I was in the operating room, it wasn't really scary at all! The nurses and the "A-man" (as I called him) were incredibly nice and just wanted me to feel as calm as possible.

Hope this helps.

I'm like you on pins and needles about the anesthia. It's the scariest part for me, last night I dreamed I woke up in the middle and they didn't know I am totally freaking out!

Dear Cussette, Tiger_Eye, mjd and MorganCarroll,

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply to my post here! I'm sorry it's taken me a few days to write back and thank you, I'm just not taking my post LEEP time very well. Usually I'm able to bounce back and distract myself while waiting for results, at least up until the day or two before I'm scheduled to go back in, but I'm really struggling with it this time. I'll be back in on Wednesday, and am just keeping my fingers crossed my husband doesn't get a call before that time, warning that something else will need to be done, as has happened over the last few weeks. I'm so scared!

I really thank you all for all of your reassurance that I'm not being silly worrying about the general. I still hope for the possibility of avoiding hysterectomy for at least a while, but who knows what I'll be in store for here in a few days. Please wish me luck for clear margins this time, and thank you so much for all of your help! *hugs*

Anxiety is perfectly natural, and for me I finally had to make peace with general anesthesia. 98% sure I was going to take a deep breath, then wake up the next "moment." If there were complications, they would be dealt with, and if it was my time, then it was my time. However, I made sure I did everything I could to keep myself in that 98%.

As a side note, there were complications, and it took me two hours to wake up, but I did!

Hello my am new here and my name is tiffany I go to my preop date on tomorrow n I am so scared to go under as well I mean I have had two upper colonospy and one lower n I have had an D&C but never have I been in surgery b for I am suppose to just have my utures out I have fibroids as well but the fact that I will b out n not knowing weather I will survive this is scary I mean I try not to think about it but its hard not to but one thing I know that man upatairs has you and me n I hope everything goes well for u I will say a prayer for u