anesthesia

This is my first posting here,so I hope I am in the right place.I am terrified of going under.I had to go under 2 yrs ago to have my thyroid removed,and it was horrible.I am having panic attacks thinking about it.Does anyone have any words of encouragement,my sister is trying to make me feel better,but I think I am too scared to even listen.I really don't fear the operation just the anesthesia.Also I amallergic to almost every pain med out there.How bad is the pain afterwards.I am having a total hysto,and a bladder and rectum suspension.
Jacky

S

Have you discussed your fears with your DR? If the anxiety is severe maybe you could get tranquilizers? I know that the fear of not waking up after from the anesthesia was my biggest fear, but I wasn't really panicked about it, but that was what was on my mind when I thought about surgery.

I had to try my hardest to not think about it. I know that's really hard to do.

I hope you can get some reassurance from your DR.

Best wishes.

Jacky,

Fearing anesthesia is very normal, I have only been under twice but and my biggest fear is not waking up. I work in a hospital with 15 surgeries a day here and I am sure we are not the only ones with the same fear. Ask your doctor for something to take in the morning of your surgery to calm your nerves.

The pain is really controlled by the pain meds. I had my PCA pump for one day after that they just offered me oral meds. Make sure and tell the anesthesiologist what pain meds you are allergic, he/she is the one that is going to order what pain meds post op.

When is your Surgery? What area are you from?

You will be fine.

You are so normal girl. I was afraid of getting sick after the surgery from the anesthesia like I had after a previous surgery. I told my doctor about my problems with the pain meds too. I told the anesthesist my concerns.
They have some good meds these days. He gave me something to make sure I didn't wake up nauseous. I was out before I even got wheeled in to the OR. I had a three and a half surgery. I woke up with no ill effects. they gave me morphine shots at first. The second day they tried demerol. My body didn't like that one. I found I did better on anti-inflammatories for the pain.

So let every doc know your concerns and past experiences. They are trained and are there for your comfort.
Good luck to you!

Hi,
As a recovering addict I didn't want to have any excess pain meds. I had a morphine pump for 24 hours, then one pain pill later that night. After that, ibuprofen. Really. I had an abdominal incision and I was fine. I also think I recovered much faster without the drugs. I was up and moving in no time.
Good luck!!

Hi Jacky,
have you considered a spinal? I to have had lots of problems with anesthesia in the past so was worried about going under. I had a spinal and it was SO much easier to recover. No vomiting, no lightheadedness, etc.

Good luck,
Cathy

First off all I would like to thank all of you ladies for your kind,and wonderful reassurances.If my blood count is brought up to near normal I will possibly be going in around Oct 15th.I live in Catonsville,Maryland.
I told my dr. I have a fear of going under,but I don't think he took it too seriously,as we were discussing so many things,that sort of got lost in the conversation.
Yes my biggest fear is not waking up. I have a 14 yr. old and 10 yr. old at home,and 2 older daughters out on there own. I am so worried about my youngest 2.But I will take all of your advice and stress to my Dr. the real panic I feel. I will also ask for info on the spinal.My sister mentioned that to me.So it is worth looking into.
Once again,I am so thankful for the very quick replies,and kind words.

Jacky

Jacky -

You sound much more reassured which is great. For what it's worth, I'd like to share my . I was put out to have my wisdom teeth removed when I was in high school. Yes, this is definitely a different anesthesia experience than what we'll have for our surgery, but..... I had a bad experience. It didn't knock me out as quickly and completely as it should have (it eventually did but I was terrified in the process since I couldn't let them know I was still alert but my body was out). I came to OK, but remember coming home and crying for no reason (I've heard this is a side affect), having nausea and then a feeling of lightheadedness for a month if I was on my feet for over 5 minutes. In college, I had breast reduction surgery and by far my biggest fear was this whole anesthesia thing. My dental experience really freaked me out. Well let me tell you, it was a piece of CAKE!!!! I kid you not, they stuck that IV in my hand and I was OUT. I remember coming to as they were wheeling me to my room. I had not a single side affect from that experience. I had no nausea, no lightheadedness, no unexplained crying or anything. I've heard so much about nausea afterward so I don't know if this anesthesiologist was proactive or if I simply had a good reaction. Suffice it to say, I'm not the least bit concerned about the anesthesia this time around.

So if it makes you feel any better, I am someone who had one experience that was bad and another that was picture perfect. As everyone else mentioned, talk to the anesthesiologist about this and let him/her know about your bad experience. Best of luck to you. I go in three days before you.

Jacky...you are normal dear....I had all the same fears and emotions about being put under...I'm a smoker, that some of those fears were of my own making, but still the fear is the same. I want to tell you that the minute you are sitting there talking to your anesthselogist, mostof your fears will subide. I swear they are heavenly sent people...full of love and compassion. They ask you every single question that it is important for them to know and they know you are scared...While I had one anest. putting in the IV.(he used a numbing adjent first, what a sweetie) that I did not feel at all and I have a needle phobia...I had another anest. talking to me, asking me questions and telling me in moments they would take all my fears away....and it was literally moments later that I don't even remember...its' like they took those extra 15 or 20 minutes of waiting till surgery and put you in LaLa land just so you don't have to agonize another second. I know hearing these words when you still have to go through it doesn't help, it's still fearful to you, but I'm just telling you that our minds truley are our worse enemies in the waiting. May God's Peace surround you...just know that He is in total control.

Luv & hugs,

Mich