TAH: My gyne has told me I must have a GA

I have a awful phobia about general aneasthetics and was hoping not to have to have one . But my gyne has just told me there is no alternative but to have one . As my uterus is si enlarged and may need a vertical incision . I really fear I will now not be able to go through with the operation . I know this is foolish of me I gave read all the stuff about how safe general anaesthesia is but I am terrified about being unconscious and not waking up and also the breathing tube they put down your throat . I have to have a new elbow joint put in last year but insisted they do it under local anaesthesia they thought I was mad but I would rather put up with any amount of pain rather than be knocked out . I am scared I will not go through with surgery and risk my health .

I had never had surgery in my life before (I'm 63!) and I had the same fear of not waking up, being given too much anesthetic for my small build/weight, etc etc.
Mind you, I would NOT be wanting to have a hysto. under a local anesthetic!!

I can't take away your fears, but I can say that on the day of the op. I was strangely calm. OK, I was shaking with fear as they prepared me minutes before going into the theatre, and they said "Are you cold?". When I said I was petrified they gave me something to make me not care any more, and before I knew it I was awake in recovery!!
It was absolutely a breeze.
They have done these ops. a thousand times - it's their day-job. The anesthetist said to me at my pre-op. that I was probably safer on the operating table than in my own bed on my own at night because I was being constantly monitored.

Truly, the op. is the easy part!!
And the whole thing is worthwhile, because sooner or later you will feel like a new person. Believe me!!

Sebbie -

Your fear is very understandable. Surgery can be very nerve racking. Know that the doctors and nurses will take very good care of you. You will have a whole group of them just for you, to watch over you, and to see you through this. The pre-op nurses are so wonderful, and they will help you relax when you arrive.

My TAH BSO was my fourth surgery, although it was my first major one. My anesthesiologist suggested an epidural along with my general anesthesia. That way she could use less and I would wake up quicker. I liked that and took her up on it. I would do that again in a heart beat. That might be an alternative for you. Anyway, I was given verseds before the epidural was complete, so I do not even remember the full epidural, and I don't remember being put under. I remember being given the verseds and then the next thing I remember is waking up in recovery and the nurses saying everything is fine.

Good luck to you...

I had the same fears also when I had my first surgery (myomectomy) in 2002. I told the anesthesiologist about my fears and they were very reassuring. I told them about my fear of the breathing tube and I wanted it out before I even woke up.

They also will give you something in your IV before to calm your nerves. If they are really bad maybe your doctor can prescribe you something until your surgery.

When you do have your surgery it seems like it only took 5 minutes. At one minute they are taking you into the OR and then the next minute you are in the recovery room.

The worst part of all of this is waiting and our imaginations running wild with us. All the anticipation is stressful, but once you reach the ohter side, there is relief.

It is normal to feel the way you do.

(((((Big Hugs)))) everything is going to be OK

I think everyone has different fears. I am also having GA for my surgery but I have had it several times when I was allot younger for minor surgeries. I'm really not scared of it at all. But I would be terrified to have this surgery with a local. I think that is very brave of you to have surgery on your elbow with a local.

I think the girls have given some really good advice. And just try to remember that there are so many surgeries performed everyday and people wake up fine. Remember that not waking up is the exception not the rule. But you should talk to your dr. about your fears and see what his advice is on a local. And do what is best for you.

Thank you fir your replys . I have been awake all night worrying . I really think I will have to cancel the surgery am in such a state also very embarrassed about my panic and dont feel I will be taken seriously by the doctors .

Please don't cancel because you are embarrassed about your panic. Belive me, they WILL understand and will take you seriously. If you can, call your docs office and talk to the nurse about this. That way they will be prepared and be able to help you. This is normal and please don't feel so embarrassed about it. There are tons of us who have the fear. Just to let you know when they did mine they pretty much had me out of it before putting in the breathing tube. It really didn't bother me at all and before I was scared.
I wonder if the doc could give you something for anxiety. That might help calm down your fears. I think our brains really can be a big problem. I know that mine would start thinking of all the what ifs. And they weren't pleasant. There is help for this. Please avail yourself of it.

Thank you . Xxx

I don't like being put to sleep. That being said, I've had 3 c-sections, 2 I was awake for and one I was asleep for and I will take asleep any day of the week. Anesthesia doesn't agree with me. I wake up and vomit, but then during my wide awake c-section I vomited too. A hysterectomy usually takes about 2 hours. You don't want to be awake for that.

I have really bad anxiety. I told my nurse about my panic attacks and so the anesthesiologist gave me Verced before I even went to the OR. I was so happy on the Verced that just before they put me under I remember apalogizing for my hairy legs and reminded them my pre-op RN said I wasn't allowed to shave 2 days before surgery. All of the nurses and my doctor giggled and then I had a pleasant nap.

I am so sorry to hear that you're scared and losing sleep. I haven't yet had my hyst, but I HAVE been under general anesthesia twice, once when I was almost 11 and once when I was 21 (I'm almost 35 now). Believe me it is fast and painless. I did not have any nausea/vomiting afterward, but I remember being a little dizzy. Funny enough, I don't remember much about either surgery. I would definitely do GA again, especially for my hyst! You will be fine; before you know it, you'll have blurry faces standing over you saying, "she's awake" and "you did just fine".

Sleep well. I hope all goes well for you.
Hugs,
~ML