general anasthetic

[TomTom]

I may have to have a general anasthetic soon when I undergo an op. I am quite worried about having the general, scared of not waking up. Have you ever known anyone die from having it? How 'risky' is it, or am I simply being daft and worrying about something I shouldnt be? Can people put my mind at rest...

regards,

Tom.

[Goodsoulette]

It happens, but whay scare yourself with these stories. Make sure you are a s healthy as you can be and your cahnces of complications will decrease. Im sure you do things every day that have a greater risk than any complications occuring during your operation. I suggest you dont read your post any more incase someone posts something that scares you. If you need the op you need it.

[joe1]

Hi Tom,

I am 56, had general first time in my life last weekend - achilles tendon rupture. No problem at all. Don't worry - will do you no good. Today's anaesthetics are very,very good and so are the people that administer them. If you are in no fit state - they will tell you. Walk in the park mate.

Take it easy.

[Impret-Sir]

Tom, I have been involved with general anaesthetics professionally for 24 years, they are incredibly safe. Its a bit like air travel and crashes, you might hear about one or two anaesthetic mishaps a year, and they make big news, but that ignores the literally thousands of totally straitforward ones that take place every week. You dont say what op you are having, so I cant give you any details of what sort of GA you might have, but in general terms you will be given a drug via injection to put you to sleep, this works in under 30 seconds, and after that you will know nothing until you wake up in the recovery ward. You may also be given what is called a muscle relaxant, this will depend on whether the anaesthetist deems it necessary to take over your breathing for you temporarily, again, this will depend on the type of surgery you are having. Finally, you will be given a dose of a pain killing drug like morphine, so that you wake up comfortable. You may also be given a drug to help prevent you feeling sick when you wake up. If you are really nervous pre-op you can ask to have a pre-med prescribed, this is basically a sedative they give you on the ward before you go to theatre, so you arrive their feeling well relaxed. At all times during the procedure you will be monitored by some very sophisticated equipment, and very experienced staff, who have no other duties other than your wellbeing. They may give you some fluids if they think you are getting a bit dry, and they may put a kind of electric blanket on you if they think you are getting cold. So you see, all your needs are thought of! Its easy to say I know, but honestly you will be fine. If I can (try) to answer any other questions for you about this let me know.

[Litchick]

Someone give Impret-Sir ten thousand stars! I would but I don't even know how to give one....

[qapmoc]

HI Litchik, only the person who first posted the question can award the stars. When you post a question go to it and you will see the option next to each answer.

[funnywebsite]

Tom tom, I know about 2 people who have died. It is still a slim chance though. It depends on how much you need the op. I had an operation once but did not know anything about people not waking up, its just a few years later when I was told somebody's wife at work never woke up and my husband knew a guy down the pub who went in for the snip and never woke up last Christmas. If it is for something like the snip then I would say don't have it but if it is something that will improve your health then go for it.

[TomTom]

Thanks all for your replies.

Impret-Sir, is there anyway of talking to you off answerbank? If you could give me an email address that would be great, maybe one you dont use or something. That would be fab, but if you cant, no worries, and thanks for your comprehensive answer which is much appreciated.

[Litchick]

Thank you qapmoc!

[Impret-Sir]

Awwww, thanks Litchick, Im blushing!! Tom Tom, I dont think that the site allows the posting of personal email addresses, for obvious reasons, but as I said, feel free to ask me anything in here, I should also point out that any aneasthetist worth his salt will spend time with you on a pre-op visit and will attempt to asnwer any questions you might have then. Funnywebsite, your answer seems very irresponsible to me, knowing "some blokes wife who lived next door to someone who knew a man down the pub etc etc, who died" is hardly authorititve proof, and advising someone not to have surgery, even if it for "something like the snip", when you dont anything about the reasons why these procedures you refer to went wrong, if indeed they actually did, is scaremongering.

[MrScaredOfOp]

I will have to have an op soon, going in for circumcision. I'm so scared to go in for the op. I've already been booked in to have the op but I didn't stay for it, I was so stressed out and scared, nervous etc I couldn't handle it and I left the ward. I hadn't slept at all the previous night, almost nodded off a couple of times but I couldn't sleep for worrying about what will happen the next day. The operation itself hasn't been explained to me, none of the risks explained to me, and nothing about aftercare, or anything about what it will mean for the rest of my life. I only asked a couple of questions at the time it was confirmed that I'd need surgery. It seems to me that the doctors/nurses etc this is all business as usual to them and its no problem at all. However my view is that if they've failed to explain things to me and help alleviate any concerns then they are either incompetent or negligent, either way doesn't fill me with confidence for having the procedure.

I've never had a general anaesthetic and don't know what to expect. One of the nurses said that he was surprised that nobody had suggested that I could have some temezepam to calm me down at the time.

What can I expect with a general anaesthetic? Should I be worrying so much? I think I'm maximising the issues with this procedure and thinking too much about someone taking a knife to such a personal area.

I'm so worried about this op, can anyone offer any words of reassurance too?


Thank you,

[DaveThomas]

Dear Mr. ScaredOfOp,
You will be sedated to help you relax before you are taken to the operating room. A highly skilled and experienced anaesthetist will put you to sleep either with an injection in the back of your hand or a mask over your face. You'll wake up remembering nothing of your operation but maybe feeling drowsy. Back in the recovery room you'll be offered tea and toast. End of story. Nothing to worry about.