Question:
What can I do to get through the anestesia Jitters?
I am thinking of cancelling surgery I am so afraid of laying down to be put to sleep that I do not think I can go thru with my surgery!! — Janis S. (posted on October 31, 2001)
October 30, 2001
If you are nervous about "laying down" for sedation, you might
ask them to give you a sedative first. This could / should put you in a
state of "consious sedation" meaning you know they're doing it
to you but ... you could care less. If you have your mind firmly set on
the surgery, you will talk to your anesthesiologist in advance (if it's not
scheduled you have the right to request it) and your Anesthesiologist
should be able to put you at ease.. Good luck in your journeys..
— Elizabeth D.
October 30, 2001
I was not afraid of the anaesthesia, per se, but I was definitely scared of
the knife!!! But when I got there, I was so scared I was crying. They
gave me a sedative that calmed me down and I fell asleep. Didn't know when
they put me to sleep cause I was already there!! LOL. Anyway, they are
always very ready to help those who are apprehensive. Hope this helps!!!
— nealp
October 31, 2001
Hi. I understand about fear of anesthesia. I have actually woken up
during two separate procedures. I mentioned my concern to my surgeon, and
he told me that I was not put to sleep, just sedated. I also freaked out
when getting my wisdom teeth pulled out. I would not let them put the gas
mask on me. Here is my suggestion to you... it worked great for me. When
you have an IV in your arm, they can give you something that will knock you
out, and then once you are out, they can give you the gas. The benefit of
the way it works is that they can talk to you and put the anesthesia in the
IV and you won't even know it. My oral surgeon told me that soon he was
going to put a medication in my IV that would help me relax. He was
actually putting the anesthesia in the IV as he was telling me he was going
to do it. They did this to me, and when I woke up, I asked the Doctor when
he was going to start the procedure. He told me it was all over. That he
had finished removing my wisdom teeth. I think that having the anesthesia
in the IV unknowingly made it VERY easy to get through. Hope this helps.
— Janet C.
October 31, 2001
Hi Janis, yes the first time you have general anesthesia, well most people
wonder about it and are apprehensive. My biggest fear was them putting
some sort of black mask (as I'd seen on TV) over my face (I had brain
surgery in 1982, first time I had general anesthesia). I knew I'd freak
out. BUT, they give you something before you're even rolled into the OR.
Then they put a little something in your IV that makes you really relaxed.
I was actually asked to count backwards from 100 (this was in 1982...don't
know if they even do that anymore!). I think I got to 99, and literally
the next thing I knew there were a bunch of people calling my name to wake
up, wake up. You don't even realize that time has passed. It's like
you're counting one second and the next second they're waking you up. You
don't dream when you're under anesthesia. Having nitrous oxide for
something like a tooth extraction is completely different. You're in
"twilight sleep"...you're partially awake but you don't care what
they're doing to you. But general isn't like that. You are OUT...and you
don't remember anything when you wake up. Just tell the anesthesiologist
that it's your first time with general and he/she will calm all your fears.
Good luck with your surgery...you can do it! Hugs, Joy
— [Deactivated Member]
October 31, 2001
I hope this puts your mind to rest. Did you know that anesthesiologists
have to be able to FINISH and CLOSE the surgery being performed should
something happen to your surgeon? They have to go to school TWELVE
years.... where your surgeon had to go to school for EIGHT. They go
through the same medical school that your surgeon does, and then another 4
years to learn about anesthesia.
Please note that this does not include nurse anesthetists. They only have
to go to school for two years.
I worked for a large group of anesthesiologists for years. It is important
to research your anesthesiologist just as much as it is to research your
surgeon.
— [Anonymous]
October 31, 2001
Janis - I like you was far more afraid of the anesthesia than the surgery.
I even hate when they put my dog under. I was very nervous beforehand. I
wish I had read some of the post before my surgery. But I made it through
by concentrating on why I was really there and right before surgery did
some deep breathing and meditation to calm myself down.
— Elizabeth A.
October 31, 2001
Wow I thought I was the only person more afraid of being put to sleep than
of the surgery. I have always hated it. Recently I voiced my fears to the
surgeon. I don't even like being in the o.r. I really don't want to hear
that they are putting me to sleep. And that counting backwards only had my
heart racing trying to fight the medications. I told you I really hate it.
While in pre-op they always give a sedative and for the last three
procedures I never remembered leaving that room. I don't remember anything.
Oh let me not forget the doctor told the nurse that I consented to the
sedative don't tell me I was getting it. Coupled with the sleepless night
before I was out like a light. I hope this helps.
God Bless and Be Well
— Vanessa H.
October 31, 2001
XANAX
— MARSHA D.
October 31, 2001
You have gotten some good answers and I would like to add another
suggestion. I think knowledge can alleviate a lot of fears so
understanding what anesthesia does and getting to know your
anesthesiologist are important. I think it is also important to realize
that you are in control. I strongly recommend the book and tape
"Prepare for surgery, Heal Faster " by Peggy Huddleston. I had
my surgery on 10/22 and the last thing I remember prior to "going
under" was my anesthesiologist speaking the healing statements I had
written for him and requested him to tell me as I was going under. I had
no problems, when I opened my eyes there was no pain or anxiety only the
confidence that I was safely on the other side.
Peace, kathy
— kathleen S.
October 31, 2001
I, too have the jitters sometimes, I've been put to sleep about 4 times in
my life for various surgeries. Each time does get better. I, like other
posters remember them putting in the IV and being wheeled into the OR and
that's all I remember and someone saying "it's over" Don't worry
I'm sure it will be the same for you, it's just hard to believe now.
Generally I've really liked my anastesiologist
(sp?)they seemed very gentle and caring, and wanted to make sure I felt
safe. Good Luck
— Cindee A.
October 31, 2001
Theres a saying that goes something like : The only thing we have to fear
is FEAR itself.....I think if you weren't scared you wouldn't be NORMAL.
Some are more scared than others, some not scared at all. But MOST of us
are scared.
I haven't had this surgery yet,but i've had others. I was scared (but in
so much pain i was willing) up until the moment they say Night Night. I
try to make a joke and say something like..WELL, SINCE WE'RE GOING TO BE
SLEEPING TOGETHER , DON'T YOU THINK YOU SHOULD TELL ME YOUR NAME? Most of
the time I'm asleep before its out of their mouth!!!
When i had gall bladder surgery they were dancing to music..I thought they
were nutts the way they were joking around. They were just trying to relax
themselves and me!!!
IT WAS WELL WITH MY SOUL.
— Jackiis
October 31, 2001
Usually the anathesiologist (sp?) will come in before surgery and talk to
you. You might tell him you have the jitters. You will get a shot that will
relax you first, then they give you the 'sleeping stuff' and you're out and
it seems like a minute later you wake up and the surgery is over and
you're on your way to a thinner you. Don't cancel the surgery ... we all
had to go through the scarey parts too. Good luck!
— Betty Todd
November 3, 2003
Janis,
You sound just like I did. I WAS TERRIFIED OF BEING PUT TO SLEEP! Insist
on talking to your anesthesist before the surgery day. I did 2x. I told
him that I know University of Chicago is a teaching hospital, but no
resident, wanna be anethesist is to work on me! I was so afraid I would
never wake up again.. We think just bec we choose not to do something that
we have control over how long we will live.. What a falsehood that is! I
knew if I did not do the surgery that eventually, sooner than later I would
die! I am diabetic and hypertensive. I had LAP Rounex-Y done and my
gallbladder taken out also. It took 5 hours. I went into surgery at 12pm,
anethesist said, "take 3 deep breaths and start counting". I
don't remember anything after 3 deep breaths until 9 p.m. that night! They
are used to working on patients with sever weight problems with special
needs with anesthesia. I had to go through sleep apnea testing as part of
my pre po clearance. If you have apnea, surgereons at U of C insist you
have been on C-PAP for apnea for a minimum of 30 days. I was on 70 days.
Maybe that is why everything went so well! I have not even been tired
since the proceedure. DO NOT CANCEL!! THAT WOULD BE THE WORST MISTAKE! Up
to 2 weeks before I was scared and then I finally started focusing on
telling myself how well I will do and praying for calmness and serenity and
acceptance of what will be. GOOD LUCK! Linda from Indiana
— Linda O.
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