Hiyer....I'm back,
Made a coffee and decided to carry on.....
I read and read and read so many experiences, like you online.....I tried so hard to reassure myself with all the positive stories....but the nagging doubts, fears and sheer terror remained.
When I had the anaesthetic, he did it really quickly, as he knew what a state I was in. He had clearly told the nurse in advance to do the same, as they didn't give me time to say anything once I was committed to lying down ready for the surgery. I've never seen a man work so fast lol
I was sobbing as the catheter was put in my hand, and he literally seconds later put the liquid in. I would say that from the time the liquid was put in it took...gosh...2 or 3 seconds (thats what it felt like) to be asleep. I've heard of people having to count down from 5 and then they are asleep, but I didn't ahve time for that lol Its not like going to sleep as we know it, its just 'there' 'not there'...its not like anything I've experienced before. I think I felt a slight 1 second 'woosh' after the anasethetic was put in. I had no time to panic about the anesthetic going in at all and neither did I care at that point because I couldn't as the anaesthetic took practically immediate effect, I had no ability to feel anything as such. Its not even like darkness, its just 'nothing'..awake and looking at the nurses face and then not. Its not frightening either as there is no time and you can't be scared. It didn't feel unpleasant, neither pleasant, it just was 'there' 'not there'. LOl I know I'm repeating things, but I can't find the right words.
Then, that was it, there was nothing to remember in between that and being awake again. I was a little woozy and waking up in the after care room with everyone else and a nurse by my side. I had no feeling of sickness, which I had feared. I had obviously been in another room right after coming out of the surgery, as there was a mask on my face, which the nurse immediately took off. I had an immediate, delayed panic attack lol from the stress earlier. I thought it was a reaction to 'something'. The nurse called the anaethetist who felt my heart and told me I was having a panic attack and not reacting to anything. LOL My heart rate slowed and I had a little rest with my eyes closed for a few minutes as things were a little 'spinny', then 10 minutes later I was up and eating custard cream biscuits and drinking tea and instant messaging people. I was getting dressed 20 minutes later, and home an hour and a half later.
When the anaethetist came to check my heart rate, after the nurse called him, he did a little chuckle and said 'oh by the way, you aren't allergic to ibruprofen for your records, I gave you some earlier'.
So, I will say to you, in retrospect, that the event was not worthy of the huge amount of fear I put into it beforehand. They will give you a check of all your stats and physical health beforehand, so they know you are well to have the anasethetic. They will ask you lots of questions about your health and you can tell them your fears. Having a call to the anaethetist is perfect, it doesn't have to be in person....just be honest....and let them reassure you. I did, and it worked. My anaethetist (bless his heart and outside his remit) even came on duty just to do my anaesthetic, so I saw the same face I trusted. I honestly hadn't considered that you could be safer under GA than driving your car to the supermarket - such highly skilled, trained medical professionals looking after your every bodily need.
Would I do it again? Yes I would. The one thing I didn't expect, and some of this could have been my weeks of anxiety, is that I did feel tired and a little spaced for a day or so. They say the full anaesthetic can take a while to come out of your body. Then again, I'd not slept for weeks lol Ask anything else...happy to answer...no your procedure isn't any different to mine in terms of stress. We both need/needed a GA for probably a similar period of time, and both ahve the same anxiety.
I spent all my adult life terrified of a GA and any surgery, and I was 47 when I had it, so that is a LOT of years to build yourself up to something negatively. I would say to you, get this over with, you will get that fear out of the way.