I've got surgery tomorrow at 10am, gotta be in the hospital at 8:30am. Have had 4 operations trying to fix the same thing in the past, and I don't mind the surgery itself, or post-op healing. What I [I]do [/I]mind is the being put to sleep part. I hate having general anesthesia administered to me as it makes me feel helpless and scared knowing anything can be done without me knowing (even though I know I need it).
I had a bad experience once when the anesthetist injected the drugs either whilst they were cold(?) or too quickly, because I felt a physical, unpleasantly tingly sensation rush from my right hand (where the IV was) up my arm, to my heart and to the rest of my body. It was terrifying, as I thought my heart would give out. It felt [I]cold[/I]. That's the best description I can give. Due to this, I've developed an anxiety whenever general anesthesia is administered. The last anesthesiologist was kind and injected the anesthesia slowly, and he gave me some sort of relaxing drug before putting me to sleep to make me feel comfortable. I really appreciated that.
Anyways, I'm making this thread as I feel nervous about the whole thing, and could really use some personal experiences from you guys to make the ordeal seem less frightening. From my previous operations, when I'm resuscitated, I'm usually cheeky and very emotional ("you look so great, ~maaaaan~, you're cool, you're an awesome person" or "dad, I really love you, you know ~thaaaaat~?" or, my best line yet, when my dad reassuringly squeezed my foot, I said "who's fondling my foot? If it's one of the nurses, please continue"). It's not the end of the world, but I'd rather not be like that, as I'm usually reserved with people I don't know.
So any tips on stopping myself from saying stupid crap? Focusing really hard on something to stop myself from talking or what? And any tips on how to calm myself before being put to sleep? I'd appreciate the help, and it'd mean a lot to me. I wasn't entirely sure where to put this thread, so I figured Fast Threads was the best place.
Hopefully those doctor guys know what they're doing.
Good luck.
Two of the four times were unpleasant, and I've always disliked being put to sleep. Each of the four times (apart from that time the anesthesiologist gave me the relaxing drug) I've been very nervous and anxious. I hate feeling that way, it's just draining psychologically and physically.
As for the operation I'm getting, I'm having something removed that I had since birth (not my penis). It's called a lymphatic malformation (please don't Google it, as the images are really extreme and my own problem is nowhere near as severe as those pictures show). A botched operation four years ago left me in a bad shape. I went from looking pretty much normal, to having my face disfigured (left forehead / eyebrow region is constantly swollen, blackened [as if I've been punched] and my nerve was cut so I've lost eyebrow movement).
A pretty shit thing to happen (especially at the very self-conscious age of sixteen), but I've learned to live with it, and I've always been a somewhat confident person, so I suppose that stopped me from becoming a total recluse. Looking in the mirror every day for the past four years (before school, at school, etc.) always makes me depressed and upset, as I feel it isn't my face looking back at me. Such a psychological fuck up.
Hopefully tomorrow is the last of the operations I'll ever need and I'll go back to looking normal, looking like my old self.
the only time i had anesthesia i felt progressively worse throughout the day. but when they actually administered it i felt nothing. i just remember waking up about an hour later.
good luck to you op
I think I'm just venting, as I don't really have anyone else to talk to. Flew over to America to get this done (so I'm in good hands) and have a specialist dealing with it, so like you guys said, I'm in good hands. I think I might just have to buckle up and face my fear. Dad's sound asleep (typical dad haha) and it's only me and him here, rest of my family is in England, so I suppose I'm just venting here as it's the only place that I realize can hear me out and users can give me some advice that they've gained through personal experience. Read up on how (although rare) sometimes a person can be aware and conscious during an operation, due to a miscalculation by the anesthesiologist, yet be paralyzed (due to muscle relaxing drugs, if used) and unable to voice their worry. It's really worried me and I keep thinking it could happen to me. Blegh.
The best way to get past the getting put to sleep part is to think about once you are asleep, the doctors will fix what is wrong with you and you will be better off for it.
That is what I did when I went in to get my gallbladder removed (Gallstones) was to keep thinking that I would never have a gallstone attack ever again, which were horrible and lasted about 20 hours for me. I had only ever had local anesthetic prior to it which is far more uncomfortable than being put to sleep, especially having 2 needles jammed into the toe (ingrown toenails) and then feeling them prod at my toe uncomfortably for 15 minutes.
wow. i was about to mention that you could go in high or drunk if you're into that sort of thing, but then i remembered that i'm neither a doctor nor a anesthesiologist so i have no idea how that would affect your surgery.
oh well.
[editline]i[/editline]
just bring in an absurd number of dogs or cats into the operating room to lighten up the experience, and explain that that is in everyone's best interest.
[QUOTE=thatguyfosho;38005438]wow. i was about to mention that you could go in high or drunk if you're into that sort of thing, but then i remembered that i'm neither a doctor nor a anesthesiologist so i have no idea how that would affect your surgery.
oh well.
[editline]i[/editline]
just bring in an absurd number of dogs or cats into the operating room to lighten up the experience, and explain that that is in everyone's best interest.[/QUOTE]
I'm not allowed to eat after 30 minutes (midnight) as my operation is tomorrow and you aren't allowed to eat anything 12 hours before an operation (because if you have food in your stomach, you can vomit and suffocate yourself).
So going in high or drunk (both of which aren't really my thing) would be dangerous :v: Plus, drug interactions and all that jazz!
Tell the doctors about how you're scared about being put under anaesthetics, They'll probably give you a drug to relax you.
Try and keep your mind off of the anaesthetics, Think about something you love! A favourite song, memory, picture, etc.
Best of luck!
I hope you don't puke when they put the IV in your vein.... Yuck
[QUOTE=MEOWTFLOL;38005492]Tell the doctors about how you're scared about being put under anaesthetics, They'll probably give you a drug to relax you.
Try and keep your mind off of the anaesthetics, Think about something you love! A favourite song, memory, picture, etc.
Best of luck![/QUOTE]
Thanks man, I didn't think of that. I think I'll just read the book I'm reading ("The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss for those of you interested) and totally immerse myself in it to take my mind off being put to sleep.
You honestly don't know how much your advice helps.
[editline]12th October 2012[/editline]
[QUOTE=IPK;38005496]I hope you don't puke when they put the IV in your vein.... Yuck[/QUOTE]
Thanks man, but I'm totally cool with needles. I watch them put the IV in all the time, just a habit I have. Makes me feel safer seeing it done.
First operation (the one I had four years ago), the doc had to come in and put a big-ass needle into my eyelid / forehead area and suck out all the fluid that collected from the swelling. The needle was like a damn horse tranquilizer, but I was okay with it. Needles aren't bad at all, thankfully.
[editline]12th October 2012[/editline]
[QUOTE=mcattack1092;38005432]The best way to get past the getting put to sleep part is to think about once you are asleep, the doctors will fix what is wrong with you and you will be better off for it.
[/QUOTE]
That's great advice, and I can definitely see it helping me. I'll finally be "normal" and back to my old self after this operation tomorrow, if all goes well. I'll keep that in mind to make it all less worrying. Thanks.
So uh, how did it go?
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