Question:
I am 26 days away from my surgery date and I am having major
jitters over the Anesthesia. Nothing else about this surgery really scares me. I am not that concerned about possible complications after my surgery. I just can't seem to get through the Anesthesia. I have looked up the subject on the Internet hoping to find some encouraging stats ... but have not really been able to find anything of use. So, I thought I would check here, since you guys have "been there and done that" ... Please tell me that the anesthesia isn't as bad as what I think it is going to be. I am scared that my lungs wont start breathing again on their own. Can someone please give me some guidance!! Thanks and God Bless!! -- Donna — Donna H. (posted on November 3, 2000)
November 2, 2000
Donna I had a heart attack 2 yrs ago and I am a heavy smoker at age 50. I
came through without any problems. Don't worry over things that you can't
control. Do your breathing exercises after the surgery and all will be
fine.
Best of luck on surgery and a speedy recovery.
— Donna A.
November 2, 2000
Anesthesia was a piece of cake! Waking up from it and feeling the pain
from the surgery was not!
— Tracey D.
November 2, 2000
Hi sweetie...I had surgery 3 weeks ago yesterday! I wasn't nervous about
really any of it...but, I used to suffer from panic attacks (really bad,
and agoraphobia)..but, that is neither here nor there...back to your
question. I suggest, 'cause this worked for me...find something that you
like (a poem, prayer, chant, whatever)...and close your eyes while you wait
for the surgery or anesthesia (whichever) and repeat, repeat, repeat...in
your mind that saying. I gotta tell you, I'm a christian...and while I was
in preop waiting for my surgery I kept repeating Psalm 23 (one of my
favorites)...truth be told, I fell asleep...*giggles*...so when they came
and did the anesthesia, I was already asleep. I woke up fine, with an NG
tube, catheter...that was thankfully removed soon after..and a drainage
tube in my side...it was removed the day before I left the hospital. You
are going to do GREAT! I will be praying for you...keep the faith!
— Terri G.
November 2, 2000
Donna, I can relate to your fears. I too was very nervous about the
anesthesia and was afraid that I wouldn't wake up. I have severe sleep
apnea and was a smoker. I did stress to the anesthesiolgist that I had
sleep apnea and made him promise that he would make sure I woke up. He did
just as he promised. It was not a problem at all. All that worring for
nothing! Just place it in God's hands and try not to worry! I will be
praying for you! Good Luck.
— Rene` B.
November 2, 2000
Anesthesia has changed a lot over the years. What is available now ranges
widely that helps the anesthesiologist be more precise on what effects it
will have on the person. Now days everyone is attached to monitors that
check oxygen level, carbon dioxide level,heart rate, blood pressure,etc.
Anesthetic meds can be short acting or long acting and the time intervals
are known and now there are meds to reverse the anesthetic effects. There
are numerous different types that have been developed that work better in
different circumstances. Its much safer now than it was in the past to have
anesthesia because the doctor has more control over the actions of the
anesthesic medications. If you're worried about anesthesia, check out who
your anesthesiologist is, by the way, you can request which
anesthesiologist you want. Thats the person who needs to know what their
doing.
— Helen B.
November 2, 2000
I felt the exact same way as you, and I thought I was the only one. I was
so petrified of the moment I was to go under, that I was really freaked
out!! everyone else seemed to not worry about it like me. I had my surgery
6 weeks ago today and I prayed alot and just entrusted myself and my
children to GOD, I believe that if that was my day to die than it would
have happened anyway, in a car, or anything. Believe it or not, that was
comforting. Also know that they do surgeries on sick infants, elderly, and
people just like us everyday and in the big picture very few folks have
complications.
You will do great, like the last post said, bring a scripture or
something that comforts you, and repeat it. Before you know it you will
wake up and it will be all done. I was sooo happy when I woke up in the
recovery room that I had gone through with it and didn't chicken out. Now I
have lost 41 lbs so far and I feel awesome!!! I will pray for you!!
— Lauren P.
November 3, 2000
Donna, I was scared to death over the anesthesia. I was sure I was gonna
die. The Anesthesiologist noticed how nervous I was and gave me a shot into
my iv that calmed me down. I can bearly remember being put to sleep. What
seemed like a few minutes was hours and it was all over with. That was 3
years ago , I am 115 pounds lighter and loads happier. ThankGod I didn't
chicken out and cancel the WLS. Since then I have had a hernia repair,
Tummy Tuck , and the vericose veins removed from one of my legs. The other
leg is to be done on 11/10. Still alittle nervous , but not as bad as with
my first( the WLS)
— Ellen M.
November 3, 2000
Please try not to panic. I had open RNY on June 23rd and never even had to
go on a ventilator. 99% of people wake right up from the an anesthesia with
no problems. Please try to focus on the positives of the surgery, not the
negatives. I think that pre-op sometimes your brain tries to psych you out
of having surgery so that you will continue to eat whatever you want,
whenever you want and remain fat. Even if you are unhappy it is easier to
let things stay the same than make a change in your life.
Good Luck!
— Andrea P.
November 3, 2000
Dear Donna, My RNY was my 5th major surgery, and each time I came out of
anesthesia just fine. It had been almost 20yrs since my last surgery. But
this time I have Severe Sleep Apnea and use a Cpap machine to breathe at
night or when I sleep, & my Cpap machine is at it's highest setting.
But I was not worried:) I made sure that my Surgeon knew everything there
was to know about my medical history. This also includes any medications,
Rx or over the counter that I was taking. After that I let him do the
worrying for me:)If you are continue to be this nervous, Please ask your
Doctor for a Rx to help you calm your nerves. Many people get in a panic
over all aspects of WLS in the weeks between approval and the date of
surgery. This is NORMAL:) Just try to have Faith in your Surgeon and his
surgical Team:) Sending Warm Healing Calming Skinny Thoughts your way:)ttfn
— Barbara I.
March 29, 2001
Dear Donna,
When you wake up from the surgery, the last thing on your mind is going to
be anethesia. I was afraid to. I couldn't even sleep at night. After I
awoke in recovery, my next fear went into place. I hurt so bad that I
didn't want anything else to happen to me. I worried for 2 days after
that, that no complications would happen. Your so tired and in so much
pain that when you look back and think of the time you were afraid of
anestesia, you'll laugh. That's the easiest part of this whole thing.
Literally!
— Gena B.
September 1, 2004
Donna, lots of people of terrified of anesthesia but the anestheologist are
very well trained and should meet with you to develop exactly the right
plan for you. I've been put to sleep a number of times and had no problem
at all ever but one word of caution: Tell them the absolute truth about
your medical history. If you smoke, even one a day or week, tell them the
truth; if you drink any kind of alcohol, be truthful about that. They can
compensate for some of our habits but they have to know about them in order
to do their job correctly and take care of us. And if you're worried about
who will be administering your drugs, find out something about them. They
have stats just like doctors do and you absolutely can have input into who
does the procedure for you. Best of luck to you. You're about to embark on
a WONDERFUL journey. (122 pounds down myself, only six more to go!)
— scbabe
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