Question:
I am afraid of not waking up after the surgery. Am I alone in this fear?

   — Corinne S. (posted on April 23, 2003)

April 23, 2003
No you are not alone. I think that is everyone's biggest fear. Read my profile it should make you feel a little better.
   — Linda A.

April 23, 2003
The thing that is so weird that nothing else about this surgery bothers me...So I have gather a circle of friends who help me feel better. I have also seen a counselor and completed some exercises cause this idea is a real fear for me too...
   — purplegogg

April 23, 2003
LOL! I was more afraid of waking up! That's the hard part, the waking up and hurting! But seriously, EVERYONE of us is afraid of surgery. If you were'nt, I'd wonder about you. "One of the best gifts you can give yourself is to get in shape for surgery". If you smoke, QUIT! START WALKING REGULARLY! You want your heart and lungs in the absolute BEST SHAPE you can get them! I kid you not! (Take vitamins now- I forgot too). I always found the deep breathing after surgery very difficult. (No, I've never been a smoker). This is what I fear about waking up from surgery. If you don't deep breathe then you can actually feel the fluid in your lower lungs. Yet it hurts to deep breathe as you NEED TOO. So WALK, WALK, WALK NOW! Give yourself the wonderful gift of a body as fit as possible for surgery. Tell yourself over and over again, that you are doing the right thing and don't forget God (if you are a believer). We've all been scared. You are NOT a baby because of it! When I get scared I remember a line I heard in one of the Billy Jack movies "Courage is not the absence of fear but the conquest of it". That little line has given me more strength than anything. Even more than the Bible. No offence meant by that though. Anyway, you are human. It's ok to be scared but do your best to stregthen your spirtis and body. :)
   — Danmark

April 23, 2003
You are not alone. My fear is that I won't be asleep deed enough and actually feel the surgery. I've never been knocked out for surgery...I've either been numbed (toe surgery three times) or had an epidural (C-section) and been awake and able to tell the doctor "Hey, that hurts" and I'm scared I'll be unable to move and speak but be very much aware of what's going on during my Lap RNY. So...talk to someone who's been knocked out. That's what I've been doing.
   — Renee B.

April 23, 2003
Definitely not alone. Lots of people fear that, but honestly, you are asleep and will not even know if you wake up or not....However, that said, I have had several surgeries where I have been knocked out and it is the deepest dreamless sleep you will ever be in. One minute you are out, and the next, the nurse is talking to you in recovery and your trying to figure out where you are. If the anesthesiologist is good, you usually wake up in no pain, and with that self-medicate button in your hand keeping you pain free! The worse part for me is when they make you get up out of bed post-op for the first time..now that is no fun. The putting you under for surgery is the easy part.
   — Cindy R.

April 23, 2003
Corrine, I think every one has that fear, even if the surgery isn't for WLS, the fear is still there. Just say your prayers, remember to say I love you as much as possible, do everything you want to do now, make no regrets. I siked myself out during my WLS surgery thinking I was acutally going to be that 1 in 200 that would die, I had come to terms with myself, yeah I was scared more then you know, but somehow I had found peace, I said my prayers and told GOD to take me where he wants me, either with him or back on earth with my loved ones...... Corrine, just be in peace with everything, you'll be in my prayers. Hugs :)
   — tannedtigress

April 23, 2003
Corrine, I am 43 yrs old and had never had surgery. I am also a nurse and knew what could go wrong. I was terrified of the anesthesia. Afraid of waking up, afraid of not waking up, afraid of feeling something. Talk to the anesthesiologist on the day of your surgery. He was very reassuring. I am still so amazed at how the last thing I remember was being wheeled into the OR and the next minute it seemed I was in my room. I have no memory of the OR, the rovery room or anything. It was amazing and looking back, I never should have spent so much time feeling terrorized. It was all very peaceful and comfortable. Good Luck!!
   — krogers56