Afraid of Anesthesia!!

[alicatcyclist 1]

I am scheduled to be banded this Friday 3/28/08 and I am so afraid of anesthesia. I had a bad experience when I had my wisdom teeth removed in the hospital back in the early '80's. I was sedated and then all of a sudden I was awake. I could hear the doctor and nurses joking about who was supposed to bring the donuts. I was not able to move at all or open my eyes. I could feel the tube in my throat and I just wanted it out of there. All I could do was just lay there and breathe, feeling very scared and helpless. Then I went back to sleep so it is not one of those cases where I was conscious during the procedure. When I woke up I was throwing up blood and I was nauseous for hours. I know things are so much more advanced these days but I still want to know if anybody has had any bad experiences with anesthesia? Good experiences?

[glorybee123 0]

I would be sure to tell the Anesthesiologist about your experience before the surgery, and do some praying!

Edited March 27, 2008 by glorybee123

[Long2BFree 12]

I agree that you should be sure to tell the anesthesiologist. In fact, you might call your surgeon tomorrow and see if you can get in contact with the anesthsiologist beforehand.

[alicatcyclist 1]

Thanks ladies. I mentioned it to my surgeon during our consult and he said they do not practice anesthesia the same as they used to back then. Now they also give you a medication in your IV to prevent nausea. I also had an outpatient procedure in 1991 and mentioned my experience to the anesthesiologist and had no problems during that procedure. It felt like I had just fallen into a deep sleep and the next thing I knew they were waking me up. :thumbup:

[snuffy65 1]

Thanks ladies. I mentioned it to my surgeon during our consult and he said they do not practice anesthesia the same as they used to back then. Now they also give you a medication in your IV to prevent nausea. I also had an outpatient procedure in 1991 and mentioned my experience to the anesthesiologist and had no problems during that procedure. It felt like I had just fallen into a deep sleep and the next thing I knew they were waking me up. :thumbup:

Well I had the same problem. I had two colonoscopies a year aapart and both times I woke up in the middle of them. My doctor assured me that for thiings likes these, including wisdom teeth they give you one dose and that is it.

Also, come to find out that my blood pressure dropped so low they brought me out of it. I surgery however they have medicines to regulate blood pressure during surgery.

[bandofhope 1]

I'm new and just in the "Check List Bander" phase of my procedure... making a list and checking it twice for requirements. I get so excited thinking about having my surgery and then it hits me...I've got to be knocked out. I am 44, never had surgery, and it seems that all I hear about now is terrible surgery stories. I just get sick thinking about it. I have missed the last two support group sessions with Dr. Schmitt's office in Alabama and I think I will feel much better when I actually make it to one. I can hear people talk about their experiences and I'm sure they will be very motivational. But, yes.. back to the original question.. I am scared to death of the Anestesia!!!!! I hope I just go in and they knock me out... don't give me time to think about it. I'll just say a big prayer and close my eyes and hopefully wake up!

[VIRGO_GIRL824 0]

I am soooooo afraid of being put to sleep!! I know how you feel! When I had my son, I had an emergency C-section and they were going to put me to sleep, and I cried and begged them not too, so the Dr. finally said 1 shot, if the spinal block dosen't take, then your getting knocked out! Luckily the spinal took! I was also put to sleep when i had wisdom teeth removed in the early 90's. Although it was nothing as traumatic as your experience, I woke up in a dark room all alone, didn't know how i got there and I started throwing up as soon as i stood up! I am afraid too, but my surgeon said it will only be about 30 mins top, and i have read a couple of posts were their surgery only took 12 mins or 15 mins, so that gives me hope. Try to relax, we will be just fine!!

[Thin4Anisha 0]

I too fear going under. One because I worry about not waking up but also because I had a bad experience previously where when I woke up I woke up very upset and emotional. Crying hysterically and trying to fight the doctor and nurses back. I had it explained to me by someone that going under like that is as close to death as the body gets and underlying emotional issues can surface when you awake because all of your defenses are down. Maybe I need therapy . My hope is that I was 13 when I went through that and now that it has been 12 years I think I have worked through most of my issues, we'll see!!

[Wheetsin 714]

I've had 2 surgeries - one fo rband and one for gallbladder. With both, I was given an IV medication that made me drowsy. In fact with the gallbladder procedure, I snoozed in the prep area and they woke me up when they were taking me into the OR.

With band, I was awake the whole time, but groggy. I remember them wheeling meinto the OR, getting on the table, hearing some conversation, the anesthesiologist putting on the mask "to give me some oxygen" and the very next thing I knew I was in recovery. Once I woke up I was awake for good, but I remmber being really annoyed because no matter how hard I tried to focus on something in front of me, my eyes kept drifting up to the ceiling. I was asking to go home within 15 mins.

With gallbladder, they wheeled me into the OR, I got on the table, and started chatting with the nurses. I was in the middle of giving one of them a recipe and the guy behind me said "Ok, I'm going to put the drugs in yuor IV now." I said, "See you guys on the other side..." and next thing I knew I was aware of some movement (being wheeled to recovery) and heard them some voices saying they "didn't like that BP" (come to find out they weren't talking about me, but I thought they were). Went back to sleep. Awake and asleep back and forth for about 90 minutes. The last time I woke up, the nurse was there asking me for the rest of the recipe.

No hassles either time. I've been told that I come out of anesthesia quickly. I've never had nausea nor have I ever had issues with gas. Knock on wood.

[Braven05 1]

Hi...new here to the boards, very happy I found this place. I am 6 days pre-op and I have also been pretty nervous about getting put out. I am 27 years old, never had any surgeries or anesthesia...so needless to say I'm just a little nervous. I keep calling up a friend with frenzied last minute questions and she just laughs at me. Basically what it comes down to is, it'll be what it'll be and stressing about it ahead of time will do nothing more but make me more anxious. When I feel anxious I need to practice deep breathing. It helps. Just wanted to add my two cents and say hello to everyone with my first post here!

[nesser081982 0]

I had that happen to with the wisdom teeth, where I woke up in the middle of it and they were pulling out one of my teeth. Not exactly what you want to have happen. I've been worried too about waking up during it. I think it's because I watch Grey's Anatomy, and I'm worried about what the people during the surgery are saying about me. Dumb huh?

[Ariel 1]

I also had a bad wisdom teeth expericene. I told the doctors about it and they ensured me that the type of anesthesia they use are vastly different. With the wisdom teeth they usually use twilight meds while whith this surgery its general anesthesia. He basically said for alot of people the twilight meds are not effective but he has never seen a pt. that the general anesthesia was ineffective for. (Sorry for all this spelling errors, I'm so tired)

[triser72 0]

Whew!!! I am so glad to hear of other people who are in the same place I am! Only by grace have I made it to 36 years old without surgery or hospitalization of any sort. I am so afraid of the "unknown" regarding surgery or anesthesia that I am practicing avoidance - if I don't think about it, maybe I won't be that nervous. So, I have been to the psych eval and the nutrition class - I am focusing on being mentally prepared for this major life change: a new way to buy groceries, shrinking clothes and what to do with them, etc., etc., etc.

[foxboro jim 0]

good luck!

my experience was fine. I don't remember falling asleep and I don't remember waking up. I wasn't nauseous. The worst I can say is that I had a very very mild tremor for three days. You'll probably be walking short distances that night.

[alicatcyclist 1]

I made it through the anesthesia. Woo Hoo. My surgery date was changed from 3/28 to 4/1. I spoke with my anesthesiologist before the surgery and mentioned my experience and concerns. He was very confident and had 15 years of experience in the operating room. It all happened so quickly. I remember the anesthesiologist telling me that sometimes the medication burns as it goes in and that I would be getting drowsy. I didn't feel any burn in the IV, I just got drowsy and the next thing I know I was OUT. It was a really good feeling of drowsiness I will tell you that much. I woke up in the recovery room and I was in quite a bit of pain. I just laid there and took deep breaths and it got better. My surgery started at 7:30 am and I was released at 11:30 am. I am doing well. Let the healing begin.