Terrified of general anesthesia

[Anonymous]

I am embarrassed to admit that I am terrified of general anesthesia, and I have a procedure in 2 days that needs to be done under general. Please someone give me their stories of NOT waking up in the middle of surgery unable to move or scream? Because I am irrationally worried about it.

[Anonymous]

I was nervous and did extremely well with general. Under for four hours. Experiences do vary. I was 34 and in good health at the time.

[Anonymous]

My memory stops on the way to the OR after they put in the initial drug and then I wake up in post-Op.

[Anonymous]

I was like this too -- -because of too many caselaw studies in Torts class (law school negligence/liabilities class). I read too many cases of surgeries gone awry. Well, I needed a lumpectomy (breast) while in law school. I said "No" to the general anesthesia... meaning I was fully alert for the lumpectomy! Bad move! It didn't really hurt so much, but I could feel all the "pulling" -- and hear the discussion of the surgeon and the student doctor.... not good.

Since then I've had the sedation (propofol) and general anethesia.... and they are delightful. I worried about throwing up when coming out... or other problems.. like sore throat. None of that has ever happened to me. It's just been like -- I'm alert and awake, and then the next thing I know, I'm waking up in the recovery room.

So, try not to let your imagination run away from you. You are one of millions and millions... and you are going to go in and come out just fine.

[Anonymous]

I had surgery this past November. They gave me something in my IV to relax me. I don’t even remember being wheeled down the hallway. Woke up in recovery. I actually felt like I had a really great nights sleep. You’ve got this.

[Anonymous]

Anesthesia is great. Best nap ever. I’ve had it a few times, and my kids have to. Truly fine each time.

[Anonymous]

I was paranoid too and had to go under general anesthesia 4 times now. I was fine each time. I wake up a few minutes afterwards and an completely relaxed.

They will give you something beforehand to relax you. You’ll do fine!

[Anonymous]

I woke up once when under sedated (as a precaution because of family issues with anesthesia), but since then, they always give me the drug that causes amnesia.

[Anonymous]

There have been a TON of surgeries in my family - easily over a dozen. Nobody's ever had a problem with anesthesia.

[Anonymous]

They will give you a pre-medication to calm you before they knock you out. It will be fine. Focus on the recovery. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

I’ve had general twice, don’t remember a thing, thank God. Went to sleep in preop, woke up in recovery, no memory of in between.

[Anonymous]

OP your fear is understandable, that said the anesthesiologist will use your vital info (weight, heart rate, BP etc) in order to manage your anesthesia during the procedure to ensure you don't wake up mid-procedure, and to ensure an easy "re-entry" after the procedure.

Everyone reacts differently to anesthesia. For me it's the best freaking sleep I've ever had, for others they wake up saying really funny, embarrassing things. You many also shiver uncontrollably when you come out of anesthesia, so be aware of that. This is totally normal and nothing to be concerned about.

[Anonymous]

I was worried about this when my son went under general anesthesia (I had had it twice and wasn’t worried for myself) and the advice I got online is to actually talk to the anesthesiologist and ask questions. Doctors are more likely to do a better job when they know the patient and know the patient is concerned. I just said “how do you know when you have given enough or too much” and things like that. (I was nice and didn’t look like I was questioning his competence or anything.)

Anyway, my kid was fine (all three times) and I have never had a problem in the three times I had it. I don’t know that talking to the doctor helped but I figured it couldn’t hurt.

[Anonymous]

OP, I've had four or five procedures using general anesthesia in the last decade. Each time, I basically remember being wheeled into the OR. Then I say something ridiculous like "I don't feel sleepy at all" or "Are you sure you used enough anesthesia" and then, blammo, I wake up in the recovery room, remembering nothing.

I understand your anxiety, but trust me, you will not remember a thing.

[Anonymous]

Anesthesia is very, very safe and it is extremely rare to wake during anesthesia and be paralyzed. Like super-rare. If you are very nervous, ask to speak to your anesthesiologist beforehand & talk it through.

Please read up on it and educate yourself:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/anesthesia/about/pac-20384568

and here:

https://www.americanboardcosmeticsurgery.org/what-is-it-really-like-to-undergo-general-anesthesia#:~:text=Overall%2C%20general%20anesthesia%20is%20very,a%20fatal%20complication%20from%20anesthesia%20.

"Overall, general anesthesia is very safe, and most patients undergo anesthesia with no serious issues. Here are a few things to keep in mind: Even including patients who had emergency surgeries, poor health, or were older, there is a very small chance—just 0.01 – 0.016%—of a fatal complication from anesthesia."