Fear of anesthesia?

Anyone else have a fear of anesthesia? How do you deal?

Re: Fear of anesthesia?

I had more of a fear of a needle for anesthesia.

In all seriousness, I pictured myself laying on a beach & breathing slowly while listening to the waves.

I think if you go in a more relaxed state, you come out in one.

Also - I know this wasn't the point of this post but...

Re: Fear of anesthesia?

Posted by nrthshgrl


Also - I know this wasn't the point of this post but...

Re: Fear of anesthesia?

yes,i had to be put to sleep for a procedure 2 years ago, i kept putting off getting it done because i was so scared of being completely put to sleep.
but it was ok...afterwards you wont remember anything, and i dont remember 5,10,15 minutes afer the procedure, or even remember getting home in a cab with my husband for that matter...youll just be in a state of daze, you will feel like you are high and in a dream.
it is something that is done everyday though to thousands if not millions of people for various things, so just try to relax everything will be ok! good luck

Re: Fear of anesthesia?

not so much of the anesthesia but the surgery in general, i have brought my Ipod into the OR. I had major knee surgery a couple of years back and my DH bought me an IPOD to relax me, i put it on and layed there while they talked in the room and while they put the needle in for the anesthesia, im sorry off topic but DH read that listening to music relaxes you.. good luck.

Re: Fear of anesthesia?

Posted by meli722

yes,i had to be put to sleep for a procedure 2 years ago, i kept putting off getting it done because i was so scared of being completely put to sleep.
but it was ok...afterwards you wont remember anything, and i dont remember 5,10,15 minutes afer the procedure, or even remember getting home in a cab with my husband for that matter...youll just be in a state of daze, you will feel like you are high and in a dream.
it is something that is done everyday though to thousands if not millions of people for various things, so just try to relax everything will be ok! good luck

Re: Fear of anesthesia?

Message edited 8/8/2010 12:45:44 AM.

Re: Fear of anesthesia?

I am so sorry for what you have to experience. It is cruel to have to face this in addition to what you are going through. I am soo soo sorry for that.

I had a D&C last Friday and had to be put under. I was very very scared, since I have terrible reactions to any anesthesia (vomiting, shakes, etc..) IN addition, I have terrible veins that are tiny and roll. The last surgery I had they kept blowing my veins with the IV and I was in a lot of pain.

I was very vocal with my OB and anesthesiologist and they were very good with me. When the main anesth checked out my veins, she didn't love them so she called in a specialist. He was excellent. He numbed the area then put in the IV. I was such a different experience. They also treated me for neaseu before & during the surgery so this was the first time I didn't vomit.

As for the staff, they were so exceptionally kind and understanding. It is a very sad time compounded by nerves and everyone was very compassionate. My OB held my hand while they put me under. The Ansthe rubbed my hair while administering the last of the sleep meds. They let me keep my glasses on until I was under so I was able to feel in control.

I am sorry you are going through this. I have been crying since I read your post. Life is unfair sometimes and I feel for you.

Ask about the music - that may help relax you a bit.

Re: Fear of anesthesia?

Oh God..I can't access your post. I don't know what happened but I'm sorry..

I agree with the PP..be very vocal about your anxiety. You may want to ask for a valium to help you stay calm.

I will keep you in my thoughts.

I've been put under many times and it's actually the best sleep you will get. You wake up and it's all over.

Re: Fear of anesthesia?

Posted by Elbee

I am so sorry for what you have to experience. It is cruel to have to face this in addition to what you are going through. I am soo soo sorry for that.

I had a D&C last Friday and had to be put under. I was very very scared, since I have terrible reactions to any anesthesia (vomiting, shakes, etc..) IN addition, I have terrible veins that are tiny and roll. The last surgery I had they kept blowing my veins with the IV and I was in a lot of pain.

I was very vocal with my OB and anesthesiologist and they were very good with me. When the main anesth checked out my veins, she didn't love them so she called in a specialist. He was excellent. He numbed the area then put in the IV. I was such a different experience. They also treated me for neaseu before & during the surgery so this was the first time I didn't vomit.

As for the staff, they were so exceptionally kind and understanding. It is a very sad time compounded by nerves and everyone was very compassionate. My OB held my hand while they put me under. The Ansthe rubbed my hair while administering the last of the sleep meds. They let me keep my glasses on until I was under so I was able to feel in control.

I am sorry you are going through this. I have been crying since I read your post. Life is unfair sometimes and I feel for you.

Ask about the music - that may help relax you a bit.

Re: Fear of anesthesia?

Posted by Blu-ize

Oh God..I can't access your post. I don't know what happened but I'm sorry..

I agree with the PP..be very vocal about your anxiety. You may want to ask for a valium to help you stay calm.

I will keep you in my thoughts.

I've been put under many times and it's actually the best sleep you will get. You wake up and it's all over.

Re: Fear of anesthesia?

First of all- I am so sorry for what you are going through...
You are in my thoughts and prayers...


To answer your question about anesthesia- yes I had a HUGE fear. HUGE. I got my wisdom teeth pulled while awake...everyone thought I was crazy but I needed to be in control. My fear of being put under was worse than my fear of having the teeth pulled and hearing and experiencing it all.

Then a few weeks ago I had to have emergency surgery to remove my gallbladder. I have never been so scared in my life. I even told the nurse right before going to the OR that I was scared I wouldn't wake up. She assured me that I would and that she'd be with me the whole time.

Well to be honest- it wasn't nearly as bad as I had imagined it to be. All I remember is them putting someting in the iV and feeling a bit lightheaded. I asked the anasetholigst if he gave me anything and he said yes and asked if I felt drunk.
I joked about that and that was all I remember.
The next thing I remember was someone shaking me a little and saying- wake up, your procedure is over.
I didn't even feel all that groggy- I kind of just woke up!

All in all the fear of the unknown was the worst part of it- now that I have done it and gone through it I see it's not so bad at all.
But if you would have told me that last month I would have said no way.
All in all- you just have to go thruogh it and you will see going under is not as bad as you thought it would be!

Good luck and again- you are in my thoughts and prayers...

Re: Fear of anesthesia?

Posted by PennyCat

Posted by Blu-ize

Oh God..I can't access your post. I don't know what happened but I'm sorry..

I agree with the PP..be very vocal about your anxiety. You may want to ask for a valium to help you stay calm.

I will keep you in my thoughts.

I've been put under many times and it's actually the best sleep you will get. You wake up and it's all over.

My post is on the pregnancy board I'll be back over on the IF board soon, though I am hoping by then we will have traded places and you will be over on pregnancy!!

Thank you for the suggestion, I will absolutely voice my concerns about the anesthesia and hopefully they'll be extra supportive. I am SUCH a baby, I feel like I would benefit most with a dr from the pediatric staff who is used to dealing with terrified panic-stricken babies like myself

My plan now is to try my hardest not to think about it.. and also to remember that there are countless people out there who are NOT scared of being put under.. .which means it can't be TOO bad (just trying to rationalize this in my head )

Re: Fear of anesthesia?

Im so sorry again

For my first d&c, I actually considered having no anesthesia thats how afraid I was. It was my first surgery/procedure ever and I have really bad anxiety. The staff at the hospital made me feel a lot better and despite intense nerves, I forged ahead and WAS FINE. My biggest fear was Id feel myself getting drowsy and Id try to fight it; but that didnt happen. It goes so fast you wont even remember.

By the 2nd d&c, I was looking forward to the sleep.

If you need to talk, Im here for you!!

Message edited 8/9/2010 1:40:35 PM.

Re: Fear of anesthesia?

I only have one good vein for any needles. SO I always point that out first.

They were soo good with me. Very sweet and seemed to be understanding. They must have asked me 100000x's what I was allergic to. I think they kept asking me over and over and over again to see if I was still with it and to try to talk to me to take my mind of why I was there.

When i woke up... i was in the recovery area... I woke up with MAJOR shakes. Uncontrollably shaking and shivering. THey put a heat tube thing under my blanket to stop the shaking. it took a bit but it worked. They also gave me some sort of meds... nothing that strong. I didn't get any sort of pain meds.... and I DEF could have used some. Someone ended up giving me a few. Which I know is not usually good to do.. but I had none and needed something.

being under the anestesia is just like being in a super deep sleep. I am lucky in that I usually wake up nicely. I don't freak out or any of that. Granted I had a major shaking problem this time... it still wasn't that bad.

i also try to fight the anestesia... I'm always scared of not getting enough.

Re: Fear of anesthesia?

I had to be put under for a procedure once and was so scared, my heart rate measured at 166 bpm while I was on the table. On the TREADMILL I usually only get up in the 150's. 166! They actually had to give me a beta blocker before the anesthesia to get my blood pressure down.

Then they put the needle in my arm and told me I'd be out in a few seconds. It's so weird - you're totally fine and conscious, and then in about 3 seconds you feel the most tired you've ever felt in your life. I remember saying to the doc, "wow, that was fast." Next thing I knew, they were waking me up.

It was a pretty minor procedure but I'm glad I had it, since I know that I won't be scared for anesthesia next time.

I'm so sorry for what you're going through. But on the list of things to be worried/upset about, don't put being "put under" on there. You'll be fine.

Re: Fear of anesthesia?

i love anestesia but hate the iv

why dont you ask for a valium - my dr has given them to me before

good luck sweetie

Re: Fear of anesthesia?

Posted by Lisa982006

Im so sorry again

For my first d&c, I actually considered having no anesthesia thats how afraid I was. It was my first surgery/procedure ever and I have really bad anxiety. The staff at the hospital made me feel a lot better and despite intense nerves, I forged ahead and WAS FINE. My biggest fear was Id feel myself getting drowsy and Id try to fight it; but that didnt happen. It goes so fast you wont even remember.

By the 2nd d&c, I was looking forward to the sleep.

If you need to talk, Im here for you!!

Re: Fear of anesthesia?

I wanted to try and respond to everyone individually since you have all been SO thoughtful with your responses!! I have found hearing about everyone's experiences to be extremely helpful... and in fact.. I actually started to feel MUCH better about my fear of anesthesia. I'm just naturally very nervous about any medical procedure and the idea of not being aware of going on completely sets me in a panic.

In the meantime.. I came to terms with that.. but now I was thrown another curve ball which I just made another post about...

I was told there is a high likelihood I will need to be intubated (tube down throat that breathes for you) during the procedure.

Now................... that is just about to set me over the edge here with panic. If anyone has anything to share about this, please let me know! It just keeps getting scarier and scarier.. and that's not even counting the emotional part of all this

Re: Fear of anesthesia?

yes I am terrified..not of surgery, just the anesthesia. HORRIBLE fear of it.

So much so, I freaked out years ago minutes before a surgery ( and it was just a local) and left and found a dr. who would do it awake.

I had 2 other minor surgeries after ( one dental ) where it was so tough, I mean TOUGH to allow the anesthesia.

Then when I needed my D & C...I just couldnt do it...I couldnt go through the anesthesia like your saying and the grief etc.

So I convinced my OBGYN after a freak out of monumental proportions to do it with me awake and with a cervical block ( which he hadnt done since medical school).

I hate this fear

Good luck to you!