ols386
I want to live at Disney World!!
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2008
I thought most hospitals give “Ativan” for anti anxiety.Drugs. Seriously. They gave me anti-anxiety drugs in pre-op when they saw I was freaking out, but I don't know exactly what.
I thought most hospitals give “Ativan” for anti anxiety.Drugs. Seriously. They gave me anti-anxiety drugs in pre-op when they saw I was freaking out, but I don't know exactly what.
Obnoxious patients she can’t stand?
Hope this was a joke
Because it’s her Job....Eek!
I have had surgery only once and the experience of being put to sleep was so bad that afterward I swore to myself that I would rather die than be put under anesthesia again. The memory has faded a bit over the last few years and I don't know if I still feel exactly the same way about it, but I have put off having a wisdom tooth out that really, really needs to come out because the dentist wanted to put me under for it.
I had my first surgery at 19. Family lived on the other side of the country so a co-worker took me. I didn't sleep the night before. Do NOT watch the movie "Awake" before a surgery... Just don't. They had trouble finding my vein and had to poke me several times. The worst was waking up though. I had been under for about 5 hours and woke up kind of hallucinating. My eyes couldn't adjust to the light, I was freezing, and couldn't comprehend words or where I was at. I thought I had fallen in the snow during a blizzard and someone was holding me down and someone was screaming. Then nothing. Later I found out that the screaming was from me, I tried to rip out my IV, was throwing up all over, and thrashing around so they had to sedate me. This sort of rough reaction upon waking is called emergence delirium.
I've had 8 surgeries since then and always tell them about my reactions. Certain brands of anesthesia and other meds are able to help with that stuff, and none of my other surgery wake ups have been as bad. I also make a request that if you can't find my vein on the first poke, you find someone else. That helps to eliminate the anxiety pre-surgery caused by someone sticking me four or five times because if the first person can't get it, they seek out the best person they have who gets it on their first try.
Relaxation meds before surgery help- just ask your anesthesiologist or Dr. IV- induced anesthesia also works quicker than inhaled anesthesia, so I have less time to think about and react to what's going on around me. The worst is still waking up for me, but I always request nausea meds to be given before/during surgery, and if possible to have the lights dimmed when they wake me up (sometimes they can accommodate with lights, sometimes they can't). I also request to be covered in heated blankets and to actually have my gown completely back on me if they have to take it off during the surgery. I woke up once only half covered by my gown without my arms in and was not too happy.
Just talk to the Dr, nurses, and anesthesiologist about any concerns or anxiety you have and they can help you with it. Also, before surgery, it helps to have a family member or friend in there with you for as long as possible. Other than when medical personnel are in the room, we don't talk about the procedure. We find some other conversation to have, something to make me laugh and get my mind off of things as much as possible.
I get nervous and have had many a surgery. The IV is always the worst part for me, I've asked them if they can knock me out with a mask with the "funny gas" like they give kids and then put in the IV, they've done that in the past.
Good luck!
Hilarious that you mention the movie "Awake". It came out late 2007 and I watched it early 2008 and a few weeks later had surgery.
That kind of thing doesn't bother me as I know its only a movie and I already knew about anesthesia awareness before the move.
I will say that in my experience the anesthesia that I got for my ear was much different from what they did for my wisdom teeth. I woke up feeling like a million bucks after the teeth extraction. I was high and a bit euphoric. I went home and started making phone calls apparently, so that was interesting. I told someone later that week that I had my wisdom teeth out and he said "I know. You called to tell me about it for like an hour." I had no clue.
Anyway, compared to how dreadfully sick I was after the ear surgery, wisdom teeth was a snap. Keep in mind I have absolutely zero experience with feeling high, drunk, etc. so the effects may have been heightened for me in both cases.
Best of luck with your surgery! Ur gonna feel sooo good with that new hip! Here’s to an Uneventful surgery and rapid recovery!I’ve had 5 surgeries in my lifetime, having another surgery soon on April 17 (hip replacement).
If I remember right, I’ve always been awake when they rolled me into the operating room. I always feel really scared, cold and clammy, and come really close to crying, but I manage to hold it back. I’m not sure what advice to give you, but I think it would be odd if you/we didn’t feel scared and/or nervous.
I am probably having surgery soon.
It wouldn't be the first time (last surgery was 6 years ago though) and I know "the drill" but I still get anxious and I know its normal but that foreboding feeling drives me nuts.
The day of I'm hungry and dehydrated, then I get really cold and shaky.
I have found that if I wear fuzzy socks very my regular socks that does help with the cold and shaky part.
I start getting nervous about getting the IV not because I'm squeamish but because its always hard for them to get a vein so either they are smacking my hand for 10 minutes or they poke me 5 times.
I can actually manage to suppress the anxiety pretty well during all that BUT then comes the O.R.
It feels like "there's no turning back now muahahaha" and suddenly fight or flight kicks in because I don't like the lack of control I have from that point forward.
My reaction is more mental than physical. I want to cry and I feel sick to my stomach.
Does anyone else feel that way?
Have you found any techniques that help calm you so you can kinda just sit back and enjoy the ride?
I'd love to find a way to be chill about it instead of feeling and probably looking like everyone is trying to kill me lol.