operation anxiety

Hi Robby63 

Totally understandable. It’s an anxious time but the anaesthetist are very aware of the anxiety that comes with surgery .

The way I looked at it during some of my mum’s larger surgeries, this is only one of the anaesthetists lists . They will have other types of surgeries they cover in the week and also completed a big chunk of their training in intensive care , plus their on call rotas cover all emergency ops . They see and deal with complex medical histories all the time and know when a patient is fit enough for surgery . If not they work with their colleagues like cardiologists to stabilise underlying conditions and once achieved they proceed if possible. 

The pro op assessment  is able to pick up who needs further intervention and who is fit to proceed . If they feel you are fit they will have considered all your medical history . My own mum has a few issues now but even with some of her more complex issues the anaesthetists said she was remarkably stable during her last surgery . 
Please do tell the anaesthetist how you are feeling as they will help you and reassure you at the same time . 

In all the years I have been here the vast majority of patients report how the anaesthetist was so reassuring and helped them when they felt vulnerable.

I will look forward to hearing you are safely through surgery .

Court 

Hi Robbie63. I know the feeling of getting up for an operation and then it not happening. Had spinal cord decompression surgery scheduled in March that didn’t happen because the assigned anaesthetist was a no show. My own bowel resection operation was in July 2022. I too have a complex medical history, further complicated by the fact I have a small mouth which makes intubation difficult. In fact, the last time I required GA they had to tube me up whilst I was awake TWICE - because it didn’t sit right the first time. With that experience, as you can imagine, my anxiety levels were sky-high. I had a pre-op consultation with the anaesthetists which helped a lot, On the day they talked me through everything and put me at ease. I had already been assured they could intubate me once I was under. They fitted me with an epidural for post-op pain relief, after this they put me to sleep and I woke up about eight hours later in the High Dependency Unit.

Rest assured the anaesthetic team are very good at their job. Had my back operation gone ahead I would have been face down on the table for about five hours. I’m a big bloke but after my bowel resection operation I had every confidence they would wake me up.

I would recommend having a chat with the anaesthetist - they should come and see you ahead of the operation on admission day in any case, if you can’t speak with them sooner.

All the very best for your surgery.

Maninbath

Thanks my friend your reply has been of great comfort, believe me.
My initial focus for my first date was as you say talk too the anaesthetist, I think it's the duration of the operation which is daunting.
I'm beginning to get my focus back and your advice has helped immeasurably.
Thank you 
Robby.

Hi Robby63 I just wanted to offer my support. I spoke to my anaesthetist before my resection, which took 6 hours. My concern was waking up during surgery. They assured me that everything had been calculated very precisely. They take all health issues, fitness and weight etc into consideration. Wishing you a speedy recovery from Wednesday onwards.

Morning Robby

Mike in Liverpool here.  I had an LAR five years ago, walked into the hospital on the morning of the op.  The anaesthetist was amazing, genuinely funny, great to talk to and understood completely that he was probably the last person you'd talk to before going to sleep.  As this was Liverpool we invariably got onto football especially as the Reds had just beaten MCFC 4-3.  He was incredibly kind and was there when I came round, I was in the Royal ward 8, he'd arranged for a bed that looked directly towatds Anfield,  the first thing I saw was an illuminated Anfield set against a black January sky; nice work.  

Hope all goes well, went in thinking the surgeon was the 'main person' came out with utter live for anaesthetists. 

YNWA 

Mike

Hi Robby63

i fully get your anxieties, I had my op in May and had never had anaesthetic prior to this.

The anaesthetist came to see me the morning of my operation and gave me full reassurance I was in good care, the team were excellent.

He had the best sense of humour and had me laughing ! He also visited the day after  to see how I was

im sure you’ll be well looked after and just a chat with the team who are doin your op will put your anxieties at ease

good luck and let us know how it goes